A Day in the Life of a Romance Writer And A Cat Called Molly…
Every day is a little different
when your job is to write kissing scenes and try not to be emotionally
manipulated by a cat named Molly. But April has been a soft, dreamy kind of
month. The sea breeze is warmer, my SPF is working overtime, and my brain is a
beautiful mess of characters falling in love—and forgetting to do the dishes.
Here’s a little peek into one of
those days.
Morning Moments
Woke up at 6:47 am, not because
I’m one of those highly-disciplined “morning pages before sunrise” people, but
because Molly decided my face was the ideal place to sit. She was not wrong.
Made a coffee, opened the
windows, and let the ocean breeze do its thing. It smelled like salt and
sunshine. I did a few gentle stretches and half-hearted Pilates while listening
to a romance audiobook. (Multitasking queen.)
Skincare was simple today: mist,
vitamin C, and SPF 50. My makeup consisted of tinted moisturizer, fluffy brows, and lip
balm with a tiny bit of pink because I like feeling like the main
character.
Writing Life
I’m knee-deep in edits for a new
book—think slow burn, Ocracoke Island, and the softest kind of second chances.
The characters have finally started cooperating after ignoring me all week,
which is nice of them.
Wrote a line I kind of love:
“He kissed her like he wasn’t
sure if it was the last time or the first.”
Word count: decent. Snacks
consumed: many. Molly sat on my keyboard twice and added several rows of
“zzzzzzzzzzzz” to chapter eleven. A creative contribution.
Life by the Beach
Took a walk around 4pm when my
brain stopped braining. The tide was out, and the light was golden. I passed a
couple holding hands and got instantly jealous of my own fictional characters.
Typical.
Walks are my secret weapon for
untangling plot knots and daydreaming new scenes. Also, I saw a seagull
aggressively stealing someone’s chips, which felt like a metaphor for
something. Probably writing-related. Probably not.
Molly’s Musings
Molly’s mood today: regal and
vaguely judgmental. She knocked a plant over for reasons unknown and then
stared at me like I was the disappointment.
She has no respect for
deadlines, but she’s excellent company. Currently asleep in a sunbeam like the
little coastal queen she is.
Self-Care Check-In
I did a full skincare wind-down
tonight—double cleanse, niacinamide, tretinoin, hyaluronic acid, and night cream
that smells like orange blossoms. Lit a candle. Wore a silk scrunchie that I crocheted
with a new skein of silk/cotton yarn and felt like I had my life together (for
approximately 27 minutes).
Pilates this morning helped
ground me, but honestly, it’s the little rituals that are keeping me feeling
human. Beauty is a love language, too.
Currently Obsessed With...
Reading: Karen Rose Don't Tell
Listening
to: Michael Buble-Higher
Watching: Reacher
Craving: Honeycomb ice cream- I always
crave ice cream of any kind.
Thinking
about : How it’s
always the quietest scenes in books that hit the hardest.
Final Thoughts
Today was messy and lovely in
equal measure. I wrote words, walked in the wind, stared at my cat too long as
she stared right back at me with those beautiful green eyes, and remembered why
I love what I do.
Romance isn’t just something I
write—it’s how I live. In the details. The rituals. The soft days like this.
Until next month,
Dilys x