1. If I know where I’m going I can get there faster. I am a slow writer. My process goes something like this: write a bit, edit it, write some more, go back and edit it a bit more, write another sentences, go back and see how well they fit with what I’ve written previously. I’m exhausted just reading that!
What to do? I had about 41k words in my contemporary romance novel and with my writing partner away I thought I’d play! I bought a white board and some long sticky-notes, got out my beat sheet and plotted the story out. I then highlighted the scenes I still had to write and made a list of them in my phone. Over the following ten days I managed to add 20k+ words to the manuscript. They are imperfect words to be sure, but they are there in my document, ready to be sculpted into something more readable.
plotting, planning and writing on sticky notes is so much fun!!
I tried voice to text when I injured my shoulder in 2022 but I had missed the most crucial element – I had to know exactly what I was writing. I used headings like ‘Jeanty arrives on the scooter,’ or ‘Beatrice arrives in Bali.’ I don’t think I could use dictation if I didn’t have an idea of the scene I’m writing. Last year I learned that plotting a story out results in a much faster writing process but then I’m not sure I could have plotted out my first novel (Hotel Deja Vu) because I had no clue what the story was going to be when I started.
2. I eat too much crap. In mid February I had clear aligners fitted to wrangle my teeth back into the right places. Over the past few years my front teeth have started to retreat into my mouth so my dentist recommended the aligners. After much mucking about with second and third opinions I had them fitted (the orthodontist at my regular dentist wanted to remove two perfectly healthy teeth. I said no-fucking-way and got two other unrelated experts to take a look.) I was super grateful to my dental nurse sister, Janine, who guided me because I suffered from a severe dentist phobia for years that I have just got under control. I certainly didn’t want to pour fuel on that dumpster fire!
To work properly, the aligners must be in place for 22+ hours a day, so I’ve been taking them out for a morning cuppa, lunch and dinner. This has meant no snacks and no bottomless cups of green tea. Just two meals a day and lots of water. In the nearly four weeks that I have been wearing the aligners, I have lost three kilos of my covid weight. I’ve been trying to lose it since the beginning of 2022 and the bonus is I hardly miss the crackers and nuts and choccies because I feel uncomfortable eating hard things at the moment.
3. Saying no is hard to do. I am an unhealthy combination of people-pleaser and enthusiasm addict. I want to do all the things! I want to help! I want to be involved! Do I have the ability to join a group without having to be on the committee? I don’t think so. I need to learn to say no to others so I can say yes to myself more often. The biggest problem is that I am a control freak and I want everything to be perfect.
I need to learn that sometimes things are perfect just as they are.
4. Answering the prompts on the WordPress Reader helped me find a whole new audience. I was stunned at the engagement on the site and want to say hello to anyone new who might be reading my babble for the first time. I’m glad you’re here! I won’t always make sense but I will always have an opinion I can promise you that much.
5. Most of us a pretty tired. Life is a lot at the moment. I rarely post anything personal on Facebook but last week I was a tad overwhelmed and posted this
As you can see, it touched a nerve. I don’t have thousands of followers so this number surprised me. Everyone is feeling it at the moment. It’s only March and we’re all feeling it to this extent. Imagine what October will be like…
6. Cold is the new hot. My doctor prescribed contrast therapy so I’ve been going to the cold plunge place down the road for the past two weeks. I am a cold frog and really struggle to raise a sweat so it’s been amazing sitting in the 9 Celsius cold plunge for 3 minutes then alternating with the 39 Celsius pool for 4 minutes. I have to do this three times then sit in the sauna or steam room. It’s supposed to help me with inflammation and I certainly didn’t get any muscle soreness after pilates last week. The previous week (before the doc visit) I had delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) for about 3 days which wasn’t fun!
We shall see. I’m hoping it will help me with anxiety and boundary setting. Nothing else has!
What have you learnt this year?
I always enjoy your insights, Christine! Thanks for sharing! 1-3 – Me too, 4, fascinating, 5 Totally agree, 6 – You are braver than me 🙂
…and it’s only March!
I love your candour, Christine. You are always open and honest which makes you relatable-to (I know, not a real term).
I think there’s something in the air atm and I’m tempted to retreat into my shell, away from the crowds, while it passes. But always up for a cuppa and a chat with you.
Thank you. Yes it’s tempting to run way at the moment. I want to move to the south of France but hubby won’t let me. Catch up with you soon x