Sunday, August 19, 2012

Indie authors CAN ward off Alzheimer's




Indie Authors CAN Ward Off Alzheimer’s!



For years medical experts have been touting the use of one’s brain to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. They tell us something as simple as working crossword puzzles or reading a book, will help keep dementia at bay.
More and more retirees are becoming self-published authors. The reason? Like me, they’ve figured it out—authors don’t get Alzheimer’s. If you’re an Indie author or thinking about becoming one, take this simple test to see how many years writing can extend the productive years of your brain.

1.     Writing a full length novel                                                                        2 years
2.     Mastering acceptable grammar and punctuation.                                    1 year
3.     Computer problems while finishing your novel.                                       1 year
4.     Computer problems while publishing your novel.                                    2 years
5.     Weeding out favorite words from your manuscript.                                 1 year
6.     Weeding out the word “that”.                                                                   2 years
7.     Finding answers to research questions.                                                  1 year
8.     Formatting your novel yourself.                                                                1 year
9.     Formatting yourself for a print copy.                                                         2 years
10. Fixing problems in your novel after publishing.                                        2 years
11. Finding a cover artist that’s inexpensive and “gets” you.                         1 year.
12. Marketing your book online using social media.                                       1 year
13. Marketing your book using social media if you’re over 55.                      3 years           
14. Publishing more than one book.                                                                1 year
15. Writing in multiple genres.                                                                        2 years
16. Posting regular blog entries.                                                                      1 Year
17. Becoming the target of cyber-bullies.                                                        3 years
18. Getting hacked on Twitter.                                                                        1 year
19. Your Facebook account disappears.                                                        1 year
20. Remembering to get your butt up off the chair every
thirty minutes to walk around.                                                                        5 years                                                                           


Dear Readers,
I hope this post encourages all of you to start writing! Think of all the extra years you can keep your brain active with just a modicum of stress. Well, maybe a little more than a modicum depending on the day of the week. And you can add a few months for trying to do a column of numbers on your blog, which, you can see, I never mastered!
            There is a small caveat to this blog: I’m not a medical professional. The above calculations are based on this author’s experience with Indie publishing. It’s not for sissies.
            Have a great week and thanks for stopping in,
Marla

19 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. HI Holly,
      Not sure why, but my first reply to you didn't take.
      Yes, I was so happy when I realized all my writing angst actually had a positive benefit!
      Keep writing,
      Marla

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  2. Marla, thanks for the review of the benefits! Add researching young people's music online and pinning fashion items on Pinterest for your heroine to wear.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hee Hee! You're right. Any new social medium attack earns at least a year! I have Pinterest on my list of things to do, signed up and that's as far as I've gotten with it. Good luck! And music? I forgot to add at least a year if you have to hunt down the holder of the rights to song lyrics to get permission to use them in your book. Took a long time to get permission to use "She's Not There," but once I found the right person, he was very nice and gave me the go ahead.
      Maybe I need another list!
      Thanks for visiting,
      marla

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  3. Writer Dave Here, Hey, Marla, that's great for my BRAIN, but what about my body???
    It's going to pot with all the STRESS!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nice to hear from you, Dave!
      The answer is #20--take time out to get your body moving! I recommend walking, it is great
      for reprogramming and clearing your head! Also for ideas. Sometime I bring along a digital
      recorder to take down thoughts.
      Hope the book is shaping up!
      marla

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  4. How much does one deduct for the drinking and smoking? Cheers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hee hee! If they add to your creative process, no deduction! Can't speak for your lungs
      and liver, however. Won't lecture on bad habits, have a few of my own.
      Thanks for stopping in, James. Keep writing!
      Marla

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  5. It sounds like my brain's going to outlive my body! Egad!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is a scary thought! But it's good to know all this mental pain actually does something positive
      for us. Keeps the old gray matter in shape!
      Nice to have you stop by,
      Marla

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  6. Time spent trying to remember the word for ... you know, that plungey thing you used to do the washing with ... or that place where you saw the eagle, begins with a D, or was it an E?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Funny! Yes, it sucks when you can't pull a name out of your head. Hate when it happens while I"m writing. All the more reason to keep using our thought processes before they get totally rusted up!
      Nice to meet you, Jo.
      Marla

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  7. Fun post - but definitely some truth in it. Tackling new technology and new ideas like self-publishing can only be good for your brain, whatever its age, although occasionally mine feels a little fried at times!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. True. I figured if something as simple as doing crosswords is helpful, the challenges of self publishing has to be a real bonus for the brain!
      Next time we feel "fried" we'll have to remember we're preserving the brain!
      Nice to meet you, Steph,
      Marla

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  8. It's hard work publishing your own book but it's even harder work promoting it and getting it to sell (which can be a morale booster even if not an economic necessity). I write for an Indie Publisher called 'Any Subject Books' (www.anysubject.com) and they relieve me of most of the promoting which is great. That way, I'm free to write which is loads more fun.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Melissa,
      Yes, promoting is another thing that has to be good for one's brain cells. It is hard work. I'll have to check out your publisher. Need to spend more time writing!
      Nice to hear from you,
      Marla

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  9. Sorry, but this is nonsense.

    I've no doubt that the mental exercise inherent in writing can help in the case of dementia illnesses, but saying that "authors don’t get Alzheimer’s" is just wrong.

    Is Sir Terry Pratchett faking, then?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 'm sorry if this offended you, Matthew.The title was meant to be catchy, not factual. I wrote the article using humor and maybe I didn't use it effectively enough. If you read my letter to readers at the end, I did claim I was NOT a medical professional. I was merely attempting to give my opinion that Indie writers use their brains a LOT, so if the experts are right about using your brain in order to keep your brain healthy, we stand a good chance of maintaining an active mental state!
      Thanks for visiting and leaving your opinion,
      have a nice Sunday,
      Marla

      Delete
  10. Made me smile, Marla. Cute tongue-in-cheek post. I loved this one "Weeding out the word “that”." lolol... Yep, "that" is a good one ;-)

    ReplyDelete

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