Today's cross-training for writers guest post is by author Kristina McBride, author of One Moment and Tension of Opposites. Learn more about Kristina and her books at www.kristinamcbride.com   

Q. 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.   

A. Hanging out with my two children (ages 5 and 7) often feels like a sport. And an art...

As a kid, I collected a few things. Stamps. Pennies. Rocks.

But as an adult, I've never been a collector. I have enough trouble keeping track of and organizing the items in my life I have to have--tax records. A computer. Clothes. I can't imagine curating and managing a collection.


(I do have a large assortment of books--eight large bookshelves worth, in fact. Plus books stacked on tables, on the floor, on my desk... but that's not a collection. That's a requirement. Rather like breathing.)

At some point, I remember hearing someone say that three of anything constitutes a collection. So, I've studiously made sure not to personally gather more than two of anything.

Until now.

In the photo above, you see THREE bobbleheads.

Uh oh. Looks like I have a collection after all.

Today's author guest post on 'Cross-Training for Writers' is by Marci Nault, whose debut novel, The Lake House (Gallery/ Simon & Schuster) was a Chicago Tribune, Cape May Herald, CBS, and Amazon Premier summer read pick. Originally from Massachusetts, today she can be found figure skating, salsa dancing, hiking and wine tasting around her home in California. Marci is the founder of 101 Dreams Come True, a motivational website that encourages visitors to follow their improbable dreams. Her story about attempting to complete 101 of her biggest dreams has been featured in newspapers and magazines nationwide, and she regularly speaks on the subject on radio stations in both the United States and Canada. She’s also the owner of www.Elegantbridaldesigns.com, a couture lingerie, dress, and jewelry store. To learn more go to www.marcinault.com or www.101dreamscometrue.com. 

"I have so much work, ideas are storming in my brain, so today I’m going to get up, walk to my desk, and begin work early. There’ll be no skating this morning because it takes up too much time and I don’t have the space for it."   These are the words I say when a deadline is looming, but more often than not, four hours later I’m staring at my computer, nothing has come out, and I’m realizing that I would’ve returned from figure skating already.

I love this little turtle candle holder., for several reasons:

• My youngest daughter gave it to me years ago, when she was a little girl. She went on a school trip to Florida to swim with manatees, and brought this back for me. So the candle holder reminds me of her.
• It's perfect for holding non-scented votive candles, which I light when I write. When my attention, self-discipline or confidence start to go astray, I can focus on the little flame burning away.
• And the little flame makes me think of the childhood song, "this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine," as well as the admonition to not keep one's light under a barrel. My writing is my little light, which I try to use to create stories as a gift to others.
• The turtle also makes me think of the fable, 'the tortoise and the hare.' Yes, I know that a turtle isn't the same critter as a tortoise, but thinking of that fable reminds me of another admonition: "slow and steady wins the race." And since working on novels seems to be a VERY sloooow process for me, I like to think that eventually, I'll finish the novel I'm working on!

By the way, the notebook the turtle candle holder is sitting on? The journal for my current work-in-progress!