Editor’s note: Karen Harris Tully is a writer who lives in Raymond and has agreed to keep a journal to share with Daily World readers during the odd and uncertain time we’re all navigating.

Dear Journal:

I have nothing to write about. Every day is the same. Might go to the grocery store later. Ooooh, exciting. Might give myself a spa day and cut my own bangs. Dye the kids’ hair with cool-aid. Dye my own hair with cool-aid. Hmmm. Which color goes with bored out of our gourds? Watermelon, definitely.

My mom’s voice in my head rings clear, “Only boring people are bored.” I know Ma. I know.

Yesterday I wrote for a whole two hours before the kids came upstairs to demand my attention. And dinner. If I don’t feed them, they eat all the granola bars. I read all the 200-word stories that came in and collaborated with my fellow judge, Corby. That was a definite bright spot, so thank you everyone who wrote and sent in a flash fiction story! There were quite a few entries, I was pleasantly surprised. Maybe lots of folks are looking for something new to occupy their brain-space? However it happened, it was a great challenge, and selected stories by our local Harborites will start appearing in the paper soon.

Other updates: The day before yesterday, I finally recovered our ottoman/toybox that had been shredded by the cats. I’d been meaning to do that for a while. The garden is going well. It’ll be time to thin seedlings soon, and I need to find a sunny location for the tomato starts flourishing on the windowsill. I’m still not really exercising. Meh.

And through all this whining, I am still procrastinating on writing my own books. I ought to have a master’s in procrastination by now. Yes, it’s nearly impossible to concentrate with the kids at home, but I have ear plugs. Give them a screen and they can be entertained for hours. (But, of course that’s not healthy.) Homeschooling is … not great. If my husband or I am not right on top of them, they wander off. I don’t know how their teachers keep 20 or more of them on track all day.

So, during the time I can scoop out to be alone, in ear-plug silence, I’m having a hard time visualizing my stories and simply finding the motivation to get started. Is anyone else having a hard time with motivation right now? Please say it’s not just me. I keep waiting, I guess, for the other shoe to drop. For this new reality to change again. Meanwhile, I DO have books to write.

“Try harder.” Yes, Ma. I know. But first. This house is a total disaster.

Karen Harris Tully is a novelist living in Raymond with her husband and two small children. She writes sci-fi/fantasy for teens and adults and can be found at www.karenharristully.com.