Summary

Lisa A. McCombs, a writer with multiple sclerosis, is experiencing writer's block and has decided to take a reading vacation to reignite her creativity for her various writing projects.

Abstract

Lisa A. McCombs, a writer and advocate living with multiple sclerosis, is grappling with writer's block at the start of the new year. Despite an abundance of ideas for new and existing projects, she finds herself unable to translate these concepts onto paper. To overcome this creative hurdle, McCombs has embarked on a reading vacation, immersing herself in genres outside her usual domain. She hopes that engaging with diverse literature will rejuvenate her imagination and inspire her to continue her work on a young adult series, a middle-grade fiction, and a children's book about a girl whose mother has multiple sclerosis. McCombs's journey with MS is also documented in her book "Letters to the MonSter," and she actively fights the disease through her writing and advocacy work.

Opinions

McCombs believes that reading works by other authors can stimulate her own creativity and help break through her writer's block.
She expresses frustration with her characters' reluctance to come to life on the page, particularly new characters in her My Church of Go stories and the protagonists of her middle-grade fiction.
McCombs is enthusiastic about the potential of her characters, such as Nicco and the duo of Sam and Lilah, to develop further in her narratives.
She sees promise in diversifying her reading diet with books like The Curvy Girl Club series and Punk 57, which differ from her usual young adult and middle-grade fiction.
McCombs is optimistic that after this period of reading and reflection, she will be able to return to her writing projects with renewed vigor and a fresh perspective.

Is January Too Soon for a Reading Vacation?

My words seem to think so.

Three days into a new year, and writer’s block is taunting me. With my mind full of ideas for the next best American novel and lyrical phrasing, I find myself staring at an empty page.

That fresh journal refuses to allow my fancy new pen to spread any ink.

I have so many story ideas festering inside me. Why won’t they release themselves on the page?

My writing intentions for 2024 have excited me for weeks, and when I’m finally ready to pour the words forth, creativity dries up and locks the door.

I have an old YA series to revive and a new one to plant. My Church of Go stories are anxious to introduce some new characters. Sam and Lilah have been in the shadows long enough. I like them. I like them a lot, but their reluctance to breathe is frustrating me to no end.

Nicco needs to break out of his shell and join Ted Williams as my second boy POV.

JuJu and Elsbeth show promise as the stars of my first attempt at middle-grade fiction.

And a children’s book? About a girl whose mother has multiple sclerosis? It’s written. Well, the first page is. The rest is floating around in my head.

All I want to do lately is READ.

Hopefully, reading the words of other authors will jump-start my creativity.

So…this writer has decided to take a mini vaca from wielding a pen to indulge in the words of fellow authors…at least until the damn breaks and my neglected characters flood the page.

What am I reading? Stuff I don’t write.

The Curvy Girl Club series by Kelsie Stelting is a nod to overweight teen girls bent upon showing the world their worth.

Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas is a racey YA novel that challenges the cleanliness of my preferred genre. Wow…

My brother gifted me Ana Huang’s King of Wrath, which has no-thing to do with young-adult or middle-grade fiction.

I believe when I finish these alternative tomes of juicy fiction, I will greet my characters with open arms.

I’ll let you know how it works out for me,

Lisa, Lady With the Cane

Lisa A. McCombs was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis on July 1, 2001, six months after the birth of her only child. Lisa fights the MonSter through writing, public speaking, and government advocacy.

To learn more about MS and its impact on Lisa’s life, check out her most recent book, Letters to the MonSter, now available on Amazon.

Want to be part of my Tribe? Sign up here.