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

a pause

Sometimes we all need to check out for a moment or two.

mental healthLeslie McAdamApril 21, 2021restComment

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

stuff we're not supposed to talk about

the most heartbreakingly beautiful lyric I’ve heard in a long time

mental healthLeslie McAdamApril 10, 2021sufjan stevensComment

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

Realizing it’s all in my power

Okay, I’mma get all ruby red slippers on my ass. (If that sentence makes sense to anyone but me—a sort of Wizard of Oz x Pulp Fiction mashup.)

encouragement, enthusiasmLeslie McAdamMarch 31, 2021writing, wishingComment

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

oops

why did a public error now not bother me when I still remember my most embarrassing moment from 1988 that (likely) no one else remembers?

recoveryLeslie McAdamMarch 17, 2021oops, perfectionismComment

Daylight Savings Time

For the first time in my life, I’m looking forward to Daylight Savings Time.

enthusiasmLeslie McAdamMarch 13, 2021enthusiasmComment

giving myself a break

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

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

ambition and burnout

Over the years, I’ve learned that I can’t do everything, and I’ve learned to not agree to do too much. There are still times, though, that it happens. Like now.

mental health, enthusiasm, encouragementLeslie McAdamMarch 6, 2021mental health, encouragement, self-helpComment

the middle

…this is the time of my life to get comfortable in the middle…

Leslie McAdamMarch 3, 2021Comment

the power of not changing

Sometimes we don’t want truths. Sometimes we don’t want to be set free.

encouragement, mental healthLeslie McAdamFebruary 27, 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

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