I have often wondered about the theory of “Survival of the Fittest,” and how it applies to modern life. In current times, we have a lot of help in surviving, even if we are not very fit. You might not live a long, healthy life, but many people can survive for a very long time in a sickened, weakened state. My thinking on the subject is that you do not have to be fit to survive in the 21st century. On the other hand, you have to be fit to really thrive.
So, what does fitness mean these days? First, it means physical fitness. As a writer, I could sit around all day, pecking at the keyboard and never getting off my desk chair. Some writers do this and still succeed at writing. The problem is, they cannot fully enjoy their success if they do not take care of their health.
The truth is that physical fitness can help you build your brainpower. Doctors and researchers have known for years that mental health is enhanced by exercise and a healthy diet. It stands to reason that, no matter how you use your mind, it will serve you better if you keep those brain chemicals happy to get the most out of your mental processes.
Mental fitness is also important to thrive. Many writers feel that a touch of madness, despair or hopelessness can bring them to a place where their writing is more passionate and relatable. Maybe it works for them, but for me it seems better to be mentally fit as well as physically fit. Your thoughts and feelings need not be depressed or disturbed to write well. In fact, you have more control over your writing if your mind is functioning at its best. And, your passion is more sustainable if you are in an emotionally sound frame of mind.
The way I exercise my mental capacities is to write nonfiction. Specifically, I am working for Internet copywriting services. My favorite, and the one I am most loyal to, is Article Write Up. There, the atmosphere is more personal and meets the writer’s needs more fully. Article Write Up is also a place where the client’s needs are the first order of business. It primes the pump for better fiction writing.
I write for a number of copywriting services. It is not a glamorous job, but one where I have to write according to someone else’s standards. This is helpful to me, because it keeps me honest. I cannot tell myself “grammar does not matter” or “it does not matter who reads my writing; as long as I keep at it, I will eventually succeed.”
Instead, I am quite aware that I have an audience, and my audience expects me to follow certain conventions. This audience wants particular things from my fiction. It is not a matter of sacrificing freedom of expression. It is simply a matter of meeting your readers’ basic needs.
The most important need the reader has is to have questions answered eventually. Not every question must be completely spelled out, but it needs to be addressed in some way. If you set up a contract with the reader, she will be happier if you follow through in some way. In “Loving the Missing Link,” I started out with a great story, but one that left too many questions unanswered.
Now that I have worked in nonfiction, I have learned to satisfy the client (reader). In fiction, I do not have the same commitment to doing what the reader wants, but I do have to keep her interested. I have a goal to meet, and my healthy passion will help me reach that objective. Survival of the fittest may no longer be true, but I plan to thrive in writing through my physical, mental and emotional fitness. The plan seems to be working well. At least, I know I will have the capacity to finish if I take care of my needs as well as the readers’.
lovingthemissinglink 