Bethany’s Best, August Edition: Revisions, Beets, and Deep Breathing

Each month I take a moment to pause and share a few things I’ve found to be helpful and fun along the journey as a busy writer.

I hope you find them to be enlightening and encouraging!

Article Roundup: Revisions

I recently wrote about the importance of revisions.

Revisions can be a bit intimidating at times but they are so vital to making our work the best it can be! And they don’t need to be scary. There are lots of great resources out there but here are a few I’ve found helpful.

At Home Workshop: Revise Your Novel in 31 Days– Fiction University

• Disclaimer, I’ve never come even close to completing this workshop in 31 days! But I’ve found a lot of helpful information and I appreciate how the revision process is broken down into small pieces here.

Why Revising Your Novel Can Mean Filling It With Stuff You Like– NaNoWriMo Blog

• I love the idea of revisions being the fun part of writing! This article encourages us to use the revision process to add things we like to our novel. This is a great mindset to think about, instead of revisions being all about red pens and what we need to “take out” or “do better.”

ReWriting: A Checklist For Authors– Writers Write

• Checklists are great for me. This is a great list to work through even as a thought exercise in order to identify where your story may need strengthening.

Grammar– English Oxford Living Dictionary

• We all have grammar issues we need to double (triple) check at times! This is a great place to find answers.

 

 

Book Spotlight: The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

This was a favorite book of mine when I was younger and solidified my love for both fantasy stories and for snarky, clever heroes. The main character, Gen, is a large part of why I love this book and pull it back off my shelf regularly for another reread.

Meghan Whalen Turner uses first person narration masterfully in this story as she shows the world through Gen’s eyes in an often hilariously entertaining journey. The characters are fascinating, the world building is a rich foundation for the rest of this series to build on, and the plot twists keep you on your toes.

And keep reading! The sequel, The Queen of Attolia, is arguably even better than the first. Also, the conclusion to the series has just been announced after years of waiting! It’s a good time to be reading Megan Whalen Turner. 🙂

 

 

Recipe of the Month: Grilled Beets

What says summer more than vegetables and grilling? How about vegetables on the grill?

I’ve never really known what to do with beets, honestly. They were always a bit of a mystery to me so I avoided them. Then I stumbled upon this recipe and let me tell you, wow. These grilled beets were super easy to make and they came out really delicious. Give it a try and I hope you enjoy!

 

Self Care Homework: Deep Breathing

Breathing seems like such a simple thing, after all we do it every day without thinking.

Yet when we’re anxious or stressed we often speed up our breathing so that it is shallow and less effective, or we may stop breathing for lengths of time altogether. Neither of these are helpful and they send messages to our body that we are in trouble.

In contrast, by taking some time to practice deep breathing we are sending a message to our bodies to relax and calm down. Deep breathing promotes better blood flow and is a natural stress reliever.

So take a deep breath. Hold it in for a moment and then let it go. Repeat. Focus on your breathing and let whatever is on your mind be still.

This practice is simple but it is so healthy for us both physically and emotionally. I hope you can take some moments to slow down and breath deep throughout your week.

 

Writing Prompt: The Shapechanger

Write about a shapechanger who has forgotten their original/true shape.

 

Cuteness Quota: Penguin Friends <3 

 

Quote:

“Write. Rewrite. When not writing or rewriting, read. I know of no shortcuts.” –Larry L. King

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Happy writing to you all! I hope your month has been fabulous and full of joy.

I’m always looking for feedback and ways to make this site helpful to you, so if you have any writing questions you’d like me to tackle next or topics to focus on, please let me know below in the comments! Or you can always use my contact me page. I’d love to hear from you 🙂