Key Lime Pie Ice Cream . . . Forever

Ah, fall in Florida! When the "excessive heat advisory" drops to the regular old "heat advisory", and I defiantly keep eating Key Lime Pie ice cream even as pumpkin flavored everything rolls in. 

WRITING

Novella/Novel – I didn't achieve my goal of finishing the first draft by the end of the summer. I did make a ton of progress, though – scene cards sketched out, scenes written, an ending that makes me both happy and sad. Maybe another month to go . . .  

 

Mailing List – Um…. Nope. I'd like to say I'll do this in September but by the end of the year is more realistic. 

 

A great post over on Writers Helping Writers - "Do Your Characters Have Agency?" - got me thinking hard about my characters in general. 

 

PHYSICAL HEALTH

Way back at the beginning of 2023, my goal had been to lose some pounds. That's not going very well (see Key Lime Pie Ice Cream above), but I am exercising more consistently, slowly amping up the duration and intensity. I hope to get outside soon – it's still too hot for me – to walk and ride bikes.  

 

READING

None of This is True by Lisa Jewell is a mystery/suspense/thriller that takes you on a wild, wild ride, one definitely not for the faint of heart. 

 

And for the first time in a long time, I'm ahead in my 2023 Reading Challenge.

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How was your summer? Did you make progress on any projects? Read anything that blew you away? Are you a fan of pumpkin flavored everything?

When Motivation Melts

It's been a long hot summer - is it really only the middle of July? Sheesh! - and my creative oomph is melting like chocolate ice cream down the sides of a sugar cone.

So, if you're feeling the same, these quotes might help - two for keeping on track, one for a good chuckle.  

Wait . . . do you hear that? Voices from the freezer. Ben? Jerry? Uh-oh, I better rescue them! I'll need a spoon. You know, just in case things get yummy . . . uh, I mean messy.

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"Stop looking at what other people are doing

and look at what you're achieving.

Stop looking sideways,

look at where you're going."

(Jocelyn Glei)

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"WRITER'S BLOCK IS BROUGHT ON

BY WANTING TO WRITE WELL

AND FEARING YOU'RE NOT.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WRITE WELL,

YOU HAVE TO REVISE WELL."

(Janet Reid)

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"I AM EDITING ONE BOOK 

AND DRAFTING ANOTHER,

MOVING FROM PJS TO YOGA PANTS AND BACK

WITHOUT EVER MAKING A STOP

BY ACTUAL CLOTHES."

(Joshilyn Jackson)

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How's your creative oomph and motivation holding up so far this summer? Any advice for keeping it from melting? Do you have a favorite ice cream or other stay-cool treat?