Reflection 1
all things must end in order to start anew
Hello there!
November has slipped away and Christmas is upon us, although, I must confess that I started singing ALL the Christmas tunes well before November 1st.
So sue me. Actually, on second thought, don’t. 😂 I’m not rich enough for that.
I feel the most like myself in the fall and spring, which is funny considering they are complete opposites of each other. One signals the closing of a chapter and the other a new one, but I find that when I’m standing at the end of something or teetering on the threshold of a new chapter, I feel lighter.
The baggage of the year is unpacked, unraveled, and examined as the leaves fall and the cold fronts move in while new hopes, experiences, and dreams feed my soul in the spring.
Tender. New. Expectant
The fall is also when I think of ideas for the following year’s writing projects. I have three lined up as of right now. Will I finish them all in 2023? Maybe. Maybe not. Depends on what happens on the querying front.
Speaking of which…
WRITING -
I challenged myself to NaNoWriMo this year, and just like every year, I regretted it but also, not? I’m EXHAUSTED but I did finish the first draft of The Wedding Book, and I’m SOOO excited to begin edits. I want to jump into them immediately but I’ve been told by several people (you know who you are if you’re reading this) that I must wait. So, I wait. Anxiously.
However, the bones are in place, the heaviest lifting is done, and it’s time to work on making this word salad into a five-star meal.
On the querying front, I’m at a bit of a standstill. I have a partial out with an agent for The Wedding Book (she requested it before it was even finished) and an outstanding full request with another agent for a different book. I have yet to send it to them because that manuscript is with an editor. Once I get my edit letter back and make the changes, I’ll be submitting the requested material which will probably be in the new year.
I have a lot of hope but I have been in this game for long enough to know not to read too much into these things. But again, I’m hopeful. Always.
MEDIA -
I’m a HUGE lover of music and my Spotify wrapped this year let me know it for a fact because apparently, I spent 54,000 minutes listening to my favorite tunes. :0
Some standouts this month have been:
everythingoes by RM, NELL
Blade by BIBI
Glimpse of Us by Joji
In terms of visual media, I actually haven’t watched as many shows or movies as I’ve wanted to this month. Mainly bc of NaNoWriMo, but some standouts of what I was able to consume were:
Descendants of the Sun (left) - action, melodrama, romance
A love story between Captain Yoo Shi Jin of the Korean Special Forces, and Doctor Kang Mo Yeon, a surgeon at Haesung Hospital. Together they face danger in a war-torn country.
Ten out of ten stars from me. It had everything from swoon to angst and action that will leave you breathless.
Little Women (right) - thriller, drama, mystery
Three sisters become embroiled in a major incident and face off against the wealthiest family in the nation.
This show makes me realize I know nothing about plotting or characters. If I could, I would sell a kidney for one brain cell of the writer. Phenomenal and might just be my favorite drama of the year. 👀
ART -
This year I’ve been really intentional about learning to appreciate art and seek out artists that spark my creativity. I’ve found it to be just another way my soul breathes and thrives, and one artist that has been particularly resonating with me is…
MICHELLE KWON -
Michelle is so talented I literally just gasp every time she shares something new. To find out more about her and her art, you can visit her on Instagram or her website! Maybe one day I’ll be lucky enough to get a cover designed by her…
BOOKS -
I was not able to read as much as I wanted, but a few standouts that I was able to devour were:
Not enough people talk about this book. Eye-opening, sobering, thrilling…I’ve gotten so many of my friends hooked on this brilliant piece of literature. If you have NOT read it yet, what are you doing with your life? Run to your library or bookstore, don’t walk.
Bright than the Sun - Daniel Aleman
My favorite YA book to date. Hands-down so good I would reread it, which is saying a lot coming from me. The main character shares my birthday, lives in my city, gives off tired dad energy (aka me), and the story? Broke me, healed me, unraveled me, and I could not stop turning pages. AMAZING. Oh, but it doesn’t come out till March 21st, 2023. The perk of being a podcaster is getting to read ARCs, lol!
CLOSING -
If you’re still here, I love you. XD I’m excited to see what December will bring and hope you enjoyed this rambling ramble of mine. Stay healthy, safe, and happy! I’ll see you (most likely) in 2023.
Love,
Rebekah