I’ve had a computer for more than 20 years. My dad was the type who had to have the latest and greatest technology, so we had a home computer early on. Later, once laptops became affordable, I had one of those, too and was writing on it constantly. I always had projects going. During high school alone I probably typed five or six novels worth of manuscripts on that thing, none of which will ever see the light of day.

Recently, however, I’ve hit a bit of a snag while typing stories. They just don’t come as easily as they once did. No matter what I did, nothing brought the ideas flowing like they once did.

Now, as much as I type and live on the computer, I also (like many writers, I’m sure) collect a few dozen journals each year. Most go unused. In December I decided to change that and began working on the latest draft of my novel Queen’s Lament. Everything for this book has been written longhand in a TUL notebook with a fountain pen. I’ve written and completed short companion stories in one of those many unused journals. I’ve written emotionally changed PTSD scenes, battle scenes, scenes I usually ignore until the last possible second. It’s like my writing has been given new life. Most days when I go out to fulfill my daily quota, I’m leaving my MacBook at home taking only my notebooks, pens, and a jar of ink.

I’m not sure how long this energy will last, but you can be sure I’m going to ride it out to the end.