5 things to inspire yourself with right now

 

For the first time since COVIDpocalypse, my husband and I went on vacation.

We didn’t go very far. Just a quick hop and jump up over the border across the straits on a ferry ride to Victoria, British Columbia.

Our plan was to wander Butchart Gardens and spend a few days sitting in a hotel room. We had grand plans to order food in, read, sleep in, be sloth-like, and otherwise do a whole lot of nothing.

The real vacation began after we got home and tested positive for COVID.

And thus began extreme Quarantine 2022.

My amazing 83 year old mother lives with us.

(If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook you’ve already met her.)

When word got out that we were sick, everyone started asking about my mom. She's received care packages, food deliveries, and generous offers for places to stay.

I told her, "Everyone's worried about you."

"I'm 83 years old," she said. "Something will happen to me. We can't save me from everything."

"Yes, but we can do our best to not be stupid. We don't want you getting COVID."

"I appreciate it, but stop worrying. You worry too much. If I get COVID I get COVID."

"Mom, this isn't about trying to protect you from everything. It's about keeping US from being the reason you get COVID."

Momentary pause. "Oh I get it. YOU don't want to kill me."

"EXACTLY. Do you know how many people would come after us if they thought we gave you COVID and killed you?"

"It's good to be loved,” she said with a smile.

So in an attempt not to get mom sick, we went into extra cautious isolation mode which meant coming up with a lot of ways to entertain ourselves from our respective corners of the house.

And you know how it goes. I’m sitting here in that stage of isolation where I feel better but not 100%.

This is an extremely dangerous place to be. Because I’m dreaming up all sorts of things. Like redesigning the garden, making plans to remodel the inside of the house, looking at selling everything and buying a condo or a camper van and hitting the road…

5 things this week that inspire me as a creator

  1. The Offer – The story behind the story of making The Godfather movie. Definitely worth watching. A great example of social conflict, and characters going after the same goal but pursuing different means of getting it.

  2. The Last Watch, by J.S. Dewes – Recommended to me by one of my clients, this brilliant science fiction novel explores what happens when you’re left to die on the edge of a contracting universe. Pay attention to see how this story handles different layers of conflict.

  3. The Anatomy of Story – I’m revisiting John Truby’s foundational class. Lots of story nuggets in here.

  4. The World’s Oldest Pharmacy – Messy Nessy is a constant source of inspiration. Check this article out on a pharmacy located in a 16th century Florentine chapel. This should get your story juices flowing.

  5. Stunning Grand Forgotten 235 year old Mansion Down South – YouTube video exploring an abandoned historical mansion. I can spend hours watching urban explorer videos. Especially of old asylums and mansions.

What do you love that's inspiring you right now that you want to share with the world? Click REPLY and let me know.

Keep going. Your stories matter.

Hello!
My name is Jocelyn.

Story warrior, book lover, day dreamer, gardener, and creative. I help serious writers roll up their sleeves, get their novel ready for publishing, and reach readers. When I’m not elbow-deep in the story trenches, I’m outside world-building in my garden and battling weeds with my three criminal mastermind cats.

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