The Write Way: Self-Care for Romance Authors

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As a romance author, I truly understand the demands and pressures that come with the craft. Writing all these captivating love stories (and sex scenes if you’re spicy!) requires immense creativity, emotional investment, dedication as well as perseverance. Lots of perseverance. However, amidst the chaos of deadlines and plot twists, it’s crucial for us romance authors to prioritize self-care. In this blog post, I’m going to talk about the importance of self-care for romance authors and look at some ways to incorporate it into our writing routines.

The Heart of Self-Care for Romance Authors

As romance authors, we pour our passion into every page and to entertain and excite our readers. But such an investment can drain our own hearts if we don’t prioritize self-care. When we do not nurture ourselves, the creative flames can dim from fatigue and burnout. I’ve seen too many posts on social media about self-published authors who have just had it. We write love, we write because we love it, but sometimes we get tired! That’s why self-care is so vital for romance writers. It allows us to recharge so our imaginations can continue creating those magical romantic tales that the readers love.

When Self-Care Takes Center Stage

Carving out true self-care time is essential, even during busy writing seasons. Make sure you consider scheduling non-negotiable blocks focused on activities that uplift and rejuvenate you as a person. Set aside authorship and whatever else you have going on in your life and just be you. Whether it’s taking nature walks, enjoying hobbies, or meditating, this time is sacred for nourishing your mind, body, and spirit. Remember, you can’t pour from an empty creative cup. Setting boundaries is also key. We have to learn when to say no and prioritize activities that bring you joy and renewal, which includes taking those social media breaks. With self-care at the center, you’ll have energy to keep your stories and characters vibrantly alive.

The journey of writing romances is a marathon, not a sprint. By caring for your own heart first, you’ll be able to infuse passion into your words. You owe it to both your readers and yourself to make self-care a priority.

Listen, I’m a mom of three, plus a dog. I am well aware that balancing writing and self-care can be a delicate dance, but with the right strategies, you can do this. The key? Managing your time properly. Create a schedule that allows for dedicated writing time as well as time for self-care activities. Mind you, that first schedule isn’t always going to work. So, what you do is experiment with different routines until you find one that works best. You might have different schedules for different days.

The point is, self-awareness is crucial in recognizing when you need a break. Pay attention to the signs of burnout or exhaustion then, give yourself permission to take time off. Taking care of yourself is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength. Guilt can often accompany taking time for self-care, especially when there are deadlines looming or a never-ending to-do list. (Don’t we all know about those to-do lists.) However, it’s essential to overcome this guilt. Self-care is an investment in your long-term success as an author. Embrace the fact that by taking care of yourself, you’re nurturing your creativity and ensuring that you stay in the mindset to keep producing.

There are numerous self-care practices that can enhance creativity and productivity in romance writing. One effective practice is journaling. Set aside time each day to write freely without any expectations or judgments. This practice allows you to process emotions, explore new ideas, and tap into your creative well.

Physical exercise is another powerful self-care practice that can boost both creativity and productivity. Engaging in regular physical activity not only improves your physical health but also releases endorphins that enhance mood and cognitive function. Whether it’s going for a run, practicing yoga, or dancing, find a form of exercise that brings you joy and make it a regular part of your self-care routine.

Connecting with other romance authors can also be a valuable self-care practice. Join writing groups or online communities where you can share experiences, seek support, and engage in meaningful conversations. Surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals who understand the unique challenges of being a romance author can be incredibly uplifting and inspiring.

Always keep in mind that self-care is not a luxury but a necessity. By prioritizing ourselves, we can maintain our mental and physical well-being, enhance our creativity and productivity, and sustain long-term success in our writing journeys. It’s crucial to create a self-care routine that works for us, set boundaries, and manage our time effectively. Remember, taking care of ourselves is not selfish but an investment in our craft and overall happiness. So, let’s make self-care a regular part of our writing routines and watch our love stories flourish.

Nurturing Your Creativity as a Romance Author

Writing heart-stirring romances requires deep wells of creativity. Luckily, self-care can help replenish your imaginative spirits. Consider these self-care tips:

Journaling – Set aside time to write freely without judgment. This emotional processing unlocks creativity. There are so many journaling prompts for authors and creatives that you can find and use.

Physical Activity – Exercise boosts endorphins, mood, and mental clarity. Find activities that energize your spirit. Walks in the woods (pretend you’re on the moors), walks in a mall, even just sitting outside in the fresh air doing yoga can help.

Community – Connecting with like-minded individuals is so important. Seek out other romance authors for support and inspiration. Surround yourself with creative colleagues.

Remember, self-care is not a luxury for you, romance author, but a necessity. By nourishing your mind, body and soul, you build a sustainable mindset to keep your creativity flowing. So make time for practices that spark your imagination and storytelling passion. Your stories, characters, and especially your readers will thank you for it!

Thank you for stopping by! What do you do for self-care? Leave it in the comments.

–Dahlia

Recipe Wednesday – Stewed Chicken with Andouille

My favorite is cold weather cooking – you can turn on the oven, the stove and warm up the kitchen with spicy aroma.

This recipe is taken from the Food Network site.

Ingredients

6 skinless, boneless chicken thighs (about 1 3/4 pounds), trimmed
Kosher salt
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 link andouille sausage (about 3 ounces), chopped
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 3/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
3 medium red potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 10-ounce package frozen whole baby okra, thawed
Juice of 1 lime
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Directions
Cut each chicken thigh into quarters (or 1 1/2-inch pieces, if large). Pat dry and season with 1 teaspoon salt. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add the chicken in a single layer and cook undisturbed until browned, about 4 minutes. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is golden brown all over, about 5 more minutes. Sprinkle the flour over the chicken and cook, stirring, 1 minute.

Stir in the broth and potatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, until the potatoes are just tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the okra and cook, covered, until the chicken and potatoes are cooked through, 5 to 10 more minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the lime juice and cilantro.

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/stewed-chicken-with-andouille-recipe/index.html?oc=linkback

Recipe Wednesday – Chicken Kiev

On occasion, this geek gal likes to try her hand at new recipes in the kitchen. I’m not a great cook, but I know what tastes good and how to alter a recipe.

Unfortunately, I also like to pick complicated recipes that try my patience. (Don’t ask why, it’s just the way I’m built – I like a challenge.)

¼ cup butter, softened
1 tbs. chopped fresh chives or parsley
2 cloves of finely chopped garlic OR 2 tbs. chopped garlic from the jar
6 boneless, skinned chicken breast halves
12 toothpicks
3 cups cornflakes, crushed to 1 ½ cups
2 tbs. fresh chopped parsley
½ tsp paprika
¼ buttermilk or milk
Salt and pepper to taste

Mix softened butter, chives and garlic. Shape the mixture into a rectangle, like a stick of butter, then freeze for about 30 min. You will be slicing this later.

Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees. Grease a 13 x 9 pan. WITH BUTTER

Pound the chicken breast halves until they are as flat as possible – ½ – ¼” thick. I salt and pepper the meat, but that’s up to you.

Get your butter mixture. Slice it into six pieces. Place one piece on the center of chicken breast half. Fold the long ends of the chicken breast over the butter, then the short sides. Secure with toothpick.

Mix cornflakes, parsley and paprika. Dip chicken into buttermilk then coat evenly in the mixtures. Place the chicken in the pan, seam sides down.
Bake for about 35 min, uncovered. Remove toothpicks.

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Music Monday – Top 5 Songs – The Police

There were five Police studio albums released between 1978 and 1983. I know this because I owned them all. For Music Monday, let’s take a trip down memory lane and name my favorite track from each of these studio albums.

Outlando D’Amour was the first album released by The Police. They “broke out” with the hit “Roxanne”. I don’t need to go into the whole story now, everyone knows what the song is about. However, while I did like Roxanne, my oh-so-favorite track from this album is “So Lonely”.

Reggatta de Blanc

Released in 1979, the hot “hit” from this album was Message in a Bottle. While I do love Message in all its iterations (the acoustic version is especially stirring), here’s my go to from this album:

Zenyatta Mondatta

The song “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” hit the U.S. charts with a bang and spent three years there. I guess….people liked it? 😉 The songs did have staying power. My personal favorite, because I know you’re waiting for it is…Shadows in the Rain. Who can resist a song that begins “Woke up in my clothes again this morning/Don’t know exactly where I am…”

Ghost in the Machine

Their fourth studio album. My pick: Secret Journey

Synchronicity

The final studio album before Sting broke out on his own, although after listening to some of the early “demos” on YouTube, it seems that The Police was mostly Sting and two guys. Regardless of who wrote what when and where, my pick from this album is Tea in the Sahara.

There you go, there it is…my five favorite Police songs!

Peace, Love, Unity

Dahlia

Movie Quotes of the Seventies – My Picks

You all know that I go on kicks, and right now is the movie quote kick. So, in order not to leave you out of my musings, here’s some seventies movie quotes that are near and dear to me. Of course, feel free to use them, share them, tweet them or simply read them and laugh, then go find the movie they’re from, cuz some of those movies were pretty good.

Either way, enjoy!

The Godfather – The best thing about this line is not only was it practical, it was also improvised. Why go through all the trouble of buy cannoli, then leave it in the car with a dead man?

Superman – Christopher Reeve, the one, the only Superman. And when he catches Lois Lane? She’s not all calm, cool and collected…who would be? This man is ….flying!!!

Anyone who has been following me the past couple of years, knows that the Dirty Harry movies are some of my favorite movies to watch. Clint Eastwood ain’t too hard on the eyes either. This is quite a long quote, but I know it by heart.

I was introduced to Animal House by my husband, late in life, but I must say…it’s a pretty funny movie. Add that to a young Kevin Bacon getting paddled and you’ve got a hit.

And finally, if you have not seen Network, you are missing out on a gem of a film. It’s not a fun film, it’ll make you think, but it’s interesting to see a movie made so long ago that actually speaks to the nature of television today.

I hope you enjoyed this little stroll down memory lane!

Dahlia