Getting Into a Routine
March-April 2024 N°4
March and April were rich in accomplishments and advances for my personal artist!
Habits
At last, I have discovered a daily schedule that suits me. I think the increased light since February is also having an effect. I’ve found that here in the northern hemisphere, not only the lack of light but also the lack of nutrients in my daily diet, has a huge effect on my energy levels. All winter long, fruit and vegetables arrive from warmer countries, usually the USA and further south. These vegetables don’t ripen on the plant but in transit, or at home on the kitchen counter. The only time I felt I was feeding myself was when we received peppers from Spain. I can still remember the slightly sweet taste, the fleshy, juicy pulp and the scent of... peppers! That day, I felt like my body was thanking me for feeding it. Once we’d used up our cargo, we returned to the greenhouse-grown peppers.
All this to say that I found this lack of nutrients was bad for my creative energy and my energy. I should put a reminder in my calendar to take multivitamins from December 1 and see if I do better with them.
What about you? How do you get through the dark days?
Reading
For audiobook fans in Canada, Spotify just made audiobooks available to premium subscribers. I found out by filling out a survey that asked if I knew this option was available on my app. Since then, I’ve listened to several books, and I discovered Brandon Sanderson by listening to the French version of The Original. It was a pleasant read! I can’t wait to read more stories from those two writers. I won’t summarize the entire story for you, but I must admit I wished a more satisfying ending. I could not imagine a better one than that one. It would be an excellent exercise to listen to the story again, to make a different ending!
I listened to Joanna Penn’s book Productivity for Authors. I admit I’ve learned very little, but I’ve still found a few gems for the future, in case I need them further down the road!
Inspiration
I read Danielle E. Fournier’s book The World Needs Your Art: Casual Magic to Unlock Your Creativity. If you read (hum… listen to it), keep a notebook handy!
I went to a bookbinding workshop given by Sarah. Thanks to books and “YouTube and others platforms” University, I already knew almost everything. I enjoyed watching others do their work and the community of other artists was very enriching.
Recipe
No unusual tested recipe this month.
Televisual Consumption
This month, we watched Shogun based on James Clavel’s novel. I did not watch the first version in 1975, but I clearly remember how everyone loved that TV series. The ones who watched it then and now, this version has nothing to do with the one from the 70s: less romance (still, there is some), more relationships, lots of ancient Japanese culture, from what I could see. I watched the original English/Japanese dialogs with subtitles. Available dubbed in a variety of languages. I loved that series: beautiful characters with many layers, beautifully crafted costumes, setting and photography. Worth the required concentration to follow all along.
Toward Self-publishing
Failed
Write extra words and generate new ideas through Holly’s class 10 minutes x 6 per week. → Happened partially, the daily plan did not happen.
Start a planner I could use and self-publish in order to learn the complete process. → Nope, did not happen. Too many of them on the market. If I put the time to make one, I will use it for my purpose next year. I think of publishing a short story.
Success
✓Finish editing the Cat’s eyes story and let it rest a second time.
✓Keep on exercising 15 minutes every day to get stronger.
✓Studied a writing lesson for a complete weekend in March.
Plans for May and June 2024
Continue what worked:
✓Add words and ideas to “Human Farm” only.
✓Keep on exercising 15 minutes every day to get stronger.… While gardening
Winter doesn’t want to leave us.
We go from winter coat to t-shirts and shorts.
This is springtime in Canada!
Tulips and crocus show up, anyway. Amazing!
Help a young couple move into their very first house: exciting!
Last note
This newsletter has no affiliate links.
I used A.I.’s ProWritingAid to edit it and make it readable to you. Will you still be my friend?