Taking a step. Taking a breather.

Before anyone thinks the week just took a trek through a wrinkle in time, I’m filling in for Rae today.

Brain overload and exhaustion.

Have you ever been gripped by such a thing? Can a brain be tired? I’m here to tell you that it can. Mine has taken a holiday and I think it took my muse with it. Normally, I set my daily word count at anywhere between 2 and 3 thousand words, which roughly means I can get a chapter typed in a couple of days. Since the start of August, I’ve only typed a chapter and a half.

That’s it.

Does blogging count?

And it’s not normal for me and neither does it make me happy. I just don’t feel “right” if I’m not writing. On the other hand, I haven’t really given my brain time to reset or adjust to all the information and creativity that’s been ebbing and flowing through in the last eight months.

Everyone I’ve talked to says it’s okay to take a break from writing. It’s perfectly natural to not write and just…be. What does that mean for me? I’m going on vacation in three days. Yes, I’m taking the laptop, but probably not to write. I need external stimulation to jar—I mean coax—my overworked brain into wanting to write again. My muse is demanding some time apart so she can do whatever muses do when not lurking over a writer’s shoulder.

It’s okay.

Two years ago when I started “getting serious” about having my work published, I knew I’d succeed on sheer, stubborn determination alone. It’s a personal drive kind of thing. And I did it. Now, I’m on the hunt for the next level of success, but in order to do that, I need a clear head.

So, the dialogue goes like this: “Sandra Sookoo, you’ve signed (fill in the blank with a number) contracts in the last year, now what are you going to do?” And I say, “I’m going to Disney World.”

True, that.

Who knows, maybe I’ll come back home with 15 new ideas! I'll buy my muse a silly t-shirt and by the first of September, butts will be in chairs and work will commence.

Until then, happy writing!