Tag: writing

Coffee & Conversation, Serious Stuff, The 38 Project

Wander

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“A person does not grow from the ground like a vine or a tree, one is not part of a plot of land. Mankind has legs so it can wander.” ― Roman Payne, The Wanderess

I am a wanderer.

Too often we think of wandering solely in a physical capacity.

My mind goes a million places. My heart follows or ferociously finds a place to wander as well.

I have spent the past month wandering. I’ve let wild thoughts appear and multiply, delightful dreams dance throughout my imagination, and dangerous but determined emotional escapades unfold. Seriously, it’s so good to wander.

This adulthood thing can be serious. The world is for sure insane. So living and wandering in a world created by and through my heart is fun and encouraging. Every now and then, it’s good to escape.

But alas I’ve returned. So here’s to all of the things I found on the unpaved paths in my head and heart. And here’s to everything to come. Operation occupy the opportunity starts now.

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Coffee & Conversation, Serious Stuff

It’s A Wonderful Life

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Is Christmas in July still a thing? Or maybe I should rephrase and ask, was it ever a thing? I’m a big fan of December and all the merriment it brings, and this summer has felt like Christmas for all the perspective and passion I’ve been gifted.

To begin, I’ve embarked on a #60daychallenge. I’ve decided to write more about the projects I’ve been pursuing and the opportunities that are unfolding. I’ve committed to 60 consecutive days of writing, which will undoubtedly challenge and change me in more ways than one.

In other news, the podcast relaunches next week. I’ve had many fikas “off the air,” but I stepped away in June and July so that I could gather myself after I was flooded with interest and inquiry about my side hustle. To be honest, I’ve been more creatively inclined to keep things low key while I plan and plot accordingly.

So what’s the point of all this ambiguous sharing? Trust me, I’m getting to the good stuff.

I’m going all in for the remainder of 2018 and attempting to shake my soul with some life-changing decisions.

  1. My first big writing project in two years is in the works. With some courage and conviction, I hope to get this in your hands in the next 18 months or so. –Here’s to patience.
  2. Fishing for Fika is officially headed to night time recordings and daytime editings. Honestly, there’s no benefit to knowing this except that as a mama I am consistently challenged or called upon to discuss work/life balance. There are no secrets over here. We’re slowly losing the morning nap so it was inevitable.
  3. My favorite fikas are with seasoned dreamers and doers. I’ll be taking fika on the road to retirement homes and/or assisted living communities. There’s a project within a project here so stay tuned.
  4. I’m “out there” in other literary journals and magazines and making it a bit easier to be found. Check out my newest contributor role here
  5. My first professional love was and always will be teaching. I’m about to take a little bit of mom mode, mix it into reading and writing, and produce a workshop series for the tired but talented mamas of the world. Again, more on this soon.

I’ve missed writing on this blog, but I gave myself a true chance to gather myself and recognize what’s important, how to best manage my responsibilities, and chase my dreams with greater confidence.

If Christmas in July is truly a thing then let me leave you with this tidbit from my favorite film, It’s a Wonderful Life: “All you can take with you is that which you’ve given away.”

Coffee & Conversation, Crumbs

A Sunday Special

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Sunday nights are special. It’s my “me” time and I’m grateful for it. In a house that’s rarely quiet, I celebrate stillness. The silence is brief as I’m met with a loudness from within. Words pour out of me. Voices awaken. There’s a story screaming to be written.

I have these incredible dreams of scripts. Titles dance in my head. I fantasize about drafting a modern love story that’s so cliche yet high in demand. But I tend to push these projects aside, not for lack of interest or passion, but because the loudest voices are the ones with real needs, presence, and purpose. I’m drawn to discovery. Where are the authentic and appealing characters?  In short, all around me.

I’m surrounded by rich history and quiet soldiers. People battle through obstacles, carve out peace, or challenge authority in every day encounters. Their lives, like our world, are ever-evolving. Their stories, while interesting and worthwhile, are often reserved for the intimate fikas within their lives. How do I get a seat at their table?

It’s this very question that drives my desire to foster fika. So as I sit hear at my table, dreaming of a seat at yours, think about what you’d want to say. What would you want me to write? If you’re interested, let’s connect.

Tonight I made a list of strangers or very far-removed people who I’m determined to fika with and write about. I’m truly “fishing for fika.” Cast your line with me. I’ll be here dreaming. I call it a Sunday special.

 

Crumbs, Spots

Write Local: Where You Fika Counts!

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Six months ago I moved to a new town.

I came to New Jersey at 18 for college. It never crossed my mind that I’d one day be rooted here through marriage and family, but here I am. And while I’ve been quick to dismiss a lot of the Garden State, I found a slice of heaven in my new town, which has made all of the difference in the way I write, what I write about, and where I want my writing to take me.

Locality counts! Writer Harlan Coben summed it up for me with these words, “I live in the suburbs, the final battleground of the American dream, where people get married and have kids and try to scratch out a happy life for themselves.” At this stage in my life I feel like Coben’s words were created for my sole benefit. My current utopia is Madison, New Jersey. Alongside my husband, I’m knee deep in raising two little ones and focusing on our family’s adventures. This shifts my tone, topic, and purpose regularly.

I’ve moved around enough to know that it’s important to find a community you feel comfortable in, and it’s equally important to find a way to contribute to causes and citizens within the neighborhood.

Madison is changing me. It’s artistic flair, college vibe, and tight-knit community is giving me all the feels when it comes to fika. I deeply desire to connect with people who give their time and talents to projects with contagious conviction. Moreover, I’m especially eager to emulate parents who pursue passions outside of the home while pouring their hearts and souls into their spouses and children.  Like many, I know the inevitable struggle between obligation and opportunity all too well.

When I first moved to Madison I stumbled across A Madison Mom, which is run by a dynamite local mom who created a community of information, shared experiences, and general parental guidance. She was kind enough to allow me to write for her blog, which has granted me more access and insight into my environment.

Writing locally channels my inspiration for much of my general writing. My daily exposure to places and people shapes my stories. Soon, I’ll host my first fika at a local bookstore. It’s a chance to connect and conspire with local writers in an effort to delve deeper into the marriage of locality and productivity. It’s the start of a new form of fika for me, and I couldn’t be more excited to share it with the locals.