I’m in that in-between place right now. Bookends releases in a few weeks, my most recent manuscript is with my editor, and I am staring at my pack of blank 3X5 cards, trying to decide what’s next.
I’m ready to dive back into The Rowan House series with a story idea that has been cavorting in my head for the last year. But I also have a non-fiction book I want to write. And then three different short fiction submission calls are tugging at my shirt sleeves because as soon as I read the calls, I had a herd of plot bunnies storming through my head.
And in the middle of it all, the world once again is on fire, literally in some parts of the world.
It feels frivolous to focus on writing fiction as the world burns. But then I’ll get an email from someone who lets me know one of my stories helped them step away from the awfulness for a bit, that they took comfort in the happily ever afters I write, and it doesn’t feel so frivolous at all. It feels like an honor and very much a privilege to provide folks with respite from whatever they are facing.
I hope that if you are worried/anxious/scared/angry/ tired, you’ll find some words to soothe your soul today.
As for me, I’ll get back to work and find the next right thing to write.
Brenda Murphy writes short fiction and novels. Her novel Double Six won the 2020 GCLS Goldie for Erotica. On the Square, the first novel in her University Square Series was a 2021 Goldie Finalist. She loves tattoos and sideshows and yes, those are her monkeys. When she is not loitering on her front porch and writing, she wrangles two kids, two dogs, and an unrepentant parrot. She blogs about life as a writer with ADHD on her blog Writing While Distracted. Sign Up for her email list and receive free short stories at www.brendalmurphy.com
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