Well, I listed all the reasons why I'm grateful for it.
Phew, have I been tested with regards to being positive through this. I'd really assumed my writer's burnout was nearly over. Little did I realise I had probably only touched the tip of it.
At the moment, these are my survival mechanisms:
1. I don't do any marketing. I just can't seem to get myself to do it. I feel sick inside at the thought of organising blog tours, tweeting on twitter, posting excerpts and pushing, pushing, pushing. So I'm sticking to the bare bones - blogging a bit and writing a few paragraphs or pages a day or every third day.
2. Spending lots of time alone and doing spiritual practices which feed my soul and nourish me.
3. Reading a lot and loving it.
4. Trying not to feel guilty and unproductive - I tell myself that it's just a phase and it will pass. Yet...
5. Coming to the conclusion that maybe I may not be so big into writing ever again in my life and that's okay.
6. Every time I wonder whether I should even go to the Writer's Conference this year, I remind myself that it will probably refuel and re-inspire me.
7. Facing up to the real reasons I wrote in the past: Sure I did it because I loved it but I also hoped to make some money out of it. I don't know if I'm ever going to make money out of it and I need to come to terms with that. That's made me only write because I want to and have a story to tell. If something comes of it financially, it will just be a surprise and a bonus. Yeah, I know, I suck at the law of attraction!
8. I can't even fathom doing a writer's course or reading books on craft. The thought doesn't inspire but only exhausts me. I'd much rather do other courses on something else I'm interested in. Therefore, I'm sticking to just writing and nothing else. Maybe not wise, but survival is it. I have to keep the flame alive somehow.
9. Telling myself that even if I write two paragraphs on a day, at least I've done something.
10. Listen to lots of music. And sing along.
11. Reminding myself that I have a book coming out soon and should really be excited about it. All I can think of is all the work involved. But it's a good thing, as now I'll be able to put my Album 1 on for perma-free which may just be the means to the breakthrough.
12. Wanting to get a contract for some stories that I sent off but dreading the work that it involves. But at least it's something. I hope I get positive responses.
Here's the cover to get a sneak peak of The Album 3:
Carol is frantic as her ordered life has been flung
into chaos. Pauline passed The Album
onto her but it’s disappeared. She’s the one who’s looked forward to the magic
the most; now she can't even use it. To top it off, she realises her boyfriend,
Cliff, has disappeared with The Album.
The sense of betrayal leaves her reeling.
She hires private investigator, Darryn, to help her
find her missing treasure. Shocked at her inexplicable attraction to the man
after coming out of a serious relationship, she’s reluctant to fly with him to
Canada in search of the stolen artifact, but her need to find The Album burns strong.
In Canada, they soon discover that not only has Cliff
stolen The Album, but also magic
antiques belonging to other people from South Africa. They soon recover the
artifact but, much to Carol’s disappointment, the magic is broken. Carol needs
answers and is also burning to help the other antique owners—even if it means
leaving her successful career and working with Darryn who has his own issues
from his past.
How can Carol still have feelings for a man who keeps
on breaking her heart? And will she fix the magic? What will she discover about
herself, the magic, and love, while searching for the answers?
