Brain Rest

UGH! I’ve spent the last hour working on technical stuff trying to get my website ready for the release of my book when I’d rather be writing words to connect with all of you!

Between doing rewrites, edits, and proofing the book, my inspired writing has been set aside for the time being.  Sorry!! I have so many ideas rolling around in my head just waiting to be uploaded from my brain to my computer! Wouldn’t it be great if I could telepathically download data from my brain to my blog. Since that technology hasn’t been developed yet, I’ll share with you what I’ve been doing since my last blog post in January.

I’ve been RESTING my brain! It sounds rather weird to say that but when you’re a writer you are constantly thinking about ideas or how to communicate those ideas with your readers. And when I’m engrossed in thinking about writing, I might not always be present with the people around me. Since I’ve been RESTING my brain, I’ve been more present with Mr. Small Town and the Kid. Yup, instead of eating Stouffers, I’ve been making their beloved casseroles made with either cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soups. Their faces light up when I tell them what’s for dinner.

Part of resting my brain is being able to read books! (I think I’ve read two or three over my break.) It’s been great to step away from my manuscript. I’ve read and re-read it hundreds of times over the six months!! Between February 3 and March 15, I didn’t look at it, see it, or think about it until I got the typeset copy last Friday. It was refreshing to take a look at it and see it in the ebook form. I surprised myself because some of it is actually really good and some of it, I thought was really corny. My editor assures me the book is great and that I’m my own worst critic.

I’ve also rested my body. For a writer, resting your body is different. I’m constantly sitting. So for me, resting my body means making yearly doctor appointments — I’m excited to announce, sugar levels and thyroid are great, my blood pressure is down, my good cholesterol numbers are up and the bad numbers are down WITHOUT taking any medications! That wasn’t the case one year ago! Without deadlines, I’m able to attend more exercise classes. I look forward to attending water aerobics class with my great instructor and my fun exercise peeps. The class gives me a three pronged benefit  – exercise for the physical, laughter for my mental, and community for my emotional well being!

I’ve had some unexpected opportunities too – speaking at MOPs and attending National Religious Broadcasters convention. The speaking was scheduled back in October and I didn’t know if I was going to NRB until late the night before. Those two days fulfilled the extrovert in me! I loved being able to dress up, curl my hair, put on high heels and meet people! (My usual writing attire consists of my pajamas, no makeup, hair disheveled and sitting alone at my desk. And, since I live in south Florida, it’s easy just to slip on my flip flops and go!)

Over last weekend I finished the final edits to the typeset manuscript and sent them to my publisher. The next time I see my manuscript it will be in a book format. WOW!! Now my thoughts have shifted gears and are filled with technical stuff and how to make connections to promote the book. I’m changing from my creative writing hat to my business woman hat.

God’s been amazingly good to the Small Town Family but we can always, ALWAYS use your prayers. If God brings our family to your mind, we’d appreciate the prayer. It’s going to be a busy couple of months starting with the book release.

Blessings to all of you!

 

The Small Town Girl

 

 

Just so you know, I breath a prayer for all of you each day. I have the Prayer Notebook app on my phone. At 8:30 a.m. every morning I get a reminder “Pray for blog” which means I pray for everyone who reads this blog. That means YOU!