“Writer’s block is a myth. Writer’s block is choice. Writer’s block is real. And yet it is invented,” Seth Godin wrote on page 161 of his new book,The Practice: Shipping Creative Work. 

I get his point. Mental baggage has kept this blog empty since the early days of the pandemic. Like it or not, there is no muse is coming to push me through my slump. Tonight, I am alone struggling to write this post because it is important to me. I’ve set aside any expectation that it will be meaningful or witty, but what it will be is “published.”  

My block isn’t an artistic one. In fact, sculpting has been a bright spot for me. Working with clay feels real in a way that is comforting right now. What I need to overcome is a newly developed dread of being online. I’m tired of living in a virtual world, tired of interacting through screens, and tired of the toxic nature of my social media feeds. 

Pre-pandemic, I saw the internet as a place of creative exploration. I discovered artistic friends and mentors that I would never have met “in real life.” I learned skills and techniques from people all over the world. That is why the virtual world matters so much to me, and why I want to reconnect emotionally. 

So tonight, I am choosing to focus on the strength I’ve gained from the online creative community, especially the polymer artists. You welcomed me (Susan, Beth, Line, Lisa to name a few of you) and fostered my artistic growth. I am here because of you and the miracle of the internet.