Spending the holiday doing all the holiday things means a whopping 0 words were written. Yes, it’s inevitable at this time and I’m sure other writers out there did the same thing, but as it is now 1 week into the new year, holiday festivities, ski trips, and late nights are no longer the viable excuse they were a week ago.
Still, getting back into the groove has so far proven to be a bit of a grind that I didn’t anticipate. Sometimes following the dopamine hit of writing is elusive and hidden beneath social media scrolling, YouTube videos, and even a light bit of cleaning (Tell me vacuuming up a dust bunny doesn’t bring you a bit of joy).
I’ve loved writing. All my life, from my earliest memories, I remember picking up a pencil or pen and pouring out some storyline from the recesses of my brain onto a page. More like spewing really. Boredom does that too, it sparks that creativity, it builds up the momentum toward a full – fledged fling with your own imagination attempting to fill the void.
I’m of a generation whose days were composed of friendships, getting into things, building stuff out of garbage, being where we were not supposed to be, and not coming home until the lights came on. This is the stuff of imagination, of making shit up all the time.
But, I’m not immune to being sucked into the now, and having a shortened attention span. I’ve made the excuse that my writing went to the wayside because of work, marriage, household, or kids, but in reality it was all of my own doing. Ignoring something that I loved, that brought me joy, and that was a significant part of myself for a long time not only lessened the pull to do it in the first place, but significantly reduced my ability to do it at all.
Not this year.
I don’t make resolutions. It’s just not my jam. But I do focus on something that piques my interest. I’ve done it with photography (still love it), running (1/2 marathon under my belt), and even YouTube videos (not still doing it). This year? It’ll be writing. I’m not doing it to get my book published, although that would be a perk. I’m doing it because I miss this. I miss blocking out everything around me and punching out a couple thousand words in a pinch because my mind is pushing and badly wanting it. Even now, writing this post, I smashed out a few hundred words while forgetting about everything around me.
Cheers to 2026 goals. Happy New Year.
I have to go move my laundry write now.
Amelia Blackthorn 