Life is a storm. Twirling and spinning all around us. Tossing debris in our paths. Work. Relationships. School. Kids. Family. Just to name a few interruptions. The barrage of distractions never seem to end. How in the world is a writer supposed to write when life is so chaotic?

My writing has been upended. Work is busy. Family stuff. In addition, my kitchen is getting remodeled, which means that my house is a construction sight. There’s banging and hammering all the time. Everywhere I look there’s pots and pans. Dishes and silverware. Dry foods and spices. Rather then go to a coffee shop and write, I have to pick out cabinets. Choose appliances. Door handles for the cabinets. Pick out the countertops. I know, first world problems. Wah. Wah. Cry me a river.

Still, there’s that writing thing.

And yet I continue on. With much effort, pounding the keys. I go to a coffee shop and try to get in some editing. The baristas look at me funny when they see that I’m still there after four hours and not drinking anymore coffee. Too much caffeine and I’m too wired to sit and write. So I milk my cup as long as possible, not wanting to return home.

The literary life has gotten harder for me. My agent retired and the quest to land another one had yielded no results. I send queries out and agents don’t even bother to send rejection letters these days. I’ve got one book still under contract with a publisher and then after that I have nothing scheduled. It’s a bit depressing. This writer’s life. Often, I wonder if it’s even worth the effort.

But then . . .

But then I read a great book and get excited to write again. I tap back into my WIP and am thrilled to see that eight hours have passed. And I’m reminded that it’s the process that got me into the game. Forget about trying to get published or trying to get on the New York Times bestseller list. Forget about making money and trying to be the next BIG AUTHOR. I need to remind myself that it’s the process that really matters, and that’s what keeps bringing me back to the craft.

So bring on the storm. One thing about storms and that they eventually pass. And when the clouds pass and the sky turns blue, it will give me the opportunity to get back to what I love doing best: creating,

Have a great autumn, everyone.