Three Answers

Writing. One word can carry so much excitement and angst at the mere utterance. If you are like me, and probably few of you are, writing is something that has to be worked into a schedule. For me, that schedule has nothing to do with working an eight hour a day job, but working my way around the pain of fibromyalgia and all the problems it brings. 

Fibro pain can take me away from my desk for weeks at a time, while my mind wanders and spins around the ideas floating around in my mind. Laptop? Well, my laptop works fine until I open any Microsoft Office, then nothing.  Just sits there and spins. Aggravating? you bet!

There are also times when the mind of someone with Fibromyalgia is cloudy and unclear, limiting the ability for creativity to surface and make its way to the white page. There is actually a medical term for this "cloudiness." It's called Fibrofog and it gets very foggy in here. Not a good time to write or even think about writing. Believe me, you wouldn't want to read anything I've written during the "fog," it can be so much worse than usual. 

So, my small window of physical and mental abilities leaves precious little time to get what I want to write onto paper. Thing is, there are a million other things that have been piling up during these episodes of worse-than-normal pain, or fiborfog. So, what do I do? Pray.

I heard a minister say one time, years ago, "God has three answers to prayer--YES, NO, And WAIT A WHILE. The problem is not in the waiting really. The problem comes in determining what the true answer is for you. I have to admit that sometimes the answer seems to be a no when it is really a wait a while. How do you tell the difference? No might make you feel like a failure for a while, but you go on and you don't miss the practice of writing. In fact you are pretty relieved that you have some closure. If the answer is wait-a-while, then even if you try to stop--you can't. Your mind is always on it, always creating plots and scenes in your mind wondering how it would flesh out on paper.Waiting is you cross to bear.

For those of you who get the "Yes"! Congratulations. Do your best the first time, you may not get another chance. Mostly, pray for the rest of us. We are waiting in the wings-or is that on the wings.

God Bless

Beginnig Again

Writing, well what can I say that you haven't heard before? You're right, absolutely nothing. There is nothing new in writing, no story that hasn't already been told in some form or fashion. BUT, the creativity comes in the telling. The individual's insights into the things around them and their ability to convey that message into a work of art able to woo others into their web and entertain them for hours. That's what good writing is all about.

I spent 3 months writing my first novel and the next two years perfecting. Chasing The Devil is a historical diction based on bigotry, abuse and self loathing in southern North Carolina during the early 1800's.  Afterwards, I found out about head hopping, Point of View gone awry, and  to date have yet to finish the rewrite. This is my largest project, and since it is such a large undertaking, I have continually given up hope of ever fixing it and still keep the storyline intact and intriguing as before. Cop out, I know. So, I am henceforth beginning again, from page one, and refining my novel. I will keep you updated with tidbits and snippets, but most of all whining. Come along and whine with me. I can use the encouragement of fellow writers as they face the same challenges as I.