The quarantine we're all under has given us ample time to do all kinds of things. Some have undertaken home improvement projects while others are simply spending time with family.

I live alone so finding ways to occupy my time is a bit limited. I am, however, a writer. It's not my day job, but it is a fervent hobby of mine. The problem was that I rarely had real time to dedicate to my first love.

Until now that is. I have all kinds of time (when I'm not working) to devote to writing on the two novels I have in progress. And yet I still find reasons to procrastinate on them. Why is that?

Don't get me wrong. I love to write. I'm not always the best at expressing myself verbally, so writing out my thoughts has often been my preferred method of communication. They invented texting for people like me.

But when it comes to writing this novels that I want to one day have published and shared with the world, I find myself paralyzed sometimes. I have good writing days, where I power through and hit a word count goal. And I have others where I've put it off all day only to sit down and eek out only a handful of mediocre words.

It's the fear of failure, I believe, that most often contributes to my inability to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). I've wanted to be an actual published author for as long as I can remember. But the closer I get to that goal, the more terrified I am of it. Because this could all turn out to be an utter failure. And then where would I be?

I'll tell you. Still a writer.

I have so many stories I want to tell. And yeah, they need to be polished a bit and more well thought out (my other major procrastinating problem), but I want to share them with others who just like to read a good story and escape for a while.

I've lost myself often in a good book and it allowed me a mini-vacation from the world around me. I simply want to try to offer that same escape to others.

As I said, sometimes I have trouble with a plot that's not very well thought out. An idea can sometimes be more than I can handle at the moment and it gets pushed to the side. The back burner is beginning to get a little full.

I imagine there are others who are dealing with something similar here. It doesn't just apply to writers, though that's the experience I have. It applies to others who have a love for a particular craft but they're unsure of their execution: sewing, crocheting, quilting, wood carving, painting, etc. There are so many. My area of eastern Kentucky is rife with creators. And we could always use more.

I know it's difficult, losing the excuse we once had of just not having the time. It was difficult for me to accept that one. But there is creativity in all of us and it's worth sharing with the world. Feeling productive with something new can brighten your day. It does mine, anyway. And then you can share whatever that may be with everyone. Maybe not in person at the moment, but just about anything can be shared digitally these days.

So I will endeavor to conquer the daily fear of not being good enough and writing anyway. I will continue to create worlds and craft characters who go on adventures so I can join them, and hopefully others can, too. I'd love to see the same out of you. Tackle that painting, that sewing project, that block of wood. Make it into something unique and solely you. Because only I can write these books the way I see them. And only you can create what you see in your mind.

The world needs our creativity and it's a great way to use up some of that extra time.