This past few months have been difficult for me as far as my writing career is concerned. A close family member has become very ill and so I've been using my time to focus on family. But I think that even when difficulties arise in our lives to where our "commercial" aspirations aren't as important, there are always ways to keep writing an active part of our lives. Instead of writing books and articles, I've turned to writing in a journal and recording personal thoughts and feelings. Nothing we think or feel is every unimportant--and so it's crucial that they're not lost. And one day they could give me a reminder so I can tap into those feelings for a character or plot.