On a Personal Note: Resetting

My May Reads:

Audiobook: 

Game On by Navessa Allen

Physical: 

The Knight And The Moth by Rachel Gillig (re-read)

Ebook:

The Best Mistake by Nina Rey

The Book Of Azrael by Amber V. Nicole

UnBroken by Kara Stark

I’ve already posted this on Facebook, but apparently I’m such a gaming nerd that even after listening to Caught Up, I was 100% convinced Game On was somehow about video games. Duh!

The Knight And The Moth was a delight to read again, and I can’t wait for The Knave And The Moon! Do I do a second re-read closer to release? Maybe.

Technically, UnBroken also counts as a re-read since I worked on it, right? I read it in preparation for a manuscript assessment that started yesterday. I wanted to have the story fresh in my mind before diving back into that world.

I haven’t quite finished The Book Of Azrael yet, but I’m confident I’ll finish it before the end of the month.

Oh, and I also watched Off Campus. I thought it was great, but I haven’t read the books yet – yes, shame on me. I intend to rectify that. Go watch it if you haven’t already!

Resetting: A Slower, Healthier Pace

I decided to slow down at the beginning of May. Resetting. I had to.

I’ve worked so hard to improve my visibility – day and night, weekends included – with what felt like little success at the time, and very little time left for family or hobbies. I really had to change my approach to prevent burnout. I felt ashamed for falling into this trap despite knowing better (in theory, anyway).

One small change had a huge impact: tracking all of my working time instead of only the hours I spent editing. That immediately gave me a major productivity and creativity boost. I spent less time working, yet became far more productive!

I also started using a proper to-do list with deadlines, which has helped me keep track of everything. At first the list felt endless, but after a few days of steadily chipping away at it, I suddenly realised that I was ... dare I say it ... done? Nothing needed urgent attention anymore. Turns out the world doesn’t end if you take things slow and steady and avoid unnecessary overtime.

My husband and I also celebrated seven years together and three years of marriage this month. We had some time off for an amazing getaway to Lincoln and Scarborough. (Just before the heatwave kicked in!)

I’ve read more books, played games, and genuinely rested. Yes, this month was good.

Now I’m booked until July, which feels really good. Everything is slowly falling into place, and I hope it continues like this.

If you want honest and supportive feedback on your romance manuscript, feel free to explore my services!