And so the darkest day arrives, and everywhere the storytellers settle in to bring the people through the night. Or we would, if someone would leave us alone long enough to write the story first, then revise it, then send it to beta readers, and finally do one last edit before the performance.
Every year, I envision the perfect holiday. The house is beautifully decorated, the presents are all hand-made and meaningful, the food is nutritious as well as delicious. That has never been the reality.
The same is true of my writing fantasies. Every year, I envision entering contests (and winning), creating the perfect platform, writing the blogs that everyone goes to first. Sometimes the tyranny of daily responsibilities gets in the way, sometimes my inner editor gets in the way, and sometimes I just can’t muster the energy to do more than sit on the couch and drink tea.
Then the darkest day arrives, and I’m reminded that the sun will be shining one minute longer tomorrow, another minute longer the day after. Winter solstice teaches us that while there is an end, so also is there a beginning. Today I may be glued to my couch, tea cup in one hand, TV remote in the other. Tomorrow, I’ll be glued to my chair, both hands on the keyboard.
And a Happy New Year to you all.