As an introvert, I spend hours in my head, but I am rarely alone. Not by a long shot. Novel characters appear with fascinating stories to tell while my muse whispers charming prose, and inspirational music plays in the background. I write in self-defense. Composing fiction is my exercise, a method of quieting the voices, and as I surrender to the writing process, I lose myself. Time travel is real. The tales transport me to different eras, unique and interesting lives, and singular universes.

Once, I believed the act of transcribing the narratives I hear would silence them. It hasn’t worked that way. Instead, it has generated additional protagonists with greater adventures, bigger demands, and they possess an unrelenting urgency for me to retell their epic sagas.

Writing is a true privilege that lets me connect with others in ways I could never imagine. It provides me an avenue to explore what other people might feel or experience, and it opens doors to conversations. Through writing, we discover like-minded individuals and gain the knowledge that we humans have many things in common.

How has writing changed your life?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

December’s reputation is that it is the busiest month of the year. My calendar confirms the legitimacy of that claim. I am exhausted just contemplating my commitments. Multiple party invitations, friends wanting to meet for dinner, and shopping for perfect presents, create a dogpile on the list of tasks I want to complete before we bide goodbye to 2019. I also have the ongoing remodel, with endless decisions required to keep the project on track. I need a nap.

With added responsibilities and heightened expectations, I am including a few more items to my daily program.  I am taking care of myself to keep my energy at optimum levels. This includes rigorous adherence to getting enough sleep. I wasn’t kidding about the nap. They say the best results are relaxing for 10 to 30 minutes between 2 and 3 pm.

I have committed to observing my water intake, ensuring I am well hydrated. Monitoring alcohol consumption is likewise important as it can contribute to dehydration and feeling tired. I know it is easier said than done at many holiday gatherings, but it is worth leaning towards moderation. The last thing I am adding is a recommitment to my yoga practice as it helps me remain centered and calm.

How do you power through your December schedule?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Days, weeks, and sometimes months pass, and I feel like I am going nowhere. My feet are heavy, and I struggle to extract my boot from the mire. The mud releases it with a sucking pop. Poised, my foot dangles in midair, and I squelch the urge to run, knowing that desire will not yield the results I want. I fling it forward, transferring my weight as I drag my opposite leg to join its companion. I sink, settling into the muddy mess that marks my path. A misty rain falls, an annoyance, that is not strong enough to turn the quagmire into a rushing river and whisk me away. The constant drizzle only serves to hinder my progress.

I don’t possess enough courage to stop, the guts to admit defeat, or the backbone to beg for someone to rescue me. There is no shortcut here, only a dogged determination to keep working, keep trying, keep moving. This is where I do the work, write the stories, allow brilliant ideas to germinate, and I make plans. Everything looks dormant and dead. It is an illusion. I happily spend time here because this is where I create possibilities and earn promises of great rewards. A golden fist will knock on my door, and I will be prepared to answer.

How do you get through your mucky middles?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

On countless evenings, I find I cannot sleep. My brain won’t stop, it races, obsessively testing ideas, possibilities, and contemplating the question ‘what if?’ I have long since learned my lesson, there will be no rest. I relinquish my control, leave my bed, and write. Other nights, I am jolted from my dreams by some cosmic alarm clock. I clutch a brilliant idea like a lightsaber slashing through the dark. Once again, I stumble to my desk, powering on the laptop to transcribe the dream. The stories refuse to be pushed aside.

Telling tales is in my blood, and I schedule writing sessions every day, but I give myself a break from my normal routine on the days when my brain did not register it was quitting time.

Do you write at unusual times?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer