On a mission to diversify publishing by helping underrepresented voices write, edit, publish, and market your books. 📚 Tap into your creative spirit, let go of perfectionism, and build writing rituals that fit into your busy life. 🌈 Plus, get a behind-the-scenes look into my journey of publishing my bestselling novel and making six-figures as a storyteller.
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Three mistakes I made while in Mexico
Published 7 days ago • 8 min read
School for Writers
with Lauren Marie Fleming
😬 I probably should know better by now...
Six weeks in Mexico City and here's what I've learned. (Spoiler alert: mistakes were made...)
Dear Reader,
I am coming home from Mexico tomorrow, and I've got some feelings about that...
But before I get into why I'm leaving early, I want to share with you a worksheet that helps me see the big picture in life. It's called Rest, Read, and Reflect, and you can download it by clicking the button below.
Working on Because Fat Girl in 2017! I went back to that same cafe this trip to write again.
Privately, my goal was to eat my way through the borough of Coyoacán while figuring out what the heck to do with myself now that I've hit almost all of my major life goals.
I had my trip all planned out:
For week 1, I would adjust to the altitude, be a tourist, and maybe even go on the dating apps and meet some hot queers. YOLO.
For week 2-5, I would write 20,000 words a week to get a solid 60,000 word rough draft of my book.
For week 6-6.5, I would celebrate my finished book by being a tourist again and meandering around town.
Perfect schedule. What could go wrong?
WARNING: THE FOLLOWING CONTENT WILL MAKE YOU HUNGRY
My first mistake was forgetting how absolutely magical Coyoacán is.
From the food, to the people, to the pulsing creative heartbeat this city within the city has, it was impossible to sit at home ignoring the pull of it all. Instead of writing, I found myself meandering the streets for hours, walking five to seven miles a day simply absorbing the beauty that is this place.
My second mistake, was not realizing how empty my creative bucket was.
But I was naive to think I could write my next book from that place of exhaustion. Especially when you mix in the fact that from the time I got an agent to the time the book was published, I broke my foot, lost my nephew to cancer, and had four organs removed in multiple surgeries.
I came here expecting to be a racehorse, ready to run on to the next project. Instead, I was a flawed and tired human, ready to slow down and catch her breath.
Instagram makes it all look quick and easy, but damn this was hard to accomplish and took 7 years to make happen from start to published.
My third mistake was the worst of them all.
I walked off a handicap ramp and re-injured my newly healed ankle. (And yes, the irony of this scenario is not lost on me).
That's not the mistake, though.
The mistake was thinking I finally had it all figured out and that life would now go according to my meticulous plan.
I'd spent the day before meticulously scheduling out my summer so I could get every last bit of joy out of it. Maximize the efficiency of fun.
I know, I know, I hear myself and the ridiculousness of that statement. But that's where I was at, trying to squeeze the most out of my summer back in the states without being present with myself in Mexico.
At nights, I cried, wondering how I would "do it all" when I got back, already missing the carefree life I'd allowed myself to have while I was here.
The morning of my accident, I was running through the metro to meet a friend, admiring how I was finally capable of moving my body after all the injuries it has had, thinking "hmm, maybe I should train for a marathon when I'm back home".
As I climbed the staircases at the stunning library where I met my friend (see below), I started listing in my head all the things I would accomplish now that I was "finally healed" – physically and emotionally.
Pride truly does come before the fall.
After the library, I met up with two other friends, told them how fabulously great I felt, that I had it all figured out, and then proceeded "stop, drop, and roll" (as my friend put it) off the wheelchair ramp heading into the museum.
While they looked at stunning art and important cultural artifacts from the Olmec, Mayan, and Mexica (Aztec) civilizations, I laid flat on a bench with my leg up, trying to stop the bleeding on my knee and praying to whatever gods were left in those artifacts that I could walk out of there without assistance.
As I hobbled around looking for a bandage to clean my wound, I found myself wanting to cry. Not from the pain and embarrassment of the situation – although that was rough – but from the feeling of gratitude for how lucky I was in that moment.
Lucky, the sprain wasn't too bad and I could somewhat walk on it.
Lucky, I wasn't alone when it happened and have friends and family for support.
Lucky, it was at the end of my trip when I'd done most of the walking I needed to do.
Lucky, I was able to change my flight to an earlier time so I could get some assistance with my bags.
Lucky, I've been through so much worse and know I can find the hilarity in times like this.
There, bleeding and in pain, I felt so damn lucky for every human experience I got to have.
That's the one mistake I refuse to make again: not feeling lucky for every moment I get in life.
This isn't about toxic positivity.I'm not saying you have to see the good in hard situations. Sometimes things suck and you need to be able to scream and yell about it.
This is about recognizing that a life well-lived includes the hard parts.
Would you want to read a book where only good things happened to the characters Reader?
I know I wouldn't.
And I'm guessing you'd get bored too.
All the best stories have ups and downs, trials and tribulations, joy and sorrow – and the same is true about life.
Some of my best days have been those spent in hospitals waiting for loved ones to die.
Some of my biggest belly laughs have happened at funerals.
And some of my best adventures have included sprained ankles, missed planes, food poisoning, guns pulled on me, and feelings of complete despair.
So, while I might have, once again, tried to over plan my life and strong arm my muses into working on my ridiculously tight and subjective schedule, I won't let myself forget that I am so damn lucky to live this creative life.
And I hope you feel lucky too Reader. In the ups and downs and in betweens, I hope you're able to see that it's all a part of this adventure we call life.
If you're feeling not so lucky right now, and making a lot of mistakes, here are some things to remember:
It's okay to be pissed off and feeling like shit. That's a part of it all. No toxic positivity here. Feel that shit and let it out. If you're really stuck, check out my course Journal Through It: From "Oh $#@!" to "I've got this!" in 30 Minutes. It will teach you come techniques to
What I want for you more than a life of perfection Reader, is a life well-lived that would make a damn good book.
A book I can't wait to read.
Because the world needs your story now more than ever.™
With love,
Lauren
P.S. Got a great story you think would make an even better book?
We're opening applications for my Write Your Friggin' Book Already® program again VERY SOON, so reply to this email if you want to be the first to know when we do.
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On a mission to diversify publishing by helping underrepresented voices write, edit, publish, and market your books. 📚 Tap into your creative spirit, let go of perfectionism, and build writing rituals that fit into your busy life. 🌈 Plus, get a behind-the-scenes look into my journey of publishing my bestselling novel and making six-figures as a storyteller.
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