burn·out : the condition of someone who has become very physically and emotionally tired after doing a difficult job for a long time. —Merriam-Webster Online
It’s why I haven’t blogged since the Louisiana Book Festival last fall. I haven’t even visited my website until now.
For motivation, I completed a fiction-writing workshop with Wm. Anthony Connolly. He helped me find the words I feared I had lost.
So I went back to work with my pal and first-reader Dave Malone. I crafted a flash fiction piece and “Cold Snap” was a finalist in The Lascaux Review’s 250-word story contest. I even devised a plan for a novel, but childhood memories swamped me.
And Hippocampus Magazine has just published one of the memoir essays I’ve been working on instead. It seems the “found words” had a plan of their own.
These begin with a Georgia prison.
And Mama kicking my father to the curb in “No Sign of Daddy.”
Darrelyn Saloom 
Glad to hear that you are finding your way back into the work. And congrats on your publications and prizes.
Thanks, Jodi. You’ve been a huge inspiration.
I suffered a big burn out and stopped posting to my blog last August. I’m slowly dipping my toes back in the water with reviews at Foreword Reviews and some short stories that I hope will see the light of day. Might even resurrect the blog. Glad to see you’re back and with a bang. Have missed you. Congrats on your recent successes!
Thanks, Diane. I noticed your absence. And I missed you! Glad you’re coming back, too. Seems we’ve been on the same burnout schedule.
So glad you’re okay! I’ve missed your posts, but am happy for your continued writing successes. ☺ (I hope you’ll visit and read my new blog, too.)
Would love to visit your new blog, Ro. Send me the link here or on Facebook. Be sure to follow the above link to read “No Sign of Daddy.”
To paraphrase from What About Bob: we all need vacations. 🙂
I hear ya, Malone.
Glad yours has been exceedingly fruitful. 🙂
Thanks to you my dear friend. 🙂
To quote Bud, of Iola, Kansas: “I can’t do everything, but I do what I can.” 🙂
Hey Darrelyn! I couldn’t figure out how to post on your site but just wanted you to know how much I enjoy your writings. I feel like I’m ‘there’ with you……or those you are writing about. I really enjoyed your posts this morning. Still looking forward to meeting you one of these days. Thanks for all your insight (as well as your ‘oh so appreciated’ interest in my darling LeAnne, of course)!!! Barbara Date: Sun, 4 May 2014 14:02:33 +0000 To: barbarab7777@hotmail.com
Aw, thanks, Barbara. It’s so easy to love LeAnne.
Welcome back, Darrelyn, a gift for all of us. I really look forward to following these links and seeing whatcha been up to. I can identify getting swamped with family memories, even when writing fiction. Maybe especially then.
Thanks, Richard. You’re right on the money. Writing fiction is what got me back on my nonfiction pony. So be sure to pace yourself as you promote Shepherd, your gorgeous memoir. And if you burn out, rest. And then write fiction for awhile. I know you have lots more true stories to tell.
Darrelyn, I’m so happy to read your words again. I’ve come looking for them more than once : ) Congratulations on being a finalist at The Lascaux Review and your Hippocampus publication! I’m so excited about your project!
Thanks, Cynthia. I’m so touched that you dropped by. Sorry I wasn’t home.
You’re back! Yay! I’m thrilled you found your words again and they’re eager to tell your stories.
Thank you, Jenny. I’m so glad you stopped by.
Welcome back. The pieces you linked to are wonderful. Glad to see you are still writing.
Joe, Thank you so much for stopping by, reading, and leaving a comment with all you have going on right now.