I tried some different things to push along my attempt to finish a first novel. I wrote on a typewriter to try and get ideas down without being distracted by grammar or finicking around. I went to Trinity Bellwoods park nearby the apartment (which I still frequent for inspiration) to disconnect from wifi and focus only on the words in front of me.

Have you ever read something outside your comfort zone?
It’s a journey to be sure. It takes your thinking in a different direction, shifts your perspective. It’s like stepping into a new world and you’ll never be the same again.

Cheryl Skory Suma, finalist in the 2021 Blank Spaces Fiction Anthology Contest, shares a little of her back story, her rediscovery of story-telling, and the healing journey of embracing her writing.

I could see the lights in the distance. It was coming straight towards me. I stood on the tracks, the multi edged rocks pushing against the soles of my shoes. The ground began to vibrate…

Writers move to their own beat and it's only through accepting their personal rhythm and embracing the call that they can feel ready to proudly say, "I AM WRITER, HEAR ME ROAR-TYPE!"

No one can tell you you're a writer. Only YOU can make that claim.

But there are a few indicators that might help you realize your own truth...