5 Ways to Erase Stress from Your Writing Life

Author Olin Miller (1918 - 2002) said it best - "Writing is the hardest way of earning a living, with the possible exception of wrestling alligators." It's a common misconception that being a writer is easy. That couldn't be farther from the truth. Writers face stress everyday. Loneliness, deadlines, performance anxiety, computer problems, writer's block and the absence of the Muse are just some of the most common stresses. Add to that interruptions, family obligations and Internet snafus, and it's obvious how easily writers can feel the stress build. Read this informative article and learn some tips on how to erase stress from your writing life!

1. Be Realistic About Your Writing Goals Each Day
All writers want to be prolific. Obviously, the more you write, the more money you make and the more exposure you'll get. And the more stress you'll encounter. My lofty goal is to write a dozen well-researched articles a day. That doesn't seem like much when you compare it to prolific authors such as R.F. Delderfield who wrote thirty-three pages daily. John Grisham wrote The Pelican Brief in one hundred days, and Erle Stanley Gardner wrote thirteen pages a day when he penned his Perry Mason novels. Production like that can create a lot of stress.

However, not all writers are that fast. It took J.R.R. Tolkien eleven years to write The Lord of the Rings. That means he wrote approximately 245 words a day- no stress there!

When you make your own daily writing goals, be realistic. Make goals you can reach without creating stress for yourself. It's good to push yourself sometimes to reach new heights. But your daily writing goals should be attainable.

2. Keep Your Writing Equipment Updated and in Good Repair
Another way to erase stress from your writing life is to keep your equipment maintained. Fix your computer (or take it to a qualified technician) immediately when it develops issues. Keep your software up-to-date, clean your printer and check the ink levels on a regular basis. That way, it lessens the chances of equipment failure when you're on deadline. Deadlines create enough stress when all is going well.

3. Keep Your Desk and Writing Area Organized
To be honest, I have a problem keeping my desk organized. Still, I know where things are, so I can write productively...most of the time. When I can't find a writing aid, I feel the stress. I chastise myself for wasting valuable writing time while I search through piles on my desk. To erase stress from your writing life, keep these areas straightened up.

4. Take Frequent Stretch Breaks From Your Writing
I've found this to be important in two ways. First, getting up and moving around gets your circulation going. Second, besides getting your blood flowing, taking breaks helps relieve stress. Frequent breaks can help clear writer's block. Get up and walk around every 20 to 30 minutes.

5. Always Submit Your Best Possible Writing
This may sound silly, but it's not. Re-writes and rejections cause writers- probably the greatest- amount of stress. If you're a "quantity" writer instead of a "quality" writer, you run the biggest risk of turning in material that contains errors.

To erase stress from your life, make sure your writing is the best it can be. Not all of your work is going to be "award-winning." But, give it your best effort. Ernest Hemingway said, "I write one page of masterpiece to ninety one pages of shit. "I try to put the shit in the wastebasket." And that's what you should do. Your effort will show. It will also pay off in the end by making you a better writer. It will also erase some stress.

Resources
http://www.authormagazine.org/articles/thayer_james_2009_04_09.htm
http://theadventurouswriter.com/blogwriting/quoted-writers/8-stress-management-tips-for-writers/
http://www.creativewritersdesk.com/writersblock-stress.html
http://www.copyblogger.com/ernest-hemingway-top-5-tips-for-writing-well/