Dealing with the nerves

[Michael Hopcroft]

I have a book cominbg out this weekend (see my board for details) and I've got a bad case of the pre-release stage fright blues. With so much at stake (this is my first actual new book of 2003 due to various things) and so much possibilkity of failure, I'm wondering how I'm going to deal with the next two days before I get my hands on the PDF and upload it to RPG Now.

It doesn't help that I'm out of diet soda.... 8^)

How do you guys cope with the anxious last few days before your product is made available to the public?

[Mike Holmes]

Breathe in, Breathe out, repeat.

Watch some TV.

Mike

[clehrich]

I'm having a cow myself, with my first book coming out in September and nothing for me to do about it before then.  Not that I'm succeeding in dealing with it all, but I recommend working on something else entirely.

And watching a lot of TV.

Chris

[C. Edwards]

Watch some TV.

And watching a lot of TV.

Bah! Get out and hike, run, bike, whatever. Physical exertion always helps take my mind off issues that are bothering me and endorphins have that wonderful uplifting, yet calming, effect.

-Chris

[Valamir]

Play.  Do some gaming that has nothing whatsoever to do with any project your involved with.

[Dav]

Three options:

1. Sex

2. Booze

3. Sex



Dav

[Adam]

Option 4, which isn't as much fun:

4. Who has time to sit around while one book comes out? Gotta be workin' on the next book, and the next book, and the next book...

Best,
Adam

[Paganini]

Hey Michael, I'm with you man. I'm a performing artist... nerves? I know about nerves. :) I've found that Chris and Mike are (sort of) right on the money. I practice Tai Chi, and I've found that the breathing exercises really help calm the mind. Plus, the meditative aspects of the actual martial art help keep your mind clear and focused and settled, which also helps push down those nerves.

I would seriously suggest finding some sort of internal martial art, even if there's not a Tai Chi teacher locally. Look for Aikido or Chi Gong, Ba Gua, or something along those lines.