Have you been here?

By Susan Reichert, Editor-in-Chief for Southern Writers Magazine

You’re feeling blue, depressed – maybe anxious, worried-some. What do you do? For an author, the answer is definitely important. Do you stop writing until you feel better?

There is a right way and a wrong way to handle the feelings above. Obvious things, like check where your head is, is a must.

Then check to make sure you are getting enough sleep, eating right and getting exercise. If these are on track then you probably just need a break – mind you, a short one. Go do something fun! Even if it is for a couple of days. Do something for you. You will, most of the time, come back relaxed with your head back on track. Anything more serious, see your doctor.

Let’s face it, most of us experience those times when our mental and physical selves get in the way of our writing. Sweeping those feelings under a rug, will not, under any circumstances, work. They will just build up until eventually you can’t walk over the rug. Take care of it the minute you notice it happening.

There are those times when these feelings rear their ugly heads, and it is possible for you to write through them as long as somewhere each day you are dealing with them. To be truthful, some of these feelings can even help us write better scenes, dialogues, plots and the like.

So be alert, make sure you take care of you – so you can take care of the author in you.