Plot Monkeys

First of all, happy Martin Luther King day. It’s nice to have a moment to remember such a great American and such a personally wonderful man. Here’s to him and to his message.

Now…

You know, believe it or not, despite the fact that we’re not out there slinging jackhammers or delivering pizzas or lifting boxes or evading touchy-grabby coworkers or dashing up stairs or ringing up cash registers or any number of work related things, we writers really get hurt a lot.

You wouldn’t think so. I mean, most full-time writers I know do their job in their pajamas or sweats, surfing the internet for half the time they’re supposed to be working, legs kicked out on the recliner with Diet Coke and Hershey’s Kisses within easy reach. (Oh, wait, that’s just me…but I don’t think I’m that unique!)

Still, a bunch of writers I know are dealing with some serious health issues. Which is why you’re stuck with me today, rather than with Carly. You see, her doctor has given her strict orders to PUT THE MOUSE DOWN AND STEP AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER! (In James-Earl-Jones-Darth-Vader-aka-God voice!) Her neck’s bad, her shoulder’s bad, her arm’s bad. I think there’s a back issue in there, too.

You all probably know I had major back surgery a couple of years ago. And that I went through rehab this fall for tendonitis in the rotator cuff. Now, as I race to finish this last Blaze before I kick in to the Black CATs books full time, the back of my neck feels like somebody shoved a steel rod through my muscles. I can barely turn my head by the end of the day. God bless Bruce and his magical hands.

Last year, Janelle was dealing with major neck problems. Julie has had a litany of physical ailments. This year, the Advil was floating freely between our suites as all four of us griped and groaned and sought to find comfortable positions for our plotting sessions. There’s a big discussion going on right now on one of my author’s loops (hi Temptresses! ) about a whole bunch of authors dealing with this stuff.

I don’t have any pearls of wisdom to impart on how to avoid this (obviously) but I brought it up both as an explanation for why Carly’s not here, and to point out the potential hazard to other writers who hang out around here. Your back is your friend. Take care of it. Ditto your neck and your shoulder and all the other parts of your anatomy that stiffen up and revolt against being in the same position for eight hours a day while you slog through your latest WIP.

And now, I think I’ll go for a walk…if I can make it to the end of the driveway.

Anybody else have any suggestions, or war wound stories?

PS: Get well soon Carly!!