Memoir Revision Diaries (Week 9)
Post-sickness progress: 16,000+ words and dealing with "tennis elbow"
Happy February! I hope you are doing well and had the kind of week you needed. Whether it was a productive one, a restful one, or a blend of both.
The sun has finally returned to northern New Jersey after a week of gray clouds and rain. It’s incredible the difference I feel waking up when it’s bright over when it’s dreary. While I enjoy a gloomy day, this recent streak was tough. It certainly wasn’t the easiest weather to live through as I recovered from a head cold.
As last week’s update informed you, I was sick and didn’t touch my memoir at all. This week was better. I got this revision up to 16,000+ words and although I wasn’t 100% better, I felt accomplished in what I got done.
Health-wise, though, I’m not out of the woods yet. I saw my orthopedic doctor and got a cortisone shot in my right elbow thanks to having a major bout of “tennis elbow.” I have a band I need to wear during the day for the next six weeks and going forward, he said I should wear it anytime I plan on doing any kind of lifting or strenuous activity with that arm.
Being a writer and often using a laptop as well as handwriting, my right arm is my dominant arm and so I’m hoping with some rest, attention, and the band that it won’t flare up again.
Regardless, I’m grateful for finally being able to take care of it and continue writing.
Musical Interlude
This week’s song is another one from Demi Lovato called “Still Have Me.” Though pegged as a break-up song, it contains themes of self-love, healing, and enduring hardships. For me, this song falls into the time of my life before I knew I was asexual. When I constantly thought there was something wrong with me and I’d never “fit in” to what society deemed normal. No matter how many guys I turned down, I still had me and I came to realize that was enough.
Looking ahead to the new week ahead, I’m excited about the time I have to write. There aren’t any pressing appointments or after-work commitments, though there is a project outside of my memoir that I am about to begin, so I plan on dividing my evenings between that and revising.
Aside from all that, I hope whatever project you’re in the middle of–creative, personal, or business–that it’s going well and you’re seeing progress being made.
Until next time,
💜 J