C. Anne

I was so worried with that video. Concerned dog should be concerned!

My 13 yo: I find book dedications boring but I like this one.

Me: what if I dedicate a book to you? Will you still find it boring.

Him: Yes.

Me: That’s the dedication then, “to W, who finds book dedications boring.”

Wait for it... 😊

No one.

Anyway, the length of my TBR is definitely promoting me taking a strong look at the story around page 60 - like, if I realize I don't really care what happens to these characters, we're going to let their story live in other people's minds, and we're going to move on.

Characters can be fun and likable and interesting, plot synopsis can be engaging, the writing can be perfectly acceptable, and I can just not be that interested in it -- and that's okay. Someone else likely does love this story and I'm glad they do. But I don't have an obligation to finish it.

Considering the length of my TBR I am trying to be better about allowing myself DNF books. I think it always feels like such a rejection, but it's okay for something to just not be FOR ME?

How can you not write? The importance of stories and writing and showing up for them.

This week’s thoughts on writing right now open.substack.com/pub/typingin...

I SURVIVED READING BANNED BOOKS ALL I GOT WAS SMARTER AND MORE EMPATHETIC

🙂

Back in the American Narrative Thoughts from an American Weekend.

I'm trying to better about actually posting things I write - this took me a week past writing to get posted, but I'm still posting it because present over perfect.

typinginabungalow.substack.com/p/back-in-th...

Stack of c. 1960s suspense paperbacks including Mary Stewart’s Wildfire at Midnight with a woman in a coat at the top of a hill with burning fires and a large house in the background.

On a perfectly frank note, I’ve often bemoaned the fact that my cover will not be the women in gowns running from houses pulp vibes I want cause we don’t do that anymore.

I now stand corrected. Dear future publisher, please see this and make all my dreams come true.

Every once in a while a book comes up on NetGalley that is just an instant smash request, add to TBR so I don’t forget it if it gets denied, etc. this book is one of those books.

The vibes on this are just gorgeous. I keep thinking, I should put it away, and then I just keep reading.

Today’s goal: to write/edit. All told I probably did at least three hours of it, despite some challenges. I didn’t get all the way through the first section like I wanted, I think partially because I was weaving and mixing in the scenes I wrote during the #1000WordsOfSummer, but I did a lot.

kermit the frog is typing on a typewriter . Alt: kermit the frog is typing on a typewriter .

Ended up taking a long weekend writing break because Monday hit very Monday somehow, but 1047 words today and completed a full rewrite of the penultimate chapter despite serious grass allergies trying to bludgeon my brain. Whew.

I came up with it myself - when I started working on this project I started with the notion of just committing 10 minutes every day - showing up - no word count required, and it worked really well where word counts stressed me. But I wanted to 1000 words this year, so I figured let’s try this.

I did learn that if I give a time limit plan B, I don't accidentally give myself writer's block by putting a word count on the day. 1000 words OR an hour of writing whichever came first worked fabulously. Mostly I didn't come close to an hour - which is also a good thing to know.

I finished #1000WordsofSummer despite my brain just really not working today. I'm giving myself intentional breaks tomorrow and Sunday but then I'm going to try to keep this momentum going the rest of this month - likely with time rather than word counts - but same energy.

Did I just rewrite the SAME scene at the start of today's writing that I wrote during yesterday's writing?

Had to do two different writing runs, but despite the fact that my brain is running Andor lines nearly non-stop, I managed 1251 words all told - my highest #1000wordsofsummer count yet!

Work should back off. You have important things to discover.

Update. Wrote 700+ words on ACTUAL book project alongside the uh… horrors TED talk writing. Si we’re officially counting this as a day I wrote 1000 words.

Hypothetically if one woke up and wrote a thousand word rant on the Horrors in one’s journal before even getting out of bed that’s #1000wordsofsummer right? Asking for a friend 🫣🫠😭

Three things on my mind this week The things moving me forward.

I keep thinking: I’ll write when I have something really deep to say, but there’s a lot & it’s been two months & I need to get over the idea that everything needs to be important & meaningful. So here are three things I’ve been riffing on this month.

open.substack.com/pub/typingin...

Paddington in Andor Season 1 Episode 7: Announcement

Paddington in Andor Season 1 Episode 7: Announcement

Paddington in Andor Season 1 Episode 7: Announcement

I Photoshop Paddington into a movie, TV show, or pop culture until I forget: Day 1553

1029 words finally at 4pm despite an 83 degree office & the ever increasing horrors. #1000wordsofsummer

I spent an hour this morning working on a piece for my monthly writing prompt group - I don’t know if I hit 1000 words this morning or not, but the final edited piece I started yesterday was around 1300 so we’re counting this as spirit of the 1000 days of summer and calling it good.

giles with books (buffy the vampire slayer)

giles reading (buffy the vampire slayer)

giles researching (buffy the vampire slayer)

giles reading (buffy the vampire slayer)

post a book nerd you relate to 📚💙

a man and a woman are dancing in the snow while standing next to each other . ALT: a man and a woman are dancing in the snow while standing next to each other .

Me: in this house we ship FinnRey

My kid: Yes!

Important update: kiddo had the appropriate response to that end twist. He has gone in somehow without spoilers but is definitely my kid.