The past four weeks have been the most densely packed month of the year. So much has happened that it feels as if way more time has passed. Peep the gushy details below!
SONG INSPIRATION
This month’s blog is inspired by Sam Smith & Kim Petras’ “Unholy”.
A MONTH IN IDAHO
I’ve spent the past 4 weeks “living” in Idaho serving as a guest lecturer in two science courses. The arrangement was an opportunity to return to the (science) classroom before I start a new teaching-oriented position in the spring. Interacting with students, sharing knowledge, and participating in thoughtful discussions is exhilarating to me. Another bonus of being in-person is the amount of quality time with my supervisor and their research group, not to mention learning more about our academic unit. Working remotely has been ideal for research productivity and mental health, but when it comes to building relationships and brainstorming, there’s nothing like interacting with people in-person (especially the ones you like).
In order to immerse myself, I’ve made an effort to try a variety of restaurants, visit nearby communities, and walk the town. The weekends have been opportune for day trips. I’ve hiked through a beautiful cedar forest to picturesque waterfalls, reconnected with an old friend in eastern Washington, and visited Walla Walla, Washington to try a new brunch place and winery. The surrounding landscape – rolling loess hills and outcropped Colombia River Basalts – is gorgeous.
While here in Idaho, I’ve accomplished a number of outstanding tasks. I’ve secured (faculty) housing in New England. I’ve scheduled two back-to-back international trips courtesy of attending IAVCEI in New Zealand next year. And I’ve made tremendous progress towards my novel (more on that below).
THANKSGIVING 2022
Hard to believe that my favorite holiday is next week. I’m excited to return to the coast after a year to see family and friends. And I can’t even front like I’m not ready to smash some of my favorite dishes. This Thanksgiving will be a little different. I’ll be home a week longer, because I’m in a wedding. I’ll also treat myself to a little staycation getaway (being home with the ‘Rents is truly wonderful, but it’s still being at home with the ‘Rents). I’m anxious to catch up on all of the latest family news, explore some new restaurants, and mingle with friends. I’m doubly excited to watch my best friend walk down the aisle. After a year of tremendous travel, it’ll be nice to come home.
WRITING
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) has been wildly successful. I’ve written over 26,000 words and I’m one scene away from completing my novel! You read that correctly. Honestly, I haven’t processed it. I’ve toiled away on this book for years, ever since the original idea popped in my head listening to Rihanna’s “Skin” as an undergraduate in 2011. Once it’s finished, what will I do? Keep writing. Thanks to NaNoWriMo I’ve instilled a level of discipline in my writing that I’ve always lacked. I have plenty of novels, novellas, and short stories buzzing around my head and I intend to start the next novel within a month of completing this one (just need to iron out the plot and characters). As for the soon-to-be completed novel, I’ll set it aside for a couple of months before revisiting it for the first round of edits.
With respect to professional writing, my fourth paper is currently with my supervisor. In the meantime, once I return to remote work, I’ll resume working on figures and text for papers 5 and 6. Oh, there’s also an abstract to write for LPSC and a poster to complete for IAVCEI. Phew!
CONSISTENCY
This year I’ve internalized the importance of consistency, which admittedly takes discipline. Whether it’s investment, a dissertation, a novel, working out, or learning a new skill, you have to have consistency to make progress. Consider a novel. If you wrote 100 words per day (5 or 6 sentences), you would have 36,500 words by the end of the year – technically a novella. OK, but stay with me. Cranking out my novel for NaNoWriMo has improved my discipline and helped me realize that I have a path forward to producing my numerous projects. All it takes is incremental progress. If you work out 6 days/week for 10 minutes a day for a year, are you in better shape than someone who visits the gym for 6 days/week for 3 hours a day for a month? Yes. The value of incremental progress, of consistently working towards your goals, becomes apparent as you achieve tasks. You may not see immediate change the day of or the next day or the next day. But in a month, you’ll notice a difference. Much of what we perceive as overwhelming can be broken down into small daily tasks. After a year of small tasks, you could achieve the very thing you perceive as insurmountable.
CURRENT SHOWS
Recently finished: Colombo (s3); Ghost in the Shell 2045: Sustainable War; House of the Dragons; The Rings of Power
Currently watching: Andor; Colombo (s4); The Great British Bake Off (s15); Thermae Roma; The Venture Bros. (s2); Victoria (s2)
Currently reading: Japan: A Modern History; Wine for Dummies
Thank you so much for reading! My next blog is scheduled for Thursday, December 15th. Until next time….
The Planetary Novelist 