Writers block is hard.

But you know what's worse?

Having writers block while recovering from a burnout.

Kacie let's out a noise in-between a scream and a groan as she drops her head onto the table for the umpteenth time. Once done verbally letting out her frustration into the desk she slowly lifts her head, and is greeted by the merciless blinking of her laptop cursor on an empty word doc.

She had been at this the whole day. She cleared out her schedule for the day and made sure there were absolutely no distractions so she could finally work on her WIP. Heck, she even made sure to turn off her wifi to ensure that she wouldn't fall into temptation and doomscroll on Pinterest as one does while procrastinating life. But alas, hours later and nothing, nada, zilch.

What kind of a writer was she?

Kacie's pity party is interrupted as a bundle of white and orange fluff jumps onto her desk with a soft trill.

"What do you think Bobbie?" She asks her cat in a softer voice as she rubs the top of his head, "should I make a story with you as the main character?"

Bobbie ignores Kacie as he sniffs at her mug of half finished now cold coffee.

"And then... What? Write a story where you can talk?"

Bobbie turns around with his tail brushing Kacie's face as he walks away, then jumps off of the desk and onto Kacie's bed, leaving Kacie alone with her writers block.

"Well... It's a start."

With a sigh Kacie rights herself up into a sitting position and stretches. Even if she doesn't have anything for her main story a little writing is better then none right? Once done stretching Kacie notices that her laptop fell asleep, she pushes the power button to turn it on. Only... it doesn't turn on.

"What the?" Kacie tries the power button again, then groans when she finally notices the unplugged end of her laptop charger.

She plugged the wire into the socket but forgot to connect the charger into the laptop.

What was this day?

"Looks like I'll have to do things the old fashioned way," Kacie muttered as she gets up.

Now it's not to say that Kacie didn't like to write on paper. It's just that paper made her think of homework or essays, or taking down notes for clients.

"Okay, where is it?" Kacie inspects her bookshelf. Cluttered would be a generous way to describe it. Filled to the brim with paperbacks already read and to be read, scrapbooks and the odd piece of origami, Kacie couldn't quite recall where her writing notebook went.

Maybe she should check to see if she left it in the tidier bookshelf/side table in the living room first. As Kacie is about to leave A twinkling light in the far corner of her eye catches her attention. Looking in the direction of where she saw the light her gaze is drawn to the dusty corner of her shelf.

Nestled in between the Oxford English Dictionary and The Red Fairy Book was a untitled book with a brown leather cover that Kacie had never seen before. Puzzled by it's existence Kacie pulled it out.

It's the most beautiful book that Kacie had ever laid eyes on. Brown leather cover with gold filigree. A leather strap kept the book closed over uneven weather worn pages. When she turned the book over there in the center of the cover was what looked like a large opal set onto a star.

Where did this come from? Kacie would definitely have remembered buying a book with such a gorgeous cover. Let alone even affording it. This beauty looked like it would go for a million bucks at a antique auction or something, and definitely not on Kacie's cluttered bookshelf.

Yet here it was in Kacie's hands.

Kacie looked up at the clock hanging above her desk. Well, it's not like she was going to get any writing done today anyway. She might as well get some reading done. What did she have to lose?

With that thought, carefully she opened the book.

The title page featured a beautifully illuminated drawing of two snake-like dragons coiled around each other in front of a starry background. One held a jewel in its claw that looked like the opal on the cover, and the other held a sword. Between the dragons, printed in large calligraphy, were the words "The Hero's Journey." Kacie smiled at the bit of metahumor, then turned the page.

Prologue

There are many kinds of quests, just as there are many kinds of heroes. Some seek honor, riches, fame, or love. But all are motivated by something beyond themselves, a calling to be more than their station in life. If this book has found you, then you, too, seek to rise above your mundane life. Become someone. Create something.

Kacie did want to create something--she loved writing more than anything else, current writer's block notwithstanding. She liked the idea that maybe this book had found her for a reason. Maybe she could find the inspiration she needed if she kept reading.

She skimmed the rest of the page, which continued on like that. Just when she was about to turn the page, she noticed the words at the very bottom of the paper, inked in bold letters like a warning sign.

Quests are not easy. Not for no reason is the climax of a story sometimes called the "darkest hour." But if you read on, there will be no turning back until the threshold is crossed once more.

What will your quest be, reader? Turn the page, cross the threshold, and find out.

Kacie grinned and turned the page. This book was getting disturbingly good. To her surprise, the next page had only the words "Chapter 1" written on top, and a single sentence beneath them.

Good luck, reader.

"Well," she said out loud to no one but her cat, "this is a bit disappointing."

"I know, right?" said Bobbie.