Patricia L. Atchison

YA Fiction & Non Fiction Author

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Sequestered – But Not Hiding

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San Diego Wave, photo by Patricia L. Atchison I understand daily events in my life can’t be organized, planned, nor managed at this time.

Outside forces intervene, a storm over the water, where ripples become white-capped waves crashing against a rocky shore.

Unable to control this storm, I seek shelter and comfort within the confines of a loving home, watching it swirl around me.

Thankful I’m not out in the midst of it, I think of those who are.

They’ve no choice but to bounce about, facing one wave, then the next.

Never knowing when the biggest one will hit and overtake, tipping them out into the vast ocean, fighting for their lives, and the lives others.

I’m not confined, though sequestered, but not hiding.

Merely being, I’m unable to control and manage.

I am doing my part to stay out of the storm and waiting for it to pass over.

Once it dissipates, I can go outside again and bask in the sunshine.

Ready to organize, plan, and manage daily events, carrying on with life’s familiar once more.

(Author’s note: my voice on #Covid_19 and self-isolating.)

Can’t Make Up My Mind

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Confessions of a Multi-Genre Author

Many authors who stick with and write in one genre are successful. They create a following of readers who become engaged because of the expected story lines that are guaranteed by the author. My problem with writing is that there are so many genres to explore. I find it hard to fall in love and stick with one particular type.

When I’m sad, or in a highly emotional state, a poem bubbles up and out of me and scribbles its way across a blank sheet. On a typical day, writing poetry is like looking at the mountains on the horizon over a hundred away. Beautiful, yet unattainable without quite a journey.

When my daughter was growing up, I read many children’s books at night to her, which sparked my creativity, and a couple of story ideas made their way toward publication. I learned how to write a full length novel in the young adult genre, but I’ve never sent them to publishing houses, nor published them myself. Do I revisit them, and see if the characters within and their story still excite me enough to pursue publication?

Journals, writing in them, and creating them have always been a passion that has never left me. Years ago, I had an online journal store when the internet was just in its infancy. I should’ve kept it going, but other interests took over my time, and who the heck buys things online anyway (ha!). I still journal quite often, even if it’s in this format of blogging.

I find many stories are triggered by dreams, events, adventures, news articles, and life in general. Some I know work only as fictional short stories, which I write and send away as contest entries – you never know—other ideas I jot down for later follow-up. Most recently, my interest is leaning toward an adult contemporary fiction story with a romantic plot line. More to come on this idea!

I’ve created a smattering of readership fans through my different writing styles, and I am grateful for their interest in my work. Reflecting now, I believe some authors found their niche within a genre and perhaps are comfortable staying within it (not to mention the healthy royalty cheques!).

Although I’ve been writing for decades, I’ve also been learning as I go along. It’s been a journey, discovering the different highlights of the genres I’ve visited. I guess I haven’t found the perfect spot/genre to nestle into and call my own yet. I know it’s a work in progress.

I invite you to travel with me on this multi-genre writing journey of mine and together, we may find that ‘sweet’ spot, which calls to the reader inside of both us, and it’ll be amazing!

Journal Writing Prompts

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Journal PromptsWhen the call to write comes, it may be challenging to find the right words to put on paper. There is a solution for that. Writing Prompts. I was lucky at Christmas as my daughter, who knows me well, knew I would enjoy a ‘writing prompt’ journal. Not only that, she supplied me a milk frother for lattes and a container of homemade chocolate-covered sponge toffee. I’m blessed!

When I sat down with the journal, a tea latte, and these delectable treats, it made for a moment of pure bliss and happiness. I love flipping through the book and finding a question that speaks to me in the moment.

So as not to trespass on any copyrights with the journal prompts book I received, here is a prompt from one of the exercises in my book, Today I Am… An Empowering Journal Back To Self.

A person’s values change over time. Values are the standards and behaviours that a person lives their life by and are different for everybody depending on how they’ve been raised, the beliefs they grew up with, or the attitudes they picked up along their life’s path.
Grab a cup of your favorite beverage – sorry I’ve no treats left to share and take a few minutes to journal the ideas that come to you from the following prompts. Enjoy!

How have your values changed over the years – from your teens and into adulthood?

If you’ve lost sight of who you once were, what changes could you make to your value system, to find the way back to the person you knew to be you?

These are substantial questions for sure, but if the prompt speaks to you, grab your favourite journal and see what response you write.

Blue Monday

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January 20, 2020, is deemed ‘Blue Monday.’ a name that’s given to the third Monday of January. It’s claimed to be the most depressing day of the year based on an equation that takes into account weather conditions in the Northern Hemisphere. It was first publicized by Sky Travel, a vacation company, in a 2005 press release. Other factors include credit card debt from the holiday season that is now arriving in the mail, and some people have more substantial sums to pay on their bills. The month seems long and snowy. The ecstatic excitement of the Christmas holiday season with family time is over, and life is back to normal. Not to mention, January is one heck of a long cold month.

All this adds up to the seasonal blue moods, causing people to struggle with sadness and depression. If you are looking for a way to increase your mood on this Blue Monday, an excellent place to start is with gratitude. What are you grateful for today? Grab a pen and paper and set the timer for 5 minutes and list all the things, no matter how small or big that you are grateful for in your life.

Something else that helps is movement. Moving can include walking, visiting the gym, running, cycling, and exercising and more. When we move, stagnant energy that pools in places as we sit – like around the hips – has the chance to dissipate and circulate throughout the body. Something as simple as getting up during the commercials while watching television and walking around the house works. When was the last time you danced? Set some tunes on and move – any which way you choose. Close the drapes if you think someone might see you!

There are many ways to increase your mood like sitting and soaking up sunshine coming in through the window. Watch a funny movie, live-talk (no text messages) to someone you didn’t get a chance to see over the holiday season or volunteer at the local animal shelter.
In my book, Today I AM… An Empowering Journal Back To Self, I list many practices to help increase happiness, joy, and gratitude. If you’re struggling to find more Joy in your life, then be sure to pick up a copy of this book.

Happy Monday!