I am currently editing my second book. Sometime, when I’ve turned this in to my editor and am, hopefully, no longer spiraling over [insert book anxiety of the day], I’ll write up the weird route this book has taken over the last eighteen (OH MY GOD) months since I first pitched it and got the concept approved.
Today is not the day, though! I promised myself I would get these edits done in September, and you may notice that September’s end is rapidly approaching!!! Next time I write to you, I better be reclining in a park and enjoying the crisp autumn breeze and reading a book just for fun.
One thing I notice every time I’m on deadline, though, or otherwise really grinding through a tough project—I start feeling way prouder of myself than I usually would, for every little thing I manage to accomplish away from said project. Perhaps it’s a defense mechanism of some kind, because I admittedly do struggle to feel proud of myself for writing accomplishments.1
Not so with my menial accomplishments! Baby, I can preen about those for days! Weeks, sometimes, depending on how long I’ve been putting them off!! And I feel absolutely no imposter syndrome about it. Originally, the plan was to say, “I feel no shame about it,” but I’m not entirely sure that’s the truth. I do feel a little embarrassed that these things feel so huge. Which is partly why I want to clap more for the little things—I don’t think it should be embarrassing!
Big milestones can be semi-impossible to even wrap our heads around, right? If I tell you, though, that I cleaned the top of my stove last week, that doesn’t feel especially complicated. It was covered in sauce and saltwater splatters, alongside the burnt lentil (?) remnants of a microwavable beanbag incident that neither I nor my roommate had gotten around to fully cleaning up yet. Sure, part of the reason my stove was so dirty is because I have nightmarish time management skills! But still—now every time I cook dinner or pass my stove, I think, wow! Doesn’t that look beautiful?
I bought myself a cologne refill last week, which is not a necessity and therefore feels difficult to justify in the expense column, but you know what? It’s making my days better. So it was worth it, and I’m proud that I gave myself that nice thing. My roommate needed a haircut, and I have scissors, so I watched a few tutorials! Her hair turned out really nice!! We made a giant batch of pasta salad this week, and it was so good. I’m currently growing the shittiest mustache known to man, just to see if I can do it. I updated my resume. I’m sending this newsletter out today, even though I’m busy and considered skipping it, because it’s a nice part of my week.
I don’t want to skip the nice parts. Editing is Sisyphean, and the days are getting shorter, and there’s a lot to be overwhelmed or sad or angry about right now. The stove looks beautiful all the same. I want to feel proud of those things! I want to brag about them!
So I thought maybe if you were so inclined, you could tell me some of your recent Small Accomplishments. The smaller the accomplishment the better, honestly. No worries if participation is Not Your Thing (it isn’t mine either! I don’t even clap during songs at concerts, and it’s only partly because I have bad rhythm!) but I hope you at least brag to yourself, or someone you live with or talk to or see today.
News & Updates
Honestly, my head is so far in the editing hole, I don’t have anything that’s actually NEWS right now. I’m not even reading or watching much, really. I laughed when I typed “news & updates,” if we’re being honest. I am newly…working on chapter [redacted], and the update is…it’s going slower than I want it to.
That being said, the regular season of (major league) baseball ends next week, so if you want to catch a game this year, now is the time!
Well—I feel proud of writing accomplishments for about ten seconds, and then the neuroses pop their heads into the room to see what I’m up to.
Yesterday I washed my sheets and actually MADE THE BED!!!!!! It really did feel like an accomplishment lol. I took a picture of it and everything. Thank you for reminding all of us to celebrate these things, and I'm sending you all the best editing mojo!!!
The smallest accomplishment I can think of that I did was I finally sent my friend the professional-grade photos I took of her cats even tho I did the photoshoot with them months ago 🫡