For a long time, after life took me on a long, strange departure from what most people would consider normal thought processes, I had thought for sure that my mind had slipped and that I was destined to slide into psychosis "any day."

Now, I feel quite a bit different about things. I didn't go crazy at all; I discovered something within myself that was the wellspring of my ideas, perhaps from the very first story I ever wrote; I found my soul, if I may use that word. I've harnessed it now; the words flow from me like they never have before and I'm writing what has been consistently described to me as the best fiction of my entire life.

If this is the prelude to madness, then it's the kind of madness that begins with an explosion of brilliance. I figure at this point, if I am destined to descend into madness then there is nothing to do but to grab the dragon by the horns and ride it as far as it will take me.

But for once, this doesn't feel like a descent; it feels like I've found something good that I can stick with.

Here are some notes on how I've improved as a writer, taken both from my own observation and feedback from friends and family. It's not comprehensive, but it's a good idea of the changes that have come along:

*Style- My style seems crisper, better-paced, more mature, and for once it has begun to gel discernibly.

*Content- My story ideas have gotten more complex, original, and compelling in the space of only a few months as I have trained myself to take my best ideas, then push them one step further.

*Speed- I had knocked out a first draft in 27 days before ("One Could Do Better" was a NaNoWriMo proejct), but at the time it felt like something I could never do again; now, not only have I finished several older projects in record time, but I have enough ideas and I'm able to use them fast enough that I could realistically write 2-3 novels a year by 2016.

*Focus- It seems I'm more focused and determined to become the best novelist I can. I'm not even thinking about becoming self-sufficient on my writing any more; I've reached a point where the goal is to write excellent fiction, period, and that seems to be enough to motivate me. I finally remembered the high I got from the warm reception to "Cirrostratus," and that's a high that is hard to compete with.

*Enjoyment- I've actually learned to enjoy writing on a level I haven't been able to since High School. I feel like a part of me that had almost died has found new life and energy as I undo the damage caused by years of depression and loss of self.