Jami Attenberg’s #1000wordsofsummer kicks off on Monday, May 31st. Fourteen days of writing 1,000 words per day. Considering that my writing practice is a bit rusty (thanks quarantine!), I’m going to use this as a launching point for my next book. 14,000 words is only a fraction of the 90K I’ll need to write, but … it’s a start.
My kids’ summer vacation is looming and although they’ll still be home and we’re all still together, my husband and I get to hang up our teaching hats. We are fortunate that we have jobs that afforded us the time and opportunity to keep them home, but damn … it has not been easy.
Gratitude list:
- I bought a bike in the early 00s that has moved with me six times. And although I have barely biked in the 20+ years it’s been in my possession (um, twice …), I kept moving the damn thing. And now I’m biking. Slowly. Painfully. Terribly. But I’m biking.
- Good friends and beer dates.
- This dish from Lidey Likes (I subbed the hell out of everything, but the original recipe made for good inspiration).
I like Cal Newport’s productivity books (because I have this weird thing about loving and reading productivity, a paradox since I’m a fairly disorganized person). This was an interesting article … why does remote work need to happen from home? With this new influx of people working from home thanks to the pandemic, do we need to separate where a person lives from where they work?
My two cents … I don’t think you do. BP (Before Pandemic), I spent nearly a decade working from home. And it is to the point where I cannot see myself returning to a standard office environment. HOWEVER, having my entire family home for the past year with limited ways to get quiet and alone time? That’s been challenging and has prompted more than one Internet search for co-working spaces, inexpensive office rentals, and wondering if I could build myself a damn she-shed.
However, summer has returned to the Midwest. Patios work wonders for my productivity, so I’m hoping that since I’m fully vaccinated, I will be able to carve out some time away from the house so I can get some words in this season.
I leave you with this thought … the quote comes from C.S. Lewis and it came to my attention via my pal Cal.
I think the universe is telling me to stop whining and just write, dammit.
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Watching: I’ve made it through four seasons of Elementary and have decided that Joan, Sherlock and I need a little break. So I’ve decided to start watching the new season/new show of Law & Order: Organized Crime. (Dah-dum!)
Yeah, I’m a sucker for Elliot Stabler.
Reading: My favorite barista Allison recommended “The Liar’s Girl” by Catherine Ryan Howard. And damn … not only is Allison gifted at making Americanos and being an all-around fantastic human being, she makes good book recommendations.
I’m also making my way through the “Legends of the Fall” novellas by Jim Harrison.
Writing: Querying, querying, querying. Finishing a draft of a short story. Taking some alone time this weekend to start writing the next book.
Get vaxxed, wear a mask. Stay safe and well, friends!
– Shelley
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What is Friday Fare? As a recap, on Fridays I post link love to the various bits of arcane shiz I discover on the Interwebs. I liken it to a glimpse into my mind, but without the 80s song lyrics or mental cobwebs.
michellekubitz 