Now that we are approaching the end of 2010, it will soon be time for our resolutions (or now time for pre-resolutions, as the case may be).
And as you cast your eye toward self-improvement, might I suggest one of the important fundamentals to the healthy and productive writer: exercise.
Not only because writing is a solitary pursuit, that writers sometime need the occasional mood-lift while pondering the depths of the human condition, and because we want to keep writing as long as Louis Auchincloss.
No. Not just those reasons.
Do it for the creativity boost!
I can’t quantify this. I don’t know if it’s been proven by science (Livia? UPDATE: see her comment for the science).I don’t know if it’s the endorphins talking. All I know is that when I’m stuck on a plot challenge or can’t think of where things go next, I exercise. And it’s amazing how it unlocks the brain.
And even from a macro sense, I find myself more productive and happier during weeks where I exercise. The ideas and words just tend to flow better.
Am I alone on this? Does exercise help your creativity?
Photo by Gruban via Creative Commons
Need help with your book? I’m available for manuscript edits, query critiques, and coaching!
For my best advice, check out my online classes (NEW!), my guide to writing a novel and my guide to publishing a book.
And if you like this post: subscribe to my newsletter!
Yes, absolutely! A mid-day walk is absolutely part of my writing routine, and always has been.
In fact, didn't Haruki Murakami write an entire book about this…? 😉
I broke my back earlier this year, which meant no more running, and yes, my morale and my writing both suffered. I found myself scrubbing toilets and washing dishes by hand and doing other brainless physical chores to make up for it. There's something about turning your body on and your mind off that's great for getting the creativity going. Plus, having clean clothes to wear and clean dishes to eat off of? Is there anything better?
"Running! If there's any activity happier, more exhilarating, more nourishing to the imagination, I can't think of what it might be. In running the mind flees with the body, the mysterious efflorescence of language seems to pulse in the brain, in rhythm with our feet and the swinging of our arms."
— Joyce Carol Oates
If it's good enough for her, it's totes good enough for me!
Exercise absolutely helps. A quick run helps get my brain juices flowing, and I've had some of my best plot breakthroughs in the middle of spin class.
It might, if I had time to actually do it. Between working a full time job, keeping my house clean and my laundry done and all that other stuff that comes with being married and domesticated, PLUS trying to write on top of it, I don't get a whole lot of time to jump on the treadmill.
Yes, yes! I know I often feel like there aren't enough hours in the day to do it all (paid work, writing time, eating, etc., etc.) but exercise is *so* important! You've got to do or else you turn into a crank with sunken eyes from staring at your computer monitor all day.
I used to swim competitively, and there is nothing like the endless rhythm of laps to help you sort out that latest plot tangle.
I love the creative boost that comes with exercise!
I'm making POST-resolutions this year. I'm going to break them all before the year's end, and then break everyone else's resolutions too. Though I am just back from a long and uncharacteristically snowy Irish walk.
No doubt the pic was taken just before those disgustingly healthy-looking joggers leaped into the Reservoir and swam a few laps to cool off after their jog? I hate them! Even though I am better-looking than all of them put together.
I've never heard that exercising helps let the words flow, but I am so willing to try it. I think you may be right, because I know how much happier I feel when I exercise versus how I feel when I haven't exercised.
Interesting post.
I just dictate to my personal assistant while I run on the threadmill.
Hah, I wish. I rarely have free time so all the time I can spare goes to writing. Exercise? I only think about it if a character needs to workout in a scene.
For me the best thing about exercising (walking the dog) is the sense of accomplishment. "Today I don't totally suck; I fulfilled my obligation to the dog. In the eyes of at least one other living being, I am a success." It also helps to make my bed as soon as I get up. "Look, I can be a grownup today."
Absolutely, great reminder. Just sitting in one place hunkered over a keyboard most of the day takes its toll on a body. Mood-lifter, muscle-stretcher, creativity-booster: That's exercise!
I don't jog but I do walk for exercise. Often, I've seen images along the way that I've incorporated into my novels–rusty shovels and abandoned tricycles under a carport, or black dots of sparrows like stubble on the chin of the sky.
I totally agree, and not just for the health benefits of exercise. I really believe that you have to do other things once in a while in order to help your brain recharge. If I do nothing but sit in front of a computer all day (or stare at a notebook, or whatever you use to write), it kills my creativity because I start resenting having to be there, if nothing else.
I took my posts down because they weren't what I wanted to say.
What I want to say is, absolutely! Good topic – writing is not only solitary, but sedentary. In addition to BIC, there's BOOC (butt out of chair). 🙂
I swim regularly and swimming works out all types of things in my mind. Giving the mind time to rest and roam without my interference is wonderful for my creativity.
I really like that picture, too, it's peaceful.
You are most definitely not alone.
word verif – Wovoless – Apparently I have no wovoes. Can someone please tell me where I can get some? It's rather embarrassing to be without.
Oh I love it when you speak my mind, Nathan! (And it happens fairly often around here, I might add.)
I just posted on a similar topic on my own blog, albeit on a more personal level. A runner-poet friend of mine lent me the words for the title:
"Fatigue is the Heart of Poetry"
Well put, don't you think?
Thanks for letting me know I'm not alone on this one.
I stand while I write. Sometimes I mix it up by standing on one leg, great core workout. I'm pretty sure that counts as exercise.
For me it's either exercise or a hot shower. There's nothing like a well-watered brain after a plot snarl. ; )
Yes, exercise definitely helps-and manual labor. I've stumble across a majority of my "brillent" ideas either while I'm mucking out stalls or scrubbing floors.
Excercise…yes! Definitley. But another good place to lift the mood, awaken the senses, and refill the creative ink well…go to a coffee shop. Sit and pretend to work while your ears, like radar, span the conversations and your eyes peek from beneath your lashes to watch people–their twitches, their gestures, their words, and how they interact. It's a good excercise in itself because your characters won't be the same in every book if you simply spend the time watching human nature.
I also recommend showering for creativity. Not enough writers shower because they get sucked into their screens. And everyone knows how many great ideas come in the shower.
So, writers, for the love of all that is holy, take showers.
This actually has been proven by science, to a degree. Studies have shown that cardio exercise is an extremely affective treatment for depression and anxiety. Therapists and psychologists encourage their patients to exercise because it's good for emotional health, and I believe you need to be emotionally healthy to write.
I just clicked on your link and found out that you already know all about this… oops. Now you know again.
Does competitive cranberry eating count as exercise:
https://diningroomoffice.blogspot.com/2010/12/cranberry-wager-judgement-day_05.html
Probably not. But it did give me a week's worth of blog posts, so perhaps the effect is the same. 🙂
And I have to agree on the hot showers; I think that's one of the most effective ways to relieve both writer's block and stress.
Today I read an article that said that exercising boosted your energy and made you feel better throughout the rest of the day. That's why it probably helps with creativity. I've also read that repeated manual labor gives the brain room to think and that's how some authors get their ideas.
'I believe you need to be emotionally healthy to write.'
Um. No.
A neccessary part of my everyday writing "routine" is taking a dance class. I'm pretty sure some of my best ideas get trapped in my body(!), so I do a lot of stretching and dancing. I often find myself talking into my phone recorder on the way home as thoughts pour out. Hey, whatever works. 🙂
Nice post, Nathan! 😀 It's different from your usual posts. I don't do heavy exercise to get my creative juices flowing, but sometimes a nice long walk around the neighborhood helps!
~TRA
https://xtheredangelx.blogspot.com
Hmm… I was looking for motivation for exersising (not to mention inspiration)… now I think I've found it. 😉
Exercise totally helps lift your creativity to new heights. It helps you pick up chicks too!
You are so right Nathan! When people ask me what I do when I get stuck in my writing, my answer is always, "I ride my bike." Exercise is a steroid for creativity.
Hi Nathan,
I totally agree, just wrote 500 words in half an hour after a gym session healthy body healthy mind…I like your blog good stuff..keep it up
Several people have mentioned studies showing that exercise promotes brain health, and it's true! I just read a book on it, Spark, by John Ratey. FYI, Ratey also says that the exercise needs to be aerobic (weight-lifting, for example, doesn't help your brain). But if you want to see the studies (discussed so that non-scientists can understand them), you can find them in Ratey's book.
And yes, I find that exercise really helps me!
I don't need convincing – I've cycled over 3000 km since July and lost over 10kg. I'm in the best shape I've been since my early thirties. See new profile pic 😉
You are so on point with this post. I just started back exercising after a 6 month hiatus while writing. I hurt – literally all over, but I'm doing it again tonight (of course my kid's doing a marathon training and needs someone to be her partner – help! I see lots of pain in my future)
I used to run and loved it, but now my knees have had it, so I go for a bush walk instead. I fast-walk for an hour every day. and that's where I get most of my inspirations and ideas for plots. It never fails me. If I'm having a problem with a plot, I think while I walk.
Along the way, I see kangaroos, foxes, rundown old houses, old car wrecks and sometimes a person or kids climbing trees.
Try it, you may see some odd characters on your walk, maybe even me. I'm odd. I look like a hobbit.
Plus … it's far too easy to just sit on my butt and only exercise my fingers. Okay, okay. I'll join the gym.
While I was training for my second marathon (a walk-run plan, nothing extreme) and revising my first novel, I would take an MP3 recorder with me on runs and (breathily) talk out writing problems.
Anything (even funny looks from other folks on the trail) for art.
http://www.ashleyperez.com
Wow, I'm late to the party! The answer is, yes. Plenty of science behind it. A couple things off the top of my head:
1. Exercise puts you into a relaxed state that's more conducive to free associating and coming up with ideas. (I know it's true for a period afterwards, not sure about during, but could happen too) That's the spontaneous pathway mentioned in this article
2. Also, exercise improves bloodflow, and thus oxygen to the brain. Can't think of a specific study that shows that this blood flow makes you perform better, but it's well established that exercise prevents age related cognitive decline. So if you want to be writing into your later years, exercise!!!
My personal favorite booster is the after exercise shower. Two creativity boosters in one!
Totally agree. Exercise always helps. Days I don't exercise I feel sluggish and need naps to get through the day. I love to swim, really gets the blood pumping 🙂
Heck yes; gotta get that blood flowing. This will be HUGE next year with Write1Sub1.
Exercise helps my creativity. I do Zumba, the treadmill and the weight machines at the gym.
It clears my mind assisting in sharpening my focus on plot or characterization problems.
I'm pretty close to my fitness goals and I think that positive boost is showing in my writing.
Oh yes. My buddy did her Masters Lecture on this very topic and had a bunch of us writers get hooked on the idea of tread desks. It's not a running experience, but a slow walk. I have my tread desk set up in my writing studio and use it as well as my regular sit down desk. Walking while typing is not really hard and you forget that you are moving. I find that I crave the movement now and when I am stuck I get up and walk right there, rain or shine. I highly recommend it. Not a fad. I am very happy with it.
February Grace, I have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue so I can't always work out or exercise.
I do what I can and try not to beat myself up when its physically not possible.
Some days getting out of bed and making a cup of hot tea is all I can do.
I'm grateful for each day I'm given.
Hugs to you!!!!!
Tambra
I'm a distance swimmer, and create problems solve themselves while I go back and forth, back and forth across the pool for an hour or more. The otherwise numbingly repetitions activity uncork the creative juices.
So does sleep. When I wake up, problems that stumped me the night before are often magically solved. If I don't milk myself within an hour of waking, however, they go back into the dark place and they're lost forever.
Marigold, I dictate to my personal assistants while THEY run on the treadmill.
Sarah, put the dog on the treadmill! I only make my bed on Tuesdays, and I be a grownup only on alternate Thursdays.
Carol Riggs, I'm still trying to incorporate images of a snowy Irish suburb into my WIP set largely in the equatorial jungles of an alien planet. Though I do already have an iceberg, a glacier and hundreds of huge Yetis in my jungle. 'LOST', eat your heart out! Polar bears are nothing.
Right on, Mira! Without exercise, I could end up with a bad case of BTBFC, butt too big for chair.
Livia, what kind of a scientist are you? If you can't think of a specific study that shows what you want to show, MAKE ONE UP!
Tambra, some days getting out of bed and making a cup of hot tea can be an act of heroism.
I just came back from a run! I totally agree. I need to get those endorphins going to keep me motivated through the tuff times. In fact I need to stop eating all the holiday food that seems to be planting itself in my path lately. I feel a lot better mentally when I don't fill my diet with cookies and candy.
Yes, but sometimes resting inspires as well. For me, it's making a change–going from a quiet to boisterous room, inside to out, sitting to the stairclimber.
But most of all, it is showing up to the page. Amazingly, I may think I'm unsure where to go next, but once I'm in that dance with the keyboard or page … poof, I'm productive again.
Ah, Nathan. I do wish you were still "in the business." I recently saw another Corona for you on eBay, too…
You got me on this one.
I think exercise is as important for a writer as an open mind and sleep.
Living in your head can cause an awful lot of things to occur, including adrenaline and other build ups.
When I was a kid in college, I found I studied best for tests by doing push-ups. Years later, when learning a new language (Spanish) in my 30s, I did the same and it worked again.
I some days hate going to my Taekwando school for a work out. But every time I do, I love how I feel afterward. All sorts of frustrations released, ideas sparked, head cleared with a fresh sense of preparedness.
I'm a big fan of martial arts for exercise, as it involves discipline, like writing, and self-improvement, and occasionally testing your progress against others as well.
I hope to live as long as Auchincloss, or at least to be as productive as long as him.
At my current rate, I have to. I'm in reasonable physical shape (except for a recent altercation with a minivan, which has me on injured reserve until my torn knee ligament heals), but no longer a bright young star just below the horizon or under 40. So, to achieve my writing goals, I'll probably have to survive at least as long as Auchincloss.
Of course, to achieve my martial arts goals, I'll probably have to do the same as well–if trying for it doesn't kill me first!
I love exercising. It's invigorating and calming all at once and, for me, lets my mind be open to so many possibilites. Even just walking through the city is stimulating. I look at people I pass and make up little stories about them. It's fun.Also, without exercise, I'd really look blubby!