I had such high hopes for August. I was ahead in my writing plans. It’s my birthday month, and the end of winter. What could go wrong?

It felt like I got hit with a truck – a big truck.

Firstly, there was a small emotional glitch which knocked me a little. I’m not particularly resilient, nor do I like change or confrontation. The older I get the more I fight against emotions. The more they come back to bite me. (This particular conversation was positive overall, and I’m pleased it was said. It just took a while to process.)

As if that wasn’t enough, my body decided I was working too much and I needed to stop. The only way my body was going to get me to comply was to come down with the flu. I’d just been counting my blessings that I’d managed to dodge the illness that was affecting every second person here. I rarely get sick, but when I do, it knocks me.

I had no choice but to stop. Everything hurt. Five days I was out of action.

The following six days I ended up working 42 hours in total.

I haven’t written a word for maybe four days. It feels odd. I like the ebb and flow of words and creating stories.

When I started my challenge, to write and publish a book a month for the year, I planned to get some of my works in progress (WIPs) finished. Instead of that, I’ve ended up creating new stories and new characters. It was annoying me, that I still have so many WIPs.

Giving up isn’t an option, but with so much less time at home than I planned it’s a challenge. Too many words and not enough daylight hours.

Then I discovered a whole lot of authors who are working on many stories at once. Fellow ADHD, creative, neurodivergent types who brains are both focused and scattered, like mine.

It’s given me hope, that I can do this. I’m in good company.

If I don’t make my challenge for the year, the ground won’t swallow me up, I won’t get stuck in the naughty corner for life.

Writing is still fun, and challenging, and I like a challenge. I want to continue to learn and grow my craft and find new ways of developing characters, setting, plot and subplots.

Reading is fun, discovering new magical worlds, crazy mysteries, and quirky characters makes me smile. Working on my own characters makes me think, it keeps me occupied and engaged and out of trouble.

So that’s my update for the week. It’s a sunny Sunday, I’ve had my coffee and done some chores, I might even sit here and start a brand new story!