A week ago I confessed I needed to get a grip on myself again and I promised I would report back whether I had managed to adopt a more healthy life style. And…most importantly if I would be able to get back into writing.
The answer is not the simple yes I had anticipated. The crisis we are going through here because of my daughter’s illness and her 5-month hospitalisation is not the usual get-your-act-together process you employ when ordinary sloppiness has sneaked in. So much has become clear to me this week. Discipline is not a simple switch you turn on when your physical, mental and spiritual burden is almost too heavy to bear. At least, in my case. Perhaps there are folk that can tap into discipline precisely at times of crises but my freewheeling personality -I tend to call it my creative spirit – not only protests loudly but also whimpers softly that it really can’t do what I expect from it.
So what did I say I would do and what was the actual outcome?
I would go for walks. At least four times this week I went for a 45-60 minute walk and enjoyed it thoroughly. I also went for a cycle trip twice.
I said I would go back into Yoga. I did some exercises some days but mostly pondered the new season of lessons starting in September. Consulted a colleague and found her willing to take over my classes until the end of October. Pondered again, ordered a book written by one of my own teachers with guidelines for practical lessons, drew up the schedule and have decided to go for it myself.
I said I would cut down on coffee and eat more healthily. My max intake of coffee is four cups a day, which hasn’t changed, and I cook most days but sometimes decide on “prefab” food. I’m okay with that now. I just know I will enjoy cooking again when my girl is finally home.
I said I would cut down on promoting Casablanca, My Heart and start writing again.
*clears throat*
I still spend many hours on the promotional business – expanding my Twitter influence, hanging around on Facebook and answering & sending mails. I also made an FB Author Fan Page on the request of my publisher. Hard work with no impressive results. The book is still not getting the visibility I would like it to have.
But…
Loyal to my erratic (writing) behaviour, I’ve changed tack again and am now working on two projects instead of the thriller Prior To You. The children’s story Happy Dance & Scary Sky is edited and sent to the illustrator. I can’t wait to see his first illustration, I am so excited about this project, which will be dedicated to my daughter. I’m also working on a short story edition A Job Well Done & Other Stories. All this may fit in the category #amediting instead of #amwriting but work is work and I am enjoying it.
Hope to see you next week with another edition of “Work on my Progress”.
Also this week I want to thank the friends that are pulling me through. Keep helping me to stick to my writing and I’ll be okay!
Thinking of you. Slowly does it. Be gentle to yourself.
You’re doing great, Hannah.
This is all good, Hannah! Do things you enjoy – that’s important too.
It’s all going in the right direction, Hannah. I particularly like it that you are having walks and enjoyng them. But why not try to keep going with ‘Prior to You’. I made the mistake of letting ‘Dance to a Tangled Web’ slip away from me, so that getting back into it is really difficult, and also because the longer you stay away from your characters, the more distant they become. Just like friends that you don’t communicate with. So even though you are going strong on the short stories, do please keep in touch at least once a week, preferably more, with ‘Prior to You’. That way, even if you aren’t actually writing new words, your subconscious will have something to grab hold of and keep those creative juices working on the novel.
xx