Rachael asked Karol Ruth Silverstein:

How do you find the energy and motivation to write while dealing with health and pain issues? This is something I really struggle with and would love to know how you handle it.

Karol Ruth Silverstein For better or worse, my pain and fatigue is somewhat like water to the fish after so many years of having arthritis. I've had periods of time when my writing goal was just 15 minutes a day. You'd be surprised by how much you can get done when you string a year of "15 minutes a day" together. That said, it does often take me longer than I'm willing to admit to complete a longer project (i.e. novel, feature screenplay). I try really hard not to pressure or shame myself around my output (or lack thereof!)...but don't always succeed.

Another big part of my approach is to have a lot of support. I have different support systems for different areas of my life - close friends, writer buddies, medical team, spiritual advisors, etc. The more support I have, and the more I prioritize self-care, the more I'm able to push though health struggles and the anxiety they sometimes produce.

Hope this is helpful!

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