Easing Back into Work

Building New Habits for a New Norm

Aloha Reading ‘Ohana,

The cherry blossoms and magnolias are in bloom. Daffodils are waving their cheery faces as I walk down the lanes. Bud are sprouting from the bare winter branches of the lovely Oregon trees. The miraculous Northwest spring appeals to my slower more mindful state of being.

Although the family side of me would love to just nurture my grandchildren, care for their parents, and celebrate every nuance of this precious time and place, the author side of me is pulled toward a new and exciting adventure to write.

The challenge is the reentry into work.

As with school, fitness, employment, or any major project, it’s always easier to ride the momentum and continue than it is to begin.

Back in my Broadway dancer days, I remember coming back from a tour and restarting my daily regime of two to three dance classes, an hour or two of singing practice or lessons, scene study for whatever acting class I was in, plus miles of walking all over Manhattan. Once in the groove, the schedule never felt unusually hard. However, if I had taken a break—as I did when performing eight shows a week, especially if I was our of town—my normal routine felt grueling to begin.

My author schedule is different but equally full.

When I’m writing a novel, I usually wake before dawn, meditate, clear my emails, and set my timers and write. Depending on my ability to focus deeply, I’ll take mini breaks every thirty to ninety minutes to answer urgent emails, post on social media, or refill my tea. After a nice work stretch, I break for lunch, attend to business, and return to more writing. I usually stop in the late afternoon for my daily yoga practice, sometimes following an hour long walk in my neighborhood or the hills. Then I end my day with cooking, eating, enjoying a movie or my latest binge-worthy show, cleaning up, and relaxing in bed with a good book.

This was my normal novel-writing schedule—that I haven’t done since June.

I’m so out of practice, I hardly know where to begin!

Granted, I had been working on writer biz during this time, traveling to numerous conferences, teaching as faculty, polishing manuscripts, researching, and crafting a synopsis for a new book, plus entertaining family for the holidays.

But even that haphazard work regime ended when all of my time, energy, and attention shifted to an emergency move from Los Angeles to Portland and coping with a severely arthritic hip.

Aiya! Aside from occasional research and a couple of blogs, I haven’t worked diligently on any writing projects since just before Christmas.

Three months is a very long gap of time.

So here’s my challenge…

How do I stay present for my infant grandson who currently sleeps in two-hour stretches, bond with my active three-year-old granddaughter, help my son and daughter-in-law with household duties, and find long enough stretches of time to sink into deep creative work?

What worked for me before, will clearly not work for me now.

Have you encountered stages in your life, when the strategies and practices that moved you forward to great achievements had to be changed?

Although I have always reserved my mornings for writing, I now need this time for infant feedings and getting my toddler ready for school. The only possible writing time would be the afternoon before I prepare dinner at five. After that, I usually do another feeding, cleanup, and—if I’m not too tired—watch a show with my hubby before bed. Since it takes at least an hour to settle and sink into a deep writing space, I’m probably looking at three hours of quality writing on the very best of days.

In order to accommodate the slow and mindful pace of the grandmother life I want, I must become far more efficient and productive in the way that I write.

So here’s what I’m going to do…

• Build new habits around a new schedule that will work with my new norm.

• Accept that it will take time and diligence to maximize my productivity.

• Show myself appreciation and patience while I adapt.

Author News:

Soon after the exciting news about my new Hawai‘i mystery series with Thomas & Mercer was announced, the book cover for a new anthology I’m in exploded across a dozen rock and roll magazines. Why music instead of the typical writing jaunts? Because the anthology is named for and inspired by ACDC’s iconic album, BACK IN BLACK!

This may be the most exciting anthology I’ve ever contributed to. It’s edited by Don Brun with ten un-put-downable mysteries, including a new Jack Reacher story by Andrew Child. The short story I wrote, named after the ACDC hit song, “Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution,” is a straight up action thriller set in a radio station. I had a blast writing it.

Preorder now for a July 16, 2024 release!

What I’m writing:

As I wait for my editorial notes for KULEANA, I’ve been finishing up my in-depth research for the next book in the series. All of this brings me closer to my Native Hawaiian roots and makes me yearn to go home.

I won’t have to wait too long. My Punahou School reunion is in June!

Books and Audiobooks I’ve Enjoyed:

Although my reading and listening time has decreased a bit, I still revel in someone else’s creative work at least once a day. Of the books and audiobooks I’ve enjoyed, here are the two I really loved.

HURT FOR ME by Heather Levy is a crime fiction must. Although one might expect a salacious tale with a dominatrix protagonist, Levy goes far beyond what could be easy with an intriguing plot and well-explored characters that grabbed me from the start.

THE LEFTOVER WOMAN by Jean Kwok, narrated by Suru Siu and Caroline Hewitt. There’s a reason this book has been recommended by the New York Times, Elle, Good Morning America, TIME, and too many others to mention. Because it is that damn good. Skillfully crafted, deeply moving, and utterly fulfilling. Jean Kwok wrote a suspenseful family drama I highly recommend.

How did I do?

I wrote this blog in the gap between after fixing my granddaughter lunch and 3:50pm. That’s three hours of concentrated work. By the time I proofread and hit send, I’ll have worked for three and a half.

I feel pretty good about that.

Tomorrow, I’ll straighten up my Scrivener binder with the updated outline notes I’ve made, then dive into the first scene. Or perhaps, I’ll just open a Word document, set a timer, and write. Either way, I look forward to finding my groove.

Until next time…

Mahalo for reading,

Tori 🌺