The Writer Whisperer

I just found my new words to live by—in PetCo. I had to buy a Ph test kit for my kid's aquarium (for months the water's running acidic, and then I give it a little NaHCO3 goose and it jumps to pure-blue alkilinity—I figured I should buy a new test in case the old one was going whacky, but no) and while I was standing in line I started reading a poster advertising a new book by this guy who calls himself the Dog Whisperer. Three big words, his guiding principles, across the bottom:



EXERCISE. DISCIPLINE. AFFECTION.



And I thought, "That's what I need." I roll out of bed and go straight to my computer—until after Labor Day, when I'll roll out of bed, wake my kid up, drive him to school, and then go straight to my computer—check my email to make sure I still exist and didn't fade away during the night, mess with my Facebook page (which of course I only use to "promote my work"), check Google News ("Oh my God McCain's closing the gap again!"), and go to my blog pages and Red Room to see if anyone's commented. Somewhere in there I'll drink coffee, maybe eat something, and walk the dog. Then maybe I'll blog about how I'm not getting enough work done. For some reason.


      But these are things that I know from experience make me feel better and lead to more productivity: Running. (Lately I've been using the old "I'm too busy" excuse. Except that I secretly know that when I was running every other day months ago, 30-70 minutes per run, I was getting more work done than now.) Having to do work now because I have a deadline. (Best thing I've ever written was the Men of Tomorrow screenplay, up against the wall of the Guild strike.) And community. (In person, not electronically mediated. Sharing pages with writers. Meetings of this spiritual group I'm in. Talking to my family without a computer on my lap and one eye on the screen.) 



      Exercise, discipline, and affection make me happy, relaxed, productive, and well-behaved. But by some perversion of personality or old habit I pull toward indolence, chaos, and isolation. I need somebody to show up with a leash, that's all.