Something peculiar happened to me this past May. My writing spark flickered and nearly fizzled out. An emptiness took over the place in my heart that used to sing every time my hands hit the computer keyboard.
I didn't know it at the time, but it was a warning for me. Not just to slow down... no. I had passed that yellow flag long before. Now it was time to stop. And I did. Cold turkey. No writing. No submissions.
I picked up my family and rejoined the elementary teaching ranks clear across the country. Moving to a new state with three children was all encompassing; no time to think about writing at all. And a funny thing happened as twenty-four little first graders surrounded my suppression. My passion for teaching and children just kind of took over. I reinvested myself in these 6-year old sponges, who soak up everything they encounter.
And then after about 3 months, ideas began to flicker. Not fast and furious like they once had. But at least they were still there. And that's all that mattered. I wrote a crappy picture book draft and broke through the rust on my brain. It's not completely gone yet, but I'm okay with not killing myself over too many writing activities. That's a big thing for a work-a-holic.
As one who has always preached, "Immerse yourself in the writing world," I hope you still will. But, please do it with lots and lots of breaks.
Reading for Research Month (ReFoReMo) is just around the corner, and yes, I am still alive and kicking. I'm quite excited about this research movement I founded three years ago. We moved into our new blog home last April and have since expanded the family. Together with Kirsti Call, Janie Reinart, and Keila Dawson, we will usher in ReFoReMo 2017 when we announce our author-educator team in January. Registration will open February 15, as usual, and the challenge will begin on February 27 this year. And that's no cold turkey.
If you haven’t joined us in our new blog home yet, you will find the challenge at http://www.reforemo.com. It’s good to be back!
I didn't know it at the time, but it was a warning for me. Not just to slow down... no. I had passed that yellow flag long before. Now it was time to stop. And I did. Cold turkey. No writing. No submissions.
I picked up my family and rejoined the elementary teaching ranks clear across the country. Moving to a new state with three children was all encompassing; no time to think about writing at all. And a funny thing happened as twenty-four little first graders surrounded my suppression. My passion for teaching and children just kind of took over. I reinvested myself in these 6-year old sponges, who soak up everything they encounter.
And then after about 3 months, ideas began to flicker. Not fast and furious like they once had. But at least they were still there. And that's all that mattered. I wrote a crappy picture book draft and broke through the rust on my brain. It's not completely gone yet, but I'm okay with not killing myself over too many writing activities. That's a big thing for a work-a-holic.
As one who has always preached, "Immerse yourself in the writing world," I hope you still will. But, please do it with lots and lots of breaks.
Reading for Research Month (ReFoReMo) is just around the corner, and yes, I am still alive and kicking. I'm quite excited about this research movement I founded three years ago. We moved into our new blog home last April and have since expanded the family. Together with Kirsti Call, Janie Reinart, and Keila Dawson, we will usher in ReFoReMo 2017 when we announce our author-educator team in January. Registration will open February 15, as usual, and the challenge will begin on February 27 this year. And that's no cold turkey.
If you haven’t joined us in our new blog home yet, you will find the challenge at http://www.reforemo.com. It’s good to be back!
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