Summer TBR (or Rather, a Lack Thereof)

Summer is a time of spontaneity. It is a time of not planning. It is a time perfect for deciding on the spot. 

That is why I am officially not giving myself a firm summer TBR. 

Of course there are books I would love to read this summer. Things I've had for awhile or things I want to purchase but don't have money for yet. But it's important I make my decision of what to read next only after I finish a book. 

This past week, I plowed through Mistborn: The Final Empire. Spontaneity lead me to drive to Barnes & Nobles, pick up a copy of The Well of Ascension, and start reading the sequel early the next day. All school year, I loved for the freedom to make choices like these; I was sick of the meticulous planning of what I'd do and when. Now, I don't need to worry anymore. Now I just read. 

I think that's the way I need things to be for now. Because as long as I'm reading, I'm happy. It doesn't really matter what I'm reading so much as I'm making the most of my summer. 

Writing Journals

I have started a writing journal.

I owe it to Susan Dennard, writing and blogging extraordinaire, and her posts here and here. To Ms. Dennard, I am eternally grateful.

I have no idea if it'll last, but for the past two weeks, I've been pushing myself everyday to work on my novel. (This novel, Untitled, is something I wrote during NaNoWriMo of April 2014. It was not very good, so now I'm trying to make it better.) Usually before bed every night, I plan something, create a few more characters and map them out, or write a scene. Then, I catalog what I did to move forward, how I felt about it, and what I need to accomplish next.

This surprisingly easy way of listing out what I do and what I need to do has been extremely successful.

Not only has writing in a journal kept me on task, but it's also psychologically pushed me to write or work on my story even when I don't want to. I look forward to getting the chance to brag about my success or complain about my lack of motivation. I find it attaches me to my work more and more as well as loosens my creativity.

Last night, I wrote something I was really proud of. To anyone increasing their productivity, I highly recommended this method of documenting your process.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

current music: the spirit of adventure : michael giachinno : up