My system is out of whack. My diet has been on the disabled list for about a week. Blame it on an Easter candy binge--one chocolate bunny for my daughter's basket, one for her boyfriend's basket, one for hubby's basket, and one for me. . . . Imagine baskets full of candy, and you get the idea.

The problem doesn't stop there. Other areas of my life are out of control. My reading diet has been poor as of late, and that affects my writing. An informed writer is an avid reader.

So how does reading help your writing? The subconscious mind picks up on things the conscious mind isn't even aware of, such as sentence structure, pacing, plot devices, word usage, and so much more. Reading is one way to keep your writing muscle in shape. 

Oh, and for another great "writing workout" here's something else to try. Writing.
 
Now it's time for me to follow my own advice!  

I have been out of it these last few days. Instead of “Chicken Soup for the Writer’s Soul,” it’s been more like “chicken soup for the writer.” Period. Pots and pots of it. Add to that bagfuls of cough drops. (No, I don't mean add the cough drops to the soup!) The smell of menthol and eucalyptus doesn’t do much for my creativity. I’m tired. I’m crabby. I don’t feel like being writerly. My work piles up as I blog. . .

Through all of this, though, I find that a few words on paper is better than the blank page. Besides, I hear blank-paged manuscripts aren’t selling well these days.

No, I'm not talking about the book by Charles Dickens. I'm talking about my outlook concerning the entries that arrive here daily at The Write Helper HQ. I've just finished judging the Dead of Winter Nonfiction Contest, and I can tell you I was thoroughly pleased with the results. As I said in my comments on the contest page, this is the first contest I have ever judged where not one of the entries landed in the "no" pile. That's saying something. The work coming in is of a higher caliber, and I'm proud of the writers who took the time to enter. They did well!

Entries for our Novel Beginnings 1st Chapter Contest are trickling in, and as the deadline draws closer, more envelopes will find their way to my mail box--and my email inbox as well. If you are currently writing a novel, try entering the first chapter. If you've been thinking about starting a novel, here's your opportunity to not only enter a contest, but receive feedback on your opening. Perhaps this is your first attempt ever at writing a novel. Be brave. At The Write Helper, we are here to offer friendly, encouraging advice for those in this lonely business called writing.