Rye Sense Of Humor

Vol. 4

It's Friday, May 15th, 2020. Most of the world has been in some kind of government or self-imposed lock down. Whether you agree with it or not, you have to deal with it.

You would think that having this time stuck at home, with kids/teens, pets, husbands/wives, neighbors you don't like... would give you time to write. Get that book finished.

Nope. I am pretty sure I spent most of the last 3 months sleeping.

Why?

I found it hard to concentrate. I found it hard to be creative. I scoured the internet for news on C-19. Looked at my symptoms on WebMD, and realized I wasn't going to die from C-19 but a rare cancer I didn't even know I had.

I ate a bunch. Not like I got super fat. Maybe the size of a Pygmy Hippo. Now my

16-ear-old daughter has me on a weekly workout schedule and gives me the evil eye every time I eat a cookie.

My schedule was turned upside down. And even now, with limited re-openings of businesses, my schedule is not what it was. I used to write every day when my kids went off to school. (Remember those days? Good times.)

However, since my kids have been home, every day, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week....I am convinced that the act of sitting at my computer and typing is a beacon to them to come and bother me.

As the quarantine has dragged on, and empty bottles of whiskey have piled up in my trash, I finally found my rhythm. I write at odd times. I'm flexible with my routine. I am a master at ignoring my kids and my husband.

I managed to finish the 50k word novella I had been working on.

Here is the cover. Not bad huh?

Back to me.

Here's my point...

It's okay to step back, nurse a hangover or take a nap to sleep it off.

As long as you realize, at some point, you have to get back in the writing chair.

Life is never going to be a regular routine. Your writing shouldn't be either. Take time you need to get your head back in the game. Don't beat yourself up when you look back at the last several months and don't have the writing done you expected to have completed.

I bet most of you spent extra time with your family. Maybe you exercised more often. Maybe you took walks with the dog. Not writing shouldn't be a bad thing. So don't fret over what didn't end up on the page.

Now, you can get a new routine. Find the time to get creative again. It's okay to be a little selfish now. It's also good for you. Put what you want to do first. Even if it is only a few days a week.

I escape to a hotel once a month. It's my time. And when I come back, I'm refreshed. I'm angry for a bout 3 hours that I had to come back, but once I get over that, I'm happy and refreshed.

Peace out.

Victoria