We had to visit my in-laws for a few days. I had my laptop with me. I planned to publish an essay for this round of Ship 30 for 30.

I was sucked into a black hole the moment I entered my in-laws' house.

There is food, talk, more food, and no time for myself.

I didn't open the laptop and, thus, didn't get to write an essay.

Making plans to do things that only concern me is one of the hardest things I know about in the summer. 

I'm in a priority crunch.

How do you get the rest of you with families and lots of summer vacation plans to do things for yourselves?

Day 1 of 30 Days of Shipping I was determined to make these three changes to get through Ship 30 for 30 in a good way:

• Stop making excuses

• Planning and facilitation

• Stop waiting for inspiration

Current situation:

Stop making excuses - Failure. All other tasks have so far come first. Not happy with myself at this point.

Planning and facilitation - Partial failure. I have(sort of) managed to plan what I will write but have yet to facilitate writing.

Stop waiting for inspiration - Partially implemented. I have every intention of publishing every day. When the evening comes, I MUST write, inspiration or not.

I have some improvement to do before I can say I'm satisfied with this writing project!🤣

Did the rest of you get off to a good start?

Alone time is underrated

My best vacation is to be alone and do my things.

I cherish the quiet hours in the morning when the kids are asleep (I have teenagers) and my husband is working on something. It's just me, the cat, and the dog. Then, I relax and recharge.

Society expects us always to want to be together with family or friends. As a mom and wife, I shouldn't express that I wish to have time alone. However, I refuse to feel guilty about this.

If I get to be just myself for a few hours, I’m a better mom and wife for the rest of the day. Or week.

It’s about balance.

If I get some alone time, I’ll gladly join the football cup, boat trip, or mountain hike.

Cheers to having enough alone time this summer to manage 30 days of shipping in Ship 30 for 30.

I need more than just motivation to get through 30 Days of Shipping. 

I could be hell-bent on writing and publishing daily, but then life happens. The kids need me for something semi-important, I'm not inspired, I procrastinate, and so on.

Here is my plan to complete 30 Days of Shipping

Stop making excuses

Here I'm an expert. Anything can be used as an excuse not to carry out. For example, bad weather is an excuse for not doing almost anything. This must stop!

Planning and facilitation

I will plan when and what to write and facilitate writing during the day. Everything is possible with good planning and a productive start to the day.

Stop waiting for inspiration

I can't rely on inspiration any more than I can on motivation. The writing shall happen when it's planned. I will have a list of what to write about so that I don't start from scratch every day.

 I wish all my fellow shippers the best of luck for the next 30 days.

Up for some zombie post-apocalypse that is also a beautiful story you can enjoy and admire? If so, The Last of Us is perfect for you.

What is it about?

After a short intro, the series begins 20 years after a parasitic fungus called Cordyceps has turned most of the population into infected, bloodthirsty “walkers” (yes, associations with The Walking Dead).

We follow Joel (Pedro Pascal), a smuggler in a Quarantine Zone in Boston. Joel must escort Ellie (Bella Ramsey) across the United States. Ellie is a teenage girl who is apparently immune to the infection.

My thoughts

The Last of Us is an irresistible story in a post-apocalyptic adventure world, which is a world I really enjoy visiting. It’s so beautiful and takes you on a silent, nerve-wracking journey. The interactions and the settings are magnificent. The Last of Us is, in short, addictive. I love it!

I recommend getting a night book if you ever struggle with waking up too early. Reading at night is what has helped the most with my sleep problems. But it can’t be just any book.

The properties a night book must have:

• Long, >500 pages.

• Good. If it isn’t good, you’ll get irritated, which is not sleep-inducing.

• A long get-to-know-the-story phase. This is often interesting but can also get a little boring. 😴

• Long descriptions are more sleep-inducing than short, high-intensity sentences. 

• Some long-winded parts are perfect.

• Fantasy and Science Fiction books are best suited.

Examples of appropriate books:

Science Fiction:

• Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

• Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir 

• Scythe by Neal Shusterman

Fantasy:

• Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

• Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (Don’t pick Six of Crows as it’s too captivating.) 

• The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh

All are tested and approved as night books by me.

Good luck, and sleep well.

1. ‘Six of Crows’ by Leigh Bardugo

This is a heist fantasy story placed in Bardugo’s fabulous universe, the Grishaverse (think Shadow and Bone on Netflix).

What’s cool about this book?

The character gallery. Kaz Brekker and his gang of outstanding thugs. All of them are fascinating, their stories are unique, and their friendships are perfect. I adore reading about them.

2. ‘Project Hail Mary’ by Andy Weir

This is a Sci-Fi story about Ryland Grace, who alone must save the Earth from extinction.

What’s cool about this book?

The funny way Andy Weir writes, the book’s unexpected turns, and the drive. We meet a witty and nerdy teacher who goes on a space mission to save the world, befriends, and gets help from an alien. Rocky, the alien, has his own planet to save. The one-man mission turns into a man and an alien mission. Fantastic!

3. ‘Dusty’s Diary: One Frustrated Man’s Apocalypse Story’ by Bobbie Adair

A post-apocalyptic zombie horror story. Dusty has lived alone in a bunker in his garden for two years. Now he starts to get bored and finds that he wants to go out and check how the world has fared after the apocalypse.

What’s cool about this book?

This is an unconventional twist on a traditional story. Our hero is an ordinary man, but he has many strange thoughts. I love Dusty’s sarcasm, which is surely necessary when you may be the only survivor of the apocalypse. 

1. The tropes. Enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, and grumpy/sunshine are the best. If I were to write a book one day, it would have to be with these tropes.

2. The MMC. Aaron Blackford is a heavenly male main character. And I like it when the grumpy/gorgeous guy admits he had feelings for the girl for longer than we knew.

3. The tension throughout the story. I just had to keep reading and reading.

I'm struggling to figure out Twitter.

And I will be happy if someone wants to share their opinions.

Bookish content is my thing, and I like to include pictures I have taken myself.

Is Instagram a better platform than Twitter for me?

What's your opinion?

• Does my kind of bookish content have a place here, or does it belong on other platforms?

• What would you like to read about if you think it belongs on Twitter?

Wonder what to watch and read? Here are some of my favorites. I’ve compiled this list of one TV series and two books for you. I hope you’ll enjoy them😊

What to Watch — The Night Agent on Netflix

The Night Agent is an American action thriller released on March 23, 2023. IMDb-rating: 7.6/10

Plot

Peter Sutherland is an FBI agent who works the night shift in the basement of the White House. He is manning a phone that never rings — until one night, it does. On the other end is Rose Larkin, whose aunt and uncle have told her to call this number and enter a password. Unknown perpetrators kill the aunt and uncle. As Rose and Peter try to find answers and realize they can’t trust anyone, they are led into a conspiracy against The Oval Office.

What to Read: two really cool books

1. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

This novel is a fantasy heist story. Our six dubious heroes must pull off an impossible break-in. It’s original, surprising, and captivating. Goodreads rating: 4.50/5

Six of Crows has the most fantastic character gallery I’ve ever encountered. Kaz Brekker, you are my hero🤩. The other five in his gang are just as incredible. It never gets dull with these creative thugs and thieves. But the real beauty lies in the support and loyalty of their friendship.

2. Dusty’s Diary: One Frustrated Man’s Apocalypse Story by Bobby Adair

Welcome to a post-apocalyptic zombie story like no other. This one is so funny and catchy. I love Dusty’s sarcasm, which is surely necessary when you may be the only survivor of the apocalypse. Goodreads rating: 3.92/5

Dusty has lived alone in a bunker in his garden for two years. Now he starts to get bored and finds that he wants to go out and check how the world has fared after the apocalypse. This is his diary of what he experiences and thinks.

‘Practice Makes Perfect’ by Sarah Adams 

Contemporary Romance, expected publication May 2, 2023

The plot

Annie is trying to find a perfect boyfriend. When she overhears a date saying she is “so unbelievably boring”, she decides to become flirty and funny. She thinks Will is the perfect man to tutor her. Will is a beautiful bodyguard who is back in Annie’s little town for a while. Will doesn’t want to help but gets persuaded.

Between practice dates and tutoring sessions, Annie discovers that there is more to Will than meets the eye. Annie must reconsider the criteria for her dream guy.

‘The Boyfriend Candidate’ by Ashley Winstead 

Contemporary Romance, expected publication May 9, 2023

The plot

Alexis is a shy school librarian who wants to become more adventurous. She meets Logan, who is both gorgeous and filthy. They are total opposites and opposites attracted. On their date, people take pictures of them. Logan escapes. 

Alexis is confused until she sees the pictures on the news. Logan is a famous politician running for Texas governor’s seat. The photos threaten to destroy everything. To calm the scandal, they must pretend to be in a relationship until election day in two months. It shouldn’t be so hard, right?

The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren

Contemporary Romance, expected publication May 16, 2023

The plot

Fizzy is an adored romance novelist who has never really been in love.

Connor makes documentary films and is a single father of a daughter. His boss orders him to create a reality TV show, which is totally out of his comfort zone. He needs a romantic lead. What if he can show the stars of romantic books falling in love on TV? The production of the show The True Love Experiment can begin.

That’s my most anticipated book releases in May. Do you have any new books you’re excited about?

I read 4 books at once

I can explain why. But first, some background.

My husband is satisfied if he can read a book in a month. I read several books at a time. He discovered my seemingly chaotic way of reading, which naturally led him to wonder:
“Why do you do this? Wouldn’t focusing on one book at a time be better?”

No. You see, all the books have their function.

Here are the 4 different settings for which I need different books:

1. The main book

This is the book I read when I go to bed at night, drink my morning coffee, and find time to read during the day.

2. The audio book

I always have to have an audiobook available. I listen to this when I drive alone, do housework, and go for walks. I love to shut out the world when life is hectic. Noise-canceling headphones🙌

3. The getting back to sleep-book

This is a book I read when I wake up at night and can’t get back to sleep. Often I choose a Sci-Fi book. I need a book that is a bit technical and seemingly endless, so it can quiet my mind and promotes sleep.

4. The sauna book

We have a sauna. 🤩 Sitting in the sauna and reading is my favorite relaxation.

The book I take with me to the sauna gets destroyed. The glue that holds the book together dissolves, and it becomes full of sweat. I have to buy two copies of the sauna book since I want a copy for the bookshelf.

What about you? Do you also read several books at the same time, or do you focus on one at a time?

Backlist, DNF, MMC, YA — What?

You don’t need to read many reviews of romantic books before realizing they speak a different language. Therefore, I have created this guide with abbreviations and terminology commonly used in the world of romantic literature.

• Alpha Male — When the hero behaves as dominant, overprotective, leader, jealous, commanding, and knows what he wants.

• Autobuy — An author you like so much that you automatically buy their books. 

• Backlist — An author’s previous books.

• Dark — books with darker themes, mature and taboo content.

• DNF — Did Not Finish (the book)

• FMC — Female Main Character

• FWB — Friends With Benefits

• HEA — Happily Ever After. Mandatory in a romance book.

• Insta-love — When the characters fall in love right away.

• Meet-cute — When the two romantic protagonists meet for the first time, often under unusual (cute) circumstances.

• MMC — Male Main Character

• NA — New Adult. When the protagonists are between 18 and about 25 years old.

• POV — Point Of View

• Slow Burn — When the relationship takes a while to get started.

• Spicy — Romance with sex.

• TBR — To Be Read. A list of books you want to read.

• Trope — Story elements that give an underlying theme, like enemies-to-lovers, billionaire romance, alpha hero, and fake relationship.

• TW — Trigger Warning

• YA — Young Adult. When the protagonists are between 13 and 18 years old.

30 days ago, I signed up for Dickie Bush & Nicolas Cole's cohort-based course, Ship 30 for 30.

In that time, I wrote & published 30 Atomic Essays, learned the fundamentals of Digital Writing, discovered inspiring people, and gained further clarity over my niche. It has been an enriching (and challenging) journey, and I'm more excited to keep writing online.

Here are the 3 biggest things writing & publishing consistently every day for 30 days taught me:

1. Preparation

I set myself up for success if I prepare in advance. Having an idea bank, starting the night before, or getting up an hour earlier helps me reach my writing goal.

2. Practice in public

My nemesis is imposter syndrome. Whenever I convince myself that no one will read what I write, I don't write. It helps me think of writing as an exercise and not an exam on which I will be judged. I'm just practicing writing in public.

3. Progress

Writing every day for 30 days shows me that I'm making progress. And that development feels good!

If you are also thinking about getting started writing online, let me know. I'm happy to share more about the experience and what I learned.