Writing and Allergy Season: Unexpected Similarities and How to Survive

by Lynn H. Blackburn @LynnHBlackburn

Spring in the South is a special kind of blessing—and trial. One day you're admiring the azaleas in full bloom, and the next you're waging war against the yellow dust coating everything you own. You want to go outside, but if you do, all that pollen will be coating your lungs. 

It’s simultaneously beautiful and glorious and frustrating and annoying! 

Isn’t that also true of our writing lives? 

Comparisons between Spring in the South and the Writing Life

The Weather Rollercoaster

On Monday, you’re in shorts and flip-flops, basking in 80-degree sunshine. On Tuesday, you're digging out your winter coat again for a sudden 35-degree morning. Wednesday brings a torrential downpour with a side of humidity that makes your hair look like you stuck your finger in an electrical socket. By Thursday, you're back to tank top weather!

Your story follows the same pattern—one day, your plot feels sunny and clear. The next day, it's a frozen mess. The day after that, it's running too hot and fast. 

In the same way smart Southerners know to keep both sweaters and sunscreen handy in April, the wise writer learns to adapt when their manuscripts decide to change seasons without warning.

The Inevitable Yellow Tide

There’s no escaping it. Every Southern writer knows the yellow tide is coming. No amount of preparation can fully protect you. Your car, porch, and even your dog will turn a suspicious shade of yellow-green. 

Similarly, no matter how much we plan our novels, unexpected plot issues will find their way into our manuscripts, coating our perfect stories with problems.

But here's the truth—both are signs of growth. Pollen means new life is bursting forth, just as plot problems often lead to deeper, richer stories when we work through them.

Sneezing Fits and Writer's Block

There’s not enough allergy medicine in the world to protect me from sneezing in April. And May. Once upon a time (long, long ago), I sat through final exams at Clemson University with an entire box of tissues that I brought with me to class. It was the worst possible timing, but I had no choice but to sneeze my way through. 

Writer's block hits the same way. You're typing along, words flowing like sweet tea at a church picnic, when suddenly—ACHOO!—your mind goes blank. Your characters stand frozen, waiting for you to recover and tell them what to do next.

Both situations require patience, a remedy (antihistamines or prayer, depending on the ailment), and faith that this too shall pass. There will come a time when you can breathe through both nostrils again, and the story will eventually kick back into high gear! (It might take a few weeks…be patient!)

God's Reminder to Slow Down

When spring allergies hit, they force even the most dedicated multitaskers to slow down. You can't rush around when your eyes are watering, and your lungs are clogged. 

In the same way, I believe God uses our creative struggles to remind us that writing isn't always about productivity and word count.

Sometimes, it's about sitting still, observing His creation, and listening for the still, small voice that guides our stories. In both cases, we're reminded of our dependence on the Creator, the Author of our faith, who writes our days and creates new beginnings even when we feel buried in yellow dust.

So the next time you're wiping pollen off your laptop or sneezing in the middle of writing a pivotal scene, remember—this too is part of the beautiful, messy process of creating something new. 

And like any good Southern story, it'll all make sense in the end.

Grace and peace,

Lynn

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Lynn H. Blackburn is the award-winning author of Unknown Threat, Malicious Intent, and Under Fire, as well as the Dive Team Investigations series. She loves writing swoon-worthy southern suspense because her childhood fantasy was to become a spy, but her grown-up reality is that she's a huge chicken and would have been caught on her first mission. She prefers to live vicariously through her characters by putting them into terrifying situations while she's sitting at home in her pajamas! She lives in Simpsonville, South Carolina, with her true love, Brian, and their three children. Learn more at www.lynnhblackburn.com.