Author: jgoldsmithwrites

An Open Letter to Moira Walley-Beckett

~ jgoldsmithwrites ~ Leave a comment

Warning: There are spoilers for season 3 ahead.

Dear MWB,

We need to talk about Anne.

As women who grew up in Canada, it’s safe to say L.M. Montgomery’s books were present in our lives in someway. Clearly, or you wouldn’t have thought to make a new adaptation.

But you have proven time and time again that you don’t trust L.M. Montgomery’s writing nor the character of Anne to stand on their own. You continue to tear apart the book and the characters for reasons I cannot understand.

A little red flag went up when the series premier opened with a dramatic shot of Matthew racing down the beach on horseback. Oh boy.

You’ve managed to turn Anne of Green Gables into some sort of melodrama with an overabundance of grit and dark social issues; so much so that it barely resembles the original work at all. The only reason we know it’s Anne is because the characters have the same names and it takes place in Avonlea. Basically everything else has been shifted.

Why, though?

Life in the late 1800s was quite tough and L.M. Montgomery was well aware of how tough it could be. She wrote Anne of Green Gables in a much more idyllic version of her own village, deciding to brush over harsh realities for something more soft and enjoyable. Even when things go wrong, it all works out in the end. There is a sprinkle of tragedy, but not more than the reader can handle.

This is not what we get in the show.

The dark, edgy tone is layered with social issue on social issue. Now, I’m not against including social issues in shows, but at this point it feels excessive.

So far we’ve had:

  • PTSD
  • Child abuse
  • Suicide
  • Racism
  • Homophobia
  • Oppressive marital expectations
  • Racism (again! This time against natives)
  • Residential schools

As I said, I’m not against dealing with these issues. They are important. BUT these issues aren’t written in with any delicacy or subtlety. Every week we get slapped in the face with something new and dark, obviously while Anne prances around telling everyone how wrong they are.

Even plot points within the story were turned dark for no apparent reason other than you didn’t trust the book enough to keep it as it was. Anne was bullied by the girls in the orphanage, though there is no reference of that in the book (it’s even mentioned that they let her borrow their books). Anne is then subsequently bullied and shunned by the young girls in Avonlea when that is NOT what happened at all. She is excluded from the group (except by Diana) until she miraculously saves Ruby’s house from being burned down.

Wow.

You’ve even butchered ANNE herself! In a recent episode, in an emotional moment Anne refers to her imagination as delusions and has to be talked down by Cole. Maud’s Anne would never question the value of her imagination.

I know you worked on Breaking Bad, which was chock-full of dark and edgy plot lines. The show was about drugs! That’s what you get with those types of shows.

But that’s not Anne of Green Gables. A show doesn’t need to be dark to be good.

I know we have shows like Game of Thrones that also pile on the dark and gritty storylines, but a show doesn’t need to be dark to be good.

Anne of Green Gables is about the love of nature, appreciating imagination, and not losing a sense of wonder and joy even in the face of adversity. We see Anne get a home and love she needs and deserves, she excels in school, she grows and learns, falls in love and gets married, she has children and becomes a loving mother.

All I see with Anne with an E is that she’s somehow immune to any sort of prejudice and she’s basically a 21st century teenager in the 19th century. Though I guess I shouldn’t be surprised with “Ahead by a Century” by The Tragically Hip as the opening song. I didn’t expect it to be taken literally.

Some people defend these choices by saying that the show is “showing how it really was” in the 19th century. But is it really? I guess the racism and homophobia are probably accurate, but it REALLY seems like 21st century ideologies are being transposed onto a 19th century setting. And as much as we’d like to believe the best of our beloved Anne, I’m sure she’s not completely immune to the deeply ingrained racism (even if it’s not conscious).

Are you afraid to show the racism/sexism/homophobia that would’ve been present without someone there to condemn it?

Also, the book itself doesn’t show how it really was. It’s an idealized version of PEI in the late 1800s, where dark aspects of society aren’t often dealt with and when they are, it all works out.

Anne is able to learn and grow as a person WITHOUT having to battle fires, or sexism, or any of the other stuff. Subtle plotlines like the missing broach that was actually attached to Marilla’s shawl is just as effective for teaching Anne responsibility as sending her all the way back to the orphanage.

Now we’re in season 3 of the show and I haven’t actually seen a single plot point that lines up with the books. We’re obviously not in Kansas anymore. Anne turns 16 years old, and at this point in the books she’s at Queens academy in Charlottetown preparing to become a teacher (and going on to win the Avery Scholarship etc., etc.)

Wouldn’t that be a fun way to show how things REALLY were? Anne is still only 16 when she takes up the teaching position at the Avonlea school. AmyBeth McNulty teaching some of her old schoolmates, still looking quite young herself, would be a striking image and impactful in our society (where 16-year-olds work at McDonalds).

Again, we are being forced to view Anne’s world through a 21st century lens. Instead of Anne going to Queens (which is basically the equivalent of high school), they’ve pushed back that plotline, as if Queens was a college or university. At 16, she’s still very young. And she is. BUT, back then people were sometimes married by the age of 18, especially in rural villages.

Instead, we’re being treated to a new layer of racism against the Mi’kmaq community near Avonlea (which is realistic I guess), and now talk of a completely fabricated residential school opening in Halifax. Considering the very dark history of residential schools in Canada, you’d think they’d tread lightly and try to be historically accurate. There was only one school in the Maritimes and it was in Nova Scotia, but not Halifax and certainly not in the late 1800s when the show takes place (it opened in 1930).

Since you’ve introduced us to a very endearing Mi’kmaq girl and you’ve shown you’re not afraid to show child abuse, I’m just assuming you’re going to show us this little girl being beaten at the school. Or else, why would you even include the residential school at all?

You’ve proven over and over that you don’t shy away from the heavy stuff, but when it’s ALL heavy stuff don’t some of the fans of L.M. Montgomery’s work get to call uncle?

In this time of real life darkness (political upheaval and environmental meltdown), wouldn’t a true-to-book adaptation of Anne of Green Gables be a breath of fresh air?

We know that you can do it. The cast is amazing, along with the costumes and sets. But, why must we endure this constant barrage of social issues all layered on top of each other?

A true adaptation could be quite good with a dash or two of darker social issues, but your show is all of the darker social issues and none of L.M. Montgomery’s book.

It’s a shame, really.

Anyway, thanks for coming to my rant.

Megan Follows forever.

How to Get an Agent in 14 Easy Steps

~ jgoldsmithwrites ~ Leave a comment
Photo by Alejandro Escamilla on Unsplash

Step 1: Finish writing a book
*This is key

Step 2: Stare into the void

Step 3: Research agents looking for your type of book
Here is a good place to start

Step 4: Imagine all the rejections that will come in

Step 5: Make a spreadsheet to keep your agents/queries organized
This is a good resource, or you can use querytracker.net

Step 6: Keep imagining all the rejections

Step 7: Make sure you have all the query bits
First 10 (ish) pages, synopsis, author bio, etc.
Step 7a: Cry because writing a synopsis is so hard!

Step 8: Send the query

Step 9: Stew in query limbo, where the book has neither been accepted or rejected

Step 10: Rejection.

Step 11: Cry… cry a lot.

Step 12: Repeat steps 8-11
until…

Step 13: ACCEPTED!

Step 14: Cry… cry a lot.

Congrats, you now have an agent!

My Favourite Books This Year (so far)

~ jgoldsmithwrites ~ Leave a comment

This has been a good book year. I am a little behind on my goal (14/37), but I’m not feeling too discouraged. Aside from reading lots of good books, I have a bunch of books that I’m excited to read.

In no particular order, here are five of my favourites that I’ve read this year.

You by Caroline Kepnes

Amazon | Goodreads | Chapters

I watched the show on Netflix before I read the book, but I really enjoyed both. Joe Goldberg is the character you love to hate (or hate to love). The book is the prefect combination of creepiness and flawed characters. It almost reminded me of Gone Girl.

I look forward to reading the sequel!

Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden

Amazon | Goodreads | Chapters

I’m pretty sure I included The Girl in the Tower in last year’s favourite book list, and I could not NOT include Winter of the Witch in this year’s list. Basically the whole series is my favourite. It’s a fantastic final novel in the series. Of course I’m sad it’s over, but it left me perfectly satisfied and ready to see what Katherine Arden is going to do next.

The Changeling by Victor LaValle

Amazon | Goodreads | Chapters

I wanted to read this book because Maggie Stiefvater was reading it and if you can’t copy your favourite authors, who can you copy? I’m glad I did, though, because the Changeling is very good. It went in unexpected and deliciously dark directions. It’s one of those books I probably wouldn’t have heard of if it hadn’t been recommended by an outside party. A secret gem!

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Amazon | Goodreads | Chapters

Okay, I actually haven’t finished this one yet. But, I’m within 100 pages of finishing so I’m going to count it. It’s a funny novel with an interesting premise. It feels like a lot has happened but at the same time not a lot. But I’m very excited to finish it, because it’s taken a turn I wasn’t really expecting.

The Diary of a Bookseller by Shaun Bythell

Amazon | Goodreads | Chapters

This book is what it says. Shaun Bythell kept a diary for a year of life as the owner of a used bookstore in Scotland. It was a fun sneak peak into what actually happens in a bookstore, and as someone who dreams of working in a bookstore, it was a delight and a terror at the same time. Nothing is sugar coated, but at the same time it felt like I was actually working in a bookstore. A good read for anyone who loves books and bookstores.

If you want to see all the books I’ve read this year, you can go here to find them!

Book Review: Shadows of Lela

~ jgoldsmithwrites ~ Leave a comment

Feeling a presence beside me, I lifted my head saw the white unicorn. My heart softened, my shoulders relaxed. The unicorn was so close, I knew I could touch him. I reached out a tentative hand and placed it on his mud-splattered, white coat. A calm warmth flooded me.”

Sixteen-year-old Princess Cora has a dark past she’d rather forget. She’s found peace living in exile, far from the sorcerer who murdered her family. But her safety is compromised when she discovers a deadly threat. Unicorns are being annihilated. Her kingdom could be next…

To win the affection of his heartless bride-to-be, Prince Teryn must complete a dangerous quest. Instead, he finds himself at the end of Cora’s dagger. But when he learns Cora’s secret, he’s determined to help her, whatever the cost.

Trusting Teryn might be Cora’s only hope. But doing so could risk her heart… and Teryn’s life.

Goodreads | Amazon | Website

Last month was Indie April, a month for supporting independent authors and bookstores. About half-way through I made a promise on Twitter that if I reached 500 followers (I was just above 400) by the end of April, I’d buy an indie book and write a review. Well Twitter came through and then I was left with the daunting task of selecting a book from a slew of WONDERFUL suggestions.

What really drew me to Shadows of Lela was the cover art. Shout out to Merilliza Chan for the beautiful artwork. Sometimes I’d just stop reading and gaze lovingly at the cover! Haha! I also really love unicorns.

Disclaimer: I usually try not to get too spoilery in my reviews, and I don’t want to pick apart the novel, but beware there are some spoilers ahead!

Right off the bat, this book gave me Graceling and Red Queen vibes. It’s a high fantasy novel without the pretentiousness that can sometimes come with it. The book also deals with royal families and the complicated relations between them. Tessonja Odette has created a vast fantastical land full of ancient magic, lost lore, and many kingdoms.

The world building has been done really well. I found the part describing the Ancient Ones quite interesting and I would’ve loved to delve into the lore even more. I also would’ve loved more scenery descriptions. As a reader, I’ve been given this wide new world, and sometimes I felt like I couldn’t see where I was. Cora and Teryn are journeying across the land, but I wanted more descriptions of how the landscape changed as they moved into the different kingdoms. I wanted to be fully immersed.

Also, a map at the beginning of the book would’ve been a huge bonus! They’re always helpful when reading a fantasy with many different locations.

The book is written in first person POV and switches mainly between Cora and Teryn, with the occasional appearance of Teryn’s brother, Larylis, and the princess Mareleau. The characters are well-written and the separations between their points of view are distinct. So no confusion, which is great!

Reading Larylis’ and Mareleau’s POV, at least in the first half of the novel, seemed a little unnecessary, as it didn’t add much to the story. In the second half, I liked Larylis a lot more as a character and seeing his POV was much more important. Mareleau’s probably could’ve been left out completely.

Character motivations also seemed to shift very quickly, especially with Cora and Teryn. We get a first person look into their thoughts, but there isn’t much introspection when the characters are making decisions. Cora suddenly decides to leave her adoptive family of the Forest People to help the unicorns quite suddenly it seems. As well with Teryn, he leaves his quest to win Mareleau’s heart almost instantly to help Cora. These decisions make sense for the characters, but we don’t see the change of motivation in an organic way. A little more inner monologue would’ve been the key in these big moments of motivational change.

In the first half of the novel, the pacing seems a little off. We are rushed through the introduction of Cora as a princess and the introduction of the main villain. For example, we don’t get to see much of what Cora is like before she’s exiled or who the villain is before she’s exiled. And again, just as we start to see Cora’s life with the Forest People, she’s off on her quest to save the unicorns. The plot did need to keep moving, but I would’ve loved more establishment of Cora before and after her exile.

The same happened with the beginning of Teryn’s quest. It felt a little rushed, as we were trying to get to the point where Teryn and Cora meet.

The second half of the novel was better for me, pacing wise. I quite liked when we finally got down to the big conflict between Morkai, the sorcerer, and the royal families. The characters lived up to their potential, though I wanted to see Cora do a little more with her powers, especially against Morkai. But, all in all, the climax was satisfying.

I wanted the ending to be left a little more open for a little more incentive to get into the second book. It felt a little rushed as well into the conclusion that wasn’t as surprising as I was hoping.

But, it was a solid first book, with plenty to offer readers, especially those who liked Graceling and Red Queen. When I get through a few more of the books on my TBR list, I’ll probably pick up the next one.

My Favourite Bookstores

~ jgoldsmithwrites ~ Leave a comment

A couple weeks ago was Independent Bookstore Day and I celebrated by visiting my local bookstore, you know, as you do on Independent Bookstore Day. I promised myself I would only buy one book, but of course that quickly went out the window. I came home with two books and a pack of notebooks. Being a bibliophile is hard on one’s wallet.

I’ve been to my fair share of bookstores (not including chain stores like Chapters) over the years, most in Ontario, but some international. So, here’s a quick list of my favourite bookstores!

Starlight Books (R.I.P.) – Newmarket, Ontario

I had to start with this one because it is the sorely missed bookstore in my hometown. It was a mixture of new and used books, with many treasures to be found. The store itself was quite large, with multiple rooms and little back corners all filled with bookish adventures.

I bought my first Stephen King novels at Starlight, which started off a strange love of horror books.

The store closed down years ago now, because the lease was just too expensive and it was in the middle of the bookstore slump (thanks Amazon). I suspect if the store was open now, it would do better.

Sadly, no other independent bookstores have opened in the area, so Starlight has left quite a big hole.

Blue Heron Books – Uxbridge, Ontario

The next closest to me is my adoptive local bookstore, Blue Heron Books. It’s far enough away that I don’t get there as much as I’d like, but when I have visited, it’s been a delightful experience.

The atmosphere is so welcoming and friendly. The small(ish) store is full of books, books, and more books! It feels like a place where you could stay and browse for hours, with comfy chairs to sit on.

The bookstore hosts events of all shapes and sizes, author readings, “Books and Brunch” with local authors, and a book club. They even offer not-necessarily-book related classes in their studio.

As of this year (2019), they’re celebrating their 30th bookstore birthday! I’m super happy for them, because Blue Heron is such an amazing space. So glad the store isn’t that far away and I can pay a visit once in a while.

The Book Lady – Fenelon Falls, Ontario

A little bit farther a field is The Book Lady. This cozy little hidden gem has a wide variety of new and used treasures. It’s hard not to get absorbed by the close shelving in the fantasy/sci-fi/mystery/horror sections.

Like many bookstores, The Book Lady also offers coffee and tea and giftware for bookworms (like me)! I bought a cat and book themed mug during a visit.

I may or may not have taken a trip to Fenelon Falls JUST to visit this store…

The owner Dana Deathe (pronounced ‘deeth’), is living the dream honestly.

Read and Green Bookstore – Brighton

This bookstore was a bit of a random find on a camping trip last year. It’s a bit of a hidden gem, as Brighton isn’t that big of a place. It’s a used bookstore, which is means that it’s full of secret treasures.

The store is long and narrow and has a bit of a cozy chaotic feel, in only the way used bookstores can. There’s something magical about getting lost in the bookshelves. 

On this trip, I found a 40s vintage set of L.M. Montgomery’s Anne series. 

Mr. B’s Emporium of Reading Delights – Bath, England

This is my favourite international bookstore! It was one of the best places I got to visit in 2017 when I was in the UK for my cousin’s wedding. Bath is a wonderful city anyway and I wish we had a little more time there (the city and the bookstore).

Unfortunately, we had to be quick in Mr. B’s, so I didn’t get to fully immerse myself in the wonderland that is the store. It has a bibliotherapy room! BIBLIOTHERAPY!

But I did pick up The Power by Naomi Alderman, which was fantastic.

The place is book heaven. They offer book spa treatments and will ship personalized book subscriptions to your door. Just thinking about it makes me want to melt into a bibliophile puddle. They also host plenty of bookish events, book launches, author readings, etc.

There we have it, my favourite bookstores. If you live in Ontario, I hope this gives you some bookstore road trip ideas. Even if you’re just visiting Ontario, check these out. And if you’re ever in Bath, be sure to check out Mr. B’s… I mean it.

What are some of your favourite bookstores? I’m always looking for new recommendations, so feel free to share!

Favourite Books about Books

~ jgoldsmithwrites ~ Leave a comment

When I read a book/novel and one of its main plot points is a book or books in general or a bookstore, some weird thrill sparks inside me. It’s a strange sort of joyful feeling. Like something has really clicked.

I just love it.

Maybe it’s because I’m such a bibliophile myself, it’s a double-whammy of bookishness. It’s hard to explain and quantify, so hopefully you can relate (through another genre or trope) or you can pretend you understand.

Anyway, I want to share my favourite books about books and hopefully you’ll find a new favourite yourself or just something fun to read.

Bibliophile

Searching for perfect book lovers gifts? Rejoice! Bibliophile: An Illustrated Miscellany, is a love letter to all things bookish. Author Jane Mount brings literary people, places, and things to life through her signature and vibrant illustrations. It’s a must-have for every book collection, and makes a wonderful literary gift for book lovers, writers, and more.

The title says it all really. It’s a book for bibliophiles and it’s all about books and bookstores and libraries. Like a bible for bookworms. It’s written and illustrated by the super talented Jane Mount.

My favourite part is the wonderful artwork, the illustrations of these book covers and spines. It’s like a whimsical illustrated encyclopedia of everything books.

Image: Bibliophile

There are stories about bookstores around the world (places to visit one day), and plenty of recommendations from fellow bookworms (as if I need MORE book suggestions). It’s just pure joy in book form.

The Little Paris Bookshop

Monsieur Perdu calls himself a literary apothecary. From his floating bookstore in a barge on the Seine, he prescribes novels for the hardships of life. Using his intuitive feel for the exact book a reader needs, Perdu mends broken hearts and souls. The only person he can’t seem to heal through literature is himself; he’s still haunted by heartbreak after his great love disappeared. She left him with only a letter, which he has never opened.

After Perdu is finally tempted to read the letter, he hauls anchor and departs on a mission to the south of France, hoping to make peace with his loss and discover the end of the story. Joined by a bestselling but blocked author and a lovelorn Italian chef, Perdu travels along the country’s rivers, dispensing his wisdom and his books, showing that the literary world can take the human soul on a journey to heal itself.

I first read/heard this book via Audible just last year, and I was so impressed by the story. A book barge? In Paris? A man who can prescribe books like medicine? Yes, please! There’s even a character who’s a struggling writer, which is a bonus for someone who’s also a writer.

Nina George knows how to write a really cozy book. I felt like I was really traveling through France on the waterways. As we’re journeying, reading and books remain an integral part of the story. As Perdu and his motley crew make their way to the south of France, they spread the love of reading wherever they go.

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore

The Great Recession has shuffled Clay Jannon out of his life as a San Francisco web-design drone, and serendipity, sheer curiosity and the ability to climb a ladder like a monkey have landed him a new gig working the night shift at Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. But after just a few days on the job, Clay begins to realize that this store is even more curious than the name suggests. There are only a few customers, but they come in repeatedly and never seem to actually buy anything, instead “checking out” impossibly obscure volumes from strange corners of the store, all according to some elaborate, long-standing arrangement with gnomic Mr. Penumbra. The store must be a front for something larger, Clay concludes, and soon he has embarked on a complex analysis of the customers’ behaviour and roped his friends into helping him figure out just what’s going on. But once they bring their findings to Mr. Penumbra, they discover the secrets extend far beyond the walls of the bookstore.

I think this is the first novel I read that gave me that “thrill” of reading a book about books. So, of course, it had to be featured on this list. The main characters works in this enigmatic bookstore and has a bookish adventure.

I actually haven’t read it in a while, so it might be time for a re-read.

I remember it was whimsical and slightly off-kilter, but in a really good way. I was constantly trying to figure out what was going on along with the characters. There are twists and turns and you end up in a place that is truly unexpected.

This book made me want to write about bookstores.

The Book Thief

It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still.

Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement. 

I don’t want to say too much about the plot of this book, because it can easily be spoiled. The ending is MAJOR. But if you haven’t read The Book Thief yet, I highly recommend it.

It’s pretty obvious by the title that books are going to be important in this story. While it’s not as cozy or whimsical as the other books, it’s still an important read. Maybe more so because of the historical factor. In the historical context of a place where certain books were considered dangerous, the idea of literature as rebellion is important.

I hope you enjoyed this little list of my favourite book books! If there are others that you know of, please let me know. I always need more books to read.

Yoga and Creativity (Part 2)

~ jgoldsmithwrites ~ Leave a comment

I couldn’t bend. Physically and mentally. I was sitting with my legs spread wide, then I was supposed to bend forward, forearms on the mat. Deep breath and bend. And… nothing. My body couldn’t do what I was prompted to do. All I could do is sit with my palms pressing into the floor, my head bent… because I could at least bend there.

This pose that I simply couldn’t do usually wouldn’t be a big deal any other day, but today it seemed like a bad omen.

I know my body’s limitations. I know that I need to bend my legs to get into a sitting forward fold, I don’t have the core strength to do crow pose, I’ve just started being able to do upward facing dog. That’s fine. 99% of the time. Today, my headspace was not a place of rainbows and unicorns, so this limitation was met with plenty of self-doubt and frustration.

This has happened before in my writing. Something just wouldn’t bend in my brain the way it needed to, in order to get onto the page in some remotely successful way. The words weren’t right, the feeling wasn’t there, the dialogue was unnatural. I knew what I needed to do, I could picture it in my head. But, when it came down to it, it didn’t happen the way it was supposed to.

And that’s okay.

Sometimes words don’t come out the way they need to; sometimes that yoga pose doesn’t look the way it’s “supposed” to. But, that’s life. Life is frustrating, it doesn’t bend, it’s a little awkward and messy.

My favourite yogi, Adriene Mishler of Yoga with Adriene, has a great saying that can be applied to life as much as yoga: Find what feels good.

Basically, it means that the shape of the pose doesn’t matter as much as how it feels. If your one-legged pigeon is a little wonky, that’s fine as long as you’re not hurting yourself and it feels good. If you look at it from a wider perspective, it can easily apply to most things in life. My process of writing isn’t going to be the same as yours. What you need to do to get your story out isn’t what I need to do. If it isn’t what the “professionals” are doing, that’s just fine, as long as it feels good for you.

The thing is not to let your feelings of self-doubt be in control, as it seems they inevitably will be when you compare yourself to someone else. That’s what I needed to take away today, after some self-reflection and mindfulness. Maybe there will come a time that I stop comparing myself to those I admire, but today is not that day.

Cheers!

Yoga and Creativity

~ jgoldsmithwrites ~ Leave a comment

I’ve been doing yoga on and off for about 6 or 7 years. My entry into the yoga world was actually through something called “Hoop Yoga” (Yoga with hula hoops! How fun is that?) in my first years at university.

Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

I will be the first to admit I have a complicated relationship with exercise. Growing up, I wasn’t completely uncoordinated, but I wasn’t great either. Organized sports sucked for me because I’m not a runner… I don’t like running. So after gym class was no longer required for me, I turned into a bit of a mushroom.

Going to university, I had free access to a wide variety of classes, so I was able (with the encouragement of much more active friends) to find alternatives to the exercises that I wasn’t crazy about. Hoop Yoga was a highlight for me, because it wasn’t an intense workout but I still felt like I was challenging myself. I had the flexibility of a wooden board, but I enjoyed myself.

It wasn’t until after I graduated and moved home when I realized I needed to do something to keep my body moving. No more mushroom! I dabbled in at-home Pilates (with Blogilates on Youtube) before transitioning more towards yoga. I found Yoga with Adriene on Youtube and it was like finding a cozy yoga nook!

Photo by Burst on Pexels.com

My yoga routine isn’t as consistent as I’d like, but any time on my mat is a treat. It has been a wild wonderful journey. It took a little time to accept that I would never have a typical itty-bitty, flexible “yoga body,” now I see that any body doing yoga is a yoga body.

While yoga has helped me touch my toes and connect with my body (aka stop seeing it as a meat sack I’m dragging around), it’s also helped me get into a better mental space. It’s one of the only moments where my mind will actually be quiet and I’ll be fully in the moment. A complete miracle moment.

Having those moments allows the clutter in my brain to clear and make room for more productive and creative things.

I find that when I don’t have much time to do yoga for a period of time, I also lose momentum in my writing. It’s as if yoga helps fuel my creative motivation.

The connection that I’ve formed with my body and my mind, and the process of checking in with myself, has improved my self-image and confidence in my abilities on the mat and off the mat. The clarity and confidence allows me to move through my creative project more sure of myself.

What’s great about doing an at-home practise is the pressure is off. As someone who constantly compares herself to others, doing yoga by myself has allowed me to use only myself as competition. It’s allowed me to grow in my practise more freely and at my own speed–which is a big plus for me in doing any sort of exercise.

My yoga practise is about showing up for myself, feeling good about myself physically and mentally, and finding peace in order to move forward in a positive mental place.

P.S. If you’ve ever thought about doing yoga at all, I’d recommend checking out Yoga with Adriene, she’s got a great selection of beginner yoga videos.

November Song

~ jgoldsmithwrites ~ 2 Comments

This is a short story I wrote for Neil Gaiman’s MasterClass: The Art of Storytelling. I liked it a lot, so I wanted to share it here! This is my first short story I’ve posted here, so I hope you like it.

Photo by Vlad Bagacian on Pexels.com

It was the First of November—the night of the burning—and Nan knew that something was different. A brisk wind blew the shriveled leaves, still clinging to the branches, making them shiver. No clouds hung in the sky, which meant no rain would spoil the fun. But Nan felt impending doom. 

Nan stood in the village square with Chase like they did every year. They were both dressed in white and not talking. Not many people were. 

No matter how long this tradition continued, there was always an uncomfortable feeling that accompanied the familiarity. Who knew what would happen the night of the burning? 

The bonfire would be lit at sundown and burn all night. The village square was already full of people. Pumpkins from the night before sat on porch steps and in windows. Branches of red and yellow leaves adorned the doors. 

Nan and Chase watched the sunset, in a display of pink, orange, and purple, and the officials—also dressed in white—lit the bonfire. In moments, the flame was above both their heads. Soon night cloaked the village, but the square glowed brightly. 

In the light of the inferno, the crowd quieted. The sound of drumming grew out of the crackling of the burning wood, like the heartbeat of the village. A deep thrumming Nan felt in her bones. 

Nan wanted to smile but didn’t. The calendar had turned. It was time for a release. 

She snuck a glance at Chase and found him looking back at her. She looked away, willing the redness to stay away from her cheeks. 

The village elders went first, as per tradition. Their voices rang out above the drumming, a traditional November song. As seasoned participants, they were full of all the wisdom and maturity of being an “elder.” The flame flickered as their bits of paper were tossed into the fire. Once they were done, the flame was open to all. 

As people were ready, they stepped forward and threw their own items into the fire. Sometimes it was a cardboard box, sometimes a shoe, sometimes a paper crane. 

Nan caught Chase looking at her again. He gave her one of his half-smiles. His eyes were sad, though. He always got sad on burn day. Nan did too, but she was better at hiding it. She was better at hiding everything, even from herself. But Nan could see something hidden behind Chase’s sadness. Things were changing, despite Nan’s best efforts. 

The past year, Nan and Chase had both turned fourteen. As if by magic, their lives changed overnight. Chase started spending more time alone; they didn’t share all their secrets anymore. There were some lines that had been drawn and couldn’t be crossed. 

Chase stepped into the flickering orange glow. He placed his hand on his chest and joined in the singing. His voice blended with the others’, but Nan could make it out. He sounded so sad. 

He didn’t stop walking. He didn’t toss an object into the fire. Singing, he disappeared into the flames, his back figure quickly consumed by the heat. 

Nan screamed. She reached forward as if she could still reach him. 

At the edge of the fire, where Chase had just been, there was a carved wooden heart. Nan’s own real beating heart broke. Whatever someone produced for the fire was a symbol. A regret. A negative “what if” from the year past. She knew everything had changed, but she couldn’t have imagined this. A friendship full of childhood innocence disappeared like smoke into the starry sky. 

Nan pressed her hand to her heart. A heart that was just starting to learn about life’s complications. In her hand, an object started to form. A carved wooden heart—the matching companion to Chase’s. Through her tears, she hurled the heart into the pyre of regret.