Dear Reader,

I like to drink jasmine tea when I write. It is part of my writing ritual.

I write poetry and prose too. I'm in the middle of writing my first novel. I've always liked to create stories. I never realized that it would become my way to escape from pain when I got diagnosed with CRPS.

To focus on creating a story, the many details of world building, character development, making sure there are no plot holes…, not being able to write anything down, doing it all in my head. That's how I created the novel that I'm writing. It gave me something to focus on away from the pain, and I didn't just create this novel, but a whole epic saga.

The other part of my ritual is using the app, Otter. Best invention ever!
I can dictate my story while Otter writes it down and records the audio. Listening to it feels like I am reading to myself. Thanks to this app I'm able to write.

I am not on social media, the little energy I have, I’d rather use it for writing. CRPS affected my ability to read and write. At the same time in trying to escape from the pain, it bolstered my imagination, my ability to create new worlds, and it opened my eyes to the realization that what I really love to do is to write. I wouldn't be writer if I didn’t have CRPS, and definitely I would not be a poet, nor an Illustrator.
These two things are gifts from the CRPS.

There is a theme across my writing that I hope you get to enjoy:
May today bring us a better tomorrow.
Warmly,

Starlit Swan