If only the ideas would come. I wrote a flash fiction piece titled "Strange Turn" Monday that I posted to Writing.com . The first reviews are good, but since then - nothing. Every idea is either a regurgitation of something I've already written, or so cliched that it's not worth pursuing. Alas, it seems that my muse has taken a vacation, and the creative well is dry. "Strange Turn" was one last blast of inspiration before the block fell on me.
I should have expected this. I just published the last book in series that I’ve been working on for 5 years. Plus, I’m still technically recovering from that virus that knocked me out last month. I’m back to my day to day routine, but the “deeper” healing is still in progress, and I do have to watch it to ensure I don’t overdo it. And then peak season at my job just started. I should have seen this perfect storm creating a creative black hole in my life. Heck, I planned the release of Convergence and The Earthside Box Set so I’d have my book stuff done before work exploded. I also get writer’s block every time I publish. I should have known this would happen.
But another thing I know is that this will pass. It always does, and I’ll be ready to tackle short stories when it does. In the meantime, I’ll do the things that help replenish the creative well: live my day to day routine to the best of my ability, keep reading, keep researching how to write better, keep marketing my published ebooks, and enjoy other hobbies. I’ve made some good progress with my rose cutting cross stitch this week. I definitely need to make that project a priority if I want to enter it in the State Fair in October. I think that’s “doable” because I should still have time for stitching while I work on short stories. They aren’t as intense as novels, so they don’t take up nearly as much time or mental energy.
It's ironic that the thing you need to escape reality is to embrace it, fully and intentionally, to get the creation going again.
Yes, life without writing is dreadfully dull, but the muse will return. At least there are still plenty of books to read, and Game of Thrones returns for it's final season in four days. And when the muse does return and that well starts pumping out ideas again, I’ll be ready to tackle it in a new way. I pray the "short story" endeavor works this time. .
That’s all today. Take care, and have a great rest of the week.
Bye!