The Hypothyroid Writer: Seven daily habits that will heal your brain, feed your creative genius, and help you write like never before.
Interview Questions
Q: The Hypothyroid Writer is a unique take on writing along with a medical condition. How long did it take you to write it and do you plan on writing any similar books?
A: I started writing the book in June of this year, after joining a self-publishing program (Self-PublishingSchool.com). It was published in October after a month of preparation that included self-editing, professional editing, formatting, and book cover design. I’m hoping to streamline the process for the next book, so it won’t take quite as long to get from the mind-map and outline to launch day.
I do plan on writing several more books, though not all will relate to hypothyroidism or related medical conditions. I’m working on the next book idea right now, but I have some work to do yet to choose the best focus for it.
Q: How can writing help people suffering from hypothyroidism?
A: For me, writing has been essential for sorting out my own chaotic thoughts and making sense of what I want to learn. It also has improved my communication skills -- both written and oral. I find it’s easier to speak coherently once I’ve ordered my thinking by writing it down and making sense of it first. I need time and quiet to process what I’ve heard, read, or observed before I can integrate it into my own thinking and express it in a way that makes sense to me and others.
Writing by hand was absolutely essential to me for surviving my college years. I couldn’t just sit down to read a textbook without my mind jumping to other things. Turning the reading into a handwriting exercise -- and a hunt for information that I wanted to remember -- was the only way I could study for a test. I could do this for hours, filling out index cards. I was also far more likely to remember something I’d written down by hand.
Many people with hypothyroidism live with brain fog, which makes it harder to concentrate, process information, and remember things. Those with congenital hypothyroidism, in particular, often struggle with learning challenges and need a different approach to learning. I struggled with reading as a child, but today I’m a voracious reader. And my love of writing -- and my gratitude for all that it has done for me -- is a huge part of that.
Q: Which writers/books inspired you when writing The Hypothyroid Writer?
A: I found inspiration in several authors and their books, including Jeff Goins (The Art of Work), Hal Elrod (The Miracle Morning for Writers), Steve (S. J.) Scott (Exercise Every Day and Confident You), Barrie Davenport (Finely Tuned: How to Thrive as a Sensitive Person or Empath), Honoree Corder (Prosperity for Writers), and Joshua Becker (Simplify), among many others. These are the ones I quoted in my book (with their permission), though I’m always finding help and inspiration in a variety of books and other sources.
Q: What... Readmore
