2024 feels like a year of uncertainty to me. There's just a lot that doesn't look great hanging out right there on the horizon - social media is dead, so what do I do for sharing my latest books? The economy is…less than ideal - how much will I be able to focus on writing if money is tight? Publishing is just as volatile as ever - will I even be able to sell the projects I'm working on? Not to mention climate, war, politics, tech bros, and everything else that fills me, and I'm sure you, with varying levels of dread when we lay our heads down at night.
And uncertainty makes capital P - Planning difficult. How do you plan for tomorrow when there are real reasons tomorrow may be completely impossible to predict? I sat down and tried a few times - I have a new, beautiful planner and sticky notes and different coloured inks -
but every time I tried to Plan, it all felt kind of useless and stress inducing.
So forget it.
I've decided I'm not going to make Plans for my creative work this year.
Instead, I'm embracing routine. Something I can control - err, to a certain degree, anyway. I have three kids, one of whom is a toddler. Uncertainty is a part of my life - one day someone's learnt to climb shelves out of nowhere, the next someone's bringing home a vile stomach bug that rips through the whole family. My plans are constantly interrupted. But what's also a part of my life with little ones, is routine. Breakfast, teeth brush, drop off, pick up, homework, dinner, jammies, story, bed. The routine can be adjusted to fit the day, but its there as the base level of things that need to happen.
And that feels like a good idea for my creative life in 2024. A weekly routine for my writing and drawing that can be adjusted as needed. Life happens, industries shift, economies change, and 2024 feels like a year that is going to be throwing a lot of these types of curve balls at me. But if I keep to the routine as much as possible, adjusting for unexpected outside forces as needed, then by the end of the year I should have something accomplished, and hopefully, I can feel much better about myself than if all my stuffy Plans didn't work out.
So here’s to no plans, great routines, and a readiness to pivot.
Bring it on 2024, I’m ready for you.
Doodle
What I’m Working On
Still working on my Oz story - chickens have started taking over, which I didn’t anticipate. Very haughty chickens, self righteous and prim. I love them so much.
And speaking of things that keep me up at night - thanks to all the news I watch and the subsequent existential crises that follow, a new story has started to call my name. Not exactly new - it’s an idea I’ve been kicking around for years, but it never had a story to get it off the ground. I can feel the story taking shape that last few days and that’s always an exciting part of a new project.
For paid subscribers, I’m putting together the ebook for my YA werewolf whodunnit, Wulfrun! I’ll be sending more updates and details about when to expect its release, but for now, I thought I should probably share what it’s about.
The hunters of Wulfrun are legendary, and all 17-year-old Fenris aspires to be. For centuries they have kept the threat in the trees at bay - no one has seen a Were in Wulfrun for over 80 years.
That is until the bloody evidence of a Were attack is found splattered through the forest. Wulfrun launches into a panic: could it really be a Were attack? Who did it kill? Or worse, who did it...change?
Fenris and her sister Tala have a pretty good hunch who did it. They've seen a Werewolf before. And not just any Werewolf. The Wolf Prince. He's come for Tala like he tried years ago. But they had Grand to stop him then. Now, to save her sister, Fenris will test everything she's learned -- and uncover the secrets Wulfrun has forgotten.
Also, ICYMI, I have a deal going on right now until January 5 for 50% off one year of Authorstrator!
What I’m Reading
I just finished Normal Women by Ainslie Hogarth over the holidays and had a great time reading this hilarious, smart, weird and challenging story about motherhood and the value of female labour. Highly recommend.
I also have myself an Indigo gift card so it’s time to figure out what books I want. Read anything good lately?
Stacks to Share
is back! After a bit of a hiatus, she’s sharing her writerly wisdom about being present while living the writing life.I loved this post from
at on fountain pen NIBS. ‘s always has some really useful stuff for writers, including this piece about printing.And that’s it!
Wishing you a very happy New Year :)
So this though!! Routine vs plans was actually a huge breakthrough for me recently. I've been struggling with writing all autumn, not for lack of ideas but like of...deciding ability I guess? But when I decided I don't have to have all my projects ideas perfectly planned and decided, instead my goal is just to work on *something* every day, that made all the difference. And then suddenly my motivation was back too. Love this idea. Good luck with everything in 2024!
I'm feeling very similarly. My two kids are older than yours so I think I just need them to return to school but I have all the same thoughts about the wider world and my work. Thanks for being so honest 💖