It’s Santa Ana wind and wildfire season out here in California and I must admit, it’s terrifying. My home burned down when I was in high school. The fire started early in the morning and my whole family was asleep inside at the time. I’ve always been afraid of fire–but now, with these catastrophic episodes igniting all around me, it’s a whole new level.
I very much feel for all who have been in these fires paths, and for the first responders working so hard to keep them contained. I’m also asthmatic, so the smoke from these immense fires sends a cloud of particulate pollution into the air that lurks around for weeks, even after the flames are doused.
So what does this have to do with writing? I’m forcing myself to imagine this edgy time as being filled with creative sparks. (Non-combustible and imaginary of course.) When you can’t breathe the air outside, you have no excuse but to hunker down and write. And I have been. That’s the good side of this weather, this season, this air. I just typed THE END on another novel. It’s a first draft. It has a long way to go. But it did keep my mind engaged, my fingers typing, as we all hoped for the best. Sometimes creative sparks come from the strangest places.
Have you read my free book for authors? If not, click here to download it. Maybe it will help your creative spark! Take care!
