Where I’ve been + What I’ve been loving (while writing a fantasy novel)
Where have I been?
I’ve been neglecting this space. This was a very intentional choice. I was writing a fantasy novel that now sits at 107k words. I am proud and grateful to have finished something that took so much time and discipline.
The reason I willfully neglected Sunlight Corner was because I heard someone on a podcast say having multiple interests was a tool of “the dark side” or something equally as dramatic. Their explanation, that if you focus on too many things you dilute your energy and thus injure your endeavor’s chance of success, made me decide to shelf everything else and just focus on the novel, this included forgetting about this blog for sometime. As someone who has always been a start-stuff-but-don’t-finish-it person, I can vouch that, though dramatic, this was good advice. Giving one thing, especially something like writing a book, your full attention, is the road to successfully finishing it (at least it was for me.)
Especially since I also work a 9-5.
On my lists of posts to write, is “self care for someone writing a book while working full time.” In that post, I’ll touch on the pomodoro technique and self-care routines for sanity. In the meantime, here is a list I put together while I was in the revisions stage of writing a fantasy novel.
What have I been loving?
Writing Fantasy : This is a love hate relationship. But it is more love than hate. When writing these short little blog posts, I have nothing but love. But when you have 20,000 words and 80,000 to go, it feels like climbing a mountain with no end. Often you wonder why you decided to climb it anyway. But the story wants to be told and its chosen you, so you respect it. You make a schedule to write around your full time job and everything else you do. You fall off your routines, you lose your mind a little, you feel alone a lot, but somehow you can’t wait until the next time you sit down with the characters. who’ve become so important to you, to tell their story. So yes, I’ve been loving writing.
Sun salutations: Yoga is my foundation. I shortened my practice and —at the beginning of my writing journey — neglected it all together, but then I made it a point to at least do surya namaskara a and b. And I was grateful to myself for committing to this.
Rajiv Surendra : I’m verrrrryyyyy intentional about the content I consume on the interwebs. From the apps I frequent to the content I engage with. I used to watch Rajiv on the hgtv and was so excited when he started his own youtube. I found the way he lives inspiring and his commitment to beauty and quality so authentic and refreshing. I’m inspired by him.
Quick meals : Because somedays I would skip meals (t was not cute), I started making quick meals that were filling and nutritious and could be made during my writing breaks.
My balcony : Outside is my favorite place. I was grateful to be able to write out here.
Eckhart Tolle : The only thing that stuck when I attempted the 75 hard challenge was reading 10 pages of a non fiction book a day. I reread a lot of Eckhart Tolle during this time, The Power of Now, Stillness Speaks, and A New Earth. Such wisdom. it made me want to write more about my spiritual practice here (look out for more of that.)
Nightly Yoga 🧘🏾♀️: I wrote about my routine here. Strange, since I finished the novel, I haven’t been consistent with it. But it did keep me sane when all my time was packed with either my 9-5 or what we’ll call Project Sky (code name for my novel).
Cafes : I live in a beach town and they are quite full of super cute cafes. For someone who is inside the house and just around my house so much, it’s nice to go out to am adorable place where other people frequent.
Wicked and its soundtrack : To say I was (am) obsessed is an understatement. That war cry cosmically altered me.
Sunset walks 🌅: My sunset walks became rare when I locked in on finishing the novel, but when they did happen, it was love love love. I might be obsessed with the sky. I’m always calling people to show them what is happening in the skies. Makes sense then that my novel’s title has the word sky in it.
So that is the list of things I loved while I was away. My family, Christmas, music (Hozier), being an aunt, the beach and a million other things should also be on this list but then this will go on forever.... It is true that once you start being grateful, you realize there is soooo much to have gratitude for.
What have you been loving? Have you done anything you’re super proud of lately? Share with me, I would love to know.
Thanks for being here.
🌸💖.
Be well, be love.
