Edmonton’s been in the grip of a cold snap that’s left 6 inches of snow on the ground (at least), along with grey skies, and even greyer landscape…and it all feels like my writing, really…grey, unchanging, no light, no color, no life.

And it’s really hard to maintain enthusiasm in the face of bad writing, but it’s the reality of being a writer. To me, it’s all well and good to call yourself a writer when the words are flowing, calling yourself a writer when it’s all going sideways is another thing entirely, and I’m reminded of Agatha Christie…and I always remember her quote when things are going badly, “There was a moment when I changed from an amateur to a professional. I assumed the burden of a profession, which is to write even when you don’t want to, don’t much like what you’re writing, and aren’t writing particularly well.”