It feels like six months since I wrote anything not associated with work.

I was going to say “since I wrote a creative word”, but that’s not true because work does require creative writing, just of a different kind to prose or, heaven forbid, poetry.

That aside, the only non-work writing I’ve done for two months (that feel like six) is for this site and for the blog. Since I finished and submitted my manuscript I haven’t returned to work on any of my other manuscripts, notes or ideas.

At first it was because I was without a computer at home. But since I got my shiny new PowerBook I have been moved to re-read some older pieces with an eye to working on them further, but have not yet got to the actual working. Instead I’ve been playing SimCity, watching The Forsyte Saga, reading and packing.

It has certainly been partly attributable to burn-out. I worked for several months solid, weekends and after work, in order to finish the manuscript for the competition deadline, and when I finished I’m fairly sure I would have crashed in a creative heap even if my computer hadn’t been stolen.

But more recently I think it might be anticipation. Anticipation of shortly having a room of my own. Not that I don’t have a room of my own now, but this will be my own study where I can sit at my (as yet unpurchased) desk under my window and write, surrounded by books, with music playing at whatever volume I desire.

Anticipation often leaves me incapable of acting. If I have a meeting in half an hour, for example, the chances of me being able to start anything new prior to that meeting is slim to none. I don’t know why that is, but I suspect it’s at work at the moment. I’m not capable of concentrating on much outside work (and, sadly, inside work given that we’re now exceptionally busy), aside from putting things in boxes and buying new towels that I don’t need but will look very pretty in my new bathroom. I suspect this will continue until after I’m done moving.

I’m still writing in my head though. I’m still turning over ideas, character conversations, and images that could apply to various situations. Just can’t seem to get them down on the screen/keyboard/hard-drive.

I know I’ll get back to it. Sooner than I’m prepared for I’ll be on my own at home without the distractions of digital TV and an endless DVD buying budget, and then the writing will come.

But in the meantime, having this site as a way of keeping the creative juices flowing without having to find large slabs of concentrative time, is a really good thing.

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While my DVD budget may no longer be unlimited, it was given a boost from none to some by my successful tipping of all 8 winners in last weekend’s round of AFL. That achievement, and the cash that came with it, was made all the sweeter by the fact that the 6 people in my competition who tipped 7 and just missed out on sharing the cash all failed to tip the Kangaroos, ie my team, who had another stirring victory on Saturday night.