Updates, Burnout, Rejection and Moving Forward

Once again it's been a while since I've posted anything.

Mostly it's because I've haven't had many stories published either in anthology collections or online this year, save for the ones I've posted on my site directly.

I have been getting back into writing short stories again, and I'm already planning a new book, but lately there's just not been many acceptances coming through. It was quite a stark difference to last year when I was getting acceptances left, right and center.

On top of that, my job (while providing a roof over my head) has been draining me both physically and mentally. Part of me wants to quit and start something new but there's another part of me that's afraid that the new job I get will be even worse than what I have now.

I feel like I'm dealing with a dangerous concoction of burnout and depressions which needless to say is not the best thing to deal with as a writer.

It also feels like the world in general is changing. More and more stories of AI have been floating to the surface, climate change is still a thing, inflation is still a thing and there's enough going on in the world that makes me wonder if I'll ever see 2050 or even beyond that.

Coupled with all the celebrity deaths lately and it makes life feel less like walking down a lazy, dirt road and instead crossing a tightrope that's constantly fraying. It's all a downside of being an idealist who wants things to be better and realizing that things will never be the same again.

There's a certain realization you get when you realize a gem like Dolly Parton is dead while a snake like Trump still walks amongst us.

But there's something I realize, especially as I'm writing this part, I'm doing better than I realize. I still care enough about my writing that I still want to work on it. I care about this website, and you dear readers, that make me want to write this post just to reassure people that I'm still around and kicking.

I think back to all the changes I've been through. I've grown out of my baby shoes, lost my hair (though grew a pretty awesome mustache), moved into a new city and various weather patterns and seasons. And yet, here I am, still alive and well and willing to try and find a few more glimmers in my life. Sure life ten, twenty years from now will be starkly different, but there's always a small part of me that whispers 'Hey we got this champ!'

Plus, as us writers know, this whole business is a series of peak and valleys. Sure it may be slow on my end right now but that doesn't mean it'll last forever. Maybe somebody will pick up my books, maybe one of my many stories will find a home. Maybe I'll be a household name or maybe I'll just be on of those cult artists that might inspire someone to write their own stories, which honestly would be the biggest honor.

Anyway, that's enough for me. I still have the rest of Tales From the Crypt to binge watch and of course good ole spooky season is around the corner. I'm hoping to update more in the future but I'm allowing myself some leeway on this as well. I have enough on my plate and I definitely don't want to reach the point of burnout of no return.

Until next time, stay spooky and remember that life may suck but it'll suck a lot more without YOU in it. :)