I wish I could tell you, honestly.
Y’all. Depression and an excessively busy schedule can be a real bitch when you want to keep up with a hobby you’re passionate about. Over the course of the last…7 months? I’ve been reading and preparing to write, but apathy is the enemy of progress, and burnout is the mother of both.
I’m sure you all know what I’m talking about. Life is hard around these parts these days. If you’re feeling the way I’ve felt, I highly recommend taking a quick stop and becoming ‘one’ with that person inside you. Do this often–make time for her/him/them.
I didn’t, and that shit can burn you out right quick.
In an interesting/scary/necessary turn of events, the universe made it well known that I needed a break. I’ve had to sit back and relax, release, and reassess. I took a break from my hobbies and all the things I love that even resembled work of any type (with the exception of books, but that’s like breathing for me and doesn’t count). As it was before the universe intervened, I was working 50 hour weeks coupled with the last few semesters of my second bachelors and had left very little in the way of energy to put toward anything, including writing. Not to mention the pervasive existential dread that seems to be permeating all of our nerve centers, but that goes without saying. Burning the candle that hot will melt you down into the table if you let it. I hope you can trust me on that and take better care of yourself than I did!
All that said, one way I’ve been taking better care of me is by reading genres I know I love and giving my brain some tasty little tidbits to chew. I’m looking forward to writing about all the pages I’ve gathered as I’ve rolled along. There are some reviews covering spicy romances, dark fantasies, and even a space heist coming soon!
In conclusion: Listen to what the forces beyond you are saying. Try to catch those voices when they are whispers and don’t be a pound cake (dense) like I was and not take heed of them until they start screaming into your face. Matter of fact, read a low stakes fantasy like Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree when you need to reset. It’s super cozy and warm and it helped me through some tough emotions. Need I say review coming soon?
Forever Bookish,
SL Wolf
Always Lost in Words 