A Peek Behind Oz’s Curtain

As an author, one has to be aware that life will occasionally torpedo the work. I am not talking about a hiccup or a brief interruption. I am talking about an outright sinking of the ship.

Since the purpose of this blog is to chronicle my journey as an author, and since my goal is to help and inspire those who aspire to the writing life, then I have to be honest in the telling of my experiences–even when the information is personal and negative. After all, if I am to be of genuine help to others, then forewarning them is forearming them for their own conflagrations.

Today I received an e-mail from a blogging friend who is concerned about me. She is aware of some of what has taken me off-track. She is supportive and offers constructive advice at points when I am scorched and dysfunctional. I respond to her with encouraging news.

After I hit the “send” button, I think that what I have written may be helpful to another author who is struggling with similar demons who would destroy the work. It is in that vein that I share my reply to my friend. It is meant as a help–a life line or life-saving ring–to the drowning ones, smacked down from the surface to a dark place beneath the waves that is devoid of oxygen.

You know who you are. If you recognize yourself as being in this place, then I hope this bit of personal revelation will help you to hope, to believe:

There is an end to the suffocation of your creative spirit. The breath of inspiration does return to what appears to be a corpse.

My reply to my friend:

Hi, sweetheart.

Thank you for asking about me. Still working through the life changes. The adjustments go a bit slower than I would like, but I am seeing light at the end of the tunnel. I am back to work on editing my novel, though the work goes slowly. I am rebuilding a life, establishing new supports, loving my rock-solid friends and family with all my heart, and reconnecting to God to keep my life centered on what is important.

Statistics say the readjustment takes two years. I am just past the one year mark, so I feel my progress is healthy and normal. I am still cleaning up clutter, both emotional and physical, in the aftermath, but the “house” is coming into order!