This is Kiam Wylant and you're listening to the 109th episode of the word play podcast.

Speaking physically, you'd think riding would be one of the easiest jobs in the world.

It sure beats road work, right?

But this week my body not only feels like it spent the last seven days in an orange vest and hard hat,

it also feels like it got run over by one of those steamrollers that are usually driven by the big gnarly guys who wear those orange masts and hardhats.

Between a nagging repetitive stress injury in my wrist and a nasty stiff neck, I'm about

ready to insist writing be referred to as a high-risk job.

When we lays about in a desk chair every day, it can be easy to forget that riders need to pay attention to their health

just as much as anyone else.

The good news, however, is that however bad our carpal tunnel or stiff backs may get,

they're probably nowhere near as bad as the suffering we gleefully inflict on our characters.

The August issue of my e-letter hit inboxes last week.

It included the usual roundup of inspirational quotes, creativity jump starters, and helpful links,

as well as the article, the two most important tricks to build suspense, and my response

to a subscriber's question about using real life people and places in fiction.

If you're not receiving the e-letter and would like to, you can sign up for my mailing list on my website at

K-M-Y-L-L-L-O-C-C-O-C-O-C-M-N-T-M-N-L-P-E-H-P. You can read back issues online at K-lan.com slash eletter-issues.

P.H.P. The cure-all for long and boring narrative.

The latest post in the video series on my blog shows how Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory's

fantasy, The Outstretched Shadow, cleverly tricked readers into being fascinated by their lengthy

informative narrative.

You can watch the video on my blog at wordplay-KM-Yland. blog spot.com.

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