Well, the month of August came and went, and now we’re already halfway through September!

I ended up taking an unintended but necessary hiatus from blogging last month. I only had the mental energy to juggle so much, and the blog ended up being what I set down. I did get in a little more quality writing on my novel project thanks to that, though! I got a little more feedback in too, which was very positive and helpful.

In other news, this past week marked my 8 year blogiversary. Eight years of sharing my thoughts on books & shows, the occasional experiment in my kitchen, and keeping myself accountable by journaling my writing activity. So, in honor of that, here’s a round-up of what I’ve been watching lately to unwind:

• The Bear (Hulu) The language is terrible and the characters are often exhausting, but this show has a breakneck pace that makes it almost impossible to stop watching and the acting is excellent (and some of the characters do start to grow, and you really start rooting for them).
• Grimm (Amazon Prime) Part police procedural, part fantasy, this show managed to survive six seasons on network television against all odds thanks to a lovable cast of characters and an enthusiastic commitment to its lore.
• Downton Abbey (Amazon Prime) If you haven’t heard of this British period piece already, I have to wonder if you were living under a rock from 2010 to 2015, when this series first aired.
• Only Murders in the Building (Hulu) I’ve shared my enjoyment of this show before. Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez are neighbors & true-crime fans who take it upon themselves to start their own podcast investigating what have become surprisingly frequent deaths in their building. I would question living here, but who would say no to such entertaining neighbors?
• The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon Prime) Another fast-talking, witty dramedy from Amy Sherman-Palladino, this time following the rise of a female comic circa 1960. Less family-friendly than Sherman-Palladino’s Gilmore Girls, but just as funny and filled with just as many quirky characters.

Something funny I’ve realized while binging the shows with more distinct styles/voices, is that when I start writing the next day, I have to go back & double-check the dialogue for the first page or so to ensure that particular show’s voice didn’t creep in unintentionally before I found my rhythm. I caught myself writing a very “Lady Mary” line for a character who, while she might have the same mettle as Mary Crawley, uses a very different vernacular than the folks on Downton Abbey. Now that I’m aware of it though, I may start using it as an exercise when I get stuck, just to give myself a challenge & get the creative juices flowing again!