Category: Uncategorized

There are currently two projects that I am up to and have been working on in the last week or so. I have been reading up on The Craft of Christian Songwriting and trying my hand at writing lyrics.

Then instead of trying to flesh out an outline about fibromyalgia I just decided to write my story and then if it stays article length then that’s fine. But if it branches out into these other ideas I have, that’s fine too. Eventually, I will get this project done.

Some of these other ideas I was thinking of branching into are: married life, intimacy, and pregnancy, sleep, exercise, stress, depression and anxiety, overstimulation, driving, importance of support, coping, and then “what I’ve tried for pain”. If you have any ideas for more topics, or if you’d like to share your story, let me know. You can email me at soucieji@gmail.com

Dear Janis,

Do you have any advice on motivation?? I really need to get my sugar back down, but always tired and achy these days and find it difficult to get things done. – Rose

Dear Rose,

If you can find things that excite you like maybe trying something new that might help. I have found I’ve been in a rut with my writing but when I started changing things up like started writing for video games and started an advice column, I am enjoying my writing more. Is there anything you can change up that might end up motivating you in the end?

Dear Janis,

Not sure, been trying to do more sewing now. Making baby things for the coming grandchild in July, and trying to get my letters answered. Maybe if I concentrate more on those and shut the computer off for a good part of the day?

Dear Rose,

Yes. It can be freeing to shut the computer off for a day, or part of the day. You would be surprised what you would get accomplished.

Dear Janis,

Will give that a try. Going off now 🙂

Best of luck, Rose!

Dear Janis,

Certain loud noises, especially unexpected, seem to cause me even more fibro pain. Have u heard anything about this? I’m not sure if it’s something like hypersensitivity or what? – Anonymous

I have read up on this and those with fibromyalgia are susceptible to sensory overload. Here is a link to an article that I think will help you. https://www.verywellhealth.com/sensory-overload-in-fibromyalgia-and-chronic-fatigue-716021

For those who have followed my blog you know I write stories of all kinds, but this is the first time you’ll see me mention a turn to write stories for video games. It sounds fun and intriguing but it’s also a learning curve and allows me to stretch my wings, as they say. I am reading a book called Slay Your Dragon: Writing Video Game Stories. https://smile.amazon.com/Slay-Dragon-Writing-Great-Video/dp/1615932291/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1614039069&sr=8-1

So far this book is good and has some funny parts. But I haven’t gotten too much into it so I’ll go for now and read more in the book. I just wanted to update you on what all I was up to since it’s been awhile.

Take care,

Janis

Yup, that’s what has my attention this morning. My cat Jada is watching two red squirrels battle it out for the bird feeder. It can be comical, especially the squirrels!

Okay so that had nothing to do with writing, but then again you never know where you’ll get your ideas from in writing. It could just be something as simple as I just saw.

I read back through my last post and sounds like I was hypomanic with all my projects. So I’m not hypomanic today and would like to clarify the projects I am working on. I am working on Facade, which is undergoing an edit, possibly a major edit. We’ll see.

Then for some actual writing I am working on expanding and rewriting Sleepless Waters. I can’t tell you what it’s about yet because I’m still developing the story line. It has to deal with the Titanic. Anyone who knows me knows I have been interested in the luxury liner (and other shipwrecks) since I was 4. That is when I first heard about the Titanic. Robert Ballard was the dude who found the liner back in 1985.

Then I have a fibromyalgia book I’m working on, but that has kind of taken a back burner for now. I think…hmm… Ugh! It’s so hard knowing which one I want to work on. I love starting a new book, but then I love finishing one too. The fibromyalgia book (Veiled Affliction) is still in research mode, which I don’t mind I love research. But then there is Facade that needs a lot of work. And Sleepless Waters is in its infancy. *sigh* My mind’s all boggled. lol. There are Camp NaNo’s coming up, one in April so maybe I could just wait to work on Sleepless Waters then.

I thought writing this post would help clarify my mind in what project I really wanted to write about. I think I’ll pray about it and go from there. Some Divine guidance wouldn’t hurt.

Have you run into an issue like this? How did you tackle it?

I’m so happy Summer is finally here but then that means warm days and also…THUNDERSTORMS!!! I love watching storms and monitoring them when they are going on. But also I feel energized when writing during a lightening storm.

I know in one of my earlier posts I mentioned I would do a writing prompt and post the results for everyone to read, but I could not keep up with that plan. Instead, I have been working on a story about the facts we know about fibromyalgia and my experience with it.

And Camp NaNo is coming in July, so I have been working on a story for that. Just so many writing projects on my list. But I don’t mind, really. I’m happy to know that I won’t be out of work to do. I have a few nonfiction projects and fictions projects. I will update my pages to reflect my projects list.

So how is the weather where you are? How is it affecting you and your creativity?

It’s been almost a month since I posted anything. The Coronavirus has me monitoring things like how many have it in Maine, and how many have died from it. The numbers for who has it keeps rising. We’re still under a stay at home order except to get medicines and groceries. Toilet paper is still hard to find. It’s just crazy. So I thought I would start writing prompts and post one a day.. That way there is something positive to read and something to read more often on my blog. I don’t now that I’ll post every day as that will be as that will be overwhelming, but maybe a couple times a week. At least I will start out with that.

After the writing prompt, feel free to let me know what you liked or didn’t like about what I wrote, or if you find a particular prompt that you would like to see me write more on.

I’ll post the writing prompt that I am writing to so you will be able to write from it too. When you finish with your writing prompt feel free to leave them in the comments section or email them to me at jisoucie@hotmail.com. I would love to read what you have written.

Take care, stay healthy!

Janis

I haven’t been writing on any stories much. I have mostly been monitoring the COVID 19 crisis and writing in my journal about it. That and taking care of my family. My daughter doesn’t have school for at least two weeks, at the same time I’m potty training my son, and my hubby is home today to help with things. But he goes back to work tomorrow. So far his work hasn’t done anything about working remotely. I hope that comes soon.

And lately I have been struggling with PTSD not related to COVID 19. I am struggling with hypervigilience mostly but anxiety as well. I didn’t sleep much last night.

This is all hard to deal with because I want to keep my mind on something other than this coronavirus crisis and something other than worrying about the my PTSD symptoms. But it’s hard. My brain is in mommy mode and I feel like cleaning, like that is somehow going to help us. I’m sure it will just work to make me feel better.

It’s all so crazy with all that is happening that my brain is just caught up in all. I know it’s temporary it’s just waiting it out like everyone else is doing.

I wish you all the best. And if you’re a writer finding it hard to focus amid this crisis, how do you deal with it? Any tips for other writers?

The Holiday Season is upon us. We are all busy making sure we have presents for everyone, ingredients for baking and the big Christmas dinner and desserts. And there just isn’t time for much else. But I have most everything I need so I thought I take a timeout and give everyone an update.

On my last update I told you I was working on my story of weight loss. I set that aside for the time being because I wanted to finish working on this story “Where Can My Baby Be?” That I started shortly after my nephew’s death. I made him a character in the story because I know writing helps me through my grief. There were times I had to set the story aside because it hurt too much to keep going, but then there are times when I am doing okay and I can write more on the story. So that is my main goal now. I would like to publish the story but someone said that if I did I would be making money off someone’s death.

I don’t believe that and that is not what I am trying to do. So I don’t know if I’ll publish this story or not.

Thankfully I’m not just relying on this story to get published. I have a much larger novel I have to go through and edit and that will be in my goal for next year.

Enough of this update from my side. What are you working on? Are you ready for Christmas? Or do you celebrate a different holiday? Whatever holiday you celebrate I hope it’s a good one filled with wonderful memories.

Ill see you in the New Year!!