When I started writing this blog over seven years ago I wrote a post every day and had no idea that this was quite unusual. But writing every day became an important part of my routine. It didn’t just mean taking time out of my day to actually write the post, it also meant thinking about what to write.

In that time writing’s become an incredibly valuable tool for me. It’s helped me to get my head round my changing tics, to reframe upsetting situations, share my knowledge, ask for help, and most importantly to recognise all the laughter that Tourettes adds to my life.

I love writing this blog, I love thinking about what I’m going to write, and I love sharing my thoughts with other people. But over the last year or so I’ve been increasingly struggling with writer’s block. It’s not a block about choosing what to write, it’s a block about finding the time time to do the writing.

I’ve had so many ideas for posts that have gone un-written. This is partly because I’ve been really busy touring, organising events and working on new shows, and partly because my body and energy levels are adjusting to the chronic pain I’ve been experiencing.

This post isn’t an apology or a promise to do better, it’s an acknowledgment of my need to write, and of the frustration I feel at not having the time and energy to do it as much as I would like.

I’m hopeful that over the coming months I’ll be able to get back into a better routine so there’ll be fewer unwritten posts cluttering my mind, and more out in the world for people to read.

As I write this I’m ticcing the titles of potential posts:

“How to train your verruca to save the world.”
“My heart was stolen by a unicorn in grey marl suit.”
“Sixteen ways to wash a carrot.”

You might be disappointed to learn that none of these are posts I’m really planning to write, so if you happen to have expert knowledge in any of these areas please feel free to use them.

When I started writing I always thought I’d run out of things to say, but Tourettes has been a constant source of inspiration. If you’re a writer, an artist, a poet or a musician and you’re looking for something to spark your imagination, there are over 6000 of my tics here waiting to be used as springboards for your creativity.