Fellow Writers, Take Care of Yourselves

Writer: Frank Morelli

I’ve been a writer for as long as I can remember. I was the quiet, fly-on-the-wall kind of kid in the back row of the class, constantly observing the brilliant action of the world swirling around me and then shaking the puzzle pieces together in my mind until they formed new characters, new adventures, and new stories. I’ve been doing it for so long, I’ve come to accept this peculiar and unique perspective as my prevailing worldview, a sort of default setting for my brain…and I know I’m not alone. I’ve met so many of you who scratch the pen against the pad for a living, and who scarcely find time (or reason) to do anything else–unless it connects directly to a new work in progress, or a chance to meet readers, or an opportunity to get a few more copies of your novel out into the world.

Yes, I’ve always been a writer. But it wasn’t until my young adult novel, No Sad Songs, debuted in 2018 that I realized how strenuous, how demanding, and how time consuming the life of a published author can suddenly become. If you don’t believe me, let me count the ways:

• Writing is the only profession that often requires a second profession just to support it.
• The hours of operation for a writer are: always.
• A single project in a writer’s life can consume up to three years of intense, unpaid labor.
• Weekends? For a writer, that’s often when the book events happen.

So, why become a writer in the first place? Because, for many of us, the litany of sacrifice I listed above is far outweighed by the distinct feeling of being the person you were born to be. A creator. A communicator. A storyteller. Someone who is able to affect laughter or tears by simply scribbling a bunch of strange marks on a page. In other words, your basic supernatural being.

When living out your dream requires so much in the way of time, energy, and emotion and provides so few opportunities to unplug from the adventure and recuperate, it’s important to steal time for yourself. To create idle moments in your life designed to recharge the battery. That’s easier said than done, so I’ll share a few of the mental refreshment activities I’ve found to be most beneficial, most accessible, and most affordable.

Get in the Garden

If you don’t have a garden, I highly recommend finding a quiet place around your home where you can tend to plants. It could be a rooftop garden, potted plants spread out on your driveway (like me), or a full-fledged farm. What matters is that you give yourself an opportunity to unplug from devices, get your hands in the dirt, and perform a manual task that gives you freedom to organize your mind a bit, whether that be related to your written work or not. You’ll be surprised how relaxed you’ll feel after deadheading a rosebush, or filling a new planter with petunias, or after sitting back and admiring the beauty you helped to nurture without ever having to write a word.

Get Into Birding

All you need to do for this one is walk outside. Watching the winged wildlife around your home is truly a soothing experience that forces you to slow down and find a rhythm with the heartbeat of the natural world. Add a small bird bath, maybe a feeder or two, and you can literally sit back and watch the cycle of life unfold around you. You won’t be sorry, and I guarantee you’ll be amazed at the dazzling array of wildlife you’ll come in contact with just steps away from your front door.

Cook Delicious Food

You’ll have to take a break from writing that chapter at some point, so why not spend it eating something delectable you made with your own hands? It doesn’t have to be anything difficult or time consuming. Make the world’s most unique line up of assorted grilled cheese sandwiches. Become a salad expert. Get those veggies from your garden on the barbecue. Whatever you decide, be sure it’s quick and easy, but allow the cooking task to take your mind off your written work and exercise it in a way that differs from writing but still requires creativity. It’ll work wonders. Plus, you get to eat the food, which is always a bonus.

About the Writer

Frank Morelli is the author of the young adult novels On the Way to Birdland (2021) and No Sad Songs (2018), a 2019 YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers nominee and winner of an American Fiction Award for best coming of age story. His fiction and essays have appeared in The Saturday Evening Post, Cobalt Review, Philadelphia Stories, and Boog City. A Philadelphia native, Morelli now calls High Point, North Carolina home.

Website: frankmorelliwrites.com

Writer’s podcast episode, HERE.