Today's "Cross-Training for Writers" is from mystery and nonfiction author Jeffrey Marks. (He also happens to be a good friend of mine!) His website: www.jeffreymarks.com 

Following, his thoughts on cross-training for writers:

Better late than never I suppose! As a way to offset the hours that I sit behind a computer writing, I decided that I needed some physical activity. Being someone who likes to multi-task, I decided to take up martial arts, thinking that perhaps in a future book I could have a character who knew the art of self-defense or perhaps like Sherlock Holmes take up the martial art of Bartitsu.

Carolyn Hart, much-beloved, award-winning author of 50 novels; the 50th, DEAD, WHITE AND BLUE (in her Death on Demand series) just came out in May. Her mysteries have won many awards, including the Agatha, and her standalone, LETTER FROM HOME, was a New York Times notable book. Learn more about this terrific novelist on herwebsite. 

Have you (or do you) engage in another art or a sport that helps you as a writer--whether that's to give you a break, re-energize you, provide inspiration?

Carolyn: "I used to jog and work out plot snarls, now I walk. Usually a leisurely walk will help me find the answer. At the moment, I am as stuck as a tethered camel in the middle of the desert. Today's walk didn't help. Maybe writing about it will be good karma."