Big news! I am sending not one, but two works to the editor in August!
Hold onto your Kindles though, because they still have plenty of work to do after I get them back. But it’s a big step, one I haven’t taken in over a year, so yay!
Especially since I pushed so hard to get them done over the summer. I took four trips in six weeks + following that, I had my sister visiting me for a full week. So yeah, even sitting at my computer was a challenge sometimes.
Speaking of travel, I broke my own rule for one of the trips and was reminded why I have it. My rule is simple: I will not be the sole planner of any trip I go on.
See, I’m good at planning trips. Really good. But then, over time, I realized it got me the reputation as The Planner.
A reputation that maybe I liked at first, but as life went on and responsiblities grew, one I also no longer liked. A few years ago, I went on a trip to Europe with many other people, where despite my many efforts not to be The Planner, it failed miserably and during the ten days we were in Europe, I was constantly asked ALL the details, ALL the time (despite me putting them in a handy-dandy app that I asked everyone to download). What hotel are we staying at? I was asked. What time is the train? Oh, Brynn’s got the answers. What day is the tour? Why bother downloading the app when all six people can just ask me…time after time.
Yep, needless to say, after that trip, I officially retired the job of being The Planner. These days if you can’t come up with a full 50% of the itinerary or plans, I’m not going.
But I did break my own rule this summer when I went on a trip, where everyone had what I call it the "I'm up for anything" syndrome.
Picture this: You're trying to make plans with a friend, or group and they respond with those dreaded words, "I'm up for anything." At first, it sounds great—who doesn't love someone open to adventure? But soon you realize that it's code for "I have zero opinions or preferences."
Congratulations, you're now the sole decision-maker, and the pressure is on. Suddenly, choosing a restaurant feels like solving a complex math problem. Nobody wants to decide whether to be the one to call the Uber, so you end up doing it over and over (and eating the cost because really, are you going to charge everyone $6 for their share?) Sure, you can sit silent like everyone else on, but then it just ends up with nothing but a group of women standing around looking at each other blankely, and enter a deep state of they enter a state of deep contemplation or silence that rivals the meditative practices of ancient monks.
Trust me, I’ll take a “I want Italian for dinner tonight then a trip the pool after” all day, every day.
What does this have to do with books and writing, you ask?
Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I did warn you that this newsletter was a ramble about whatever was on my my mind, didn’t I?
Here’s a picture of one of my cats to make up for it.
So, that’s my news! I’ll keep you posted on how things are progressing. I’m excited!
In the meantime, check out what I’ve been reading!
Am I late to this party, or has everyone read Lessons in Chemistry already? I just downloaded it on Audible and am totally into it!
You like a good scare? Well, then, Samantha Downing has your back.
Till next time, friends!
-Brynn