Honestly, I feel like I’ve been scrambling to get back into some kind of routine since the start of the month and just failing miserably. After three weeks off (Christmas break + being sick before), my body had plenty of time to both rotate to it’s natural biorhythm (aka, going to bed at 11 or 12 instead of 9) and sleeping as long as it wanted (10 hours compared to 7 and a half). Trying to get myself back on my normal Evil Day Job schedule has just been brutal. I haven’t been able to get myself back into any sort of workout routine in the mornings yet. Mostly I’ve been turning off my alarm and sliding instantly back into sleep, so I’ve been doing good to get up in time to do my 15 minutes of traction to start the day.
But I have at least been walking two or three times a week and going back to taekwondo, so I haven’t been doing NOTHING. This morning I started with the Pushups app (it’s designed to build you up to doing 100 pushups with workouts 3 days a week, much like the C25K, but for pushups instead of distance). And I went through all my forms for TKD (something I need to make a daily practice anyway). So I’ve just decided to stop beating myself up over what I haven’t done and the fact that I haven’t just been able to turn it on and pull a Nike (just do it!) like I usually do. I’ll gradually add things back and just go with it. Courtesy of my dairy allergy, I didn’t put on any weight during the holidays, so it’s not like I’m in some scramble to drop that extra 5 pounds.
Things on the writing front have been…busy. I took half of last week and tabled the novel I’ve been working on to finish pulling together my first cookbook. HELP! Food Allergies Coming To Dinner! is specifically geared toward helping those who do not themselves have gluten or dairy allergies cook for those of us who do. Currently available only at Amazon and Smashwords, it’ll be showing up eventually elsewhere, and as soon as I can carve out the time to mess with it, I’ll be making a print edition.
Meanwhile, I knew there was something…off with Liam and Riley. So I let it sit. And then a couple days ago, I went back to it. And the pair of them finally let me in on a crucial piece of backstory that makes everything make SO MUCH SENSE. And also changes…a lot. Why they couldn’t tell me this 2 months ago, I have no idea. But rather than try to force things to fit in the mold I already have (since it was originally intended to be a novella and already expanded to a category length novel), I’m going back and starting an entirely new toolkit and plotting it out the same way I usually do my longer projects. I’m hoping to get through all of that by Friday so that I can dive into the writing again on Saturday. I’ll be able to keep a fair chunk of what I’ve written (with some adaptation), I think. But I need to work on the overall structure of the book since it’s definitely going to be a longer novel now.
I already knocked out one alpha read for a crit partner this week, and I’ve got an outline and a second alpha read to do for two others, so I’ll be juggling that while I plot. And trying to find time to read Candis Terry’s Sweet Surprise, which just came out. I’ve been waiting on it for MOOOOOONTHS.
I DID at least finally manage (I think) to get ORGANIZED this week, both at home and at work. So I feel a little more in control than I have all month. Onward!
8 thoughts on “Midweek #ROW80 Check-In”
Sometimes we focus too much on what we don’t do and don’t give enough credit to what we do. You’re being quite active, even if you aren’t exercising in the morning. I’m glad you’re not beating yourself up about that anymore. (I’m guilty of being that way myself, so I understand.)
I’m doing a lot of zen meditation–I am one with the bed… :snicker:
Sounds like you’ve accomplished plenty – even if you aren’t in a regular routine. Sometimes shaking our schedule up is exactly the thing we need to fuel our creativity (which is probably why the pieces suddenly clicked for your story).
You are awesome.
Trying not to laugh about the “lose five pounds” comment. Make that 15 in my world. I wish I was allergic to a few dozen things that keep my middle round.
Five or so is what I used to gain every holiday season. I haven’t decided if I’m quite to the mental space where I think the not gaining weight is worth the stress and depression of not being able to eat…anything for any holiday party anywhere.
Getting back into the sleep routine will help, although that ten hour sleep thing sounds soooo good. I’m trying to get back into all kinds of routines that I’ve neglected.
You know characters rule the story, don’t you? No matter what you do, they keep telling you they’re going to do it THEIR way. And we must obey.
That’s awesome that you’re putting together a cookbook for those with dairy allergies. I don’t have those, but I have a peanut allergy and it’s one thing that sucks: even when people know you have it, they sometimes slip up, which means I have to be extra vigilant about knowing what’s in whatever is being served. And my allergy CAN kill me. Before I found out about it (I never had it as a child!), I’d been in the hospital two times for a swollen throat. Now I carry an epi pen just in case. But I digress. I’m glad you’re opening up the world of allergies to people. I think awareness is very important.
As for not getting everything done — hey, you got something done, right? Don’t beat yourself up, esp if you’re struggling with your sleep. Sleep issues are truly evil, and sometimes just getting up is a struggle.
Nice job.
Oh I don’t have any trouble sleeping. It’s that my real life schedule doesn’t allow me to sleep 10 hours a day. Stupid mornings…
It’s one of the hardest things to do – to get back to a schedule after being off it for awhile. It’s taken most of January to get back to writing every day. Now if I could only add more exercise!
Sounds like you’ve accomplished alot – especially with giving your characters the reins and adjusting their story.