How Does a Fire Impact Your Writing?
October 22nd, 2007, by Michael Stelzner
Fifty mile per hour winds. An orange sky. Ambers and ashes falling from the sky.
If you live in Southern California, you are used to fire.
San Diego in particular, happens to be the most fire prone location in the world. A wicked combination of desert winds and dry weather create a tinderbox.
I am in the middle of a real fire right now. Now to you…
How do the fires of your life impact your ability to write?
Do fires send you running for safe ground? Do they force you to hunker down?
How do you respond when life’s storms whip up?
Some people are prepared for disaster. The have contingency plans and spring into action, ready to take on whatever comes their way.
Others live life in the moment and freeze when uncertainty knocks at the door.
Which are you? What can we learn from real fires?
(3 votes, average: 2.33 out of 5)
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October 22nd, 2007 at 11:14 am
Hey Folks;
On a personal note… My family has been evacuated due to fire. Could use your prayers! - Mike
October 22nd, 2007 at 12:10 pm
Mike,
I hope you and your family are staying safe. You’ll be in my prayers.
Best wishes,
Jonathan
October 22nd, 2007 at 12:32 pm
Mike,
When life’s storms hit, I pray. I’m praying for you and your family.
Be safe,
Debbie
October 22nd, 2007 at 12:42 pm
Mike,
I’m keeping your family in my prayers. Tons.
Nettie
October 22nd, 2007 at 3:47 pm
Thanks everyone! This is really crazy. We are staying in hotel that seems (for now) to be out of the fire zone. Me and a buddy hope to sneak back into our community late tonight and see how our homes are doing. Thanks everyone for your prayers!
Mike
October 22nd, 2007 at 5:28 pm
Mike, you and your family are in my thoughts. Stay safe!
October 23rd, 2007 at 6:10 am
Michael - my heart is with you all! Be safe.
I love how you’ve found grist for the writing mill in this situation…
I hold the intention that you will return home, and that all will be well.
Love, joy and deep appreciation,
Kim
October 23rd, 2007 at 6:53 am
Mike,
My thoughts are with you and your family.
Hang in there and let us know if there’s anything we can do to help.
Manya
October 23rd, 2007 at 7:18 am
Thanks everyone for your prayers and well wishes!
Just an update.
At about 6am I got in my car and attempted to get “back” into my community.
As I rode up the top of a mountain, I could see an orange glow against the dark sky to the north of where I live. That was Rancho Santa Fe going up in smoke. These are like 7 million and up dollar homes.
As I went down the mountain I saw a police car.
I spoke with the patrol officer about how my home was just beyond him.
He said for my safety he couldn’t let me in.
I could see that the fire had not approached my house (as it would still be glowing).
The fires seem to be heading away from me.
More soon…
October 23rd, 2007 at 7:24 am
Pictures: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/23/gallen.fire/index.html#cnnSTCPhoto
October 23rd, 2007 at 8:04 am
Good luck. I have a lot of family in Fallbrook, all evacuated, and it is hard to think about anything else but this frightening situation. We are all thinking of you and sending prayers and good wishes.
October 23rd, 2007 at 10:17 am
All the best for a safe and swift return to your home. Canada wishes you all well down there. I sure wish I could send you all this rain we’re getting in Toronto today. Be well, and keep us posted.
October 23rd, 2007 at 5:40 pm
Mike,
I’m glad you’re ok. I’ve been worried about you.
October 24th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
I’m sending up prayers for you that your family remains safe and your home untouched.
October 24th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
P.S. — In answer to your questions, I think the metaphorical fires always remind me how much I take for granted and catch me by surprise. “Why didn’t I plan for this? What about all my intentions last time to do this list of great things to prepare for the next unforeseen emergency?”
It is not lost on me that in times of disaster we suddenly start seeing the people, places and things around us with miraculously opened eyes since the normal routine is interrupted. We also find those places we don’t always see inside us — our ability to act heroically or cowardly, our capacity for melodrama or stoicism. I think this would ultimately make you a stronger writer as it gives you new insights into the human condition.
For those of us with home offices, I think this is a good time to remember to make your contingency plans — if something happened, how will you ensure your business continuity? What do you need to consider for data backup and offsite storage? If you have time, what business items would you grab? If you can’t grab them, how will you recover? If you work for a big company they have people who plan for these things but when you have your own business it all falls to you.
The same sort of thinking holds true for our personal lives, but if your business is conducted out of your home — how frightening to consider all the things that could go wrong and impact your livelihood, but how crucial to plan for them in advance.
October 24th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
Gina - Great insights!
Just an update to all. We are still evacuated. Hope to go home today. Good news is the answering machine works so the house must still stand.
Mike