Ah, Amie! This is lovely. You know my everyday creativity—yarn! Sometimes it’s actually making something, and sometimes it’s just planning something, like yesterday when I took out all my yarn to look at it and decide what I want to weave next. It gave me a chance to remember some of the yarns I’d spun over the years, plus imagine how a project with them might look. It was really relaxing…even when I was winding a super fine lace weight and had a tangle to fix. It’s still meditative!
I think you're slowly rubbing off on me. Isn't there some theory about how we become more like our friends over time? I caught myself thinking the other day that I could probably find time to take up knitting...
I thought that theory was about periods synching up but maybe yarn counts, too. If you start yarning, please let me introduce you to my friend who has a sheep farm in Victoria! (I'm not all that familiar with Australian geography so I don't know if this is near you at all.) Her wool is DIVINE. Some of my favorite wool in the world.
I have kept this in my in-box until tonight, because I knew I wanted to actually read it - and when I finally had 5 minutes, it was completely worth it. Thank you. I need to attend to filling my well more than I have been, because I'm back in school and it is challenging me in all kinds of ways.
I also want to share that on my Christmas card from one of my daughters, she told me I was the best mom in the "Way," taken directly from the Aurora Cycle, so your books have entered our family culture on multiple levels!
I always love your newsletters, but this one about filling your well really hit home for me! What I really like is how you think of activities in those three different categories—I hope you don’t mind if I borrow that strategy 🙂 My two biggest well-fillers are snuggling with my cats (so soothing!) and of course reading.
Hi Amie, I finally created an account to be able to leave you a comment. I subscribed a few months ago and LOVE your newsletters, they really resonate with me. I can't wait to hear about your secret squirrel project. P.S I have an Aurora tattoo, I chatted with Jay at his book signing last week in Sydney- he loved it. Thank you for creating such wonderful characters!
Oh, was it the Syldrathi one in a spiral, or another? He was sending me pictures from tour and they were jaw-dropping! I want to post some of them on socials, but I don't know who they belong to!
This is so helpful! Especially separating it out into categories. Putting on music to dance to is definitely one of mine, as is walking in a particularly bushy section of my suburb, catch ups with friends (especially writing ones) and baths!
Looking forward to Project LK already! I love how you separated your well-filling activities by how much time they take and how often you fit it in to keep your self- and creative-health wells going! I don’t think a quick walk outside, whether at work or home, is the step-away and well filling I utilize most, but an hour or two of uninterrupted time away - outside preferably - with a book or notebook - is what has fills my well the most. Enjoy the change in pace of focusing on new projects!
That was a lovely newsletter, and your voice is just so soothing and nice to listen to. I don't always fill my well with regularity, but I do try to take advantage of nature when I can. Usually, I just stand and soak up the sun for a few when taking the dog out for a walk. Or, if she's out in the backyard, standing on the deck, eyes closed, and just allow my senses to focus on the nature around me. Nature has always been a comfort for me and when I combine it with reading in a comfy chair or a tree (there used to be a perfect one in our front yard), I find myself lost to a world beyond.
Just slowing down and stopping in nature is an incredible way to recharge -- and one we should all take advantage of more often. The other night I sat on our back deck for half an hour, and I saw all the local cockatoos coming home to roost in their big eucalypt, and a mother ringtail possum teaching her baby how to jump from tree to tree, and felt my heartbeat slow. The mozzie bites I copped were totally worth it!
That picture is insanely gorgeous!!!! I'd spend lots of mental relaxation time there too. Congrats on all the upcoming things!! Now off to go eat some ice cream hehe :D
Thank you so much for your lists! As an extroverted introvert that works in health care there are days when my well for human interaction gets depleted so easily... But getting home and spending time with my cats and having food ready to eat (yay, batch cooking!) is a start to feel human again. And then losing myself in a book, between other media and books, books are always a comfort place for me.
This year I've finally returned to daily yoga and wow, I so needed it, I just feel so much better! Yoga and my cup of tea to sip not drink, in the morning, and the day starts right!
And one thing I really need is a bit of travelling, maybe not far, but I need to visit new places and get away from the familiar for a bit!
We're very similar! Yoga and general exercise set me up in such a positive frame of mind, yet somehow I manage to forget that from time to time. And travel is absolutely vital to fill the well.
Awww thanks for this. I assume you're a plotter. I'm a major plotter. I print out an 11"x14" page with a huge table and the percentages of each plot point. Then I use sticky notes to write down my stages, and place them into their perspective box on the table. This makes it so much easier since I can move them around if need be (you know, when your character makes the decision - on her own - to go _here_ instead of _there_ lol). I don't understand pantsers. How do they do it? lol
It's so great you take care of your well. Something I must do much more of. Thank you for the great reminders. Can't wait for your next book! :)
What often helps me to fill my well in a few minutes is to cuddle my dogs or go on a walk with them. It therapeutic to see them run and enjoy nature, while I do the same (not running but enjoying nature though).
This is such a good one, and one of the things I miss most about having a dog -- I'm dogsitting later this month, and definitely looking forward to cuddles.
I'm such a procrastinator at heart, but sometimes I "accidentally" fill my well doing it. Taking a shower and listening to music is one of the best ways I know how. Honestly, anything I need to do, if I listen to music doing it, I'm living my best life
This is so true -- I actually have a recurring reminder in my diary that checks I'm listening to music. Just having it on around the house is a lift, and yet I go through stages where for some reason I forget I can do it!
Filling my well is something I'm still actively working on. I don't think I'm good at taking time to prioritise me yet as I'm a teacher and constantly burnt out. But, when I think about what makes me feel happy and content it has to be; cooking with my partner, playing fetch with my cat (yes, cat! You read that correctly), walking the dog, and playing video games on the weekends!
I also like to sneak in my reading when the house is most quiet and everyone's asleep (I'm a night owl reader for sure).
Illuminae was one of the first books I stayed up late to read and then was too scared to sleep afterwards so ended up pulling an all nighter and just starting Gemina. I'm a massive wimp!
Ah, Amie! This is lovely. You know my everyday creativity—yarn! Sometimes it’s actually making something, and sometimes it’s just planning something, like yesterday when I took out all my yarn to look at it and decide what I want to weave next. It gave me a chance to remember some of the yarns I’d spun over the years, plus imagine how a project with them might look. It was really relaxing…even when I was winding a super fine lace weight and had a tangle to fix. It’s still meditative!
I think you're slowly rubbing off on me. Isn't there some theory about how we become more like our friends over time? I caught myself thinking the other day that I could probably find time to take up knitting...
I thought that theory was about periods synching up but maybe yarn counts, too. If you start yarning, please let me introduce you to my friend who has a sheep farm in Victoria! (I'm not all that familiar with Australian geography so I don't know if this is near you at all.) Her wool is DIVINE. Some of my favorite wool in the world.
I have kept this in my in-box until tonight, because I knew I wanted to actually read it - and when I finally had 5 minutes, it was completely worth it. Thank you. I need to attend to filling my well more than I have been, because I'm back in school and it is challenging me in all kinds of ways.
I also want to share that on my Christmas card from one of my daughters, she told me I was the best mom in the "Way," taken directly from the Aurora Cycle, so your books have entered our family culture on multiple levels!
This absolutely delights me!
I love your books and your husband's books to
Thank you -- although my husband isn't an author. If you're thinking of Jay, he's just a friend -- we're married to other people!
I always love your newsletters, but this one about filling your well really hit home for me! What I really like is how you think of activities in those three different categories—I hope you don’t mind if I borrow that strategy 🙂 My two biggest well-fillers are snuggling with my cats (so soothing!) and of course reading.
I am sharing it precisely so you *can* steal it -- please do!
Hi Amie, I finally created an account to be able to leave you a comment. I subscribed a few months ago and LOVE your newsletters, they really resonate with me. I can't wait to hear about your secret squirrel project. P.S I have an Aurora tattoo, I chatted with Jay at his book signing last week in Sydney- he loved it. Thank you for creating such wonderful characters!
Oh, was it the Syldrathi one in a spiral, or another? He was sending me pictures from tour and they were jaw-dropping! I want to post some of them on socials, but I don't know who they belong to!
Yes, the Syldrathi spiral. My Insta handle is @margotsworld.
This is so helpful! Especially separating it out into categories. Putting on music to dance to is definitely one of mine, as is walking in a particularly bushy section of my suburb, catch ups with friends (especially writing ones) and baths!
Big yes to baths!
Looking forward to Project LK already! I love how you separated your well-filling activities by how much time they take and how often you fit it in to keep your self- and creative-health wells going! I don’t think a quick walk outside, whether at work or home, is the step-away and well filling I utilize most, but an hour or two of uninterrupted time away - outside preferably - with a book or notebook - is what has fills my well the most. Enjoy the change in pace of focusing on new projects!
This is exactly why I have notebooks for my projects -- just going somewhere new (definitely preferably outside) is such a lovely boost.
That was a lovely newsletter, and your voice is just so soothing and nice to listen to. I don't always fill my well with regularity, but I do try to take advantage of nature when I can. Usually, I just stand and soak up the sun for a few when taking the dog out for a walk. Or, if she's out in the backyard, standing on the deck, eyes closed, and just allow my senses to focus on the nature around me. Nature has always been a comfort for me and when I combine it with reading in a comfy chair or a tree (there used to be a perfect one in our front yard), I find myself lost to a world beyond.
Just slowing down and stopping in nature is an incredible way to recharge -- and one we should all take advantage of more often. The other night I sat on our back deck for half an hour, and I saw all the local cockatoos coming home to roost in their big eucalypt, and a mother ringtail possum teaching her baby how to jump from tree to tree, and felt my heartbeat slow. The mozzie bites I copped were totally worth it!
That picture is insanely gorgeous!!!! I'd spend lots of mental relaxation time there too. Congrats on all the upcoming things!! Now off to go eat some ice cream hehe :D
🍦 My work here is done.
Thank you so much for your lists! As an extroverted introvert that works in health care there are days when my well for human interaction gets depleted so easily... But getting home and spending time with my cats and having food ready to eat (yay, batch cooking!) is a start to feel human again. And then losing myself in a book, between other media and books, books are always a comfort place for me.
This year I've finally returned to daily yoga and wow, I so needed it, I just feel so much better! Yoga and my cup of tea to sip not drink, in the morning, and the day starts right!
And one thing I really need is a bit of travelling, maybe not far, but I need to visit new places and get away from the familiar for a bit!
We're very similar! Yoga and general exercise set me up in such a positive frame of mind, yet somehow I manage to forget that from time to time. And travel is absolutely vital to fill the well.
Awww thanks for this. I assume you're a plotter. I'm a major plotter. I print out an 11"x14" page with a huge table and the percentages of each plot point. Then I use sticky notes to write down my stages, and place them into their perspective box on the table. This makes it so much easier since I can move them around if need be (you know, when your character makes the decision - on her own - to go _here_ instead of _there_ lol). I don't understand pantsers. How do they do it? lol
It's so great you take care of your well. Something I must do much more of. Thank you for the great reminders. Can't wait for your next book! :)
I'm certainly a plotter, but I have a habit of co-writing with pantsers, which always makes for an interesting time for everyone!
What often helps me to fill my well in a few minutes is to cuddle my dogs or go on a walk with them. It therapeutic to see them run and enjoy nature, while I do the same (not running but enjoying nature though).
This is such a good one, and one of the things I miss most about having a dog -- I'm dogsitting later this month, and definitely looking forward to cuddles.
I'm such a procrastinator at heart, but sometimes I "accidentally" fill my well doing it. Taking a shower and listening to music is one of the best ways I know how. Honestly, anything I need to do, if I listen to music doing it, I'm living my best life
This is so true -- I actually have a recurring reminder in my diary that checks I'm listening to music. Just having it on around the house is a lift, and yet I go through stages where for some reason I forget I can do it!
i am so incredibly excited for Project LK! Congrats on winning the auction!!!
I can't WAIT to start sharing more about it!
Filling my well is something I'm still actively working on. I don't think I'm good at taking time to prioritise me yet as I'm a teacher and constantly burnt out. But, when I think about what makes me feel happy and content it has to be; cooking with my partner, playing fetch with my cat (yes, cat! You read that correctly), walking the dog, and playing video games on the weekends!
I also like to sneak in my reading when the house is most quiet and everyone's asleep (I'm a night owl reader for sure).
Illuminae was one of the first books I stayed up late to read and then was too scared to sleep afterwards so ended up pulling an all nighter and just starting Gemina. I'm a massive wimp!
I loved your saga Aurora Cycle. It has a special place in my heart. My boyfriend wants a tattoo of some quotes 😍❤️