Calling in the Experts
Does your writing need some physical therapy?
I am headed back to physical therapy this week.
I’ve had a nagging lower back issue. When I was in physical therapy for another issue a few years ago, I mentioned it to the therapist during one of our sessions. She kindly added some exercises to help, but it never totally resolved the pain. Our time for the original issue ended and I thought perhaps my back just needed time. After all, that had worked on a hip issued I’d been in PT several years prior (have I mentioned how fun being in your 40s is?).
I tried to make-do.
I rested when it flared. I stuck to exercises I knew would be gentle. I skipped things that caused long lasting pain. And while the pain never really went away (except this winter when I was practically bed bound with pneumonia—not exactly the solution I was hoping for), I found ways to work around it.
Until recently.
I’ve set some new health and exercise related goals as I look to age well in this second half of life. I upped my steps and increased my weight training.
I settled into a daily exercise routine and my pain started to make itself known, a warning I was pushing too hard.
But the thing is, I wasn’t pushing too hard. I had worked up gradually post pneumonia. And I wasn’t training for a marathon, for goodness sake. Just walking three miles a day and doing 30 minutes of (so far) light weight training a few days a week.
I Googled my area of pain, self-diagnosed, and added a few exercises I found to hopefully help.
That worked until it didn’t.
My body yelled STOP. After a four mile walk, I ended up practically in tears, unable to move without pain.
Despite my Dr. Google credentials, I came to terms with the fact that I am not an expert.
Sure, I could piece together some advice and muddle through, but I couldn’t quite get over the pain hump. Add in the reality that this issue was now impeding other health and wellness goals, it was time to make a change.
I went straight to an actual orthopedic doctor with medical training beyond entering keywords in a search engine. He listened, took me seriously, examined me, and made an actual plan to treat my specific issue.
First stop, PT.
I love physical therapy.
One-on-one interaction with someone who knows their stuff, listens to how my body responds, and teaches me what I need to know for my body – it’s the best self-care there is.
Physical Therapy: It’s a lot like book coaching.
You knew I was going to loop back around at some point, right?
As a writer, you can (and should) take workshops, go to classes, read articles and craft books, talk to writing friends, learn from your favorite stories.
But at some point, you may hit a wall, preventing you from making further progress.
Like my back pain, there is a moment when you realize that maybe cobbling writing education together from craft books, podcasts, and even newsletters like mine isn’t going to cut it anymore.
Because these pixels aren’t a flashlight that can find your specific problem. Or suss out the nuance of your particular block.
You might need a little one-on-one guidance. Personalized attention. Someone to sift through all the knowledge gained from lectures and workshops and determine what is working for you and what isn’t. Someone who will listen to your goals and help you create a plan of exercises to get you there.
Just like a physical therapist.
I can already hear you — but I should be able to figure this out!
Writing is tricky like that. Yes, there is innate talent involved. And with the Internet at our fingertips, we certainly feel we should be more than capable of finding and self-teaching ourselves the answers.
And we can. You can.
To an extent.
But at some point, we need some outside perspective. A two-way conversation. Reassurance.
The Diagnosis
When I finally went to the doctor for help, he took x-rays to look at the big picture. Assured me there was nothing degenerative or dangerous going on and made an actual diagnosis. Not a “well, this sounds like what this Instagram trainer seems to be describing maybe I should try that” diagnosis.
A book coach will look at the big picture of your work and writing style, and also make a diagnosis to help you focus on the aspects of your writing that might be keeping you from reaching your goals.
My physical therapist will get into the weeds with me, define my goals, find my pain points, create opportunities to strengthen my body to support the area and reduce pain so I can return to exercising with confidence.
A book coach will do the same–find your metaphorical pain points, help you define your goals, identify opportunities to strengthen your writing, and, in the process, reduce the struggle so you can return to writing with confidence.
You can do it on your own.
But there are professionals available who can support you and guide you to make the process not only more personal, but more productive.
You don’t have to go it alone.
Trust the experts and give your writing the personalized care it deserves.
I’m Monica Cox, a contemporary fiction writer and book coach. I offer one-on-one coaching to writers who need help in the revision or planning process of writing their novels. If you want to learn more, visit my website and schedule a free consultation to discuss your specific writing concern and how I might be able to help you conquer it.
BONUS :
I don’t know about you, but this time of year is actually busier than the holidays!
It’s a time I know I will be stretched to my limits. As a result, I’m already making plans for June to take a step back from the constant output and begin to refill my creative well once again.
This week, I stopped by the Writers Helping Writers blog and offered some tips on how to refill your creative well with the concept of Artist Dates. I share some of my favorites.
What you do when you need to refill your creative reserves?