On the in-between

Writing breaks and how I spend them

Notes on a Novel is my refreshed, irregular newsletter where I share thoughts about writing, as recorded in the notes app on my phone.

I am currently in the middle of a bittersweet break from working on book 3. I say bittersweet because I find it both completely liberating to step away from a draft (the free time alone is dazzling), but also, at times, nauseating. I constantly feel like I’ve forgotten to do something important.

Breaks, however fraught, are essential. Sometimes a break is self-inflicted (you need space from a draft) and sometimes your book is simply in someone else’s hands for a while (an agent, an editor, etc.), like in my current situation. When faced with a writing pause, I do my best to use the time wisely.

COOKING

There was a time in my twenties when I cooked three-course meals for fun, but having a young child has mostly rendered elaborate culinary adventures an impossibility. Now, I cook strategically. The food needs to be good but also quick to prepare, especially if I’m trying to squeeze writing into any given day.

When I’m not writing, though, there’s more time to play. I recently made fresh pasta for the first time in four-and-a-half years (guess how old my son is). With basil from the garden and Marcella Hazan’s 4-ingredient tomato sauce, a hit for children and grownups alike.

I’m baking, too. My favourite raspberry buttermilk cake, which I’ve loved for nearly a decade. And chocolate chip cookies to take on road trips.

When the heat turns oppressive, the only thing I want to eat is lemon sorbet. On a recent trip to the South of France, my family and I sampled lemon sorbet up and down the Cote d’Azur. The recipe we love to make at home, from The Ciao Bella Book of Gelato and Sorbetto, rivals anything we had abroad.

READING

I’m always reading, but I have more time and brain space for it when I’m not writing. This summer, I’ve read a handful of wonderful books, including the book everyone seems to be reading at the moment, along with a few more surprising choices.

The Force of Such Beauty by Barbara Bourland

The premise of this book didn’t speak to me. It’s about an Olympic athlete who marries into royalty and the oppressive role of the ‘princess’ in contemporary society. But it came highly recommended on one of my favourite book podcasts and so I gave it a shot. I loved this book because it changed my mind about what I thought I was interested in. Turns out, princesses and the veritable prisons in which they spend their days are fascinating.

Vantage Point by Sara Sligar

This moody, spooky page-turner set on an island in Maine kept me guessing. It explores the downfall of an affluent American family (shades of the Kennedys) through the lens of a family curse. Great atmosphere! Take it to the beach.

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

There’s been a lot said about this book since it published. All I’ll say: I loved it; my book club hated it; we had the best discussion about a book in recent memory.

Whidbey by T Kira Madden

A literary thriller with difficult subject matter and staggering writing. It took me a while to read this one. I nibbled on it in small chunks, but I was grateful for the experience. You get the sense you’re in very good hands when reading Madden’s work, which offers canny insights on trauma, survival, and justice.

Famesick by Lena Dunham

Nostalgia. Heartbreak. A look behind the curtain. I was reminded how excellent a writer Dunham is. Go for the audiobook!

GARDENING

I love to work in my garden but I don’t always prioritize it, especially if I have a writing deadline. Lately, I’ve been remembering to water the flowers and tug out mid-summer weeds, and lingering outside to listen to birdsong. Dreamy and grounding all at once.

xo, DH