Wrap Up: March 2019

Here’s my wrap up: March 2019. Wow this year is flying by.

Work

It was only a couple of weeks since I talked about the progress on my novel. It’s not changed much so I’d take a look at February’s wrap up for detail. I am still reaping the benefits of sharing my book with my friends. Besides that, as you’ll read about during this wrap-up, I’ve been a little distracted. I took a week off voluntarily and then I took an involuntary week off immediately afterwards. Overall, March has been a roller coaster for writing.

One other lovely development is I’ve picked up a moderating position with the Professional Writing Academy. I’m mostly doing admin for short writing courses. I like the work and the little online community of budding writers. And it’s filled my days with a little variety.

My writing advice for the month: It’s okay to take breaks, pursue other things or practice self-care. Your world, characters and story will be there when you return.

Books

I didn’t finish any books this month. I started a few. And bought a couple. Based off a recommendation from someone I share a workspace with I bought a book called Sky Song. Then a few days later she gave me her daughter’s copy to read. Somehow, I’ve fallen out of practice with book sharing, so now I have two copies. And I’m feeling awkward about it.

Although I’ve failed to read anything ‘for fun’ this month, I thought I’d share my ‘work books‘. These are the books I use to motivate me to write, prompt stories or un-muddle my thoughts. Sometimes I just carry them with me like a lucky charm. In the same way, I used to sleep with books under my pillow to absorb their information whilst I slept. Did anyone else do that?

Travel

I went to Paris. It was wonderful. I’ve been to Paris before but not for around eight years. I was in a different place (mentally) and definitely had a different outlook. Now, I’m more aware of how I like to travel and what I enjoy from a holiday (and from life.)

I like to walk around a place and take in the atmosphere. Occasional museums if the weather’s bad or we need to pass the time. History is always good… But I do not enjoy tourist traps and expensive ‘activities’.

That meant that we didn’t really ‘do’ any of the big Paris things. We walked by most of them. We walked through the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and the Arc Du Triumph. But mostly we walked random streets with a vague direction in mind, getting a little lost, but not too lost.

We ate some great dinners, pastries and snacks. I even got to be Parisian sitting in a coffee shop watching people do their life around me. I would say, three days was enough to do that.

The highlight of the trip for me was the canal near our Airbnb. We wandered down Canal Saint-Martin multiple times during our trip. But on Friday night it really came alive. Every available edge, curb and seat was sat on as groups of people lazed around. Six-packs of beer, bottles of wine, crisps and baguettes at their feet. Cigarettes in their mouths. Jolly chatting and laughter ringing around. If you get to go to Paris, definitely go join in. It was really great. (And totally Parisian.)

Favourites

Top ten favourite things this March:

1. Wakame Noodle Bar
2. Cottage Cheese Pancakes (I’ll post a recipe soon for these)
3. Know The Origin Clothing (Check them out!)
4. Wild Sage & Co Argan Beauty Balm (Perfect products, always)
5. Compeed Blister Packs (These saved my feet in Paris)
6. Santa Clarita Diet on Netflix (Drew Barrymore)
7. Simon & Martina on YouTube (Two wonderful people)
8. Sofa Duvet (Illness kept me horizontal)
9. This erasable highlighter (Except mines from the Pokemon Centre)
10. My Mum who made me feel less rubbish when I was ill and also got a puppy last weekend so brought a new bean into my life.

Goals for April

For April, I plan to work really hard on my book. I’m desperate to get it to a readable stage for normal people not just my poor writer friends. So that’s still and always my main goal.

It’s also my birthday month, so I’m going to spend more time working on my favourite things. (And less time worrying about the things I can’t control.) That means catching up on my Good Reads Challenge. Doing art projects. And going for walks in the *fingers crossed* warm weather.

If you liked this please check out my other bloggy things: Here

Or my latest review:

Book Review: The Hazel Wood

And as always, thanks for reading.