April 2022 Re-Set

It's time for a vibe check. Spring is moving slow, puttering closer and sputtering in and out, but I'm mentally done with winter. I need a refresh, and I'm doing some goal-setting to hopefully help me get that new, bouncy, pastel sunshine feeling.

What I'm Reading: Beautiful Little Fools by Jillian Cantor Something about Gatsby feels like spring to me. Maybe the mix of dirt and grime with glittery glam is reminiscent of break-up season in Alaska. The final patches of pure, white beautiful snow has turned gross-gray-brown, all while patches of sunshine and grass and baby budding flowers try to convince you that it's supposed to be 'pretty' out here.

Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman

April is National Poetry Month, so I always try to spend a little more time on my late-learned love. Spring weather and beauty is fleeting, just like my favorite poems.

What I'm Writing:

Short Stories - I'm experimenting with the shorter form this spring because I need a bit of a mental break from my novel revisions. I've never been all that obsessed with short stories, but I want to spend some energy practicing the hyper-focus necessary to be successful in the genre. Right now, I'm working on finishing a dystopian short story about a world in which the population is designated a career based on their birth year.

Murder Mystery Dinner Party??? - I postponed my birthday from January to May, and I've got a rough idea of hosting a murder mystery dinner party wherein I'm the murdered person (and subsequently, her ghost). It's sort of like writing a mystery and a play and a game all at once, and I can't say I've ever done anything quite like it. But, I'd like to try.

Revisions - Of course, I can't give up on my revisions entirely. April is actually a perfect month for channeling the voice of Sadie Harrington, my second (and newly added) POV in my novel. Remember what I said about Beautiful Little Fools? Sadie has major Daisy energy. She even shares a piece of her name.

What I'm Listening To: The last couple months, I've been listening to a lot of the same British indie pop. I love it, but it's time for a change. After thoughtful discovery listening, I put together a playlist that feels a bit more classic and jazzy. Give me those layers of harmonies and lilting piano riffs. If you want to check it out, here's the link.

I have some fun plans in April, which is a change from most recent months. My goal for the month is to enjoy the present moment as much as possible. So, I don't want to set word goals for myself this month.

Instead, I want to focus on the enjoyment of creating. I've been so dedicated to editing and fixing lately, that I've lost the playful piece of writing. For me, April is about finding as many sparkling gems as I can, rough edges and all.