The Weekly Ramble – March 7, 2025

How did the week go by so quickly? Here’s what I’ve been doing, eating, listening, reading, and writing this past week. Let’s chat Instagram, pantry meals, Mere Christianity, romcoms, and Scrivener.

Time seems to have picked up speed. It’s as if the days are just slipping away faster than I can even experience them. Do you have seasons like that? I feel like I exist in hyperspace.

What I’m doing

Today, specifically I’m getting ready for company and Friday night pizza. A friend of ours from church is leaving later this month to walk the Camino de Santiago. She’ll be gone for many months, so she is renting her place to friends of friends who recently immigrated from Shanghai.

So, we’re having them all over for pizza, a farewell to a friend and a hello to new ones. I confess to being a wee bit nervous, especially since I anticipate a little bit of a language barrier. Regardless, I’m glad we’re doing it.

In other news, I’m also trying to keep up with my steps. I’m currently on a 224 day step streak — and five pounds down from last month. Yay!

I’ve also been working on building out my writer’s account on Instagram. My goal for 2025 is to have at least one manuscript completed by the end of the year to either pitch to publishers or to self-publish. Either way I go, it will be good to have a following of some kind there.

I’m sharing quotes from my Common place book as well as bits and pieces of my writing process. If only three people buy the book, I’ll have a record of the thought process that went into it. I’d love to have you follow me @jessfisherwrites and share it with friends who might be interested.

What I’m eating

Bryan and I skipped date night this week for a walk and hanging out at home instead. It rained which makes it no fun to drive in the Miata plus we’re going to a Kings game next week which isn’t free. Better to save the money for that, even though I was craving Pelly’s.

I ended up cooking some salmon for lunch today which was kinda the same thing.

Overall, my meals this week haven’t been amazing. I’ve been distracted and have honestly stayed out of the grocery stores, so there hasn’t been much to work with.

For the longest time the kids haven’t touched oats. I’ve been using them in my regular muesli and yogurt, but we’re out of rolled oats so I’m scraping the bottom of the barrel with a random bag of granola I was sent by a brand a few months ago.

I also found some hot cereals that I bought back when the kids were eating hot cereals, so I might not buy more until we use it all up. Another pantry challenge I guess.

What I’m listening to

FishChick16 and I finished Out of the Silent Planet on Wednesday and started Perelandra on Thursday. We have a good hour in the car at least three days a week. I’m glad we found a good way to use the time.

For my own reading, I’m going through Mere Christianity for a second time. I remembered that I had read it when the kids were little, but I don’t remember anything about it. I guess that’s why it’s helpful to blog things. I found the old post in case you’re interested in the mind of Jessica-from-2011.

I don’t, however, have any recollection of writing that post or of going to the college library and checking out that book. I don’t even remember what friend I was waiting for. Sigh. This is 52.

Or simply, my mind palace doesn’t have room for all those memories and I’ve cleared space for new ones.

Regardless, I’m listening to the audio book at the same time as reading it so that more can stick in.

What I’m reading

I continue to have several books in process, including:

• Save the Cat Writes a Novel
• Mere Christianity
• Keeping House

I’ve also explored more of the romance genre. I have this thing when I’m reading a book. If the first two chapters don’t grab me, I’ll read the last 2 to 3. I don’t mind spoilers.

If the book ends someplace interesting, then I’ll go back to the beginning to see how the author got there. Usually, this gives me the motivation to start over and I end up loving the book.

Not so with many of the “clean romance” books I’ve checked out recently. One that was expressly for Christians was written in a Christianese I didn’t understand. How could the average reader?

I abandoned quite a few books this week. I’ve also learned that there are some really poorly written books out there. As well as books that may just not be my cup of tea. I’m trying not to be judgy.

However, I confess to almost losing it when I found a book that both created a fictitional place in Southern California that couldn’t possibly exist AND used incredibly horrible French. That was more than I could take. Hit just too close to home.

(FWIW, I loved the cross-over series of Sweater Weather, but I just can’t recommend the last book.)

I also found another writer whose content on IG and on her blog have been really interesting. In this post Rachel recommends not to read too many books in the same genre. I think I’m getting to that point.

What I’m writing

I’ve read a lot within contemporary romance to get a feel for the current market. I want to read a little more in contemporary Christian fiction because I think that’s probably more in line with what I’m writing.

Lately, I’ve been going up to the 4th floor of the college library that is no talking. Aren’t those windows and the view of the mountains amazing? Even on the cloudy and rainy days this week, it’s felt light and airy. I love it.

I’m about 1/3 done with my first rough draft. And like I read, I have several other books started. I’ve got an idea for a series, so I’ve done some mapping of the different characters and stories to explore.

With 120 pages in a word doc, it’s also gotten a little unwieldy. I did some research and found that Scrivener might be a good tool to help me organize and move things around. It’s pricy, but I’m thankful for the free trial. If you have experience with the app, I’d love to hear about it!

I think that’s it for me. Don’t forget – Time Change tomorrow! Get as much light exposure as you can to help with the transition.

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