Hey, I Missed 3 Weeks of My Newsletter—Let Me Explain

To be honest, I didn’t put much importance on my newsletter, and because of that, I forgot about it.

I started this newsletter to practice writing, stay consistent, and document my creative journey. But somewhere along the way, I lost sight of that. These past three weeks have been mostly consumed with client work, plus an 8-day trip to Bangkok, Thailand.

Another issue was that I didn’t have a system—a system to remind me what to do and when to do it.

So, that’s what I’m going to create—a system.

A system that keeps me on track with daily and weekly tasks, helping me meet my goals and stay consistent.

I’ve done this before, and it’s as simple as creating a daily and weekly checklist that I review every day.

I also need to focus on time blocking, which I find challenging but effective. I don’t like being stuck doing one thing for too long, but I have to remind myself that to get things done, I need to sit down and actually do them.

So, it’s time to refocus, take things more seriously, manage my time and priorities better, and not let doubt or procrastination get in the way.

Projects I’m Working On:

• Tabletop RPG Zines

  • My adventure zines have been on hold lately. Once again, client work has taken up most of my energy, leaving little for my personal projects. However, after a break, I’ve come up with some fresh ideas and am excited to get back to them. One new concept I’ve been exploring is using only a 6-sided die with three bonus stats: physical, dexterity, and intellect. It’s similar to Dungeons and Dragons but much simpler. I’ll share more details once I’ve tested it out a bit more.

• YouTube

  • I still haven’t created a YouTube video, but I have a few content ideas lined up. Starting on YouTube has been the hardest content challenge for me. Partly because I’m unsure of what content to make, and partly because it’s so time-consuming. But, I still want to dive into YouTube—I just need to stop overthinking it.

• Illustration Business

  • My illustration business has taken a new direction, and I’m debating whether I want to keep making things for clients or shift my focus to creating and selling products I enjoy. Instead of offering services, I’m considering turning it into a product-based business, with items like stickers, bookmarks, and zines.

• Short Stories

  • Unfortunately, I’ve left my short story untouched for over a month. I think it’s because, in my mind, the story feels complete, so I’ve lost the excitement and motivation to finish it. I’ll start setting aside more time for it today and see how I feel. I recently read that making a vision board and a soundtrack for writing might help motivate me, so I might give that a try.

What I've been reading/watching/listening:

• I've been listening a lot to Childish Gambino's new 2024 album, "Bando Stone and the New World," especially the song "Lithonia." I've had it on repeat, and I can't help but think how perfect it would be in a paranormal movie. It's definitely an inspiring song to write and create a story around.

• Currently I’ve reading More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa lately. I'm almost at the end, and I'm a bit sad that it's wrapping up. The story is warm and comforting—a gentle slice of life about a girl surrounded by books and bookshops. There isn't much drama or big conflicts; it's more of a story to experience rather than one where you're waiting for a big ending.

• I've been watching Altered Carbon on Netflix, and it's fascinating. The show is set in a future where consciousness is digitized and stored, allowing people to live indefinitely. It's full of action and has some impressive world-building. While the story and characters are compelling, what really grabs my attention is the lore and the world of Altered Carbon. The concept of living forever is intriguing, especially when you consider the advantages for the rich and powerful, and the exploitation of the lower class. It's definitely a great reference if you're looking to write a sci-fi story.

Your Weekly Dose of Practical Wisdom: Keeping a Clean Workspace

A clean workspace brings a sense of calm and order, helping to reduce stress and anxiety. It also boosts your overall well-being. When you keep your work area tidy, you can focus better and work more efficiently, making it easier to achieve great results. Read more here.

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