[My Leap Year is a 12-month life project (begun 11/01/07) at the end of which I intend to be writing full-time. 365 small steps = 1 giant leap.]
I’m definitely approaching Small Step 100 here.
As promised, some thoughts on creativity and food:
October and November of last year I undertook a 40-day Daniel fast (modeled after the prophet Daniel’s fast in the Old Testament), which is essentially a form of veganism: No sugar, no caffeine, no alcohol, nothing from an animal, no processed flours, etc. So pretty much fruit, vegetables, nuts, sprouted grains, brown rice and that’s it. After an initial adjustment period, I suddenly found my mind clearer, my writing and ideas coming faster and my ability to sit butt in chair and write increased. Looking back, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that 10 days into my fast is when I started the Leap Year project. Once I returned to a normal diet, I noticed my thinking growing sluggish once again. With the start of the new year I’ve initiated the same fast and have again felt clearer of mind and been more productive than ever before (with the exception of last year’s fast, of course). So I’m learning that diet has a direct affect on creativity and writing, and am now looking to further explore the idea. I’ll share more as I learn more.
In fact, as I prepared the link above, I noticed something very interesting in the Biblical account which I’ve never observed before (emphasis mine):
“So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead. To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. (Daniel 1: 16-17, NIV)
Of course, nothing is a perfect process. It still took me a couple hours to work through a thick mental fog today and get writing on my two Image Shadowline Superheroine Contest entries. But I finished them both. I’m letting them lay fallow until tomorrow morning, when they’ll each get a polish and be sent off. I had two good friends and co-writers, both with differing but discerning tastes, give them a look and they each picked a different one as their favorite. Hopefully that will translate to the editor liking at least one of them, depending on her personality.
I also put up my new pick of the week today. Go see why you should be reading Black Summer #5
And finally, speaking of Daniels, Daniel LaFrance continues to experiment with the visual look of CARRIER. Visit his blog to hear some of his thoughts on the process behind this latest version:
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I really think it’s the vitamins. I never fasted, but I have periods when I watch my diet and others when I don’t, and I know that I have a tendency to not get that extra apple or something. And that’s when I tire out too easily and don’t get anywhere with my ideas.
Also, I’ve seen people get stupid when after they started body-building. Not stupid so much as one-sided, narrow.minded. I blame the diet they’re on to build up body mass, but not to their faces. For one, it wouldn’t help, once you’re down that road. Also, they could beat me up.
Yeah, there’s always a lot to consider when thinking or talking about diet. A change in diet for one reason or another (clear-mindedness, body-buildong, etc.) will still affect every other area of your life. Food is essential.
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