Reality Check

Words have never really been a problem for me. I've written several novels, and since the publication of my first one I've been rather verbose on the web: blogging, tweeting, Facebooking. I've got a regular monthly gig at Fantasy-Faction, and had a monthly post on The Writer's Vineyard, not to mention all of the guest posts and interviews I've done. Then earlier this year, everything came to a screeching halt, and I could barely manage one tweet a month much less blogs and articles. While I'm not quite ready to delve into all of the personal details, I will just say that my world turned upside-down, and for the first time in my life, I disdained retreating into fantasy worlds either of my own making or that of others. I've hardly read any novels and can barely even contemplate starting another one of my own. While I'm sure it will come back -- I have too much passion for writing for it not to -- right now I am content living in the real world. I have a job I go to everyday, I'm starting school at Arizona State University on Monday to get my Creative Writing degree, and I am responsible for the upkeep of my own dwelling. It was all a terrifying prospect at the start (and sometimes still is), and at the end of May I pulled a Jane Austen and fainted at Fry's from stress and dehydration. But I wouldn't trade any of it: I've discovered that I actually am a capable woman; I can take care of myself and thrive. One thing I've definitely learned is that while it's great to have an escape, it's even better to have the occasional reality check. It's good to have a social life and interact with people, it's good to get away from the computer, it's good to put that novel down once in awhile. It's good, simply, to live. Here's to more of the same.