ljpwrites

[ljpwrites]

The Fight

Light filtered in through the mini blinds by the time the alarm zinged. Spring. Finally.

Ollie the cat jumped on the bed, slithering into a long puddle between us.

I rolled over and scratched its head, eyeing my husband in his startup process of stretching and blinking himself awake.

“You snored,” he said, not looking at me as he grabbed for his phone.

This. Of all the things he could start the day with: why this? The negativity. The critique.

I pursed my lips. We had been together for five years. Too long for the cute niceties of an early relationship. Who was I to expect the sweet nothings? The kisses on cheeks and running out for breakfasts. Yet I missed those. Wanted those. Some movie or book would show that “couple’s first night,” and my heart would go right back there.

As he scrolled, I laid back onto my back, folded my hands on my chest as I stared at the ceiling, letting my mind blanken. Took a deep breath in.

But did I also want the false tension of pretending I was not human, did not snore or burp or appear makeup-less? Those days were exhausting.

Plus, it was spring. I determined to rise out of the winter blues, the grey slump, the slush of not feeling like I could burst out of the door at any moment and such in the fresh, crisp air.

Rolling back over, I smiled.

“Good morning, my love!” I slid over to hug him.

“Good morning! I love you, too.”

#250words marriage fiction spring sunshine cats

[ljpwrites]

This is a sweet list for Galentines' Day from @ModernMrsDarcy https://bit.ly/3ry203R

#friendship #women #womenfriends #femalefriendship #girltribe #girlfriends #valentinesday #selflove #tribe #friends #friendships

[ljpwrites]

. . . . . . . #WritingCommunity #wise #wisewords #Wisdom #Writer #writerslife #writing #writers #writetip

[ljpwrites]

"Exercise between 4 to 7 pm is especially helpful for sleep. Taking a walk after work is a great way to relieve the mental and physical stress that builds up during the day." - Malia Jacobson - Sleep Well, Stay Well I needed to hear this! I usually work out first thing in the morning as it helps my pain and stiffness, but I do love an after-work walk or jog. So much easier when I’m more awake, lol! Particularly nice to get out for a bit on the days I ... work from home, work out at home, eat at home, spend the night in, etc. :P . . . . . . . #PandemicLife #sleep #pandemic #pain #chronicpain #migraine #exercise #walking #stiffness #health #exercising #resolutions #mentalhealth #physicalhealth #stress #anxiety #stress relief #tips #staywell #sleepwell #sweetdreams

[ljpwrites]

Bernardine Evaristo's Favorite Reads of 2020. I ADORED Girl, Woman, Other - definitely one of the top books I’ve read in ages. So seeing book reccs from its author, Bernardine Evaristo, gave me a special kind of happy today! I-mmediately requested some of these from the library! . . . . . . . . #girlwomanother #bookrecc #bookreccs #recommendations #lists #booklists #booksbooksbooks #bernardineevaristo #fav #favbooks #author #authors #fiction #booksandlibraries #libraries #books&libraries #booksbooksbooks #booksandauthors

[ljpwrites]

After that, there was a low drone of distress in the background of my life. I didn’t know who I was without writing, and I worried that maybe I was done with it forever. I didn’t understand how this could be. - J.T. Bushnell, Poets & Writers, The Literary Life . . . . . . . #nanowrimo #nanowrimo2020 #2020 #writing #writer #author #writing #lifequotes #quotesonwriting #quote #authors #authorsofinstagram

[ljpwrites]

it begins….

[ljpwrites]

Inspiring words in Writers' Digest. Some days can be really disheartening or de-motivated. But, there's always the chance to start the day/week/month anew

#writing #justkeepswimming #justdoit #authors #writers #motivation #inspiration #fiction #novel #novelist #novelists #books

[ljpwrites]

Catching up on my Writer’s Digest Conference sessions (eep, so far behind). Author Bob Mayer’s session on Conflict was so helpful and informative. His “conflict box” is simple and straightforward.

He also offers free writing workshop slideshows on his website, which is sweet!

Check them out at the link above.

#conflict #writing #write #writers #writer #creative writer #creative writers #fiction #genres #novels #novel #novelists #authors of tumblr #authors #writing resources #writing resource #writing 101 #writing tips

[ljpwrites]

Library Lovers' Month!

Happy #Library Lovers Month! I ~love~ my local libraries and I'm so grateful for this amazing resource and all the people who work at one and help keep them open

#libraries #library #libraries and books #books #book #readers #am reading #book things #book worm #book nerd

[ljpwrites]

Beach in the Winter

[ljpwrites]

Dune Steps

[ljpwrites]

Literature + Music = my heart!

I love playlists. I’m all about curated playlists for writing. I love when audiobooks include snippets of music. I think the idea of an instrumental playlist supplied by QR code in the beginning of a book, which you could press “play” on while you read, would be the epitome of amazing.

So while perusing this season’s lit mags, I love that I came across this (hello, another natural venue for playlists: mags! Do one per issue that you could listen to while you read.)

This one particularly got me because I FREAKING ADORE Brittany Howard. I love the breadth of this list, to include the Smithsonian Folkways. It’s been fun to listen to this one :)

#lit mags #literature #writing #writers #playlists #writing music #reading music #reader #am reading #the south #southern #brittany howard #smithsonian #intersection #conjunction #idea #ideas #playlist #greatest hits #music #music list #reading list #to listen #listen #am listening #press play #play #instrumental

[ljpwrites]

[ljpwrites]

Quill pen from J

[ljpwrites]

As a writer, I get incredibly inspired by other arts, particularly visual arts. So I adore this thread by author Roxane Gay that acts on a passage in Black Futures, part of her Monthly Book Club (yes! subscribe here) boosts Black artists.

Buy local art. If you’re not in a place to do that, repost. Follow them on IG, Twitter, etc. Let your friends know.

Here are some of the top recc’d on the thread, but there’s so many more!! Peep the full thread here.

Bisa Butler: https://www.bisabutler.com/

Jennie C. Jones: http://www.jenniecjones.com/

Lubania Himid https://lubainahimid.uk/

Ron Nicole: https://www.ronnicole.com/becomeacollector

Shantell Martin:  https://shantellmartin.art/

Raymond Thompson: http://www.raymondthompsonjr.com

Hank Willis Thomas: https://www.instagram.com/hankwillisthomas/

Natalie Jackson: https://www.nataliejacksonphotography.com/creative-expressions

#art #visual art #creatives #create #creativity #papier mache #acrylic #oil #fabric #painting #watercolor #paints #paint #art collector #art collections #art collection #art collecting/sales #Black artists #inspo #inspiration

[ljpwrites]

Typewriter Keyboard