I’ve been just on pins and needles feeling like Gumby, being pulled in different directions because of this home deal, my book promotions and marketing, my wife and of course my own writing which has suffered the most.
I’ve been escaping by reading my Kindle books and going to work, which has benefitted my sanity somewhat. One would think that working at a job would be stressful enough, but in this case, it has been like an aphrodisiac because I can push everything else to the back burner for eight hours and not have to deal with buying a house, marketing a book on another promotion campaign, or dealing with the woman I love and am married to.
It’s when I get home after work that I have to revisit that zoo. My room mates are understanding to my predicament though they haven’t experienced exactly what I’m going through, they at least empathized with me; both are divorced.
The newest book I’m trying to write has been tough because of all the other pressures I’m having to put out as a priority too. It’s supposed to be a murder mystery where a writer witnesses a murder, gets the idea to write something similar and eventually finds himself in trouble for it when he tells the wrong person his plan. It’s floundering from neglect right now, and I’m not certain on what path to take at this point. It’s almost tempting to place that project on a back burner until these other issues get resolved.
But, I have to do as all recovering alcoholics do; take one day at a time and rely on sobriety and not dwell on trying to getting everything done at once. I always read the Serenity prayer that goes: God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.
Jerry Schellhammer 