This has been an unanticipated, extended blog break, hasn’t it? The thing is, the dozens of times I sat down to write, I came up blank. I firmly believe there’s no such thing as writer’s block, but I do believe in a kind of swirling madness that keeps writers unfocused and off the page.
There’s simply been too much going on and most of it was bad. Writing about unhappy events day after day feels too much like a junior high diary flashback, and we all know that’s no place to park a healthy psyche. Besides, there are enough Whiner Blogs out there who do this sadness-and-sorry thing much better than I ever could. I did a great deal of scribbling with fountain pens and Moleskines, not that I’ll ever want to read back over any of that maudlin crap. The beauty of a notebook is that 1) you can close it, and 2) you can throw the whole mess in the forgettable top of a closet or sling it into a fireplace.
Then the heavens opened up, remembered all that karma/balance business, and dropped something lovely in my lap. One of my other blogs, Easy Street Prompts, was listed on Writer’s Digest’s 101 Best Websites for Writers. I danced, I twirled, I made up celebratory songs and sang them with the Perfect Grandson. Then I ran away with friends to Branson so we could do the post-final-exams shopping trip. We drank wine, ate sushi, and stormed the outlet malls. Glorious, I tell you.
Not until I returned did I remember the Easy Street site was kind of a forgotten mess. It took a little paint and html coding, but all is right with the world there now. In the process I found that making up prompts for others helped to get me back on the (nonflammable) page.
While I still don’t feel like writing up the sad things just yet, I’ve decided angry and funny are perfectly comfortable right now. There are plenty of fist-waving disasters and head-shaking crazies out there to keep me on the page while I work through those other things.
I believe I’m mostly cured now. Between inclusion on the Writer’s Digest list and that Liz Claiborne bag I fount at 70% off, I’m golden.
No Telling 
Very cool! Congratulations on the WD mention!
I was surprised to see an update on my dash today from you. I'm not sure what the crap has been going on with you, but I feel the same way. I will not write about depressing crap on my blog. Anger is def okay though. Keep on truckin' and congratulations on your other blog.
yay! You're back!
who was it said, it doesn't really matter what you begin to write about, the point is to show up and do it each day
and hey, i'm not doing that as well
well done with the 'gong'
shall wander over and have a look now
Welcome back. I missed you.
Oh GOODIE! Happy to see that you're back!! I sure did miss you!
Congrats on the Writer's Digest list!! Very impressive!
Congrats and welcome back!
It's good to have you back, Monda. I hope whatever crap has been happening is coming to an end.
Congrats on the best writers site mention!
Wow that's great. Kudos to you. there really is “no telling” in this world..haha
Congrats on the listing of Easy Street…I second that nomination! I know what you're saying about not wanting to write sad stuff, but we'd be glad to share what you're going through. And anger does become you, regardless!
Oh, man, have I missed you Monda! I'm glad you're back.
Thanks, y'all. After more scribbling, I'm finding that “righteous indignation” seems to be what puts me in the zone this week. Look out for Notes on the Fridge…
So I had to go to Little Rock to find one, but I now own my very own copy. Monda not only made the list, but she was on the very first page of listings.
Laura, you made a Barnes & Noble trip! I'm sorry I snarfed up all the local copies – there weren't many to begin with. Any excuse for a B&N trip is a good excuse, though.
This is a “dry county” in more than one way.
It takes critical mass, Monda — and we're so glad you're back on the page! Congratulations! You and all your good works on the Internet create that Critical Mass for big changes. Let's raise merry hell!