Addiction: The Good Kind

Posted on April 27, 2015 by Ann Roth

I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m an addict. I love every one of my addictions, and am eager to share them with you. In no particular order, here they are:

1. Writing

If I don’t write something every day, I feel… odd. I enjoy writing. Focusing on writing anchors me. Steadies me. Makes me sing inside. Even when the writing is going badly. Well, that isn’t quite true. When I get stuck and can’t write another word until I get unstuck, I angst for hours, sometimes days, hashing over what to do to fix whatever the problem may be.

During this time, don’t expect me to be in a good mood. Trick I have learned over the years to get unstuck: jot down ideas, no matter how ridiculous they seem, get away from the work by doing something totally unrelated, phone a close writing friend for input. From experience, I have learned that the solution will always come… in its own time.

2. Reading

Three of the six bookshelves in my home. The top two are in my office, and include my own books, some of my keeper books (books I reread occasionally and can’t part with) and reference books. The bottom photo is in the family room.

My husband is an avid reader, too, and we have three more bookshelves and a window ledge or two filled with books. Don’t even ask about the books on my e-reader…

3. Coffee

As a naturally caffeinated woman :), I don’t NEED coffee, but I like everything about this drink, from the smell, to the ritual of grinding and brewing, to the taste. I also love treating myself at Starbucks, which I do once or twice a week.

4. Exercise

These are three of my newest exercise T-shirts. Exercise keeps me in shape and makes me feel terrific, and I work out six mornings a week. As you may know from my post last week, I also try to squeeze in a midday walk whenever possible.

Some of my most creative thoughts occur when I’m moving. Don’t ask me why, but I suspect all that physical activity occupies my brain, which allows my subconscious mind to jump to the forefront with really cool ideas.

5. Chocolate

I can’t do without chocolate. I try to keep it to a minimum, with a square after dinner. But sometimes (who am I kidding: a LOT of the time), one little square is not enough. I like all kinds of chocolate – dark, milk, with or without nuts, with or without fruit, with or without coconut…

I especially enjoy baked goods of all kinds, hot fudge sauce, chocolate malts, candy… Really, all things chocolate.

So there you have it, my top 5 addictions. I’m sure there are more, but I’ve taken enough of your time.

What are your good addictions? I would love to know, and I’m guessing others would, too!
Until next time,
Ann
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If You Want to Write… Read

Posted on January 26, 2015 by Ann Roth

The other day, I came across a quote by Jeff Goins (http://goinswriter.com/good-writers-read/) that mirrors my own belief: Nothing inspires a writer like reading someone else’s words.

If you want to be a decent writer, ya gotta read. Read anything and everything, and not just in your chosen genre. The more you read, the more you learn about the craft of writing. Grammar, sentence structure, story development, description, and so on.

Obviously, reading alone won’t get you there. Writing is a craft. Like any skill, becoming a good writer takes hard work and practice. Classes and workshops help, as well as finding like-minded people and forming a critique group. Most important, plant your behind in the chair and do the really hard stuff: the actual writing.

Writing isn’t for sissies, and don’t I know it. I’ve been writing for years, including seven long years as an unpublished author. Eventually persistence and my willingness to grow paid off. To date I have published over 25 novels (for a list, visit www.annroth.net).

You’d think that by now, writing would come easy for me. And in many ways, it does. But as I get better at crafting stories, some things only become more challenging. My growing skills push me to dig deeper into a character’s psyche, an often painful and difficult process.

Why put myself through this? Because my character demands it. Usually the payoff is worth the effort. Unmasking hidden depths and richness that I had no idea existed leaves me awed and excited to share the treasures with you.

Until next time,

Ann

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Seeing the Glass as… A Glass

Posted on August 6, 2014 by Ann Roth

I don’t know about you, but most of the time I tend to see the glass as half full. I see it as half empty only when circumstances are completely beyond my realm, those instances when I can’t put a positive spin on something or figure out a way to change an outcome. Politics come to mind, but I don’t even want to go there.

I have found that daily rituals help me to keep my glass on the full side. Some of my daily rituals are: exercising first thing in the morning. Eating a healthy breakfast. Drinking a satisfying cup of strong coffee with a shot of half and half. Reading a motivational or inspiration saying (I especially like the ones that appear my email inbox–here are two: http://www.queenofyourownlife.com, which is weekly, and www.tut.com). And then, sitting down and getting to work–writing.

Writing stories is my livelihood. I am blessed that this work is also my passion. It keeps me grounded, almost like meditation. When I am working, I forget my problems and the dizzying list of busywork that fills my brain. You know what I mean– errands, appointments, phone calls, bills. Stuff that keeps me running here, there, and back again. Blech.

Speaking of work, it’s time to get back to it.

Until Friday, and wishing you nourishing rituals in your own life,

Ann

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