Are You Going to Write Another Book?
“Are you going to write another book?” I’ve been asked this question on three separate occasions by three different people recently.
It’s been about one year since I released “Angels and Accidents: Confessions of a Cancer Survivor.” If I were a worldly-success-driven creator or, some might argue, a reasonably responsible steward of my talents and time/money investments, I would be running a promotion right now. Announcing on every online platform that this is the one-year anniversary of my book and I am running a special deal.
The thing is, I don’t feel like going online. I don’t feel like promoting myself or my creations. I have an inner sense that this would scatter my energies and I am in a building up period right now. The shelter of introversion is like a magnet for me right now. To come out of it to announce a book special would feel….artificial and forced.
I am, creatively and vocationally in a state of surrender. As part of that surrender, I am attuning my ear to God through the people and experiences I encounter firsthand.
It is not that I do not value my online interactions, but the virtual world is so very noisy right now. AI litterings and advertisements, people posting about every newest international and US development, forest fires of words tinged with fear and anger spewing from primally triggered minds without much thought or care. So much WEIRD, unnerving stuff, happening and being reported on and discussed, ALL THE TIME.
I don’t want to be sucked in and become a shadow of myself. I don’t want to add to the noise. I don’t want to shout to be heard. I don’t want to create extra work for myself by starting conversations I don’t necessarily have time to finish. I don’t want to divert my attention away from my upward gaze.
“Are you going to write another book?” It’s essentially the same question from three different people I don’t know very well, on three different occasions.
Their question is echoing through my mind.
In the background, a growing swell of inspiration, snippets and ponderings, alive and growing in my subconscious.
It may, indeed, be time to write another book. To speak in times such as these is intimidating. I don’t want to end up on a future AI-hit-list. Part of me REALLY wants to hide out under a rock until the storm passes. I take comfort in the fact that my audience is incredibly small and I no longer wish for a large audience.
“Are you going to write another book?”
Yes, I am going to write another book.
What it will be about— that, I do not yet know.
I will probably test-run some ideas in this newsletter. Muse around until I land on something that feels right. Something that I can commit to working on in a long form.
To those who read these words, I think I am open to promptings, ideas, suggestions.
I now realize that I will have to, ironically and hypocritically, share this writing in order for anyone else to see it.
If you have figured out the ideal balance between pure creation and interaction, please do let me know.
