[being a writer you need] to take care of yourself… because writing can be really hard… for my writing I deal with topics such as PTSD and trauma and that affects you mentally as well…. Having a daily exercise routine is also important [to support your writing routine]. I practice yoga and go for walks.
NGUYỄN PHAN QUẾ MAI
In this episode, Vietnamese-born author Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai discusses her writing routines, making a particular emphasis on the ways we need to take care of ourselves as writers. In her novel, The Mountains Sing, Quế Mai dealth with complex topics such as war, torture and family trauma; her writing process wasn’t always easy and because of that she was keen on supporting her mental and physical health.
Even if you don’t write about such difficult issues, writing can still be taxing at times. What do you normally do to take care of your physical and mental health in between writing sessions?
Listen to this extract to find advice on:
- How a writing routine can help you when writing difficult pieces.
- Yoga and a writing routine.
- Taking care of your mental health as a writer.
My ideal writing day would be waking up very early and not having social media when I wake up… writing in the morning and reading in the afternoon and the evening.
NGUYỄN PHAN QUẾ MAI
Connect with Quế Mai:
Website / Twitter / Instagram / FaceBook
The Wandering Bard podcast is also available on Spotify. You can also find us on Twitter at @TheWBmag.
THE WANDERING BARD 