I feel guilty about not being at my computer the past few days while I have battled an upper respiratory infection.

However, I realized this morning (as the fog began to lift from my brain) that while my fingers have been inactive, some ideas have begun to germinate.

I looked up the word to make sure I understood what was happening. The dictionary said that germinate means “to begin to grow…after a period of dormancy.”

So, while my body was recovering, my brain was taking the opportunity to germinate. New ideas/changes to my plot and characters were actually benefiting from this period of inactivity. 

So, if an illness or unexpected company or obligations seem to disrupt your writing schedule, use the time to let things germinate.

You just might find, as I did, that “down time” can be positive, helpful, and healing.