Memoir Revision Diaries (Week 4)
Minimal but thoughtful progress, word count update, and reflections on restful holidays
This week is that weird week where the old year and the new fuse, luring us into a strange limbo phase of never knowing exactly what is going on, but excited about what’s to come. I heard someone describe this week–the final week of 2023–as “routine-less” and I can see that. I’ve lived that.
With that said, this week’s memoir update is minimal, but still progressive. I didn’t work on it as much as I hoped to, but I fit in a few sessions here and there.
As of today, I am a little over 5,000 words into this revision with a total word count goal of 80,000+. I’m choosing to update you in terms of word count rather than chapters because the chapter numbers from the first draft to this one are going to be different. I’m not 100% sure how many chapters are going to be in this new draft, hence the word count update.
Musical Interlude
This week’s song comes from Avril Lavigne, someone I’ve been listening to since her first album dropped in 2002. I love her voice and lyrics. It’s incredible to watch her journey. If you listen to her albums back to back, you hear how Avril herself is growing, not just as a woman, but as an artist.
“It Was In Me” is one of the best songs for my memoir, as it’s about searching for answers. At first, in external means, but eventually learning that the answers we need are within us. That is a major theme of my memoir and so, of course, this song makes it on the playlist.
While I have enjoyed these two weeks off–I managed to catch up on a lot of cleaning, decluttering, and other tasks–I’m ready to go back to the office on Tuesday. Mainly because I’m eager to get back into a routine.
Even when I worked from home, I kept to a routine and since getting a job, I’ve had to adjust that routine, which is fine. I always figure it out, but I always forget how these last two weeks of any year tend to draw me into a realm of resetting. I prefer resting, reflecting, and binge-watching over doing anything too intense.
Perhaps I should have started this revision in 2024, but I’m still happy with the progress I’ve made. The needle is moving forward and I know once I’m back to work and have limited time when I’m home, I’ll be more inclined to focus as much attention on this revision as possible.
Why say all this? Because we see time off as a chance to jump headfirst into projects that have long been untouched. And while that’s fine, I discovered that resting and allowing oneself to rest during time off is essential.
Sure, there were days when I regretted not working on my memoir, but I let that feeling flicker for a beat, and then move on. Nothing good comes from beating yourself up over not doing something you said you wanted to do.
So take whatever time off you have left during this limbo phase and allow yourself to rest. If you do some work, congrats, but don’t feel like you need to overdo it or compensate for the lack of it you didn’t do earlier.
Greet 2024 with a clear, calm head, rather than a busy or overwhelmed one. Have the happiest and safest of New Year’s, my friend. I’ll see you in 2024.
Until next time,
💜 J
What are your plans for ringing in 2024? Have you ever been unkind to yourself when you didn’t do something you wanted? What are your favorite ways to unwind and relax?