Things have been hard recently. Whether it’s work, politics, world events, friends struggling, or the oppressive heat, life feels like a struggle right now. It’s so hard not to be distracted by everything happening around me.
I used to be so good at falling into my stories as an escape. I could write and write and write because I was in control of the story and the characters and the world. But, I didn’t really care about the quality. They were just words for me and me alone, and maybe my friends if I shared it with them. As I’ve matured as a writer, I’ve started to care more about the starting quality of what I’m writing. Now it feels like I can’t start something without a solid plan of where it’s going.
I’ve been looking for escapes in other areas of my life. I wouldn’t say “vices” because they’re not destructive habits. But, they are distractions. For a long time, I’ve been hard on myself for leaning on these things – reading, creating mood boards on Pinterest, playing video games, watching dramas – but those things keep me happy and sane. Thinking about all the issues every day all the time is not helping my mental state.
So, here are some of my favorite escapes right now, if you too are struggling and looking for relief.
Reading Fluffy Books:
I have read 38 books so far this year. Of those, 34 have been fluffy romance novels. Now, they are full of emotion, heart-wrenching character development, and racing plot lines. I’m not somebody who likes the “spice” of romance novels, but I love the emotion in them.
My top four authors this year have been:
- Mariana Zapata
- Lucy Score
- Devney Perry
- Nyssa Kathryn
These books have ranged from realistic contemporary and small-town romance to stories about genetically altered super soldiers and psychic P.I.s. Some are better written than others, but they are all entertaining.
Creating a Veggie Garden:
I’ve been loving having a garden. It makes me feel self-sufficient in a way. I’m still working on it, learning when to pick things and when to just leave them. I had a great season for lettuces, did okay with snap peas, and we have a TON of peppers coming in. Now I just need to get better at cooking with all this stuff.
During the crazy storms we’ve been having, most of my pepper and tomato plants got blown over. I’ve done some rehab and staking, but I don’t think they’ll ever look as nice as that first picture. I had to do some serious trimming.
Watching YouTube:
I probably watch way too much on YouTube. I love daily life vloggers and gaming videos. My favorite creators right now are:
- Good Mythical Morning (Rhett and Link) – Variety Show?
- Gab Smolders – Gaming
- cari cakes – Daily life in Korea
- Rachel Maksy – Cosplay and Crafting
- Christy Anne Jones – Writer from Australia
Some have such clear styles that Andrew (my partner) can tell what I’m watching from the other room just by background music alone. We’ve been watching Good Mythical Morning together during dinner since the pandemic, and it’s now a set routine we love.
Novel Idea Moodboards:
While my motivation to write has been scarce, I have had a ton of new ideas floating around in my brain. I like building Pinterest boards for them just to keep the vibes.
Great Lakes Gothic (Short stories/Anthology)
College Drama (NA/Contemp Romance)
Deity and the Witch (Fantasy Romance)
Light and Shadows (Fantasy)
Antiquities (Contemporary/Urban Fantasy)
Lots of vibes, but not much plot quite yet. Some have pages of summary to go along with them, others only have the mood board and a dream. I just need to convince myself to have fun with the writing part again too.
Otherwise, my life has been work and wedding planning. Everything is going well so far. I’ve got all my vendors lined up and contracted, we’ve got a dress and a suit, I’m in the process of putting together centerpieces, and we’re working on song choices. I’m sure the next couple of months will have more decisions than I can even wrap my head around, but I’m excited to see how it all comes together.
Hope you all are staying sane.
Happy Creating!
Rachel
Subtle Stories 