avatarEllie Jacobson

Summary

Ellie Jacobson reflects on her summer focus, emphasizing quality time with her teenage children, personal writing projects, and simple pleasures at home, while inviting other writers to share their summer intentions on the Flint & Steel platform.

Abstract

Ellie Jacobson, a freelance writer and editor from Minnesota, contemplates the fleeting nature of summer and the importance of consciously choosing where to direct her energy during this season. With her children growing up quickly, she prioritizes making memories with them, especially before they gain independence with driving. Jacobson also shares her commitment to her writing, particularly advancing her novel within her MFA program, and discusses strategies to manage the anxiety associated with sharing her work. She advocates for slowing down and enjoying life's simple joys, such as reading, baking, and gardening, encouraging others to find their own summer focus. The article serves as a call to action for writers to contribute their stories to Flint & Steel, fostering a community of shared experiences and creativity.

Opinions

  • Jacobson values the rejuvenating quality of summer, likening it to a fresh start and a visit with a dear friend.
  • She believes in the importance of seizing the moment with her children, recognizing that their time together is precious and limited.
  • Writing is a significant part of Jacobson's life, and she is both excited and nervous about entering a new phase of feedback and development in her MFA program.
  • Jacobson finds walking with her children, without the distraction of technology, to be a valuable bonding experience and a way to foster new perspectives.
  • She promotes the idea of enjoying one's own home and immediate surroundings as a means of connection and peace, especially in the face of rising costs.
  • Jacobson uses meditation and journaling to cope with anxiety and negative self-talk, particularly in relation to her writing.
  • She emphasizes the need to slow down and engage in activities that nourish the soul, advocating for a guilt-free approach to personal time.
  • The author views writing as an adventure and suggests finding new environments to inspire creativity, even if it means stepping out of one's comfort zone.
  • Jacobson cherishes the therapeutic aspects of baking and involves her son in the kitchen, seeing it as a cherished bonding opportunity.
  • She encourages other writers to find their purpose and focus during the summer, offering the Flint & Steel platform as a space to share their stories and creative endeavors.

Flint & Steel | Writing Prompt

What Is Your Summer Focus?

Take the time to contemplate where to plant your energy over the next few months

Graphic by Ellie Jacobson

“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” ― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

Maybe because I live in Minnesota, but life does seem to start over once the warmer temps make a stay, when the trees bloom, and the grass greens again. It’s like visiting a dear friend. You want to do all the fun things before the visit is cut short and regular life resumes.

We only have so many minutes allotted each day with so many possibilities looming. My question for you today is what is your summer focus? Where will you spend your energy?

Ever since my kids were little, summers meant a time to go on adventures. I would sign them up for new activities to learn, like swimming and soccer. Now it’s taking a long drive with my 15-year-old in the driver’s seat.

Oh where has the time gone?!

As I’ve written before, at the end of one month, I refocus and make a conscious decision on what I will focus on during the new month, taking stock of where my energy needs to go.

Searching Beyond the Horizon

An evening stroll. Photo by Ellie Jacobson

Finding new places to be

More than ever, I feel the summers with my kids slipping away. My oldest will turn 16 in September and my youngest is 14. When they were little, time seemed endless with them.

My focus remains centered on that remaining time, especially before they both have driver’s licenses. “Bye Mom, see ya around!”

The most enjoyable time with my kids is on walks. It can be a short walk around our neighborhood, like above. Or a favorite park nearby or finding a new place to venture together. The location isn’t the concern.

It’s about the time to chat about their lives without the distractions of a phone or any screen for that matter. I should say we do take our phones with us because they are our cameras; my oldest loves to take photographs like his mom. Bonding time through a lens.

Finding new perspectives together is my aim.

Enjoying our own yard. Photos by Ellie Jacobson

With the cost of gas, and everything else going up, I want us to enjoy our own home this summer. Bonfires, Frisbees, bag toss, lunches on the deck. Finding connection and peace in our own space.

Mr. Percy happy to be reunited with fresh grass again, while Benny chills indoors. Photos by Ellie Jacobson

And taking Mr. Percy for his daily stroll around the yard, while Benny naps inside.

Writing Adventures

My desk, aka my writing world. Photo by Ellie Jacobson

The other focus this summer is my writing. This summer marks the beginning of my thesis classes (three in total, one per term) in my MFA program. This is what I’ve been waiting for, finishing the first draft of my novel while getting feedback from my professor and classmates.

Up until this point, I haven’t shared my novel writing with anyone, so the nerves have settled in as I approach this new stage. I can write all day long, but momentum stalls when I know feedback (good, bad, and the ugly) hovers in the background.

I’ve been using mediation and journaling to settle those nerves and fight against my inner negative talk. It’s helping.

My focus is to simply write and enjoy the story I’m writing. To trust the process that all the pieces will align eventually, but right now, I need to get this first discovery draft done. Then I’ll move on to the next stage. Until then, I need to stay in a playful mode to get the story out.

Under the umbrella and writing. Photo by Ellie Jacobson

Finding new places to write is one way to bring our your playful side. Outdoors, at a local park, or coffee shop. I have a hard time concentrating if I’m in a place with others talking but will stretch out of my comfort zone because people watching (and listening) is a fun way to get new ideas. “She said what?!”

Simply Slowing Down (and not feeling guilty about it!)

An afternoon of reading. Photo by Ellie Jacobson.

I don’t know what it is about the warmer weather but whatever IT is, I want to slow down and settle down in it. I want to focus on enjoying past times that soothe my soul, outside of spending time with my family, kitties and my writing.

I will spend hours reading the many books filling my bookshelves; reading outdoors, at a beach, or in a screened sunroom with Benny by my side.

Rhubarb! Photo by Ellie Jacobson

This summer I won’t be setting myself up with failure by gardening, only container gardening on my deck, probably only tomatoes this year. I know my time is limited, so I won’t play the game of thinking I will be able to keep up with it.

We inherited a bountiful rhubarb patch with our home, so I just cut some down to bake up some rhubarb desserts soon. Baking is my therapy. My youngest son is enjoying his time in the kitchen with me, which I cherish beyond belief. Now he is making me pancakes and French toast (swoon!).

How will you spend your summer afternoons?

“Summer afternoon — summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” ― Henry James

By finding your focus for the day, the month or a season, it gives us purpose for our time, allowing you to find your boundaries, where you draw the line and say “no, not today.” It gives me the grace I need to say those words and not feel the guilt I do saying “no” to anything or anyone.

Tomorrow is not guaranteed, so make the most of your precious time with that which moves your soul and makes your heart smile.

Now, your turn. I would love to read about your summer focus. Feel free to submit to your summer focus article to Flint & Steel. Write your post in any format: a poem, a list, a photo essay, whichever creative format works best for you. Add the tag “summer focus.” If you publish somewhere else, mention me in the article so I can stop by to clap, comment and highlight.

If you’re not already a writer for Flint & Steel, read over the submission guidelines and leave a comment that you want to be added as a writer.

Invitation to all the Flint & Steel Writers

Sahil Patel, Shirley Jones Luke, Samantha Jensen, MA, MAEd, Trista Signe Ainsworth, MIGHTY MISCELLANY, L Burton, Heathere CW, Kaori Mitsui, Penelope Mayfield, Pierce McIntyre, Pene Hodge, Yean Foong (M.Ed.), Elin Melaas, Sarah Minnis, Mindy Morgan Avitia, JM Heatherly, Nikki, Andria Kennedy, pockett dessert, Dennett, Diana Lotti, Ronald C. Flores-Gunkle, Mulan, Amanda Laughtland, Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles, Penny Grubb, Sorina Raluca Babau, Prashansa Chandekar, Will Hull, Ravyne Hawke, Jane Grows Garden Rooms (Jane Frost), Mimi Bordeaux, Adrienne Beaumont, Karen Schwartz, Divina Grey, Sangeetha Shankar, Ellen Andaya, Barb Dalton, Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她), Beverly Annette Little, Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她), Beverly Annette Little, Aabye-Gayle F., AliciaMarie Belchak | Master Life, Build Dreams, Danielle Hestand, Rick Allen, Jennifer Pierce, Tamil, Amy Rosie, Jennifer McDougall, Susan Poole, Adrienne Parkhurst, Chelsea Marie — Charlie Cole — Katie Michaelson — Sandra B — Buse ermen — E. Katherine Kottaras — Bingz Huang — Winston — Stephanie Stephenson — Marilyn Flower — Kris Bedenian — Kathy K — Nick Stockton — VerityAlways — Makena Darya — Umme Salma — Călina Mureșan — Anne Bonfert — Jennifer Dunne, K-kun Writes!, M Cher, CARMEN F MICSA, Annette Liron, Sam Finlayson, Ian Hanson, LM, Elizabeth Kasujja, Sandi Parsons, Veronica Haunani Fitzhugh, BichoDoMato, Jules Starley, Jordan Richardson, Angie Mangino, Obinna Uruakpa, Shanice Lawton, Barbara Radisavljevic, Gaurav Jain, Terry Barr, Christine Graves, Randy Runtsch, Susan Alison, Indra Raj Pathak, Ash Moonlight, Jesse M Hawthorne, Denise Darby, Laura Jevtich, Eira Braun-Labossiere 🌻, Donna J. Allen

About the Writer

Ellie is a freelance writer and editor from Minnesota. She is writing her first novel, a psychological suspense novel, while finishing her MFA at SNHU.

Need writing inspiration? Check out Sparks, Ellie’s newsletter filled with Medium writing prompts to spark your creativity.

Want to read more? Or even join Medium as a writer? Join Medium and have unlimited access to so many excellent writers & get started on your own Medium writing journey.

Let’s connect: Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook Writing Group

✍ Written by Ellie Jacobson, @2022 all rights reserved.

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Summer
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