This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Today we have a very unique and slightly dangerous writing room today from CJ Lyons! CJ is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling thriller writer. You can find out more about CJ's books here.
My Writing Room by CJ Lyons
During my 17 years as a pediatric ER doctor I faced down gang-bangers, drunk guys three times my size, bomb scares, fires, two hard landings in helicopters, and numerous irate parents. I even once came face to face with a serial killer.
None of that is as dangerous as my new profession of full-time thriller writer.
No, I'm not talking about when I go out to shoot really big guns with SWAT lieutenants. Or when I rappel down eight story fire towers. Not even when I drive into bad neighborhoods to check out the latest trends in gang culture and graffiti.
I'm talking about sitting. Since I became a full time writer I now spend fourteen hours a day at a computer. Sitting.
Studies have shown that lack of activity, sedentary life styles, and yes, sitting, are serious health risks and can lead to diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and other health problems. Not to mention obesity.
How to decrease my risk? I've invested in a few simple lifestyle changes. First, I keep hand weights beside all my favorite writing chairs. That way if I'm sitting, thinking about a scene, I can at least be working on my upper body strength.
I also try to do more work standing up, although I've found that's hard on my wrists and arches. So I have a new favorite writing tool: my FitDesk.
This small, portable exercise bike has a desk built in and is perfect for working at my laptop. I don't get an intense aerobic workout, but I at least know that while I'm sitting and typing, I'm keeping my legs moving and burning calories.
Think of it as a Kevlar vest for writers. Or at the very least life insurance that will hopefully keep me healthy for many books to come!