Life as a Writer: My Daily Journey Through Words and Wellness
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Daily Rituals of a Writer
Being a successful writer often seems like an ideal profession! If you resonate with this sentiment, continue reading…
Each morning begins with a routine dictated by my doctor—taking my blood pressure. Today’s reading is a reassuring 116/55, a sign that it’s going to be a positive day! I take a moment to express gratitude for another day of life. Although I have not yet achieved all my goals, I remind myself of my progress and thank God for bringing me this far.
I start by journaling, repeating my daily affirmation: "I am a child of the most high God. I embody light and love." This affirmation means so much to me that I even created merchandise to inspire others! Afterward, I feed the feral cats, which has become a small ritual that motivates me to get moving each day.
Next, I check my email, quickly deleting about 90% of it. I make sure to keep Medium Digest and other subscriptions that pique my interest. One article by Roz Warren, a writing coach I admire, stands out today—her humor and wisdom always resonate with me. I also enjoyed a blog post by Ciler Demiralp about Veronica Llorca-Smith, prompting me to buy Veronica’s book series, The Lemon Tree Mindset.
I appreciate how many Substack authors also write for Medium; I often tag them in my posts. I think it would be beneficial for one platform to acquire the other for a more seamless experience. While I enjoy both platforms, Substack seems to attract more budding writers eager for tips and success stories. I share a monthly marketing newsletter for Indie Authors on Substack and am contemplating a weekly update for my paid subscribers. Overthinking is my forte, but it would be nice to monetize it!
After spending some time writing this blog post, I wonder if it will hold enough interest to warrant a book someday. #dreamer
A Health Journey
To combat the side effects of an antibiotic I’m taking for a UTI caused by Jardiance, I drink a probiotic. This medication has successfully lowered my A1C from 11 to 8.3 over a few months, although the side effects can be alarming, especially concerning necrotizing fasciitis. It raises the question: why can the cure sometimes feel worse than the ailment?
I also check my blood glucose with a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), which I adore for its convenience compared to daily needle pricks. My reading is 186, signaling it’s time to eat so I can take Metformin to manage my blood sugar. It’s frustrating how my levels can fluctuate without consuming anything. I am determined to reverse my diabetes through healthy eating, but it feels like an uphill battle.
I applied for a remote blogging position at Publishing.com, especially since my earnings on Medium last month totaled only 49 cents. I’ve long admired the Mikkelson Twins and their success, and I’m eager to learn from them. Their courses and new AI publishing app would be fantastic perks, but it’s unfortunate they lack an affiliate program—someone is bound to click that link!
Finding Balance and Creativity
11 AM arrives quickly! I remind myself to take breaks and stay active. One of the challenges of being a writer is overcoming procrastination and prioritizing movement. Sometimes, I even set alarms to nudge me. I can’t believe three hours have passed without working on my historical fiction book, which I plan to present at the Taylor University Professional Writers Conference this week. I’ve rewritten this story countless times since its inception in 1998, and I’m eager to share it with the world.
Lunch is a delicious stir fry enjoyed outdoors while grounding myself—connecting spiritually to the earth beneath my feet. Naturally, I post a photo of my plant-based meal on Instagram to share with my followers. I know that increasing my social media presence is crucial for growing my audience, but I sometimes struggle with the fear of failure and comparison. However, on days like today, I feel inspired to share everything and express my creativity to avoid stagnation.
I subscribed to Ciler Demiralp’s Newsletter Circle to gain insights on growing and monetizing my Indie Author Insider.
1:30 PM brings a moment of practicality—placing a stop sign at the end of our driveway to deter random visitors. Our home is situated at the end of a road by the river, which naturally attracts curiosity. Most often, it’s friends of my husband who surprise me with visits without any notice. Men!
I took a break to watch a video by Meet Kevin discussing the latest political happenings. Although I’m not particularly fond of politics, current events have piqued my interest. Kevin suggests that Barack Obama’s endorsement may be crucial for Kamala Harris’s presidential ambitions. It’s a thrilling time in history!
After proofreading this blog post multiple times to catch any typos, I appreciate the text-to-speech feature on Medium. It’s a helpful tool; after sharing the draft link, I can listen to my writing and revise as needed. Eventually, I publish the post, only to discover a typo I missed during my countless edits. The cycle of editing continues!
3:15 PM finally sees me diving into my historical fiction novel. I play my Venetian Nights playlist while writing, which I curated specifically for this project. My greatest wish is for this book to achieve success and to be transformed into a movie, drawing visitors to Mounds State Park for their Venetian Nights event. Yet, a lingering fear of failure remains, especially if I don’t finish the story. I encourage myself—keep pushing forward!
To be continued…
Kathy Gerstorff is an award-winning poet, bestselling author, creative entrepreneur, and founder of the Indie Authors Association. She is passionate about writing and publishing books for meaningful causes. Kathy has published several anthologies, including Break The Cycle, Naturally Yours, Remember When, Nature Matters, SCARS, Who Told You That, and Lighthouse 117. When she isn’t engaged in writing or assisting indie authors, you can find her reading, swimming, hiking, gardening, or planning her next travel adventure! Discover more about Kathy and her creative projects at writerkat.com.
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