[DISCLAIMER: Minor spoilery images below. If you’re not yet up to date on the Disney+ Original, The Mandalorian, you might want to avert your eyes. I’m not discussing show details, but want to warn ya, just in case. We good? Good. Onwards…]

So, here I was, all revved up to start hacking away at my NaNo project, when I caught a case of the “ooh, shiny!” I got a story idea and it was just sitting there in my head, waiting to be explored. But I had a plan in place from last month’s work, didn’t I? Sidelining that now couldn’t possibly be a good idea. Unless, it was the perfect idea.

I think any writing is good writing. If something interests you, it’s important to see where it takes you provided you’re not under any pressing writing deadlines. This is what happened over the weekend when while showering—the usual time great story ideas come to mind—I started crafting scenes for some fanfic featuring our favorite lil’ guy.

I had a different story idea bouncing around my head after the first season ended. The characters created for the fanfic had different origin stories. This time, and especially due to the latest developments from S02E06, I decided on a different take. Will it change again based on what happens in the final two episodes of the season? That remains to be seen. I’ve also lured myself into late night/early morning rabbit hole research with fan theories, discussions, and articles on the expanded universe created by this show.

For now, the muse is hungry, so it’s important to keep feeding with words. The act of creating art should never be cast aside. Remember, it’s not to say that deadlines aren’t important, and if you’re writing on a deadline and you get the case of the hangry shiny detour, please write responsibly. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

There are some software programs and apps I’m using to help me on my musey “food trip,” as it were, and I’ll share my experiences with these writing tools in future posts. It’s encouraging to feel a renewed sense of energy to keep up with these creative bursts. It’s what’s keeping me going when life’s been such a 2020, you know?

I’ve gotten back to a writing routine and have used these writerly opportunities as part of my recovery (maybe more on that later). This is my version of self-care, at least part of it, anyway. I’m not putting too much pressure on myself, yet still doing something creative to get back to a sense of writing normalcy.

I’m going to see where this fanfic takes me and when it’s all nice and as shiny as I’ve envisioned it in my cranium, I might share it with you lovelies.

Whatever your method to increase your word counts, always remember to take care of yourself along the way. Feed the hunger, find your passion, and keep going.

As always, stay creative, stay weird, be kind to yourself and others.

Until next time,

T out.