Hello, everyone --
How many times did I walk past this tree before seeing the little bit of love near its base? Do you see it too? I know it's wrong to carve in trees, but that little heart did give me a lift as we continue to await spring on the Northern Plains.
The view out my window today happens to be as white and snowy as February, so let’s just pretend this issue of "Loon Landing" isn't two months overdue! I’ve been on a bit of a trip—at my desk, sorting through memories—hence the months slipping by ...
The calendar says we’re in the midst of Holy Week, and I realized today that I have a few items to share, mostly on this theme.
May love be at the base of everything you experience today.
Take good care,
Sarah
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Today is Maundy Thursday, the day of the Last Supper, when Jesus gathered his disciples, served them bread and wine, and retreated to pray. He knew what was ahead—Good Friday and Easter.
As the pandemic was settling in around us in April 2020, I wrote a Maundy Thursday reflection about Jesus’ habit of toggling between “retreat and return.” Rereading that piece this morning, I recognized how life’s pace has picked up exponentially -- and the anxiety I’m feeling as a result. I enjoyed seeing what my two-years-ago self had to say about slowing down and realize I still have so much to learn.
I'd love to hear your best tips for pacing life -- and will share them in a future Loon Landing.
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Last month on my blog I shared my efforts to draft a new manuscript between January 1 and February 28. Ridiculous—especially considering that my first memoir took two decades to write!
But when New Year’s 2022 arrived, I took my own “Best piece of writing advice” and did the AIS thing. It didn’t quite work out as planned (this is the theme of my life), but by the beginning of March, I had a file with 40,000 largely relevant words, a book outline, a synopsis and a draft cover blurb—basically a road map for the book I have been wanting to write.
More importantly, I feel a sense of relief and focus. Now all I have to do is … keep writing … (hah)
I’m excited about the process and will share more in a future newsletter.
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Speaking of goals, I set a second goal for 2022 that is related to my writing goal: to read through the Bible.
When I wrote The Same Moon, I didn’t realize I had left the faith thread out of my story until I had a conversation with a stranger on an airplane. And then I couldn’t unsee what my story was missing. I ended up weaving it in late in the process—as in, after I’d already started sharing my manuscript with agents and publishers.
I’d rather not retrace that convoluted path, so as I draft my current project, I’m being intentional about including faith from the start. It is relevant to my story, and my Bible reading project is helping me keep that focus.
I’m working my way through a 2021 reading plan from The Bible Project. It includes animated (and entertaining) videos introducing each book and offering context—historical, cultural and (get this) even literary.
If you’re interested, it appears TBP shifted to an app platform for 2022.
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In February, blogger/illustrator Tim Urban wrote about "How Covid Stole Our Time and How We Can Get It Back" in the New York Times. I was so taken with his ideas that I printed off his illustrations and hung them by my desk. The first part of the piece is sobering, but do keep reading. The second part is well worth it.
Urban’s concept is actually helping propel me forward in my writing efforts, as well as other areas of life. Here’s my favorite image:
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Does this resonate with you?
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My friend and neighbor Jill Kandel has her second book coming out this month -- The Clean Daughter: a Cross-Continental Memoir (NDSU Press).
Focused on cross-cultural family relationships and coming to terms with difficult choices, it is thought-provoking and interesting, and the prose is lovely to read.
(Her first book was So Many Africas: Six Years in a Zambian Village (Autumn House Press, 2015).)
If you are in the area ... Jill's book release party is April 28 at 7 pm -- let me know if you'd like details!
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"Loon Landing" is an occasional newsletter that shares:
- writing tips & prompts
- recommended reads
- posts about writing, faith, family, Minnesota, Japan and food.
>> Encouraging women and men to write and live fully, at middle age and beyond.<<
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