Mary Hopper

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What I've Figured Out So Far

What I’ve Figured Out So Far:

A peak into my creative process

I’ve teased a little bit about my next project I’m working on, and I’m so close to releasing it out into the world, but in the meantime, I wanted to share about a shift I had recently in writing my next book.

The creative process is a real crazy one, let me tell you. I’ve been up and down on the journey. I thought I was writing a book called Level Up Your Life, it just seems like the next logical step after a book called Lighten Up Your Life, right?

But as I was trying to figure out how the content I’ve gathered into this book fit into what I was trying to say in Level Up, I realized most of what I was writing was not about “getting to the next level,” it was more about “slowing down.” So I started pulling big chunks from my fourth draft into another document that I labeled ‘slow down Your life.” 

What a mess. I felt lost. Now 2 documents, one called Level Up and one other possible called “Slow Down Your Life.” None of it was fitting.

I walked away.

I gave myself some space.

I let the ideas marinate a bit.

I had a call with my writing coach.

And what I realized is, I’m not writing either of those books. I’m writing a book about trying to figure out life after losing my mom, being a mom myself, and finding myself again. And I’m writing it for me, AND as a legacy for my kids. Something they can look back on and read, getting a glimpse at who I was during this time when they were little, what I was struggling with, and also what brought me joy.

What a gift to give them. 

So the working title of book #2 is now: What I’ve figured out so far: an incomplete guide to living a full and meaningful life.

Have you ever created anything that has gone through many phases and drafts?