THE WEEKLY BREW: Surviving Chaos

I spent more time last week creating printable planner sheets to organize my projects in 2026, and I’m already feeling like my mind is less cluttered.

As I mentioned in a few of my previous posts, I’m trying to bring planning on paper and journaling back into my daily routine. I’ve got my project trackers, my monthly log, goal trackers, monthly check-ins.

I’ve been looking around at new planners and there are so many amazing ones – that are like min $70 plus shipping! So, before I commit, I decided to revamp my daily planner page and add in a space to journal below my tasks. not sure how I’ll like it – but if I do, I might splurge and buy a new planner with a similar layout, because journaling in a disc-bound planner (which I currently use) feels a little impermanent to me.

Things Are Ongoing

In terms of my ongoing projects, I’m about halfway through the next-to-last read-through of The Bone Key sequel. I decided to edit in 5-chapter chunks then type up those edits before I continue so it doesn’t feel like an endless slog. Which it can at this stage of 3 main revisions (plus the minor tweaking that goes into each of those).

The stories for the collection are still in first-draft-mess mode, but I’m keeping at it. The novella is in hibernation mode until after the holidays.

I’m starting to feel the holiday crunch though. I still have to go buy all my baking supplies, and I’m finishing my last two assignments for the Copyediting course I’m taking (both due on the final class this Thursday).

I’m ready for a break, though. I don’t feel very festive this year. The only Christmas movie I’ve watched so far is Scrooged. Things just feel bleak and I’m missing loved ones who are gone and just need time to refill the well with books (not textbooks!), snacks, video games, and thinking about starting a fresh new year.

Is This Thing On?

I hope you’re all doing well! I don’t get many comments on these posts much anymore since I moved away from Substack. Sometimes I think about going back there, but it’s still problematic (then again…what isn’t these days?!).

If you are receiving these posts (I’ve been told they often end up in Spam folders), pop on, say hi, and tell me the thing you’re most proud of accomplishing this year, even if it’s as simple as surviving the chaos! I’d love to hear from you!