October Update: Writing, Waiting, and World Mental Health Day

Hello everyone! It's hard to believe we're already well into October. The weather is finally getting warmer here in Victoria, and I'm feeling that spring energy that makes me want to tackle everything at once (spoiler: I've learned I can't actually do that!).

Before I dive into my updates, I want to acknowledge that October 10th is World Mental Health Day. This year's theme from Mental Health Australia is "Connect with your community," which really resonated with me. As someone who lives full-time in a motorhome and works alone most days, finding and maintaining community connections takes intentional effort – but it's so worthwhile.

Your community can be any person, group, or place where you feel safe, seen, and heard. For me, that includes my readers, my writing friends and family. If you're reading this, you're part of my community too, and I'm grateful for that connection.

The Waiting Game

Writing life right now is all about patience – which can be tough! I'm still waiting to hear back from my editor about Heist at Bitterport Savings Bank. The latest estimate is early November, which feels both soon and far away at the same time. Every time my email pings, my heart does a little jump wondering if it's the email. But I'm trying to trust the process and use the waiting time productively.

Diving Into Bitterport #2

Rather than sitting around twiddling my thumbs (or doom-scrolling, which is far too tempting!), I've started writing my second Bitterport mystery. I'm only a few thousand words in so far – still in that getting-to-know-you phase with the characters where they're revealing themselves to me bit by bit.

Those early stages of a book are exciting when anything is possible. The mystery elements are starting to take shape, and I'm finding that the second time around, I'm a little less terrified of the mystery structure. A little. I'm still very much learning as I go!

Working on the second book while waiting for edits on the first feels like a good strategy. It keeps me immersed in the world of Bitterport, and hopefully when those edits do arrive, I'll be able to apply what I learn to the book I'm currently writing.

Life on the Bellarine Peninsula

On the travel front, I've been staying on the beautiful Bellarine Peninsula in Victoria. I've had family visiting the area, which has been lovely – it's pushed me out of my usual hermit-like state! We've been exploring more of the peninsula than I normally would on my own, and even though the weather hasn't been ideal, we managed to grab a couple of decent days.

A Digital Detox

I recently read Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport, and it's prompted some significant changes in my phone habits. The subtitle is "Choosing a focused life in a noisy world," and it couldn't be more relevant to my life right now.

After reading it, I finally uninstalled Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube from my phone. I still have my accounts and can access them on my computer, but removing them from my phone has stopped me from doom-scrolling for hours. It's been surprisingly liberating! I'm finding I have more mental space for creative thinking, and I'm definitely less anxious without the constant pull of social media notifications.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by your digital life, I'd highly recommend giving this book a read. It's not about going completely off-grid – it's about being intentional with your technology use.

What's Coming Up

My main focus for the rest of the month is getting as far as possible with Bitterport #2 before those edits arrive for the first book. I'm also about to start a new university trimester, so it's almost time to switch back into study mode alongside the writing.

The juggling act continues – casual work, writing, study, and trying to maintain some semblance of self-care and exercise. But I'm grateful to be busy with work I genuinely care about.

A Reminder to Be Kind

Going back to World Mental Health Day for a moment – I think it's important to remember to treat ourselves kindly, today and every day. For me, that often means curling up with a good book, going for a walk along the beach, or simply giving myself permission to rest when I need it.

What does treating yourself kindly look like for you? I'd love to hear in the comments.

Until next time, stay safe and be kind to yourself.

Kerrie