Dear Reader
I’m often asked ‘How do you spend your day?’ and ‘How’s your writing going?’
Being a writer is a multi-faceted occupation. There’s a lot to managing the peripheral processes that bring the story to life. There’s the editing, proofreading, cover design, writing short blurbs about the book, publishing. Each has its own criteria. I also spend time in developing content for my website and these newsletters.
I don’t divide my days into each of these activities. I do have a notebook with copious To Do Lists, one for each segment of the job of being a writer. There are a lot of tasks on these lists. To be honest, I do the one that’s on the top of my mind first. Today, it’s writing this newsletter.
So you tell me: How do I spend my day? How’s my writing going? I don’t have a short answer – and I doubt my long answer is what my querents are expecting!
WHAT I’M READING
In our household, our current passion is for the historical fiction works of Vicky Adin. I particularly like the dual-timeline style of telling her stories. I also like the focus on antipodean life she writes about so well. I live in the antipodes and I’m learning so much more about our history that puts today’s life and values into a clearer perspective.
For example, Lucy, the Suffragist is a masterclass in how to write a dual-timeline novel and how to use both current happenings together with well researched historical events. I can’t say enough good things about this particular books and Vicky’s works in general. Maybe these books seem like they are women’s fiction, but my husband loves these books as well.
HOBBIES, PASSIONS, AND OTHER INTERESTS
I’m so immersed with the writing process you might think that’s the sum total of my life. But that’s not so! I’ve long held a desire to live a long, active, healthy life. Years ago I read about the Hunza people in Pakistan who exceed a lifespan of 120 years. And I thought “Why not me too?” It’s long been a focus and my youngest daughter has taken up the challenge to help me achieve this.
Recently she introduced me to the concept of Slow Burn exercising and I’ve just started this type of workout. The aim is to build muscle, which is so important as we age. Apparently, muscle doesn’t know ‘age’ as such. My aim is to be stronger and I figure it can’t hurt to try.
We’ve added a sauna to the mix, and with my weekly class and almost daily walks, I’m feeling much stronger already!
FYI: Slow burn is a form of strength training that uses very slow, smooth, and controlled lifting and lowering movements on machines found at the gym. And we’re talking really slow. The method is said to be an efficient way to become stronger, more flexible, and improve endurance in just two 30-minute workouts a week.
SELF CARE TIPS
One of the most important strategies for survival I learned through my adventure I wrote about in An Addict in the Family is self care. These little tips are some of the things I do for ‘self care’.
Tip 1: Do something every day that gives you joy.
Things I do include:
- Chat to a friend – phone, messaging, in person
- Go to the gym
- Read
- Watch Richard Osman’s House of Games for intellectual stimulation – and an opportunity for a real belly laugh!
- Soak in the bath (magnesium + epsom salts + essential oils = divine self care)
- Do the daily Wordle and Wordle with Friends
- Or do Sudoku or Crossword Puzzle
- Garden
- Go for a walk – we have a river environment plus parks to walk in
- Ask my husband for a hug – or give him one!
- Smile
And much more! You’ll find your own special ‘joy creating moments’ and I’d love to hear about them.
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AN ADDICT IN THE FAMILY – A MOTHER’S TALE OF HEARTBREAK, COURAGE, AND RESILIENCE
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