As I reflect on the year to date for my writing, I find I’ve accomplished very little. At times I think nothing has been written and yet I did submit three pieces to anthologies and one was accepted for publication. The other two I am waiting to hear about. That shows me some progress has been made. I know I wrote each month for Inscribe Writers Online and that shows me some progress as well. Yet there were times of nothing being written, no projects on the go, and no desire to start a new one. I question which direction I am supposed to go in this season of less writing activity. Should I begin a new larger project? Should I write shorter pieces and search for places to submit them? Maybe I should just journal for my own benefit. Many questions that have found no answer at this point.
This month’s prompt asked if I was still encouraged to continue writing and I must admit that on many days, I am not. I wonder if I should forget about trying to write and yet the journal calls my name on many days. It is a place to pour out the thoughts, activities, and yes the frustrations of the day.
Before he passed my husband, Brian, challenged me to write several different things. I started on both of them and now they sit. Unfinished. One is very challenging and an emotional journey I am not quite ready to continue on. The other is more for fun and yet I haven’t looked at it in two years. Maybe now I could return to it with fresh eyes and see where it leads.
One thing I will continue to work on this fall is stories from my life that will be printed, bound, and given to my grandchildren for Christmas. Many days I find it difficult to work on these without Brian here to bounce ideas off of and share memories with and yet that shouldn’t stop me from continuing on what has now become a tradition for the grandchildren. They expect to find another booklet of stories as their Christmas gift. I don’t want to disappoint them and so that encourages me to continue writing at least that and the Inscribe blog post. I better get busy working on writing those stories as there are not many months left until Christmas. Maybe there are still a few sprouts of possibilities in the rest of the year.
Carol Harrison lives in Saskatoon, SK and is attempting to figure out where to go next in this writing journey.
"The sprouts of possibility" - I like that picture, and wherever did you find that perfect photo to express the idea? I think you have done well this year even though you feel you haven't accomplished much. And I'm so glad for your continued commitment to write here on the InScribe blog. I wish you His guidance and grace as you figure out the next leg of your writing journey. Thanks, Carol.
ReplyDeleteI, too, like the metaphor of "sprouts of possibility." Grief can be paralyzing, yet you've written in measurable ways. Thank you, Carol, for writing for the InScribe blog, and for sharing your thoughts with us. May God grant you his unwavering grace and strength as you look to the future he has for you.
ReplyDeleteDear Carol, please continue to write the stories for your grandchildren as you have the energy. This is such a beautiful gift for them. Thank you also for being part of our blog contributors. We can all benefit each other as we connect through our writing. May God continue to comfort you and may He also show you the blessing you are to other writers as we all look for "sprouts of possibilities."
ReplyDeleteHi Carol. Praying your sprouts continue to grow into fruit. Thanks for your honest and vulnerable post and for sharing the path you are currently walking. Continuing in prayer for you as you journey forward one step at a time.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carol, for sharing that your words have dried up. I'm sure all of us feel that way at times. But what a blessing your stories will be for your family this Christmas!!
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