Much Needed Time

My fourth class with Authors Publish is coming to a close next week, and I have decided to take a few months off to focus on my own work as well as edit the 3 courses I taught to make them even better when I teach them again in 2026.

I've had so many amazing students, and hearing their success stories after taking my class fills me with happiness! I look forward to helping more budding authors develop their voice and evoke strong emotions in their readers.

It's been a thrilling experience to be on the other side, teaching others what I've learned and am still learning, but I feel I have neglected my own practice in the process. My active submissions have dwindled, and although I have 4 pieces being held (possibly for the next year, I am told!) and an upcoming story to be published this winter, I need to generate new work and get those inactive stories back out there!

The past few weeks have definitely been a strain balancing work, home, and writing, and for the first time in almost 6 years straight, I am having trouble creating new work. It's a solid enough block that even when I practice generative writing with my group and I get a few good 'nuggets', it never seems to be enough to pick up steam again. It fizzles out. So I stopped writing my Weather Watcher novel for a little while, because I certainly don't want THAT coming out in my writing. I'm so close to the end, but I know I shouldn't force it.

I am hopeful that I will come up with a few new short stories that can enliven me again.

For any of you out there in the void struggling too, know you're not alone. <3

We'll get through this.