A moment arrives in your life as a writer when you realize writing, editing, sitting and staring at the last sentence, wondering when the next will arrive, all of it, is beginning to thrive.

Ex nihilo nihil fit.

The bad news and writers stash bad news away for scenes in writing, is to write well is to practice, and to practice means to take the time required to write, and that means there’s time you’re writing when other things are not being done.

In 1994, I called in sick one day to write. It was cold outside, and I had an idea for writing. I spent the entire day banging away at the story. By the time the sun had set, I realized the writing wasn’t that good, and I had blown off work for a day. Then I realized writing was eating away at my spare time.

            The answer to this question of whether it was a worthwhile endeavor was to try to write better. That’s been the answer ever since that day. I want to write better. It’s costing me time and opportunities, relationships with people, housekeeping, okay, never mind about the housekeeping, but if I am going to do this and spend as much time as I do, I want to be better.

            Someone asked me where the ideas come from or where the story is born. I get that question from people who do not create but never from someone who does. If your heart and soul is in tune with the Universe at large to be creative, inspiration never leaves you, and it never stops.

            Those who claim Writer’s Block may be tired or may not be able to discern the signal, but they are not blocked. It arrives with each beat of the heart, loud and strong, and the creative person has only to listen.

            There are ten million, five hundred seventeen thousand, six hundred and forty-two reasons not to create, given to you by the outside world every moment of your day. There is only one reason to do it; it feeds your soul. It defines your humanity. It is who you are.

Take Care,

Mike