Things will chill after this week

(on repeat forever)

💻 what I'm up to 💻

Many of you have likely seen a tweet or a post or a something about how part of being an adult is saying, “Things will calm down after this week” over and over and over again. Sometimes it does calm down, but often, life chugs along at its usual frenetic pace. You can get in cycles of busy weeks, endlessly sprawling ahead of you.

I think I’ve been in that mode to some degree since Star Wars Celebration in May. But well and truly, things will calm down after I get back from Comic-Con and catch up… right?

This photo has nothing to do with anything except that I really like it.

Anyway, I’ve been considering that cycle because when we have those markers of “hey, I can finally take a flipping breath on July 30” it gives us something to look forward to. But then if another task or event or life comes along and blows that precious moment to breathe off your calendar, it is SO demoralizing. Like, that was my single chance to rest for a month and I’m going to lose it?!

So, I’ve been approaching all of this and trying to switch the way I think with a few things: reminders to myself to stop hyperbolizing. It is not true that I will have only one day to rest and I do not have to put pressure on myself to rest “properly” on that day. I’m trying to practice more mindfulness so I stay in the present instead of planning around a future I can’t control. And I’m trying to remind myself that most of the importance I feel around certain things comes from me. Not external factors. Just me and my weird brain.

Instead of telling myself things will calm down after this week, I’m working on accepting that hey, this week is busy. Next week could be too. Or I could have weeks of calm. I don’t know. I’ll control what I can by saying yes or no to various commitments and do the best I can. I don’t want to keep promising myself this “break” that I can’t predict or count on.

We’ll see how it works out.

In other news, I’m headed to San Diego Comic-Con next week with Nerdist (oh hey, I just got a promotion!). I have enough work responsibilities (more chill than Celebration though) that I’m not making plans with folks and it’s going to be a real “let’s see who I run into” convention and I can’t wait. Mostly, I’m stoked to see my coworkers in person because it’s been over two years and also to be in Hall H for the Marvel panel.

(And if you’re reading this, Nicole, happy birthday!!)

📘 my book things 📘

I do have book things in the works! Haha. I worked with my agent to set a deadline for some theme park rom-com progress, because I need a deadline. And I’ve started on a promising idea for a middle grade fantasy.

But if you’d like more of my writing in the form of a Ko-fi exclusive bonus newsletter, a monthly postcard with a poem I write, behind-the-scenes process posts, or weekly writing prompts, consider supporting me with a subscription on Ko-fi! It helps me do more writing and I super appreciate it.

In addition to signed copies of my books, I also just listed signed bookplates in my Ko-fi shop.

📺 what I'm watching 📺

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
This movie is so cute, so moving, and so sweet. It’s out in more theaters tomorrow and I highly recommend it. You might wonder how something that started as a YouTube video years ago can sustain itself for a feature-length film (I did!) but I promise you it does and has these moments where it punches you in the best way!!

The Bear
Of course I watched The Bear (thanks to my buddy Mike for the rec). Found family, beautiful food shots, incredible kitchen sounds–what’s not to love? Plus Carmen’s story and the way the show throws viewers into the narrative the same way Carmy was thrown into this family restaurant he didn’t necessarily want? It’s gripping (and an intense watch). Think Chef meets the kind of darker vibes of Breaking Bad. It just got picked up for season 2!!

And if you’re looking for something more silly, Maggie on Hulu is a delight and Boo, Bitch on Netflix is ridiculous.

Also! The newest season of For All Mankind is just as excellent as you would hope (and still WILDLY stressful).

📚 what I'm reading 📚

By the Book by Jasmine Guillory
A contemporary update on Beauty and the Beast? Yes, please! The book follows Isabelle, a burned out editor's assistant, as she has to help a "beastly" author get his freaking manuscript in already. To do that, she ends up staying with him in his Santa Barbara mansion (it makes sense in the story, I promise), and well, you know Beauty and the Beast. It's a fun story that has the side bonus of some excellent writing advice.

Homicide and Halo-Halo by Mia P. Manansala
We love a cozy mystery that prominently features food! This is the follow-up to Arsenic and Adobo and it’s a light, twisty story with enough descriptions of meals and baked goods to make you have cravings. (Oh the way I miss Big Boi in LA).

I also quite enjoyed Book Lovers by Emily Henry and Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead by Elle Cosimano.

🐳 something whalesome 🐳
I like wholesome things and the whale emoji is cute so: whalesome!

It’s been a little challenging to think about wholesome things lately, so please enjoy a picture of my cat Kairi sleeping on part of a scratching pad. Nothing about this looks comfortable and yet she zonked out.

🍃 creativity corner 🍃
Here I’ll share tips and tricks that are helping me write, imagine, and/or stay productive.

You know how I mentioned By the Book has some great tips for writers (thank you, Jasmine Guillory!)? YEP. One I especially like: Put the laptop or computer aside. Get a notebook and a pen. Set a timer, maybe start with 20 minutes. Write. Even if you know it’s terrible (it’s probably not) and even if you grumble about it the whole time. Do this for a few days in a row then type anything you want to keep into your manuscript. If it’s a way to log some progress, it’s worth trying, right?

Plus if it enables a buying new notebooks habit, can it be wrong?

📃 quote of the month 📃

“Survival is insufficient.” - Emily St. John Mandel, Station Eleven

Station Eleven tells a story about the survivors of a pandemic that wiped out most of Earth’s population. Yeah, I know. That said, it’s a moving book and the TV adaptation is beautiful. And this line stayed with me from when I first read the book. Just surviving isn’t enough. Going through the motions is necessary sometimes (relevant to my above comment about plowing through a busy time) but you need to live to make our short time here worthwhile.

I hope you’re doing okay! Reply or comment and let me know.

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