Hearts and Chocolate go together like … EMTs and a Heart Attack?

Man, am I glad January is over! It’s never my favorite month, but it is usually a productive writing time for me (think sub-zero weather and slow motorcycle sales).

Not so this year.

As you might know, I was trained as an Army combat medic years ago (I’m not saying how many) and was in the Army National Guard for five years.

That experience stuck with me and definitely influenced my writing, but I never did it as a job. The interest was always there, but between a career in the high-tech industry, then running the family business (and raising my kids – can’t forget about that!), the timing was never right.

That changed recently.

For the past 4 months, I’ve been in EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) training. I’m happy to say that I passed my Practical Exam this weekend (the ‘book test’ is later this week). I hope to take the National exam by the end of February, and start working as an EMT at sporting events by April.

In the midst of the run-up to the exams (and a ride-along with a paramedic ambulance crew, a shift in an ER, and regular homework plus FEMA mass-casualty courses), my brain just couldn’t settle into anything resembling a creative groove.

About half-way through January I gave up, and let myself take the month off from writing.

Now I’m almost ready to reclaim my groove and decide what story to work on next.

How about you? Did January help your “groove” – or hinder it?!