Books, Journals & Worksheets Archives

When I pressed “send,” 5,000 words of my 12,346-word manuscript, The Dollhouse Chronicles, were included in a required package due this past Sunday, ahead of a writing mentorship masterclass I am invited to attend in April.

I was both relieved to meet the deadline and deeply gratified that my book—a novel I have been working on for over two years—was finally put to bed.

But that night, after already sending off my submission, I woke before daybreak from a dream, or maybe it was my subconscious telling me that The Dollhouse Chronicles had not yet been “put to bed.”

Whatever it was, it showed me one of my female characters barefoot. When I sat up, I silently cursed myself for not adding that all-important detail to describe her fleeing a harrowing situation. Of course, she was barefoot.

I charged down three flights of stairs and opened The Dollhouse Chronicles Word doc. I added the word “barefoot” to the end of the second-to-last sentence of a narrative-driven flashback in chapter five. Though labeling it a chapter is nowhere near an accurate description of the gut-wrenching scene.

I’ve been struggling to capture the sections of my book in a way that is laudable and meritorious. The narrative breaks involving the three main girls in my manuscript deserve a poetic description worthy of their gritty characters and thriving spirits, not a rote label like “scenario,” “chapter,” “scene,” or “episode.”

Those three young ladies deserve a description that is far more visceral and evocative—something that does justice to their resilience, courage, and resolve.

And then it hit me.

I could call each section a vignette, a fitting and descriptive homage to the three powerhouse characters in my book. Wait. Had I just created a subtitle for my upcoming novel?

THE DOLLHOUSE CHRONICLES

A collection of vignettes

Yes. My three heroes were part of a collection of vignettes, and just like that, my book had a new title. However, I’ll wait to review it with my writing adviser before making the change.

And then came night two after my submission—and nights three and four.

Those nights were chock-full of vivid, intricate, multifaceted layers that clearly needed to be woven into my already-completed novel.

Each night, I jotted down the myriad visions, and each morning I added them to my manuscript.

This book, which I thought was finished, seems to have taken on a life of its own—morphing, developing, and rewriting itself.

And it’s obvious from the reams of notes I’m taking and making that I’m not finished with the manuscript because the manuscript is clearly not finished with me.

And so, I’ve been listening to the novel and updating what it wants me to say.

It feels ridiculous to say I’m listening to a novel. That, as the writer, I’m not in charge of my own words. Is that even possible?

I say yes.

The words flow easily and connect so fluidly that I know beyond a doubt that my book is in control.

And now The Dollhouse Chronicles is transforming itself day by day through vignettes.

The rich complexities of the characters in my trauma-based novel continue to reveal themselves in endless, intricate detail. My novel has proven itself to be a work in progress.

Just like me.

A journal or food tracker can be a lifesaver for managing diverticulosis or flare-ups, known as diverticulitis. (I have attached one at the bottom of this post.)

Diverticulosis is a medical condition characterized by the formation of bulging pouches (diverticula) in the lining of the colon. These pouches can catch and harbor small particles of food. Although generally harmless, trapped food particles in the pouches can sometimes become inflamed or infected, leading to a condition called diverticulitis, which in some cases can be deadly.

Managing diverticulitis involves a combination of dietary adjustments, medication, and in some cases, surgery. During a flare-up, your doctor may prescribe a clear liquid diet for a few days, followed by a transition to soft foods. Your doctor may also prescribe oral antibiotics to treat the infection.

Your doctor may also recommend pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol). But your doctor may instruct you to avoid NSAIDS like ibuprofen, Advil, and aspirin. He or she may also recommend a fiber supplement, such as Metamucil, in gummy, capsule, or powder form.

You should rely on your doctor to work with you to monitor the situation, taking into account your individual experience and the severity of your diverticulitis.

Long-term management focuses on preventing future attacks by maintaining a personalized diet, consistent hydration, adequate sleep, and a healthy weight. Maintaining a healthy weight, regular exercise, and drinking plenty of fluids, especially water, is crucial for staying on a healthy digestive track.

The best way to monitor any medical issue is to create a written record of your daily food intake, body pain, mood, and stress levels.

Using a food diary, pain tracker, or a symptom and digestive management workbook can provide a written record of which foods, stress levels, and drinks may be contributing to your flare-ups.

While there’s no evidence that specific foods cause diverticulitis, some individuals find that certain foods, such as nuts, seeds, popcorn, or corn, can worsen or trigger a digestive flare-up.

Unfortunately, determining which foods you can and cannot tolerate is often a matter of trial and error. To be safe when introducing new foods into your diet, start with small amounts and gradually increase them over time.

Find a journal or food tracker which offers ample space to record daily symptoms, the location of body pain, digestive activity, and any other additional personal notes.

During a diverticulitis flare-up, your doctor may recommend a temporary clear liquid diet (consisting of broth, clear juices, and lots of water) to allow the colon to rest and heal.

As symptoms improve, your doctor may suggest gradually introducing a soft or mushy food diet, followed by a low-fiber diet that you can tolerate, and eventually transition to a higher-fiber diet if possible.

Food intake is challenging because every patient has foods they can tolerate and others that can trigger a colon attack. Setbacks and triggers can occur unexpectedly, depending on stress and other factors, which is why a journal or food tracker/worksheet that allows you to track your food intake is so important.

In severe or recurrent cases of diverticulitis, your doctor may suggest surgery to remove the affected portion of the colon if necessary.

If you experience new or worsening abdominal pain, fever, or blood in your stool, seek immediate medical attention. Take your digestive pain seriously.

Keeping a daily tracker can identify patterns and determine which foods or activities might be triggering diverticulitis flare-ups. A tracker also helps patients become more attuned to their bodies and empowers them to actively participate in managing their diverticulitis.

For a free copy of this food tracker, click here to contact me.

Or make a copy of the JPG image below: