The last four days have passed in a pleasant haze of writing. Once I got started again, I couldn't stop. I'm very lucky to have a supportive family - and that winter weather canceled most of my other responsibilities.
Yesterday morning, I finished the first draft. It's novella length, which is what I expected, and I really love the story. I can't wait to start editing.
But, I will wait for a bit. I always take a break between completing a draft and editing. I need to step away from that world for a bit before diving back in. I also have a bunch of other things going on, so a break is necessary. I'm entering the last two weeks of a show, and I have a couple audiobooks to record. 
​Always busy - good thing I love all my jobs! 

I haven't looked at this blog in a long time. 
In March 2018 my life was completely turned on its head when my dad passed away from cancer. It was, by far, the most difficult thing I have ever had to experience, and I am still dealing with it now. We all got to be there for his last days, and we spent a lot of time together. He was the strongest person I've known, and he remained so up until the end. I miss him so much, and every day since his passing has been a struggle.
How does this relate to writing? Well, after he passed, I found myself unable to write. I was completely shattered for the first couple months and barely did anything, but in the months after that, as I slowly began rebuilding my life and trying to heal, I tried numerous times to turn to writing. Writing has always been my way of dealing with everything in my life. It's solace and meditation to put words down. Even if they do not seem tied to things in my life, the act of writing soothes me.
But, now writing was impossible. I tried, but I just couldn't do it. No words would come. I've never struggled with writing. There have been times in my life when I didn't write as much, but I always at least kept a journal. I've never had complete writer's block until this past year.
I thought I was done writing. It made me depressed, but everything was changing, and I started to accept that this might be part of the change. Maybe I wasn't meant to be a writer. Maybe I had nothing else to share. My whole life I believed I was meant to write, but most of my beliefs had been shattered. Maybe this was just part of it.
It hurt, but I decided to move on and find other ways to keep writing in my life. I began narrating audiobooks, which I absolutely love, and I figured I was at least helping out other authors. I also started reading voraciously again, and I started a blog where I review books (mostly by indie authors). I could write about other people's work, and I wanted to help authors in any way I could. 
Slowly, as I began to heal (and I am definitely still working on that), I began to have little snippets of ideas. I wrote them down, but that was it. Every time I sat down to write, the words would not come. I did begin keeping a journal again, but I did not feel that creative spark anymore.
I tried to be calm about it. I told myself that for all of 2018 I did not have to do anything. I didn't need creative projects. I didn't need to be busy. I just needed to be. Some days that was hard enough, so I approached my rebuilding with patience and kindness. Something I have never really given myself before.
With the start of 2019, something shifted. I felt drawn to writing again, and I started a few projects. Nothing took off, but it was more words than I had put down in a year. I was buoyed by this and started thinking more and more about writing. One day, an idea presented itself, and it stuck. I couldn't stop thinking about it. Then one day, I had to write it. It felt like an external force was driving my urge to write. It felt like it used to. I wrote out an outline - full story, even the ending, and then I started writing.
I'm still working on it weeks later. I know the whole story and just need to get it down. I love it and can't stop thinking about it. I'm finally feeling like myself - only wiser and with maybe a little more to say now. I think the story will end up being a novella, and I will keep this blog updated on my progress. Cannot wait to share it with the world, but for now, I am just happy to be writing again.

Where does creativity come from?

I've been floundering around between several projects for the last couple weeks. I'm getting things done that need finishing. I've been making progress, but it's so scattered that I don't feel like I'm accomplishing anything. 

I tried several times during the last couple weeks to sit down and write something, but it just wasn't happening. I don't like to think of it as writer's block. More like I just put out something I have been working on for years, and I needed some time for my creative reservoirs to refill.

Today, I had an idea. It's something that has been floating around in my head for a while now, and today I was ready to write it. I'm not sure why it all came together today, but whenever I can, I try to sit down and write when the mood strikes. I wrote a new 10 minute play this morning. There's a local playwriting contest coming up, and I think I may submit it. Why not?

​My creativity is on its way back! It just needed a little vacation.

Meanwhile, I am still putting my book out there. SuperGym: Get Fit or Die Trying is a dystopian fitness nightmare that will keep you guessing until the end. 
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