You see it all the time, this “romanticized” vision of the writer: back slumped over the desk, fingers blistered from hammering on the type writer, bottles of wine or liquor balanced on a manuscript, five o’clock shadow finding its place on the chin, the ember of a cigarette lighting up a half-sunken face with dark eyes and a slack-jawed expression.
Take care of yourself. Seriously.
It’s one thing to be committed. It’s another thing to skip bathing and general hygiene. Nobody wants to smell your funk, hippy, and certainly no agent does.
Certain substances can put you from a non-writing mood to a writing mood. Great. Don’t get addicted. Be careful. “Some of the greatest writers worked off the sauce.” Yeah, and how old were they when they died?
Floss.
Take a walk. Eat well. It may not sound like much, but trust me. Exercising generates endorphins, endorphins make you happy, happy makes you want to write more. Not having to pause between sentences to run to the bathroom because your digestive system is jacked can also be a plus.
bohemian.on.rye 