So last month, I talked about participating in NanoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) with two books, alternating or working on whatever book I felt like working on. And at the time, it seemed like a perfectly reasonable, doable plan. Especially since I wasn’t planning on trying to make the usual 50,000-word goal.
And then November actually hit.
For the first half of the month, I had a lot going on with work, which is fine — I never complain about money coming in — and I figured, okay, this first half is a wash. Maybe I can just do Nano for the second half then.
I’m chuckling to myself because it’s the 21st, 9 days from the end of the month, and I have yet to write a single word. I haven’t even written a poem. Nada. Nothing.
So what the heck happened?
Life happened. Life.
Life stress. Health stress — nothing serious, but just enough to cause some…fun motivation issues. Chronic extreme fatigue being one. I’m still battling that. The holidays are approaching, which are their own unique brand of stress. Things are imploding.
The thought is there, but every time I think about actually, you know, actually writing, my muse side-eyes me and says, Seriously? In the middle of this freaking mess? Have you lost it? And I sigh and set the thought aside yet again. It’s pretty awful, because my main way of dealing with stress is…you guessed it…writing.
And I haven’t consistently written for years now. At least three or so, maybe longer. I miss those days. I desperately want to get back to them. My cards suggest a rebuilding and a new perspective on it, so I am working on that. But for now…I need to get some things in order. Namely my health. And my office needs a serious cleaning, which is in progress.
So, yeah. Not the best news. But hey, I did sit down and do a small batch of poetry submissions a few weeks back. I have more I’d like to send out. Just trying to find the time. And of course, finding the time to write more poetry has been a challenge as well.
But…Thanksgiving is in two days. I am thankful for a lot of things: namely my dear friends and family, the ability and love of writing and language, the poetry and writing communities, my health even though it’s not perfect, and all the things I probably take for granted but am blessed with: a home, food to eat, clothes, modern conveniences, etc.
And soon we’ll be heading into Christmas and then…2024.
Hopefully things will be better soon. I shall make it so!