C h a z z W r i t e s . c o m

I am currently on two painkillers, an anti-inflammatory, and a plethora of other herbs and potions to keep me mobile. Insomnia and pain have plagued me. The hip replacement surgery was a success, but now the opposite hip is worse. Another surgery is coming, but in the meantime, here’s what I’ve learned about keeping up the habit of writing.

1. At first? Don’t. Pain can be so distracting that writing is too much of a chore. It’s good to know when to rest. Resting doesn’t mean you’re giving up. You may feel useless for a while. I sure have felt like I’m done and it’s all over, but I’m working my way past that.

2. Pain management requires time and patience. I am not patient, but I know the process. Ask for help. Follow instructions. Ignore the rise-and-grind culture that insists you’re lazy if you don’t push, push, push. That doesn’t apply to you right now (and probably better if it never applies). You are a healing person, not a broken machine.

3. My writing career has taken a hit, but fighters take hits all the time and keep going. Harness the power of positive expectation. Things will get better and/or more manageable.

4. Have a support network. Visits from my son just to watch TV together have cheered me immensely. A phone call, texts, or an email from a friend provide me occasions to rise to. I will complain, but I’ll do so in an entertaining fashion. As per Patton Oswalt: Horror plus time equals comedy.

5. Find distractions and joy where you can, when you can. I’ve been watching The Man from Atlantis, and my God, the bar was way too low for TV writers in the ’70s! The scripts are awful, but Patrick Duffy is blameless, the score is stirring, and the credits are solid. (That’s right. The show is so bad that I have to find worth in the font and color of the credits).

6. Once you’re through the first part of your recovery, explore whatever will prod you back to the keyboard. For me, it’s treating myself to a coffee in the morning. One rule: Can’t have that coffee without working at the keyboard. When I follow that rule, I get writing done.

7. If you can do #6, you’re ready to set a writing schedule again.

8. BIG BUT: It’s a schedule, not a shackle. Maybe you slept poorly, or you’re going through an inflammatory phase. Whatever the variable, be gentle with yourself now. You’re still recovering, so if the pain comes and you can’t concentrate, return to points #1 and #2.

9. Engage with the world beyond disease. Initially, recovery and its troubles were all I could think about. The other day I was writing, and I realized later that I hadn’t thought about my health for almost an hour straight. Last week, the longest I could go was probably twenty minutes. Osteoarthritis is not my entire personality anymore. I can talk about other things. Pain and worry aren’t taking up all my cerebral real estate.

10. Writing is one way I engage with the world. Despite the pain, I’m at Stage 9 today. I went for a limp (not a walk) in the sunshine this morning. I took my meds and bribed myself to get back to my writing desk. My favorite coffee is steaming beside me, and I’m about to disappear into my work in progress.

Good luck with your process, too, whether you’re wrestling with your WIP, your hip, or whatever other ills the flesh is heir to.

~ Rob’s writing again. His current WIP is a tale of vengeance that turns into a lifelong campaign. Read his many books from the links on his author site, AllThatChazz.com.

Filed under: publishing, writing, writing advice, publishing, Robert Chazz Chute, self-publishing, writing