Books August Reading Wrap Up A quick wrap up and some mini-reviews of my favorite books from August. Read more
![](https://instagram.fdet1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/s640x640/123386292_1468218753375515_7163038751812125270_n.jpg?_nc_ht=instagram.fdet1-2.fna.fbcdn.net&_nc_cat=111&_nc_ohc=vd-9XlrflvIAX9_L_OH&tp=1&oh=6e38924a0e1da127c8295c933103f724&oe=603801FD "Happy NaNo everyone! I don\'t have the time to participate this year because of chronic time management issues, but I love the energy that everyone is putting out, and I\'m jealous of all the words being written.
\\"Thinking is messy. Writing is thinking turned inside out.\\"
This is something my English professor said in a lecture a couple of weeks ago and I haven\'t been able to get it out of my mind because it\'s basically my life. Things don\'t ever go according to plan. I am always reading more than one book at a time, and can\'t write chronologically to save my life.
I am a messy writer
and thinker
and reader
and lifer
I sometimes get frustrated when I look at my manuscript and I\'ve got chapters 1,2,3,4, and then it skips to 10. Or when the essay I\'m working on is missing its second body paragraph but it has a damn good conclusion. But that\'s just how I function.
I may complain about it, and I will continue to attempt to \\"get organized\\" with the help of my bullet journal, but really, I like the mess. It keeps things interesting, and I\'m learning to accept the madness as part of my process. And when those missing chapters get filled in, it\'s always exciting.
In other news, I\'ve been collecting writing craft books and would love all of your recommendations. What are some of your favorites and must-haves?")
![](https://instagram.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/s640x640/119238233_685867065640921_6319490334947599005_n.jpg?_nc_ht=instagram.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net&_nc_cat=101&_nc_ohc=ecMBcPFMrqwAX8H1No8&tp=1&oh=98cd9598c983348e453a77866bc2d70e&oe=6039C055 "How are you guys doing?
This is a late post, but we are halfway through September, so I thought I\'d check-in.
To be honest, my brain is feeling extra fickle this week. Kind of like that feeling where you keep opening the fridge because you want something, but you don\'t know what that something is, so you end up eating nothing at all. Now instead of food, apply that to everything. I start classes next week, so I think my head is just heavy with anticipation, and everything feels busy. I keep getting distracted by the silliest things, both externally and internally. Smoke from the west coast fires has taken over the area for a week now, so I have a perpetual headache, and the kids are climbing the walls because they can\'t go outside. I also hoped to be farther along in my WIP than I am at this point, but instead, I\'ve rewritten the same chapter I don\'t know how many times because \\"something is just not right.\\"
If you\'re having a rough week, I just wanted to say that I see you, and I feel you. The optimist in me wants to say that this too will pass, but also, it\'s okay to be frustrated, and it\'s okay to talk about.")
![](https://instagram.fdet1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/s640x640/118922655_324548418766329_4125889172795121205_n.jpg?_nc_ht=instagram.fdet1-2.fna.fbcdn.net&_nc_cat=109&_nc_ohc=ikVVwpj45W8AX8g5iRv&tp=1&oh=cb64d4b59f0de759aeb5ef422563954a&oe=6038FC26 "How is the weather where you are? I saw some places were already getting some snow 😱
Our world here is a bit hazy this week. There is smoke in the air from the fires burning through the west coast. My nose and my throat burn, and my heart hurts for the trees and the animals and the people who have all been affected. I\'m hoping for rain and cold air, but it\'s hotter today than it was yesterday, and tomorrow is it\'s only going to get hotter 😭. I\'d very much like it to be October already.
Writing update: I only got 20 minutes in yesterday. I kinda cheated on my tv ban last night 😂 To be fair, it was brother\'s birthday so we watched a movie, which isn\'t technically \\"tv.\\" Anyway, we watched #Alive and it was really good, so if you\'re into zombie movies, I highly recommend it.")
