My favorite daily simple writing prompt–this simple writing prompt is so much fun and perfect for journaling!

Every once in a while we play a little game around here called CURRENTLY. It’s my favorite because it’s a simple writing prompt that doesn’t feel like a writing prompt. It gets your thoughts flowing while also capturing a moment in time in your life. And those little moments are priceless, especially when you look back on them a year or two from now.

You could fill a whole notebook with weekly or monthly CURRENTLYs, or just keep this simple writing prompt in your back pocket for the next time you want to hone those observation + reflection skills.

Want to play? Fill out whatever pops in your head for each category—the less you think about it, the more fun this simple writing prompt will be.

LOVING // Train rides. I love, love, love riding the train. And I know it makes me crazy, but now that we’ve moved just north of Richmond, the long train ride to NYC is the very best. The scenery, guys—you’ve got to try it.

READING // I’m not sure exactly how it started, but Jarrett decided to get back into mysteries, and now he and I are on an Agatha Christie kick. I started with And Then There Were None. (I guessed the killer! My crowning achievement in life.) And I just started The Mysterious Affair at Styles. They are a ridiculously fun yet mind-bending break—perfect if you want to traipse into a genre that isn’t your norm.

EXCITED ABOUT // I’ve very excited to have just turned in the manuscript for a joke book I’ve been packaging for Chronicle. I love that packaging gives me a little chance to put together a book like in my editor days (hint: it’s also a great option for nonfiction writers looking to get a book credit to their name)!

LISTENING TO // The RFD Boys at 50: Still Delivering. Jarrett’s dad was a member of The RFD Boys for 42 years until he passed in 2012, and this year they’re celebrating FIFTY years together as a band. It’s crazy; it’s amazing; and it’s damn good music.

MAKING // The March designs for Literary Paper Co. We’re going to be learning the art of letting go next month, which is so important when you’re a writer/artist and survival means letting go of the rejection letters, mean-spirited feedback, and self-doubt that creeps its way into your creative consciousness. Think of it as Kondo-ing your creative life!

DREAMING OF // A trip to The Greenbrier next month to celebrate my mother-in-law’s birthday. We’re only a 3-hour drive away, yet I’m dreaming of taking the train…

WORKING ON // Proposals! Always proposals. I have two this month I’m zeroing in on, and one of those is from a client that is verrryyy close to me. #secrets

ENJOYING // Not cooking. I’ve been knee deep in recipe testing for a client the past few weeks, which requires me to be so Type A and detailed that it zaps my brain into space dust. A cooking detox this week will bring the magic back for next week.

WEARING // I finally bought this sweater that I’ve been eyeing for months, and I’m so glad I did. I wear it more days of the week than I should admit.

SINGING // 🎶I’ve been all around the world…🎶 This one might be my favorite track.

NEEDING // A new pair of jeans. But I hate jeans shopping. And all clothes shopping. Maybe I should rename this category “DREADING,” but I guess that would mess with the beauty of this simple writing prompt.

THINKING ABOUT // The quiet, hopeful excitement I feel for this spring. It’s all going to work out, y’all.

5 quick reads for the week

1. Benjamin Dreyer’s new book is a dream come true for all you grammar police out there and a helpful find for the rest of us.
2. In order to write, you have to read, and Chad R. Allen has compiled a list of the most important books for aspiring authors (and let’s be honest, the experienced writers, too).
3. It turns out that all those books collecting dust on your shelves (you’re going to read them, as soon as…) are actually metaphors for what you hope to learn! What a relief.
4. Creative life vs. day job–the struggle (or opportunity?) we all face.
5. Happy book birthday to Damn Delicious Meal Prep by my friend and client Chungah Rhee! If you lose steam for healthy cooking mid-week (ahem, me), meal prep is your new best friend. And catch Chungah on the Today show on Friday morning, cooking with Hoda and Kathie Lee!

What we’re eating this week

I’m in NYC this week; Jarrett is in DC then NYC; Pepper is at her sitter’s house; and guess which one of us is not missing the others.

Will accept pets from literally anybody.

Lucky for you, my cooking this week is like Sunday’s Super Bowl—barely worth watching and sure to leave you disappointed.

Monday: I was home and felt like cooking something as unfancy and unfussy as possible, so I made the simplest meat sauce (that’s right—meat sauce—not Bolognese) with spaghetti and a green salad right out of central cast. I swear to it—sometimes the most basic dinners are the best.

Tuesday: Off to NYC, where I spend 99% of my time thinking about the soup dumplings at Kung Fu Kitchen and the other 1% eating sad things I scrounge up from the bowels Penn Station.

Wednesday: The best life advice I have to give? If you’re totally over cooking for the week, insert yourself into the dinner plans of someone who’s got a little more endurance and inspiration. Hence, eating homemade pupusas at my Yaya’s. Oh boy, oh boy.

Thursday: Something sad on Amtrak. Maybe I’m overly sensitive, but sad dinners break my heart. (So much wasted potential.)

Friday: I am home! So Book Night at The Broad and something happy to eat that I do not even have to cook!

Cheers!