I'm not over it... Y E T
or the July 2025 edition
Welcome to Lost in Story, my monthly newsletter. Here I share musings about my writing journey, book recommendations, and updates in life. Thanks for reading along.
Hello friends.
Are you surviving the heat wave? Goodness is the southeast HOT! So many of the new people we’ve met these last few weeks have teased me about moving during the summer humidity and honestly? I actually think it isn’t as bad as the Midwest. I mean, sure I step out my back door and immediately start sweating, but here at least I can breathe.
The Midwest has something called corn sweat, and if you’ve lived in the region then you know exactly what I’m talking about. You step out your back door and the humidity hits you, nearly taking your breath away. And while the southeast has been humid these last few weeks, I have to go on record to say that it’s very nearly tolerable.
But the mosquitos here are a completely different story. I barely step out of my door, and I’m covered in bites. So if you want to send any suggestions on how I can keep myself from the little blood suckers, I’m all ears.1 Especially since I’m not quite over summer y e t.
The only thing mosquitoes have been good for so far? Keeping me inside writing up a storm! Let’s chat about July shall we?
Apparently not writing for a month was good for my imagination.
Remember when I said I had two goals for July? 1. To finish development edits on my Project Myth story and 2. dive into my MG spacey story draft?
I’m happy to report I have checked off both of those goals thank you very much.
It took me a few days to finally get into the groove of editing, but I was able to sit down mid-month and hone in on my short story. Developmental edits are a pretty big first step in the editing process—they involves looking at the big picture of the story: structure, plot, pacing, and getting character things squared away before you move into the smaller, refinement edits. I had a lot of great feedback from my editors about my story, but also some suggestions that I didn’t love because they weren’t quite how I saw my story playing out. It took a lot of playing around with the characters and structure for me to settle in on something I was happy with, but I did it! I wanted this story to have a bit of mystery without revealing all the important details from the get go, and I think I’ve managed to add that in. We’ll see what the editors think!
Needless to say, I’m pretty happy with how this draft has turned out, but I know there will be more tweaks between now and publication. I’m sure this next half of the year will involve some fun reveals like title, cover, and all that jazz so expect more Project Myth talk as the year goes on!
I also finally conquered my subconscious fear of drafting again. It’s been a few years since I’ve attempted a first draft of a new story idea, and I think my imagination was a little worried I wouldn’t remember how. But as of writing this newsletter, I’m just shy of writing 10k words this month, which feels pretty great. That small goal of 275 words a day / 2000 words a week has been a wonderful mark of encouragement. While this discovery draft is definitely a hot mess, I’m finding my way through the story AND through the characters. A few new ones have popped up in the pages so far, and I’m really liking how it’s starting to take shape. I already know it will need a lot of revision, but that’s for future Caitlin to work on. Right now, I’m finding joy in the process of storytelling AND in the research involved with all the spacey things.
Not to mention I found my VIP writing box that had gone missing in the move. It just happened to be imperative to my inspiration for this story, so all is right in my story world.
My copy of Calla Press’s Spring journal “Living in Wonder” arrived! I’m really proud of my creative nonfiction piece, “When Wonder Sings,” and if you’d like a copy of the journal, it’s available for order now! (I won’t receive any compensation for this piece—just the joy of having my words out in print!)
I wasn’t sure, though, how I’d actually feel holding the journal in my hands. Perhaps some sort of radiant light would blossom around me? Birds would start singing a celebration song? Confetti would fall from the sky? None of those things actually happened, but I will say it was definitely a joy and delight turning to the pages with my name on it. Even though I’d already read the essay several times through edits, reading it in the journal itself felt different. It’s my first ever yes for publication, so I’m holding it close…but it’s given me the desire to dive back into writing nonfiction and pursue submissions for more literary journals. Here’s to something new!
What’s ahead?
Hopefully adding another 10k words to novel #4 !
I’d love to get into a routine of writing back over on The Time Given again, to work on those creative nonfiction muscles but we’ll see. My imagination has been toying with some ideas for a new series, though I’m a bit nervous to jump in right away if I’m not fully ready. I’m letting it simmer for the time being.
I still felt in a bit of a book slump this month which I’m chalking up to still being in the midst of unpacking, but also nearing the start of the school year.2 However, I did pick up some good reads, and I’m currently finishing Funny Story by Emily Henry which might actually be once of my favorites of her.
Don’t forget—if you’re looking for a book recommendation or some fun summer things this season, you can find all my past summer reading guides here. While I didn’t publish a new one this year, there’s plenty of fun for every one in my older editions!
I devoured Starstuff, a collection of middle grade sci-fi stories I found at the library early this month. Whether it’s living on a space elevator, taking a century-long cryonap, or dealing with space bees, the stories are super adventurous and feature middle graders who want to change the world. I loved the depth of science in each story, and for once I enjoyed every single story in an anthology! It’s a great collection to get you thinking, and the perfect antidote to a reading slump.
The Best Worst Summer by Elizabeth Eulberg has been on my shelf for a few years, and I’m so glad I finally picked it up. It was the perfect summer read, about two sets of best friends growing and shifting through the summer season. This one takes place in dual timelines—present day and the 80s. Peyton is currently having the worst summer after moving, while Melissa and Jen are having the best! A fun time capsule connects the two, there’s a bit of mystery, and the story is rooted in the power of friendship. It’s a feel-good summer read for sure!
Library find #2 was The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt by Chelsea Iversen, and if I’m being honest, I totally picked it up based on the cover. It was—interesting. I loved the premise of a lonely, odd girl and her magical garden, but there were parts of the story I didn’t complete love, particularly how Harriet was treated. The story took a turn that didn’t feel quite natural to me, and I think this story could have been something completely different. Perhaps that’s the writer in me. However, I absolutely loved the garden magic in this story! It featured beautiful descriptions, and I’m a sucker for a good English garden. I find magical realism can be a hit or miss because you have to be very particular with the use of magic, but this one weaved it in a strong, thematic way. It’s a book that gave me summery, gothic vibes which was something I’ve been on the hunt for!
What’s on my TBR?
Turns out my massive TBR pile was more than I could handle this month. I only read two library reads and managed to check out three more, only adding to my endless pile. I’d love just a few more summer-y reads to wrap up the season so I’ll probably pick up Just Harriet by Elana K. Arnold, an adorable chapter book with some summer vacation mystery. I’ll probably pick up Henry’s newest, Great Big Beautiful Life for one last feel-good rom com, plus I know I’ll have a book hangover after Funny Story. Summer always feels like a time for adventure and since I haven’t picked it up yet, I also have City Spies by James Ponti on standby. I’m in the weird between where I’m ready for fall books but it’s way. too. early. so I have a feeling middle grade adventure will be the way out of the slump!
July was a time of settling in—unpacking, exploring, and simply discovering.
—July newness—
Currently, I’m—
Watching: Downton Abbey. I will admit I was an OG fan through season 3 and then— simply stopped watching. IYKYK. But with the grand finale movie hitting theaters next month, I decided it was time to finish it AND watch the movies. So my husband and I started over with season one because yes, I got him hooked. Even if it will break my heart again, I forgot how much I love this show. And since I’m in my British Era, I finally started Bridgerton season 3. Think I’ll need a rewatch form the beginning soon…
Eating: all the cold noodle salads because this heat wave is INTENSE. So far my favorite is this dumpling salad from Plant You! I’ve also made her Street Corn Pasta salad twice this month, and it’s even better cold from the fridge. Use mayo not yogurt (I use Primal Kitchen) and add extra garlic and tanjin to the dressing. Cut the tomatoes in the salad. You’re welcome.
Cooking through: Life Changing Salads by Danielle Brown still because it’s just SO GOOD. And I mean…who wants to eat super heavy, hot foods with its triple digits outside?
Listening: to one of my favorite Hogwarts ambiance videos while I write. Oh if I could just jump into my screen…
Scrolling: Too much still. I’m seriously contemplating a fall hiatus. Anyone up for it with me?
Reading: Ada Lace is On the Case by Emily Callandrelli aka The Space Gal. It’s the start of an adorable chapter book series, and I’m in it for the science and maybe a bit of craft research…
Growing: Nothing still. It is way too hot outside for a garden, but I’m starting to think about where I want to place my raised beds for a potential fall mini garden!
Alas, here’s to wrapping up summer with a birthday cake for Harry.3 May your August be full of lingering summer joy and wonderful, feel-good reads.
Until next time,
PS…if you’d like to support my writing, here’s a link to my Ko-Fi page where you can give a writer a coffee! (Because if you give a writer a coffee, she might just write a book! If she writes a book, she might just thank you for your support!)
See what I did there? Corn? Ears? You can take the girl out of the Midwest, but not the Midwest out of the girl…
I shared over on Instagram this month that while I’m not heading back into the classroom full time, I did accept a part time adjunct position at a local university. Guess I can’t say no teaching just quite yet!
I rarely have birthday cake on my own birthday, but the last few years I’ve baked one for Harry Potter. It’s been a fun little tradition, and who can say no to cake?
"Ears" to you! That was great. And that dumpling salad looks amazing...