Member Spotlight: Jamie Gold

Why is writing important to you and why do you think it’s an important medium for the world?
Writing is my favorite way to express my ideas and interests and has been since I was a child. Some of the greatest contributions of humankind are the written works handed down through the ages. I like being a tiny piece of that tradition.

What are your tried and tested remedies to cure writer’s block?
Recharging my creative batteries in nature is essential for my writing, thinking, working, being. Whether it’s stepping outside my office door to savor the birds singing for a few minutes or strapping on my ruck for a Kilimanjaro 2020 training hike, I love curing all my blocks by reconnecting to the natural world.

What is your favorite time to write?
I write best in the afternoon. That’s when my energy and focus are highest. I’ve never been a morning person and like to wind down in the evening.

What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received and would like to impart to other writers?
This wasn’t writing advice so much as it was life advice, but I’ve applied it to my writing for years: “Risk being uncomfortable.” That gem was shared with me by motivational speaker Gil Eagles when I worked for him in my 20s. As I approach 60 this year, it’s more meaningful to me than ever. You can’t grow as a writer without taking creative or professional risks, especially the risk of being completely authentic and fearless. I think the same applies in just about every area of personal growth.

What excites you most about being a writer in today’s age?
I love that I can get an idea and explore it online instantaneously. There are so many sources available to us across the globe. I find that connectedness incredibly exciting.  

Jamie Gold’s Wellness by Design: A Room-by-Room Guide to Optimizing Your Home for Health, Fitness, and Happiness is out now with Tiller Press.