Let's get physical
Friday, June 15, 2012 at 8:08PM Word Count: 253 Reading time: 1-2 mins. 
In her book Writing Down the Bones, Natalie Goldberg asserts Writing is physical and is affected by the equipment you use. She advocates the importance of writing with pen and paper, an approach supported by Patrick E. McLean in his light-hearted essay A Defense of Writing Longhand. Both these thinkers agree that writers need to play with the physical, keyboard-free aspect of writing.
Among other things, Goldberg suggests writing on a big drawing pad because she says our tools affect the way we form our thoughts. What is a bigger, more essential tool in writing than our body and brain? In Writing is not Healthy A.J. Jacobs outlines the health risks associated with being a writer. They are many. If you’re a worrier I suggest you don’t read it. His article reminded me of this quote from Herophilus:
When health is absent, wisdom cannot reveal itself, art cannot manifest, strength cannot fight, wealth becomes useless and intelligence cannot be applied.
I constantly have anywhere from 3-5 manual writing notebooks on the go. Occasionally I pick up a pencil to sketch one of my characters or scenes, so I guess I meet the use-a-different tool challenge. The instrument that needs greater care is my body. On that note I think I’ll stop typing and go for a walk.
What physical tools do you do use to dig deep into your psyche? What about that most essential piece of equipment – your body? How do you keep yourself strong and fresh for writing?
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Photo by: Dmitry Maslov
Reader Comments (4)
You make a very important point. Some days I get up, put on some exercise clothes then get drawn to my computer to write a scene that's been roiling around in my head all night. Before I know it the day is gone, the kids will be home from school, and I haven't even gone to the grocery. Maybe getting up an hour before everyone else awakes is the answer. I do know that when I do commit to exercise, it improves more than just my body (which could use a lot of improvement).
Thanks for the reminder!
Allison
When we left Australia one of our cycling friends said that he'd heard that Canadian cyclists stay in shape most of the year by putting their bikes on exercise stands in front of a a big screen TV.
It sure feels that way this year. Spring has been dreary and wet in the Pacific Northwest. Today is is as dark and rainy as November - not so motivating for outdoor exercise. So I'll hit the stationary bike this afternoon.
One of the benefits to having to do other jobs is that one of mine is crossing guard at my son's school. The job force me to be out and active for 3 hours a day. The noon shift isn't terribly active so I exercise on the spot - marching or jigging depending on the music in my head.
During the summer holidays I have to be more conscientious about exercise. I tend to do forget about it because I'm writing or over do it keeping up with my kids.
Keeping up with kids is one way to stay fit! I like the way you improvise on crossing guard duty.
Besides doing formal exercise in our modest home gym (stationary bike, hand weights, Pilates equipment) 3 or 4 times a week, I try to seize other opportunities too. When I'm going anywhere by car, I don't try for the parking spot closest to my destination. An extra little walk here, a bit of walk there. I hope it all adds up.
Then there's this house. Built into the side of a mountain, it's tall and narrow and I climb no fewer than 10 flights of stairs a day. That must count for something.
Thanks for dropping by the site, Alison, with one L. ;-)