More Life Than Writing

If you’ve been following this blog for a while (Thanks!) or if you’ve glanced through the earlier stuff, you might have noticed that recently I am dropping more posts into the “Life” category than the “Writing” category.

Even if you haven’t noticed such a thing, I have.

Does that mean that I don’t have any more to say about writing? No, I don’t think that’s the case.

I think that, lately the things that I’ve wanted/needed to talk about are more applicable to the bigger picture. It’s been a hard time for everyone these past few years,. I won’t say that creative folk have been harder hit, but that’s the majority of people that I follow on The Socials, so that’s who I’m hearing from.

And what I’m hearing is that the work is still there (It will always be there) but the cycle of focus has shifted. Self-care, Mental Health, and just figuring out where your life is at the minute has come to the fore.

Maybe it should always be there, because I’m seeing some truly beautiful, and inspiring things. I see love and support and empathy and people seeing other people where they are.

And don’t get me wrong. I also think that discourse about the art and craft of writing is important, and it should be present as well. There’s no reason why they cant exist in the same space.

But I think that the pressures of the world – and there are pressures – and our collective responses to them have shifted our perspective.

And I don’t think that’s a bad thing.

As Stephen King puts it: Life isn’t a support system for Art. It’s the other way around.

So if you’re feeling like you’ve got nothing left in the tank after Living…That’s ok. You’ve done what you could. Tomorrow, or maybe the next day, or even the few after that…you’ll find that you’ve got a bit of breathing room for the Art. Take it when you get it. Trust that things will find their balance. Use this focus on life to examine yours. Maybe you can speed up the state of equilibrium by shifting some stuff off the scales.

Ultimately, without You, there’s none of Your Art – whatever it may be. Take care of that first. The rest will follow.

Thanks for reading. Be safe out there. Be Excellent to Each other – and yourself.

I’ll see you on Thursday.

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Weird Wild West

Trials

Predators in Petticoats