middles

Finishing something is such a small part of life.

encouragement, fear, risk, writing, middleLeslie McAdamMay 29, 2021middle, writingComment

piece of me

… think about who I would be without this whole piece of me—the writing, creative piece

mental health, enthusiasm, writingLeslie McAdamMay 19, 2021writing, creativityComment

don't cut away from the emotion

Emotion is where the good stuff is.

writingLeslie McAdamMay 15, 2021writingComment

Gradually, then all at once.

“How did you accomplish that? Same as everything else. Gradually, then all at once.” – James Clear

encouragement, mental health, writingLeslie McAdamMay 1, 2021writingComment

done. and now on to the next thing

I guess I really am a creative shark. Must keep swimming—writing—to stay alive. If I stay stagnant, I’ll die.

undone, writing, boy on a trainLeslie McAdamApril 28, 2021writing, LGBT, mmromanceComment

early adopters and risk

pessimists need not apply

enthusiasm, writing, kindle vella, riskLeslie McAdamApril 24, 2021kindle vella, writingComment

on describing smells

petrichor: a pleasant smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather.

writingLeslie McAdamApril 17, 2021writingComment

Unlikeable characters and insensitive language

is it worth it to portray something so insensitive and antisocial? Or does that perpetuate things we don’t want?

writingLeslie McAdamApril 14, 2021writingComment

making it fun

I don’t always need to be in competition with my past self.

enthusiasm, writingLeslie McAdamApril 7, 2021writing, fun Comment

trying new things

The only answer I know—and the reason for this blog post—is to tell myself that I just have to enjoy the process.

mental health, writing, recoveryLeslie McAdamApril 3, 2021writing, anxiety Comments

same thing only different

Reading a romance novel is the spectator sport for people who love to watch others falling in love, and at least I personally can’t get enough of it.

writingLeslie McAdamMarch 27, 2021writingComment

action as self-care

So, perhaps what I need to get over—to solve my overwhelmed-ness—is thinking that my self-care needs to look like anyone else’s. It doesn’t. And perhaps, for me, self-care isn’t so much about doing less but doing different things, with a different attention and intention.

writing, recovery, mental health, encouragementLeslie McAdamMarch 24, 2021writing, self-careComment

brave criticism

I need to show respect back to beta readers, editors, alpha readers, and critique feedback partners who help me. I see you putting yourself out there to tell me your opinions.

writingLeslie McAdamMarch 20, 2021writingComment

giving myself a break

I’m a human being, not a human producer.

mental health, writingLeslie McAdamMarch 10, 2021mental health, encouragementComment

why do we love who we love?

I can’t quite articulate why the couple is in love with each other. I can certainly feel the love develop and strengthen in the book(s), so it’s not a question of whether they are in love. They are, and I can sense that emotion. I’m just trying to analyze why.

writingLeslie McAdamFebruary 24, 2021writingComment

expectations

I came across this phrase: “Expectations are premeditated resentments.” Well, hell.

enthusiasm, writingLeslie McAdamFebruary 20, 2021writing, mental health, encouragementComment

work and play

Secretly, I want to finish it now so I can almost sneak it in between publishing, just in case it falls short.

encouragement, writingLeslie McAdamFebruary 13, 2021writingComment

numbers

Last week, though? Last week I ended up with my most hours billed and words written all year (granted, we’re in week seven, but still). More, I ended up totally in the flow.

encouragement, writingLeslie McAdamFebruary 10, 2021writingComment