Breinthewild

Mug lore: This mug was a simple purchase from World Market but with the added nostalgia of being one of the first items I recall buying for myself with my own money simply because I could. I spent most of my early twenties deeply broke and got in the habit of purchasing nothing outside of the bare minimum necessities. This mug (bought years later) was the result of a lengthy internal battle over whether such an item was “worth” it or if the money should be going to something else more responsible.

At this point in my life I had been working a full-time job (for years!) and had plenty of savings. The money wasn’t the issue so much as my mindset. Old habits, especially those instilled by fear, tend to stick whether you want them to or not. That day, for the first time, I broke down and decided to purchase something a bit frivolous. I’m glad I did. It’s been my favorite mug for several years now.

What I’m drinking: A delicious oolong a friend brought me back from her trip to South Korea. While there she visited the Teastory Beautiful Tea Museum. This was the tea the proprietor of the shop recommended and I was thrilled when she brought some back for me to try. It’s delicious.

What I just finished reading: The Mist by Stephen King. Every time I read a Stephen King story, I come to the conclusion that I need to read many, many more Stephen King stories. Growing up, I had always heard him described as a horror writer. Since horror wasn’t my preferred genre, I steered clear. I heard of him here and there but always from a disinterested distance, like the way you half-listen in on juicy gossip involving someone you don’t know. The first King book I ever read was On Writing in the late 2010s. Currently I think it and the Bible are vying for top spot on my most reread books list, which is hilarious. (It’s a matter of practice. Most things must be practiced if they’re to be done well, I consider faith and writing among them).

The Mist itself was an enjoyable time. It’s a novella so a quick read, especially compared to some of the other King tomes I’ve tried like The Shining and Fairy Tale. The brevity works in the story’s favor, it gets in and out quick, lands its punches, and ends in superb fashion. I had a blast reading it.

What I’m reading now: The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Every year I like to have a few “chonkers” to break up my normal reading patterns, by which I mean books either 1) long in word count or 2) brimming with difficult concepts/unusual or archaic words I have to keep looking up or 3) both. (For reference’s sake, Brandon Sanderson’s Way of Kings series and Cormac Mccarthy books both count as chonkers for me.) In addition, every year I try to read a few new books from the classical cannon. The Brothers Karamazov qualifies as both a chonker and a classic, making it the perfect read to shore up both lists.

I’m only a few pages in but I already appreciate how the writing style forces me to slow down and pay close attention. I’ve been blazing through easy reads lately, the literary equivalents of junk food. It’s nice to have a steak once in a while.

What I’m writing now: I just passed 50k words on my first draft of Superheroes but Janky! (In other words, barely halfway through). Changes to my work schedule have definitely slowed down my progress but I’m back to writing every day.