Cyanotype-style botanical print of delicate white flowers on a rich blue background, by artist Fidan Nazimqızı. — *Fidan Nazimqızı*

This week’s project ~

I started to work on my next book! The working title is Notes From a Summer on Lake Annecy and it’s something I’ve been noodling on for a while now. It will be another memoir-in-essays and the themes are my usual obsession - identity and transformation with a strong sense of place.

In terms of process - I’m doing something radically different this time around: I’m planning to write from an outline! This is new territory for me as I usually write 70K words and then spend a year/lifetime trying to make sense of what I wrote. This time, I’m going into the writing process with a general sense of a beginning middle and end. I’ve got a list of 45 essays to write, in a very loose order, which will undoubtedly change. But it’s a road map! Also, I love a good list. Here are my notes to self:

1) Protect your writing time.

2) Look at the outline. Pick up where you left off. Keep going.

3) Do NOT edit as you go. Edit in September.

I’ve given myself a short time frame for this draft because I tend to get bored quickly and I want to keep my energy and vibes high. This is either a brilliant idea or completely unrealistic.

A quick trip to Devon ~

Stonehenge’s ancient standing stones under a dramatic, overcast sky, with green grass in the foreground. — *Stonehenge after the rain. ©Laurel Kallenbach*

plit image showing Haldon Belvedere, a pale triangular castle with round towers, and a sweeping view of the green Devon countryside under a cloudy sky. — Haldon Belvedere: a triangular castle overlooking the Devon countryside.

This weekend, we took a made a quick overnight trip to Devon to visit some friends. We unexpectedly drove past Stonehenge to get there! The view from the highway was underwhelming. I’d love to go back for a proper look around - maybe on summer solstice? How much pegan fun would that be? Later, when the rain cleared, we went for a proper English walk and stumbled upon the Haldon Belvedere is a triangular castle overlooking the Devon countryside.