It’s JU-LY! Time in the Midwest for sweet corn, mosquitoes the size of your thumbnail, humidity that causes tomatoes to grow, and in my family – endless camps to drive to, birthdays (for moi and some of my dearest friends), and that feeling that although it’s still summer vacation – the end is coming up too fast for my liking.
Here’s the news from me on my recent reads, what I’m watching, and writing progress:
Recent Reads: Here’s a couple of articles for your reading pleasure:
- Harrison Ford … I love him.
- Over the past few years, I’ve tried to be one of those writers who gets up at 5 AM and tries to get some words down on the page while my head is fresh (and before the coffee has even brewed.) I have also tried to get up early in the morning to bike, walk, work out, whatever. Apparently, my mind and body really like sleeping until about 6:14 AM and then my morning routine. And then work. And then when do I have time to write or work out or … Anyway, I thought this was an interesting article on how to train your brain to achieve a good morning flow.
My reading world has been a little bit of famine lately. Not for lack of good books out there, but my concentration is not what I wish it was when it comes to reading. I don’t know if this is the result of grief brain or what, but I’ve been thinking about trying to jumpstart my reading life by revisiting an old favorite.
Watching: I’m still working on SUCCESSION and my BOARDWALK EMPIRE rewatch. In the meantime, it’s now time for STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS. SNW = date night in my household.
Writing Life: During the tail end of June, I participated in Jami Attenberg’s 1,000 Words of Summer. I don’t know how many years I’ve been doing this, but it’s exactly what it sounds like – you write 1,000 words a day and you’re part of a larger community who talks about their progress using the 1,000 words hashtag. And during this time, Attenberg sends out a daily newsletter that always starts out with these words: Today you will write 1,000 words. It’s a magical mantra. SPOILER ALERT: I didn’t always hit my 1,000 words. But it was a nice way to touch my WIP every day, even when some of my words were just meandering thoughts on the page.
Happy July! Be careful with your appendages!
– Shelley
***
What is First Friday? This started originally as “Friday Fare” where I posted a hodgepodge of links and some of the things that were living rent-free in my noggin. This is a monthly version of that.
michellekubitz 