Reply #16: Give yourself some time but start writing while you're at it. [View All]

[DemBones DemBones]

Think of your job as being the equivalent of Einstein's working in a patent office to support himself and leave his mind free to think of physics, or Nathaniel Hawthorne working in the toll booth or whatever it was. Really, didn't he work in a tollhouse or something? A lot of jobs engage your mind so much it's very difficult to write or make art. Working in a convenience store presumably doesn't engage your mind to its fullest capacity so take advantage of that.

It doesn't matter if the writing goes well at first. Your dad's sudden death has given you a huge shock and it will take time to recover. But you may as well be writing while you're at it.

Maybe you'll write something wonderful, maybe you'll find out you don't really want to write a book. It will work out for you one way or another.

I'm glad your mom is doing fairly well. Stay in touch with her and with your brother -- family is important. And pamper yourself. When someone you love dies suddenly and unexpectedly, it seems as if you'll never get over it, but you will. Of course you won't stop missing your dad, you'll just deal with it better as time goes by. Really. I speak from experience.

Take care!