It’s okay to overwork for a limited time, I think. Dangerous, as a recovering workaholic, but okay when it’s crunch time for good reason.
The problem is after two weeks of solidly working, I’d forgotten how to relax… It took me half of Saturday to remember. (And then I spent most of Sunday watching films, which was great.)
I think it works much better if I work solidly for one week, rather than two.
Just over a week ago I was thinking, it would be good to give myself my own mini solitary writing retreat. I know how to do this, I just need to remind myself.

Thinking about my achievements (past) does increase my self-esteem, so that rings true for me.
I read something a while back that talked about the importance of self-compassion over self-esteem. Might look into that some more.
Table of Contents
Writing
Nature writing workshop, online & free, Wed, 11 Aug
Still time to join me for a free online nature writing workshop I’m co-leading. It’s Wed, 11 August, 7pm – 8.30pm UK time and part of my This Is Our Place residency, created by the London Wildlife Trust and Spread the Word, both incredibly supportive and important organisations. Maybe I’ll see you at workshops by the other writers-in-residence too!
Mission accomplished
I had two writing deadlines on Saturday, 31 July. That’s why I’ve been doing so much over the last two weeks. I met them both, so now just waiting to see what comes of it.
I was applying for a writing mentorship programme and submitting to a journal, both poetry-oriented. Working on the application and submission got me to think about my writing in a way that I hadn’t before, and I got a lot out of soliciting feedback whilst I was editing too. Now connected to a couple of feedback communities that I wasn’t plugged into before, so, great!
And now I’m about to start an intensive week on developing my poetry collection – I’ve got a lot of nervous excitement in my body! Let’s go!
Trees
For science!
I went to a great panel: Engaging the Public in Basic Science. It was at this conference: Communicating the Future: Engaging the Public in Basic Science. I hope they’ll put the video recording up somewhere because it was really great.
To overturn a table, you need to understand its weight.
Beronda Montgomery
Sometimes the table is a mat.
Edna Tan
Movement gives me hope… Not being static brings me hope.
Beronda Montgomery
We can’t not hope. It’s either hope or give up. And I’m not giving up.
Edna Tan
Carrying on the legacies of our communities and taking action now.
Kyle Whyte
Watched this week
Films
- Dance With Me (English) – it was okay, I wondered what would happen next in the story
- Bhangra Paa Le (Hindi) – I loved this. It’s a dance film, which is one of my favorite genres, sub-genre: dance battle
- Shaandaar (Hindi) – loved this too, beautiful effects and the story opened with animation too
- To verdener (Danish) – this was about Jehovah’s Witnesses, it was good, but quite hard to watch
Conclusion: Watch more Hindi-language films.
Shorts
Started going to the Visual Conversations online film season (last Monday of the month, June – September, 9pm-10pm). It’s good! These are the films we watched: