13 Comments
User's avatar
Charlotte Rains Dixon, MFA's avatar

I am walking with:

--Finding the joy in walking again! I've had intense pain in my calf for over a year which was solved by a simple surgery.

--The joy in writing my novel. The story was stubborn and it took me a bit to find its shape. But this draft is roaring along!

--Joy in the above two joys!

Thanks for this lovely post.

Barbara ONeal's avatar

Love the renewed joy!

Terry Odell's avatar

I'm at 13K words after being at 13K words, then cutting to 3K words when I wasn't happy with where my heroine was going. Playing jigsaw puzzle/Lego/Tetris putting things back together because I was fine with where my hero was going. I stare out the window.

Barbara ONeal's avatar

Laughing with you.

Yvonne Maximchuk's avatar

I love how you portray or maybe even embody the creative process in such a grounded and grounding way; demonstrating the feeling of being within in the actualness of it. I've been somewhat critical or dismissive even of the part of my writing process that does not show 'word count' results; the gestation of story, then enough words to be 'book' just takes as long as it takes but after a few books I do actually have a belief that this part will end. Am in the middle of a health -required pause at 27,000 words give or take, and anxious to get back at it but fearful I've lost the impetus....

Barbara ONeal's avatar

It will be waiting for you, Yvonne. Just take the time you need to heal.

Angela L Hoy's avatar

Thank you for reminding me about the ceiling--and the basement. I absolutely love Santa Fe and firmly believe it gives visitors more than they anticipate. The timeline is the question, as the gifts may come later on.

Barbara ONeal's avatar

Agree with you on Santa Fe. There is creative magic in the air. One of my favorite places.

Susan Setteducato's avatar

Your words are so helpful to this writer,! You normalize what looks from the outside like zoning. My husband, thankfully, gets this. Enjoy Santa Fe. Magical land.

Barbara ONeal's avatar

It’s good to have an understanding husband.

Sharona Nelson's avatar

Thank you for this piece! Useful methods I had never thought about. Awesome.

Walking with:

--Considering finishing my mid-90s tech suspense, even if I never sell it. (I have not written fiction in quite a while.)

--Making needed improvements in my diet, doing the cooking.

--Enjoying the Kentucky spring in all its variety.

Barbara ONeal's avatar

Kentucky spring is a sight to behold, for sure! Go for it on the thriller. Why not?

Yvonne Navarro's avatar

I love Santa Fe. I had one of the best Indian dinners I've had in my life at a restaurant there.