Around the World in Eighty Days 🌎

Hello friend, it’s time for my March update!

I hope your soul is nourished and you are keeping the negative influences of the world at barge pole length 📏

My March gift for you: this podcast episode about why imposter syndrome is BS (13 mins)🎙️

Today’s topic: why you need an adventure 🗺️

In these wild and weird times I have been retreating to the adventures of books, particularly Jules Verne. I have been listening to Around The World In 80 Days, having recently also read Journey To The Centre of the Earth, and it’s reminded me that adventure remains at the heart of what we need as humans. It’s too easy to be swallowed by the chaos of our news feeds and the fear that many want us to dine on. We become paralysed, afraid of dreaming, and we lose a curious sense of wonder about the things in our life. And it’s incredibly difficult to push back on these pressures.

Now, yes, these adventures of Verne are prim, proper and basically always enjoyed by men (lol) but if we bring these stories into our current context there are features of these stories we can morph into our own lives (and everyone should do it, not just a rich, upper class man haha):

🛩 Adventures can be as small or large as you’re able to organise

Whether your adventure is to disappear into the forest near your house, get lost in a new curry recipe, or pick up a drawing pencil for the first time, one must always be seeking an adventure. These adventures could be the same ones you’ve been on many times, or completely new to you. They can be small or large. But no matter the size they need a significant place in your life.

📝 Have a plan, but be ready to adapt

A consistent feature of Verne’s stories is the overarching plan of attack, accompanied by last minute spontaneous changes as the weather turns or the mode of transport is delayed (one never knows when the train tracks will run out!). Make a plan, even if it’s loose, but be ready to make a change because what’s something we all know too well? Change is coming. No matter who you are, or what you’re doing. So, embrace it with a smile!

What adventure did I recently embark on? A day visiting op/antique/book shops, one of which was my favourite second hand book shop with books literally piled high to the ceiling (see a snippet of it here). Don’t be fooled into thinking your adventures must be as grand as circumnavigating the globe! You can simply be digging through a bookshop for a diamond read.

Novel update (70k words)

I’ve reached a milestone in edits! The first half of the book is as polished as I can get it, and in its current condition I’d be happy giving it to a Beta reader or editor. I’m moving on to the second half to give it the same final edit treatment. Getting closer!