mama-writes-a-novel

[mama-writes-a-novel]

today will be amazing fire mug //  doggieheartco

[mama-writes-a-novel]

Whew!

Okay. Deep breath.

I need to feel grounded.

I remember that my ROOT chakra is always clogged.

i feel so SCATTERED. Like I get triggered and I don't even want to write and I'm upset I didn't get wordle (I should have used CUTIE) and instead of putting away the damn dishes I should have worked out.

But interestingly enough, I slept through the night last night. I went to sleep pretty late though. I woke up naturally, which was nice.

I hope I made a difference today by picking up and cleaning the kitchen.

There's this youtube lady that said never go to sleep with a dirty sink. Well, I didn't do that. But at least I did a load of dishes in the dishwasher. I think my thing is, always "clean" the kitchen every night. It can be a little bit, it can be a lot. Just have to clean it.

But tonight the most important thing I do is go to the everloving gym.

At my break, I'm going to go to Walgreens and see if they have soy milk. And natural peanut butter. I also want to see Abbey Sharp's peanut butter recipe. See? Scattered

[mama-writes-a-novel]

[mama-writes-a-novel]

168 hours

Laura Vandenkam

I just listened to Gretchen Rubin's podcast, where she interviewed Laura Vandenkam. This lady is an upholder. She has FIVE KIDS and she's skinny. So I watched her TED TALK and she talks about how one week has 168 hours. Let's break it down:

work: 35 hours. An hour commute, which is 5 hours. So that's 40 hours.

grooming: an hour a day, including getting ready for work, shower, and getting ready for sleep. So that's 5 hours

sleep: optimally, I sleep 11-6:30. That's 7.5 hours, but we'll round it to 8. So that's 56.

What is that: 101 hours

What is that per day: 18

Which means I have: 67 hours in a week to squeeze in joy and 6 hours in a day

What I'd like to do:

30 minutes a day to exercise

1 hour to write the novel

30 minutes to journal

--Wow, journaling is really important to me. So that's easy. I can journal in the morning. I just have to go to the coffee shop first thing in the morning, from 6:30-7, and be back in time for the baby.

When to exercise: tricky! In the morning, I spend it with Baby. But I could jump out of bed, lace up my sneakers, and just go for a walk before I get to the coffee shop. I could wake up Gigi too. He won't want to go, but I can entice him with a treat. We could go to the park so we could both run around.

Husband would be sooo grumpy, but it would benefit us all in the end.

When to write the novel: after cuddle time, at my desk. It's hard because of cuddle time, and Husband doesn't agree that something needs to be a reward. But then that is how it is and that is good. "Your lack of planning is not my emergency." Plan for rain. So, after we put Baby to bed, we'll do some Cuddle time. And then I'll walk the dog while feeling very present and, after that I'll write for at least one hour.

So, that is: 30 minutes of exercise, 30 minutes of journaling, and 1 hour of writing. 2 hours! And then we have 1 hour of Cuddle time, which means I still have 3 hours left over for self-care-don't-rush-we're fine time.

[mama-writes-a-novel]

David Jakobs

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Regardez "Shia LaBeouf - Just Do It (Make Your Dreams Come True) [Ultimate Remix]" sur YouTube

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Just Do It - My Little Bro Does it Better than Shia LaBeouf

[mama-writes-a-novel]

Day 10

So yesterday, I conjured up my ex-boyfriend, Lincoln. I wondered what it would be and who I would be like if I was still with Linc. Would I have gotten married in 2014? Cringe. I don't think I would have been able to. I think he got a little crazy and was so controlling. Or maybe he was always like that and I never noticed? Maybe because when I was younger, the things he dictated were fun. He suggested what I wear (very, very uncomfortable heels!) what I ate, and I even stopped being friends with a girl he didn't like. But... I don't know. I was so young, and I burned to be a WRITER. Nothing else mattered. And Lincoln was a musician, he had been one for fifteen years. He had musician friends. He was a serious artist. Living with him gave me time to focus on writing. We didn't really do anything else--I remember he even commented that I actually meant it when I said I didn't watch television. Now I watch tv every night! Bah! That has to stop, especially now that there isn't even a show to watch anymore. My partner and I can just read together, that sounds really nice. I mean, I do wish we didn't have to read Dune (yuck!) but I just don't really enjoy television. And it makes me tired. And I could be writing! Lincoln would never stand for this. I think I could compromise with my current partner by getting a fun treat to eat while reading.

The thing that Lincoln would be really proud of is if I got my chapter done every week. I could turn in my chapter every Thursday night (because Friday morning is my latte day) before I retire for the night. That would really kickstart things.

Linc: Discipline (wagging his finger)

Me: (smile) I was just thinking about that quote I used to have: discipline is passion caught on fire.

Linc: What do you think changed? Why did you stop? Do you think it was because I stopped being in your life and so you stopped writing my book?

Me: I get a thrill out of you saying it's your book. Maybe I shouldn't. It's very arrogant. But I think it really makes it real. It's not just in my head. It's your book. I'm doing this for you. And I think... no one else cared. No else is demanding me to get it done. My partner doesn't care. My mother actually doesn't want me to get it done (even though it's partly her fault I have so many fucking college loans!!)

Linc: So then let's say it's still my book (flashes a charming smile.) You know, that is what I always loved about you. Your drive. You still have it, Mama Writes a Novel. You just have to know you've got it.

Me: Yes. I love that. It's like something Elizabeth Gilbert once said on her podcast.

Linc (eyes flashing) So, do it! Do it now! Do it as if our lives depend on it! Because it does!

Me: Okay I will

Linc: DO. IT. NOW!!

[mama-writes-a-novel]

Blythe Baird, from If My Body Could Speak; “Eat”

[Text ID: “I am trying to stop doing / things that don’t make any sense. Body, / forgive me. I am trying. I am trying. I am still trying.]

[mama-writes-a-novel]

Welder Wings

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Andrew Querner

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Meet the Artist: @citruslucy

Hi there, I’m Lucy! I’m a Chinese-Australian artist with a passion for illustration and design represented by The Bright Agency.

I graduated with a Bachelor of Design in Architecture from the University of Sydney in 2016. After working for two years in architecture, I studied concept art and am now working as an illustrator, background artist, and concept artist.

A pleasure to meet you, Lucy! Here are some of the illustrations she has picked out for you all.

Check out Lucy’s Tumblr, @citruslucy, for more of her illustrations!

[mama-writes-a-novel]

[mama-writes-a-novel]

Day 9

I wrote a post but I guess it got deleted.

Basically:

Lately I've been really triggered about losing weight and trying to find the perfect diet. Lunch is a hassle because I don't want to stay in the library. I think I should go on a walk, and drink a yogurt smoothie and that could be that: berries, 1/2 cup yogurt, 1 cup milk, banana, boom. Cold coffee in the morning, and veggies for dinner. Voila!

I'm going to try to sleep from 9pm-4am from now on, and get up on my own near that time. This way, I can get up before the baby, take a freaking shower, hydrate and drink some coffee, and get some writing done before Baby wakes up and its time to start her day. I'd like to exercise but maybe I can do that with the Baby when she wakes up, and the lazy dog too. It would be an adjustment for sure, but so totally great once I manage it. Especially if I start showering every day.

Nora Ephron. What is it about Nora Ephron?

[mama-writes-a-novel]

- August 20, 1911

- The diaries of Franz Kafka, 1910-1913

[ID: August 20. I have the unhappy belief that I haven't the time for the least bit of good work, for I really don't have time for a story, time to expand myself in every direction in the world, as I should have to do. But then I once more believe that my trip will turn out better, that I shall comprehend better if I am relaxed by a little writing and so I try it again. End ID]

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- August 12, 1914

- The diaries of Franz Kafka, 1914-1923

[ID: August 12. Didn't sleep at all. Lay three hours in the afternoon on the sofa, sleepless and apathetic; the same at night. But it mustn't thwart me. End ID]

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Day 8

Kafka quotes. They are giving me life right now. "Didn't sleep at all," he says. "But it mustn't thwart me." But it mustn't thwart me.

Baby had been sleeping through the night. Then last night she woke up hungry. Husband snapped at me, as if it was obvious. It's not obvious. Then at 7 it was my responsibility. And now I'm tired. I'm so fucking tired. And I hate everything. And I'm so burnt out. And I'm going to have to go home and do damage control. And that sucks.

I'm at work now. And I have to figure out my damn presentation. But I'm so fucking tired. So, so fucking tired.

But it mustn't thwart me.

I sat in the car for a few minutes. It's so sunny out. And I thought about what's important. And you know what I thought. You know. I thought, nothing else matters but the novel. Write the novel.

I also thought about my mother. How she actually discouraged me to write. She tried to take away my courage to write, because she thinks I should fill my days working, cleaning, cooking, and then maintaining a healthy weight. That hurt. It won't work though. I'm going to see her in September. It'll be fun. She'll try to discourage me again. But it mustn't thwart me.

Okay, I'm going back in.