Wading Through Life…
It’s spring here in the South. Everyone focuses on the new flowers, but it can be a mix here with severe thunderstorms and tornadoes thrown around every couple of weeks. This year, as my daughter and I prepare for another round of “can we actually grow something—for real”, I find myself fascinated by all the seeds she’s bought. She’s so excited by the potential of their growth and what will happen as they come to fruition.
The potential to take something from an idea (a tiny seed in a paper pouch) to the thing it can become when given the love and right conditions to flourish IS exciting. We haven’t had great success with our potted plant garden, except for okra. We grew a lot of that last year! [heart emoji] But its exciting to know that it can happen!
It takes a lot of energy to bring projects to their fullest potential. For plants, it's lots of water, the right soil, sometimes additives or sprays for bugs, and making sure you pick the fruit before it gets too ripe (oops!).
For my new series, it’s been the idea, planning and plotting, drafting, editing, and now publishing. The entire process has taken me 3 years, which at times made me feel like I wasn’t accomplishing anything. Kind of like those weeks between when you plant a seed and when the sprout actually shows up.
But seeing the first fruits now is one of the most exciting things I’ve ever done! I hope you enjoy going along with me on the journey. Soon I will have a cover to share!!
How does your garden usually grow? Do you have a green thumb? Or is it hit or miss (like me)?
Take care,
Dani
Something that caught my eye…
My daughter went to a tulip farm nearby—absolutely gorgeous. We’re so lucky the freeze didn’t stop them from blooming. And we had a beautiful bouquet in the house for a week. Wading Through Life...
As the song says, life can be hard sometimes. Doing things is hard sometimes. Believe it or not, even words are hard sometimes. Many of us start out the new year wanting (sometimes desperately) to make changes in our lives. Myself included! But change is hard. This past November, I found a key that helped me accomplish a goal. It still wasn’t easy, but it was easier. I went from not writing at all to getting in several writing sprints per day. The key? Accountability. I asked a few fellow authors who were participating in the same monthly challenge as me if they wanted to start a small accountability group. Just post your goals and chick in daily. That’s all. We would hold each other accountable to work towards our goals, offer encouragement, celebrate our wins, and help find solutions to struggles.
Guess what? It worked! And so did I!!
After all, I’d be horribly embarrassed if I failed completely. That got me through the first few days. Then I was encouraged by the response and progress of my fellow authors. The writing got easier (most days), and I found myself looking forward to posting my progress each day.
I mean, I wasn’t perfect. I didn’t write every single day, because…life. Right? But in just 30 days, I got a hell of a lot more done than in the previous 6 months.
December came. The challenge ended. I stopped posting and—bam! No more words.
Suddenly all the other stuff on my plate became more important, more urgent, more—well—noticeable if it wasn’t done. More noticeable than the writing.
But I have a book I want to finish. Editing to accomplish. I have a series I want to publish this year.
I could struggle alone, or ask for some accountability!
So a small group of authors are joining me this year to Get Some Shit Done!
I believe this is part of creating good goals that can actually come to fruition. Most people have this idea that they have to do it all themselves. I don’t know why we feel this way. All work is easier if you have a helping hand.
Look at the obstacles and put a system in place that will help you take the steps. It will be so much easier! Whether its an exercise partner, or an in-person class to learn the thing you’ve been trying alone for the longest time, or a weekly meeting to give your family a time and place to decide on meals for the week.
What are your goals for this year? Do you have a plan to accomplish them?
I'd love to hear from you!
Dani
It Caught My Eye...
I've had stairs on my mind lately. A stairwell plays a prominent place in my current work-in-progress (WIP) as the location of a very tragic event, an event that the heroine is reminded of every time she has to pass or use this staircase in the house. It makes the home a very emotional place for her. What should be a beautiful centerpiece as you enter a home is transformed into a reminder of grief and tragedy.
Wading Through Life...
In my day job, I’ve always worked at full throttle. I’ve always been expected to. A To Do list a mile long and constant questions and interruptions. Someone always looking over your shoulder, judging. And I was raised to believe meeting this challenge was a sign of a hard worker. Complaining would be a sign of laziness. Sometimes that busy pace helped the day go quicker; some days, not so much… Recent changes mean that I’m currently in a slower time. How long that will last remains to be seen. But for now, my days at my new job are happening at a much slower pace. Great, right? Not always. I think our brains can get used to that fast pace and pushing to keep up. Even while you know it isn’t good for you and not a healthy way of operating 24/7. I know I had begun to have difficulty powering down at night. Or I would shut down to complete inactivity (which should have been a huge sign to me that something wasn’t right.) My new job is slower paced, but the restless, anxious, “I must be wrong because every second isn’t packed with something waiting” feeling won’t go away. That’s when I realized…I don’t know how to downshift. Everyone tells you to just breathe>>but I don’t actually know how. 😊 It isn’t just a matter of getting your body to slow down (i.e. stop running on adrenaline). The problem is the BRAIN. It feels like if I just exited an 80 mph interstate and found myself on a 30 mph backroad. My brain keeps searching for the speed, even though it’s no longer necessary.
I know a lot of people view this as a good problem to have—me included—but its not one I’ve encountered before.
Creativity requires a slower, meandering mindset, like a Sunday drive…until it latches on to the idea it wants to pursue. But I think its easier when you start from the more exploratory mindset.
But I haven’t been on that easy back road on a daily basis in years. Even writing retreats, when I was able to have them, required some time to get back into a slower mindset.
So now I’m brainstorming some ways to get my brain to slow down on the regular. I want to boost the environment that will in turn encourage my creativity. But I believe it will take some training! Here's some ideas:
- Schedule in some daydreaming time. I find myself constantly searching for something to distract me—SM, music, something to read—not good! I think some “thinking time” is in order, even if I can only do 5 minutes at a time.
- Walking in nature—I’m hoping the weather cools soon so I can do this.
- Journal—I used to call this a “brain dump”. It often helps me to get racing thoughts out of my brain. I need to do this more often!
- Cut down on communicating—my environment has allowed me to already do this. Less emails, calls, people coming by.
- Lower consumption of TV, internet, etc. Also doing this. No wifi access at work, so less lunchtime binging.
- Relaxation activities, like meditation, breathing. Already doing this, but working to ramp it up.
- Distract myself with something fun, like trip planning (see last blog for more on this) or getting together with friends or planning regular date nights.
Wading Through Life...
Party Planning has begun! At least, a party for 2! No, not that kind…I’m knee deep in planning a girls’ weekend with my daughter. At the end of the month, we will be immersing ourselves in the history, beauty, and spooky atmosphere that is Salem, MA. I’m sure y’all will hear more than you ever wanted to know about my trip. 😊 Lots of pics and musings about that in the near future.
In the meantime, I want to talk about planning and mental health. I’m not sure if its my writer's imagination or just my natural planning nature (I’m a planner girl through and through!), but the excitement is kicked up a notch when I’m planning something that’s actually fun.
Maybe this is obvious to everyone else, but for a long time I’ve been immersed in the minutiae of my weekly schedule. Chores, work schedule, appointments, and all kinds of tasks…none of it FUN.
Pssstttt…. I’m not really good at planning enjoyable things for myself. Just the details of life that need to be organized and taken care of…
But looking at the possibilities for this trip (things to do, places to eat, what we will see) and my excitement has been a big boost to my mental health. I have something to look forward to, daydream about, and enjoy the thought of.
Those things that give you that kick of excitement and energy you don’t get from the daily grind.
I’d forgotten that.
Which means I need to start planning more fun things for myself! Uh oh. I’m not a natural in this arena (see whole explanation above…). 😊
I may need some help here. What are your favorite plans to look forward to? Big ones like trips? Small ones like a date night?
I’d love to hear your suggestions!
Take care,
Dani
Haunted Heritage
It's almost time for Spooky Season! My favorite time of year. Here's one of my Secrets of Covington Corner novellas to get you in the appropriate spooky mood!
She’d prepared to be flooded in during the storm, alone…she didn’t plan on being stranded in a haunted house with him.
With an antebellum home to protect, Olivia doesn’t waste any time in her preparations. She’d promised her employer she would take care of the place while she was in the hospital. No power and no exit route is par for the course this far from town.
But her plans didn’t include a sexy PI who seems intent on digging into her employer’s every secret. Isolated by rising flood waters, Olivia can’t get away from his questions or the heated attraction he evokes. Still she can’t shake the feeling he’s hiding something.
Will the old trunk in the attic reveal a new kind of storm? Will his investigation into a long lost heir destroy the very love they’ve both been longing for? Find out HERE!
Novellas in Secrets of Covington Corner series in order:
Shadow Manor
Haunted Heritage
Dark Destiny
Holiday Storm
It Caught My Eye...
I'm so ready for Fall! It just started cooling down here in the South, but I know better than to trust it. We will have second summer soon. I'm just praying for more than 2 weeks of autumn's cool breezes before winter kicks in...
Change is inevitable, someone said, but if I’m honest, it’s my least favorite thing in the world.
I like comfortable, cozy, familiar. Change feels like an itchy wool sweater, only I have to wear it 24/7. Even good change is difficult, because my body/brain doesn’t know the difference between happy stress and difficult time stress. I’ve officially dubbed this season the “Summer of Change”. I thought it would start and end with my children’s graduation (one from college, the other from high school), and the youngest one starting college in the fall. This is a bittersweet season for us. While I’m excited to see my babies find their wings, and they aren’t completely leaving the nest because it takes time to get established as an adult, it’s still the realization that they no longer need us as much anymore, and they’re becoming their own independent selves. I certainly hope that they find a sure footing as they move forward, and happy, healthy lives, doing things that they love.
But with the oldest moved home, unexpected medical issues (not me), unexpected feline medical issues, getting everything set up for son’s college start, house painting project…and the big one—an upcoming job change for me.
That’s right. After this month, I’ll no longer be working at the university. It’s good (more money, less stress, great company). It’s sad (I’ve loved working on campus and am going to miss so much about it, including a lot of the people). It’s hectic (lots of paperwork, arrangements, forms, appointments, etc).
Big change…and my body is super stressed. Enough I’m not sleeping. Ugh! Hate it when that happens!
But one YAY factor? I’m using the deadline of starting the new job to motivate me to push to finish the book I’m working on. Learning a new job will require brain power, not to mention getting used to a new environment. I can probably edit, but not write new words (author brain is weird!).
This weekend is my first big push. I’ve got 2 more to finish the last 3rd of the first draft. Fingers crossed I can jump that hurdle for a fast finish!
Have you faced any major changes lately? I'd love to talk about it over on my Facebook author page! Follow me at: https://www.facebook.com/dani.Love Small-Town Suspense? Try my Small Town Secrets series!
BENEATH THE SURFACE is FREE on all platforms!
Welcome to Cadence, TN–where secrets can be deadly.
Too many secrets…
Hidden in a quiet town along the Tennessee border, a secret society exists where the privileged fulfill their darkest desires. One of their members initiates a desperate act designed to bring home his lifelong obsession: Emma Hartwell.
A past not forgotten…
Drawn back to her hometown by the psychic connection with her twin, Emma must fight the stubborn silence of those around her in her quest to find her missing sister. Colin McIntyre hopes to make up for his past mistakes with Emma by helping her, but his own ties to the Gathering might be exposed along the way.
Time is running out…
Exposure could be dangerous for his family, along with himself and Emma. Can they fight the secrets and lies to rescue Emma’s sister… and their own chance at life-long love?
Other books in the Small Town Secrets series (can be read in any order):
BEHIND THE SCARS
SNOW BOUND
Amazon
B&N
Kobo
Apple Books
It Caught My Eye...
As you know, we have a whole clowder of cats in our house, but we only have one outside cat. Her name is Ghost. My daughter caught this awesome picture of her this week and I just love it! I hope you do too!
I was thinking just the other day about some upcoming changes in my family’s life. We have our oldest graduating from college and our youngest graduating from high school. Which makes for a busy season in our lives. That involves lots of activities, appointments, and as my son is entering a music program at the same college that I work at, there are auditions and meetings for that too.
This is also a bittersweet season for us. While I’m excited to see my babies find their wings, and they aren’t completely leaving the nest because it takes time to get established as an adult, it’s still the realization that they no longer need us as much anymore, and they’re becoming their own independent selves. I certainly hope that they find a sure footing as they move forward, and happy, healthy lives, doing things that they love.
We also have a summer project of painting the exterior of our house. It seems, just as soon as we settle into a routine, things have a way of getting shaken up. But this isn’t unusual. There’s always something new around the corner, which is great, unless change unsettles you…like it does me. 😊 Maybe that’s why it keeps showing up. Heaven forbid I should get complacent and comfortable!
The same is true for the new series that I’m working on. Book one has been a series of ups and downs, as I try to find my voice in a new, contemporary southern romantic suspense, and battle the usual demons of creativity – self-doubt and fear.
But I’m really excited about the direction that it’s going, and I’ve found some beta readers to help me refine it before it gets released. I really hope you enjoy this new genre much as I do. I’ve always incorporated a lot of Gothic tropes and atmosphere in my books, and now I’m going all in!
Just a heads up, I’ll have a new giveaway series coming up on the blog. If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram you may have seen my recent book anniversary posts, where I highlight one of the books that was released in that month. In putting together the series, I realized I have quite a few books through the years that have been released all in the same month. So I’m planning to do some giveaways of each of those books during different months on the blog. So watch for a link to comment and be entered to win. Coming soon!
I hope that you were looking forward to the start of spring as much as I am! My flowers have started coming up, and I’m looking for to seeing survived in my garden and how it progresses.
For those of you across the world who spring and summer will be winding down, I hope you enjoy your coming fall. It’s my favorite time of the year! Have an outdoor fire and marshmallow roast for me.
Take care!
Dani
FR💜💜 NOW: BENEATH THE SURFACE
Welcome to Cadence, TN–where secrets can be deadly.
Too many secrets…
Hidden in a quiet town along the Tennessee border, a secret society exists where the privileged fulfill their darkest desires. One of their members initiates a desperate act designed to bring home his lifelong obsession: Emma Hartwell.
A past not forgotten…
Drawn back to her hometown by the psychic connection with her twin, Emma must fight the stubborn silence of those around her in her quest to find her missing sister. Colin McIntyre hopes to make up for his past mistakes with Emma by helping her, but his own ties to the Gathering might be exposed along the way.
Time is running out…
Exposure could be dangerous for his family, along with himself and Emma. Can they fight the secrets and lies to rescue Emma’s sister… and their own chance at life-long love?
Other books in the Small Town Secrets series (can be read in any order):
BEHIND THE SCARS
SNOW BOUND
DOWNLOAD NOW on:
Amazon
B&N
Apple books
Kobo
Or add it to your TBR shelf on Goodreads
This is also a bittersweet season for us. While I’m excited to see my babies find their wings, and they aren’t completely leaving the nest because it takes time to get established as an adult, it’s still the realization that they no longer need us as much anymore, and they’re becoming their own independent selves. I certainly hope that they find a sure footing as they move forward, and happy, healthy lives, doing things that they love.
We also have a summer project of painting the exterior of our house. It seems, just as soon as we settle into a routine, things have a way of getting shaken up. But this isn’t unusual. There’s always something new around the corner, which is great, unless change unsettles you…like it does me. 😊 Maybe that’s why it keeps showing up. Heaven forbid I should get complacent and comfortable!
The same is true for the new series that I’m working on. Book one has been a series of ups and downs, as I try to find my voice in a new, contemporary southern romantic suspense, and battle the usual demons of creativity – self-doubt and fear.
But I’m really excited about the direction that it’s going, and I’ve found some beta readers to help me refine it before it gets released. I really hope you enjoy this new genre much as I do. I’ve always incorporated a lot of Gothic tropes and atmosphere in my books, and now I’m going all in!
Just a heads up, I’ll have a new giveaway series coming up on the blog. If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram you may have seen my recent book anniversary posts, where I highlight one of the books that was released in that month. In putting together the series, I realized I have quite a few books through the years that have been released all in the same month. So I’m planning to do some giveaways of each of those books during different months on the blog. So watch for a link to comment and be entered to win. Coming soon!
I hope that you were looking forward to the start of spring as much as I am! My flowers have started coming up, and I’m looking for to seeing survived in my garden and how it progresses.
For those of you across the world who spring and summer will be winding down, I hope you enjoy your coming fall. It’s my favorite time of the year! Have an outdoor fire and marshmallow roast for me.
Take care!
Dani
FR💜💜 NOW: BENEATH THE SURFACE
Welcome to Cadence, TN–where secrets can be deadly.
Too many secrets…
Hidden in a quiet town along the Tennessee border, a secret society exists where the privileged fulfill their darkest desires. One of their members initiates a desperate act designed to bring home his lifelong obsession: Emma Hartwell.
A past not forgotten…
Drawn back to her hometown by the psychic connection with her twin, Emma must fight the stubborn silence of those around her in her quest to find her missing sister. Colin McIntyre hopes to make up for his past mistakes with Emma by helping her, but his own ties to the Gathering might be exposed along the way.
Time is running out…
Exposure could be dangerous for his family, along with himself and Emma. Can they fight the secrets and lies to rescue Emma’s sister… and their own chance at life-long love?
Other books in the Small Town Secrets series (can be read in any order):
BEHIND THE SCARS
SNOW BOUND
DOWNLOAD NOW on:
Amazon
B&N
Apple books
Kobo
Or add it to your TBR shelf on Goodreads
If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that I’m a Planner Girl! I have a 3-drawer set of planner supplies and put together weekly spreads pretty regularly. It helps me stay on track and, frankly, clears out the cobwebs.
Many years ago, I learned to do what I call a brain dump. If I pour everything out onto a To Do list (appointments, chores, projects, etc), then I no longer have to use a lot of brain power to keep track of those things. I’ve fine-tuned this to a monthly and weekly calendar setup so my To Dos don’t outdistance my time (mostly…).
And now I’ve become addicted to planning every week, usually on Sunday afternoons. Which means…an excuse to use stickers! 😊 Just kidding. Not!
For my fellow planner girls or those who want to get started, here’s a list of some of my favorite tools, along with some of my daughter’s also (because I managed to pass this one gene along!).
BENEATH THE SURFACE, Small Town Secrets Book 1
Welcome to Cadence, TN–where secrets can be deadly.
Too many secrets…
Hidden in a quiet town along the Tennessee border, a secret society exists where the privileged fulfill their darkest desires. One of their members initiates a desperate act designed to bring home his lifelong obsession: Emma Hartwell.
A past not forgotten…
Drawn back to her hometown by the psychic connection with her twin, Emma must fight the stubborn silence of those around her in her quest to find her missing sister. Colin McIntyre hopes to make up for his past mistakes with Emma by helping her, but his own ties to the Gathering might be exposed along the way.
Time is running out…
Exposure could be dangerous for his family, along with himself and Emma. Can they fight the secrets and lies to rescue Emma’s sister… and their own chance at life-long love?
Other books in the Small Town Secrets series (can be read in any order):
BEHIND THE SCARS
SNOW BOUND
Amazon
B&N
Apple Books
Kobo
For my fellow planner girls or those who want to get started, here’s a list of some of my favorite tools, along with some of my daughter’s also (because I managed to pass this one gene along!).
- Passion Planner is the actual planner I use (monthly and weekly spreads-I prefer undated-with monthly and yearly reflection questions), but there are a lot of different ones out there. Passion Planner also posts content on Instagram and YouTube. I enjoy watching their ideas for different ways to use their planners.
- Archer & Olive is really good for those who like to do bullet journals. This is my daughter’s preferred option (and you can see some of her spreads on her blog here-alittlebithappierblog.com). These journals have high quality bindings and paper that doesn’t bleed, which can be a big deal when you are creating your own spreads.
- The HB90 planner by Sarah Cannon is available on Etsy and is wonderful for all the authors out there! I bought the download and use some of the ideas to incorporate into my own planner. I also print word count charts and some decision-making tools she has to help me keep my planner useful for author needs. She has an awesome HB90 class and you can also watch planner videos on her Heart Breathings YouTube channel.
- My sister, author Ella Sheridan, and I are working through the Heal the Way You Work class (based on the Do Less book by Kate Northrup). This teaches you how to plan your schedule based on your energies of that day/week/month. A very different approach, but I’m finding it very interesting. Fingers crossed I can figure this out, but her checklists of questions for creating annual/quarterly/weekly schedules is super helpful for clarifying goals and focuses.
- Stickers!!! I love and use a lot of Happy Planner sticker books. I especially like all the quotes and encouraging sayings in them. I was gifted some gothic ones for Christmas from HoundsflyteDesigns on Etsy that I’m loving! My daughter and I immediately went to her store and bought more of them.
- Pens, pens, and more pens… I have a lot of these but not as many as some planners. I’m very picky about mine… My favorite black pens are uni-ball signo, whether I’m writing or planning. I also have a set of Pentel EnerGel colored pens that work well. My daughter likes Muji gel pens in 0.58 and Tombow duel brush pens.
- But planning is always a good excuse for a STAPLES TRIP! I collect all kinds of Post It notes, page tabs, and washi tape. Writers love all kinds of office supplies, but I mean, who wouldn’t?!?!
Experience Cadence, TN, with BENEATH THE SURFACE
BENEATH THE SURFACE, Small Town Secrets Book 1
Welcome to Cadence, TN–where secrets can be deadly.
Too many secrets…
Hidden in a quiet town along the Tennessee border, a secret society exists where the privileged fulfill their darkest desires. One of their members initiates a desperate act designed to bring home his lifelong obsession: Emma Hartwell.
A past not forgotten…
Drawn back to her hometown by the psychic connection with her twin, Emma must fight the stubborn silence of those around her in her quest to find her missing sister. Colin McIntyre hopes to make up for his past mistakes with Emma by helping her, but his own ties to the Gathering might be exposed along the way.
Time is running out…
Exposure could be dangerous for his family, along with himself and Emma. Can they fight the secrets and lies to rescue Emma’s sister… and their own chance at life-long love?
Other books in the Small Town Secrets series (can be read in any order):
BEHIND THE SCARS
SNOW BOUND
Amazon
B&N
Apple Books
Kobo
Remember when you were a kid...the holidays seemed to hold such magic. You only had to work on the fun decorations, go to the parties, and never had to worry about clean-up. I have a feeling that's why some of the magic disappears from the holidays as we get older.
Now we know what it's like to have to prepare, buy, budget, and put everything away afterwards. Even though we are creating magic for others, it carries a lot of weight with it.
Which makes a good book even better! At least for a little while, we can lose ourselves in the magic of other worlds, mystery, and romance...and forget the hectic preparations for a few precious minutes. In fact, I'd argue that it's necessary to keep our own magic high in order to pass it along! I'd love to hear what story you are indulging in this holiday season!
Take care,
Dani
Which makes a good book even better! At least for a little while, we can lose ourselves in the magic of other worlds, mystery, and romance...and forget the hectic preparations for a few precious minutes. In fact, I'd argue that it's necessary to keep our own magic high in order to pass it along! I'd love to hear what story you are indulging in this holiday season!
Take care,
Dani
Indulge in a Gothic Holiday story with the conclusion of my Covington Corner series, Holiday Storm.
As her boss, he’d made her life miserable for years. Now she’s snowed in with him for the holidays…with access to the secrets he’s been hiding from her. Piper Waverly’s boss demands she collect a contract from his house during a snowstorm on Christmas Eve…that is his frustrating M.O., even if he is a sexy former rock star. What she didn’t expect was to spend Christmas at his isolated mountain retreat—just the two of them. But seclusion with the thorn-in-her-side has some surprising benefits. Her arch nemesis shows a surprisingly sensual side that draws her. She is also able to pry into the side of his life he’s hidden from her for so long. Tantalizing…until his secrets hit too close to home. Does the hidden room in his house hold the key to her family tragedy? Has he always been closer than she thought? Will her newfound love withstand the coming storm? Read the entire Secrets of Covington Corner novella series: Shadow Manor Haunted Heritage Dark Destiny Shadow Manor Amazon Barnes & Noble Kobo Apple Books
It’s hard to feel inspired and connect to creativity during hard times. We’ve all seen that in the past year. But it’s just as hard during busy or chaotic times when other things in your life have to take precedence.
Combine the two and being creative can be nigh to impossible.
I haven’t posted about this a lot because I hate to be all “doom and gloom” for y’all (that would expose my natural Eeyore tendencies a little too much!). Besides, we’ve got enough of that going on every day.
But I’ve definitely struggled with my depression, doing two positions for the price of one at the day job, health issues, and renovating our garage over the last year. I’ve completely lost touch with my creative side and words are ephemeral right now.
As we move into the fall season in the US, I find myself longing for that connection once more and the chance to rejuvenate my creativity. But this takes purposeful choices (I know this from past experience).
Here are a few of the choices I’m making right now. Hopefully by sharing I can inspire you to reconnect with your creative, dreaming side too.
**Rest
Yes, this is the opposite of doing something, but it is a choice to be made.
I’m not just talking about sleep (though I personally love a nap!), but just slowing down, reducing the number of obligations I have, letting my mind wander, and leaving time in my life unplanned.
**Cleaning
What?!?!
I know y’all think I’m crazy, but this is totally true for me. When life gets hectic, my house/office/car/yard gets totally cluttered!
It’s hard to relax with all that stuff staring me in the face. While I don’t have time for a major declutter, working on some “hot spots” definitely helps with my mood and feeling like I have at least some control in the midst of chaos.
**Explore/Discovery
This is more about refilling my well and awakening my curiosity than actually accomplishing something (a big driver in my day-to-day activities). For me, this can be an intellectual pursuit like reading articles about subjects I want to learn more about or just watching videos about random stuff (I have a morbid fascination with creepy/scary/tragic things so will sometimes binge Youtube channels like Ask a Mortician).
But it’s also about physically exploring! Personally I like to get out in nature, whether its walking on campus or hiking nearby trails. But this might also mean wandering a local craft store, meandering through an antique mall, or braving a new restaurant.
**Pampering myself
I hesitate to call this “self-care” because all of the pursuits in this blog fall under that label for me. But I am trying to purposefully make time to do things I love that make me feel good right then, that I don’t often make time for!
A long soak in a hot bath. A night with the family around the fire pit roasting marshmallows. Putting out my seasonal decorations. Puttering around in my flower beds. Yes, I actually have to give myself permission to do something that’s fun, that doesn’t normally fall on my To Do list.
There are other things I’m working toward, like giving myself permission to just brainstorm, writing long hand, researching my story/characters without putting pressure on myself to log in words…but those are specific to my writing practice. While I long to put words on the page once more, I want to reawaken the creative side of my whole being!
I hope this was inspiring to you if you also struggle, or at least gave you some insight into my process as a creative. I’d love to hear how you reconnect with your creative side during trying times. Comment below or send me an email with your tips!
Take care,
Dani
readdaniwade@gmail.com
**Rest
Yes, this is the opposite of doing something, but it is a choice to be made.
I’m not just talking about sleep (though I personally love a nap!), but just slowing down, reducing the number of obligations I have, letting my mind wander, and leaving time in my life unplanned.
**Cleaning
What?!?!
I know y’all think I’m crazy, but this is totally true for me. When life gets hectic, my house/office/car/yard gets totally cluttered!
It’s hard to relax with all that stuff staring me in the face. While I don’t have time for a major declutter, working on some “hot spots” definitely helps with my mood and feeling like I have at least some control in the midst of chaos.
**Explore/Discovery
This is more about refilling my well and awakening my curiosity than actually accomplishing something (a big driver in my day-to-day activities). For me, this can be an intellectual pursuit like reading articles about subjects I want to learn more about or just watching videos about random stuff (I have a morbid fascination with creepy/scary/tragic things so will sometimes binge Youtube channels like Ask a Mortician).
But it’s also about physically exploring! Personally I like to get out in nature, whether its walking on campus or hiking nearby trails. But this might also mean wandering a local craft store, meandering through an antique mall, or braving a new restaurant.
**Pampering myself
I hesitate to call this “self-care” because all of the pursuits in this blog fall under that label for me. But I am trying to purposefully make time to do things I love that make me feel good right then, that I don’t often make time for!
A long soak in a hot bath. A night with the family around the fire pit roasting marshmallows. Putting out my seasonal decorations. Puttering around in my flower beds. Yes, I actually have to give myself permission to do something that’s fun, that doesn’t normally fall on my To Do list.
There are other things I’m working toward, like giving myself permission to just brainstorm, writing long hand, researching my story/characters without putting pressure on myself to log in words…but those are specific to my writing practice. While I long to put words on the page once more, I want to reawaken the creative side of my whole being!
I hope this was inspiring to you if you also struggle, or at least gave you some insight into my process as a creative. I’d love to hear how you reconnect with your creative side during trying times. Comment below or send me an email with your tips!
Take care,
Dani
readdaniwade@gmail.com
The best laid plans…often go awry… Robert Burns
I’m definitely a planner. I’ve talked about this often. I do a lot of scheduling, lists, goals, etc., for both my every day life and my creative life too.
But many times I don’t take into account how outside forces/life happenings/family needs/many other things can affect or halt those plans. I’ll admit, I’m not good at “going with the flow”, so these types of things often derail me.
My goal for the early part of this year was to get my new series started, specifically write the first of my contemporary gothic books. I knew my day job was going to ramp up, because my colleague retired and I would take on her job until we hired a replacement, but in true Dani-fashion, I reasoned I could do it all somehow.
But the strain of the pandemic on our family and doing a job I had to learn and do took its toll. Every evening, my brain was so tired it simply could not create (or do much of anything else).
So I spent a few weeks beating myself up for my lack of productivity (outside of the day job) before coming to my senses. Here’s what I started to tell myself INSTEAD:
But the strain of the pandemic on our family and doing a job I had to learn and do took its toll. Every evening, my brain was so tired it simply could not create (or do much of anything else).
So I spent a few weeks beating myself up for my lack of productivity (outside of the day job) before coming to my senses. Here’s what I started to tell myself INSTEAD:
- Sometimes, you can’t do it all.
- Sometimes, forcing yourself to do something doesn’t produce your best work.
- Sometimes, you have to set goals aside for a season and come back to them when you can.
- Sometimes, the “dig deep” button is not worth resurrecting. (Brene Brown)