I Think Writing Might Be Bad For My Health

I needed an epic writing day last week to launch myself into the third act of my book. So, on Friday I sent the kids off, turned the heat waaaaay down in my house and made a pot of coffee. Springsteen on repeat, no television - off I went. Six hours later, one phone call with Sinead to get myself out of the corner I had written myself into, a bag of carrots and half a loaf of raisin bread later - 5,000 words.

I was wired and exhausted, my head hurt, my heart was racing. I felt like for six hours of sitting I just rode adrenaline, which is crazy! I was eating toast and sitting, what did I need the adrenaline for?

After all that I turned on the news to see what had happened in Japan, and spent the next several hours crying. I went to bed in the clothes that I slept in the night before and that I wrote in all day. I couldn't fall asleep until three a.m. because of emotion and a brain that wouldn't stop.

The next day I still didn't feel right, so after our TRW meeting, I drank a bunch of beer to relax. That worked. But OH MY LORD! This is not good. This is not a healthy life.

At least once a book I have a day like this, I don't think it can be avoided. But what effects has writing had on your health? (As I write this, my back is practically bent in half...so, we can start with posture!)

My prayers and hope are with everyone in Japan or who have loved ones there...what a nightmare.