It’s Friday, and you know what that means. Let’s talk about all the things!
It’s the first Friday of Lent, and that means my annual social media sabbatical is underway! I’ve committed to staying here, because we have business to do and this isn’t social media in the scroll sense. But the rest—Facebook, Twitter, Instagram—are under the control of my brilliant minions. Who, let's be honest, run things better than I do. (Who was that who accidentally hosted 4 contests at once in three places last week? Yeah.) I love stepping away from time to time. I miss everyone, but it’s really good for my brain. While it seems so innocuous to just pop into my Facebook group to say hi, that inevitably leads to checking the main page, then the feed, and I should check Instagram, too, and the next thing I know, I’ve lost an hour to our META overlords. These six weeks away are very restorative for me.
It’s good timing, too, because I’ve been experiencing some real disruption to my body, my mind, and my schedule recently. Part of this sense of dislocation I can attribute to the physical therapy and yoga therapy I’m doing to address the hEDS. We are rewriting my brain’s neural pathways, helping it reinterpret the pain signals and move in ways I thought I couldn’t. It’s only natural that I’m feeling off—I *am* off! Even my most basic sense of balance and posture are being challenged. This tells me it’s working, right?
But all this new movement comes with the logistics of getting there, which has been good for podcast listening but not great for the deep, slow work days I crave. And I traveled last week to see my parents and then to another state for a retreat, and this week has had at least one out-of-the-house errand or appointment each day that’s taken several hours. You know how it is when you start something new. Everything feels wrong until you find the rhythm.
Schedules are a delicate thing. When your habits are blown up it can be very difficult to concentrate, to focus. I’m working on how to react to the disruption because I need a new formula.
Speaking of the retreat… the Dread River Writers got together in Birmingham, and wow, was it a fabulous time! You know we authors love a good sit down with our peers, love to talk shop, creativity, our frustrations and dreams, and be encouraged by people who genuinely believe in us. This was all of that, and more. It was a wonderful weekend. I got almost 5000 words done on the new book, made some new friends, had a free orthopedic consult on my knee, saw a cool German pot still, laughed myself silly, and otherwise had a merry old time.
All this to say, I haven’t read much this week at all. There’s a good reason for no external books—I’ve been working on the page proofs of A VERY BAD THING. This book, y’all. I’ve read it at least fifty times now, and this go, I have to remove myself from it entirely and try to read critically, pretending I don’t know what happens next. It’s hard, probably the hardest read of the whole process. And I’m nearing completion of the next writing series step, The Outline, and will have that to you soon, I promise.
I have been reading INTO THE WILD by John Krakauer before I go to bed. It’s a research book for the new novel, and it’s a fascinating read. The movie adaptation was excellent, too.
And I am catching up on my podcasts, and was wowed by this gem from Cal Newport. It’s a fascinating look at why we’re not lazy; we are simply trying to do too much, and our brains rebel. And the inverse quality curve of doing one great work at a time (Y Axis = Excellence) versus doing a lot of less focused work at once (X Axis = Multiple Projects) really hit home. Over the past several months, I’ve pulled back on as much as I can to focus solely on this space and my novels, and it feels great.
hit home in so many ways. The idea that we have to be our own medical advocates is truer now more than ever, and having just gone through a couple of years of “It’s anxiety” myself, I am so grateful she continued pushing to find answers.
🎉 We hit 1000 subscribers here on Substack this week, too! Thank you, all! I got a few questions from other Substackers about how this number was met, and I told them to be authentic, and be consistent. I moved 300 of you over from my website blog feed, and the rest is organic growth. I am so grateful! 🥳
I do have goals for how I want The Creative Edge to look, naturally. But the quality of our exchanges is much more important to me than the numbers. I’m trying to create a space that’s fun, safe, and respectful to all of our book choices as well as share the knowledge I’ve accrued over the past nearly two decades in publishing. I’m super happy with how everything looks and feels, and I hope you are, too!
That’s it from me this week, overcompensating with words because I don’t have a lot of books to share. How about you? What’s on your reading plate this weekend? And do you ever take a sabbatical from your daily life?
This post may contain affiliate links. They help defray the cost of running the site — and buys the cat her favorite treats!
I’m glad the therapy you are doing is helping! Being “off” is no fun. I’m on day 2 of Covid and it’s kicking my butt hard. I was hoping to spend my 3 day weekend with Stephen King’s Holly, but I don’t think I’ll be able to hold onto a big book or concentrate for very long. ☹️
Oh no!! I am so sorry! COVID sucks. The only upside I found was my symptoms lasted exactly long enough to rewatch all 8 seasons of Game of Thrones. Be good to yourself!
Movement is so important as I'm being reminded this week! I had surgery on Mon. I was released from the hospital on Tues but kind of felt like crap until today. I by no means feel fabulous, but I definitely feel better. Getting somewhat back into my routine has helped...although no working out for me for several weeks will be hard. I'm content to walk around my house...lol
I haven't read anything since Mon morning (before my surgery). I can't read when I'm on painkillers. I'm still reading House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J Maas. I'm almost 80% done and I hope to finish by next Fri (I'm transitioning to Tylenol during the day so I can get back into reading).
I woke up to a dusting of snow on the ground this morning...it was 60 on Mon?!?
Oh Amy, no fun!!! Surgery is never good for the reading brain. It’s that anesthesia junk that really messes with you. Good to hear you’re feeling better! Keep being good to yourself. (I’m sending a Friday theme here…)
I hope you heal quickly. Is this the first Sarah J Maas book you've read? I've been thinking of checking her out, but I wasn't sure if I'd like her work.
I just finished a book called Restless Devices on how the digital ecology shapes our lives (and souls). It's written from both sociological and theological frameworks which I've rarely seen done on that subject. So much food for thought. Still working my way through a few other books (and will be forrreeevvverrrr it feels like).
I have the weekend all to myself to work, though my energy feels a bit tanked for that at the moment. Cliff is sending me away (around the block, really, to a friend's airbnb) for the weekend which (since I'm on a digital fast) I'll likely use to finish two craft books I started last fall (Brett Lott's "Before We Get Started" and "Self Editing for Fiction Writers" by Browne and King), stare out the window, listen to music, sleep, and hopefully (!!!) gain some ground on where to rework this story.
That sounds like a delightful weekend! I've found that the first several days of a digital detox, your brain is still very much engaged with the world you've just exited. Im sure a weekend away in a totally new headspace will kick it all into gear.
Also, trust your gut. You've read a million books and you know how story works. If you get really stuck, I found the Save the Cat website a treasure trove. I watched The Hunger Games while looking at the beat sheets and it really reframed my story.
I loved Camp Damascus. That's the only other one I have read. They are equal parts great storytelling and somewhat heartbreaking because it feels like the anti-LGBTQ things the characters go through are probably coming from his experience. I have also found his comments about the Hugo Awards mess this year to be heartfelt and incisive.
Congrats on the 1k subscribers! And for pushing for your medical diagnosis. It's amazing how many people have had to do that. In my life it's been mostly women who've been misdiagnosed or been told it was anxiety/depression/hormonal changes. My cousin thought her breast cancer had returned and she pushed for testing against her doc's advice. Turned out she was right.
My habits were blown up by the pandemic and then we moved to Texas, which was like a double blast of C-4. I still feel like I'm trying to find my routine as everything and it's about to shift again with my second child heading off to college in the fall. I'm hoping your change comes easier to you. The biggest takeaway I learned is to slowly readjust. I'd make these massive announcements that I was going to do XYZ and then fail at it, which would frustrate me further. I started making smaller goals and when I met those consistently, I made the next ones a fraction bigger. When I didn't make them, I evaluated why and if I could've changed anything. Recognizing the non-changeable deterrents was key for me.
I hope y'all have a wonderful weekend!!
It appears it has been a quiet reading week for most people here. I finished Hank Philippi Ryan's ONE WRONG WORD. A fast and fun read. I'm still working on Daniel Mason's NORTH WOODS. The person who gave it to me said, "She felt this book like no other." Unfortunately, it's not my jam but because she's family (and it's important to her) I'm sticking with it and reading it s-l-o-w-l-y. It was an important reminder that not every book is for everyone.
Not every book is for everybody, for sure. I have North Woods on my library list. Interested to see how it goes.
You're so right about the changes. It's so natural to want to announce them so you have both accountability and support. But sometimes it's better to start small and accomplish a few before setting the bigger intentions.
I hope you have yourself a good support system in place for when your last baby flies the nest. We will always be here with book recommendations and the like!
I’m glad the therapy you are doing is helping! Being “off” is no fun. I’m on day 2 of Covid and it’s kicking my butt hard. I was hoping to spend my 3 day weekend with Stephen King’s Holly, but I don’t think I’ll be able to hold onto a big book or concentrate for very long. ☹️
Oh no!! I am so sorry! COVID sucks. The only upside I found was my symptoms lasted exactly long enough to rewatch all 8 seasons of Game of Thrones. Be good to yourself!
I hope you feel better soon.
Movement is so important as I'm being reminded this week! I had surgery on Mon. I was released from the hospital on Tues but kind of felt like crap until today. I by no means feel fabulous, but I definitely feel better. Getting somewhat back into my routine has helped...although no working out for me for several weeks will be hard. I'm content to walk around my house...lol
I haven't read anything since Mon morning (before my surgery). I can't read when I'm on painkillers. I'm still reading House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J Maas. I'm almost 80% done and I hope to finish by next Fri (I'm transitioning to Tylenol during the day so I can get back into reading).
I woke up to a dusting of snow on the ground this morning...it was 60 on Mon?!?
Happy weekend everyone!!
Oh Amy, no fun!!! Surgery is never good for the reading brain. It’s that anesthesia junk that really messes with you. Good to hear you’re feeling better! Keep being good to yourself. (I’m sending a Friday theme here…)
I hope you heal quickly. Is this the first Sarah J Maas book you've read? I've been thinking of checking her out, but I wasn't sure if I'd like her work.
I've read all of her books. Throne of Glass series is young adult fantasy and is how I discovered the author...very good.
A Court of Thorns and Roses is an adult series and I love it! Once again fantasy with more spicy romance.
Cresent City is the new series that is also adult and I like it even more. Like many authors, she gets better the more she writes.
If you like Fourth Wing, I think Sarah J Maas would be an author you would like.
Perfect. Thank you. I’ll probably start with her newest series.
Thanks for the shout out!
Of course! I love your Substack!
Rewiring takes work but I'm glad you're doing it!
I just finished a book called Restless Devices on how the digital ecology shapes our lives (and souls). It's written from both sociological and theological frameworks which I've rarely seen done on that subject. So much food for thought. Still working my way through a few other books (and will be forrreeevvverrrr it feels like).
I have the weekend all to myself to work, though my energy feels a bit tanked for that at the moment. Cliff is sending me away (around the block, really, to a friend's airbnb) for the weekend which (since I'm on a digital fast) I'll likely use to finish two craft books I started last fall (Brett Lott's "Before We Get Started" and "Self Editing for Fiction Writers" by Browne and King), stare out the window, listen to music, sleep, and hopefully (!!!) gain some ground on where to rework this story.
That sounds like a delightful weekend! I've found that the first several days of a digital detox, your brain is still very much engaged with the world you've just exited. Im sure a weekend away in a totally new headspace will kick it all into gear.
Also, trust your gut. You've read a million books and you know how story works. If you get really stuck, I found the Save the Cat website a treasure trove. I watched The Hunger Games while looking at the beat sheets and it really reframed my story.
Thanks J.T.!
House of Bone and Rain by Gabino Iglesias
The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle
The Dead Take the A Train by Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey
I have heard so much about Tingle’s books but have never read them. Millions can’t be wrong tho. Good?
I loved Camp Damascus. That's the only other one I have read. They are equal parts great storytelling and somewhat heartbreaking because it feels like the anti-LGBTQ things the characters go through are probably coming from his experience. I have also found his comments about the Hugo Awards mess this year to be heartfelt and incisive.
I’ll go look for them. That’s such a mess. Thanks B!
Most of his comments have been on his FB page. With your hiatus, if you'd like me to paste them into an email. let me know.
I was able to get them singularly on google. What a mess.
Congrats on the 1k subscribers! And for pushing for your medical diagnosis. It's amazing how many people have had to do that. In my life it's been mostly women who've been misdiagnosed or been told it was anxiety/depression/hormonal changes. My cousin thought her breast cancer had returned and she pushed for testing against her doc's advice. Turned out she was right.
My habits were blown up by the pandemic and then we moved to Texas, which was like a double blast of C-4. I still feel like I'm trying to find my routine as everything and it's about to shift again with my second child heading off to college in the fall. I'm hoping your change comes easier to you. The biggest takeaway I learned is to slowly readjust. I'd make these massive announcements that I was going to do XYZ and then fail at it, which would frustrate me further. I started making smaller goals and when I met those consistently, I made the next ones a fraction bigger. When I didn't make them, I evaluated why and if I could've changed anything. Recognizing the non-changeable deterrents was key for me.
I hope y'all have a wonderful weekend!!
It appears it has been a quiet reading week for most people here. I finished Hank Philippi Ryan's ONE WRONG WORD. A fast and fun read. I'm still working on Daniel Mason's NORTH WOODS. The person who gave it to me said, "She felt this book like no other." Unfortunately, it's not my jam but because she's family (and it's important to her) I'm sticking with it and reading it s-l-o-w-l-y. It was an important reminder that not every book is for everyone.
Not every book is for everybody, for sure. I have North Woods on my library list. Interested to see how it goes.
You're so right about the changes. It's so natural to want to announce them so you have both accountability and support. But sometimes it's better to start small and accomplish a few before setting the bigger intentions.
I hope you have yourself a good support system in place for when your last baby flies the nest. We will always be here with book recommendations and the like!
Just finished Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson.
And I’m currently listening to Meryl Streep read Ann Patchett’s Tom Lake.
Oh fun! I loved Tom Hank doing Dutch House. Did you listen to that one?
I did! My book club is making it a habit of picking her books each time one releases.
So fun. Ann always writes stories that engender tons of discussion.
Congratulations on 1000 subscribers ✨ That’s such an amazing milestone!
This weekend I’m continuing to read an ARC copy of a romance novel that’s out at the end of the month, and I’m truly loving it!
Thank you Jenna!
Nothing better than an early look at a great book, is there???
Definitely! It’s so good to!