It Sucked, I Cried, and Then I Went Back to Writing
This is the story of a failed manuscript. I haven’t written a book in six years. That is, I have written several first drafts, but haven’t dived into the 18-24 months process it takes to go from there to a published book. It’s an intimidating proposition and there was always something shiny. Or not shiny,…
Is Social Media Worth Your Time? Thoughts from a Content Creator with Chronic Illness
When I first started on social media you could reach your audience with a reasonable amount of work, steadily building your account. This is no longer the case. In fact, it is becoming almost impossible to be found on social media, even by the people who have liked or followed your account. Now, with a…
How to Get Past Writer’s Block
Some people claim there is no such thing as writer’s block. That all you have to do is sit down and keep writing and that claiming you’re blocked as just procrastination or avoidance. I beg to differ. Sometimes, it seems as if the writing part of your brain is hibernating. Writer’s block is a…
A Chronic Christmas Carol: Healing You, Healing Me
Chronic Christmas: Surviving the Holidays with a Chronic Illness is now available in paperback on all the Amazons. Did you know I have a new book out? Could be hard to miss, what with me barely mentioning it. Okay, so I haven’t shut up about it, but it’s still theoretically possible that you might have…
Five Things I Love about Being a Writer
I spent this past weekend noodling around with words and a great time. So I thought I’d wax rhapsodic about five things that I love being a writer. Living the dream I’ve wanted to be a writer since I knew what one was. After taking a sidetracked into higher education and a “real” day job…
Writing with a Chronic Illness: Creating a Writing Habit
Lucy tries out for the position of Muse Writing is a muscle. The more you exercise it, the stronger it gets. So, how do you exercise this particular muscle when you have a chronic illness? You start with creating a writing habit, and a writing trigger. The Writing Habit Creating a writing habit starts with…
4 Stress Busters for Writers with a Chronic Illness
Updated September 28, 2021 There are distinct benefits to working for yourself and even more benefits to having an office in your home. The commute is ideal, the dress code very relaxed, and you can set your own hours. This is fantastic when you have a chronic illness. There are also drawbacks — you’re the boss…
What Okinawa’s 80% and Mary Kay Taught Me about Writing with Chronic Illness
Updated September 28, 2021 I ran out of spoons around the middle of June. Then I spent the next six weeks teetering on the line between having just a few and being deep in energy overdraft, while mentally (and repeatedly) chanting just hold on until August 1 and not quite understanding why I was flaring…
Writing with a Chronic Illness: Chronic Pain and Writing Practice
After my big flare eight years ago, I decided it was time to do something about that lifelong dream of being a writer. To stop being practical and having a day job and throw it all into getting off the pot, so to speak. Never mind that I hadn’t had a day job for quite…