Let’s start with the headline: I hit all my writing goals last week.
That alone feels worth celebrating. For those of you who’ve been following along, you know writing isn’t just a checkbox on my to-do list. It’s my work, my passion, my therapy, my playground. So to sit here at the end of the week and say I didn’t just show up—I delivered—feels really, really good.
So what got done?
Well, for starters, I finally posted the first part of Tiger Woman. That story has been quietly simmering on my hard drive for a while, and I kept putting off sharing it. Not because it wasn’t ready (it was) or because I didn’t believe in it (I do), but because of that classic creative pitfall: overthinking.
You know the drill. You start wondering if it’s the right time, the right platform, the right vibe. Maybe it needs one more edit. Maybe you’ll post it after something else goes up first. And before you know it, a finished story just…sits. And sits. And then collects a fine layer of digital dust because it never made it out into the world.
But this week? I told that voice to take a hike. I hit publish. And I don’t regret it for a second.
And that’s not all.
I also released a new short story called “Fighter and the Fictionist,” which is a piece I wasn’t even planning to release this week. It sort of crept up on me. I was revisiting some older drafts, saw that one, and the spark hit me. A little polish here, a line break there, and suddenly I’m staring at something I knew deserved daylight. So I published that too.
The response so far has been solid, but more than anything, it just felt good to follow through.
That was kind of the theme of the week: follow through.
The One Thing I Didn’t Nail (And Why That’s Okay)
Of course, no week is perfect. I didn’t hit every goal, and the one that slipped was in the fitness department.
Specifically: my afternoon workouts. I started the week with the full intention of sticking to my routine. Morning cardio? No problem. Walking? Got my steps. But when it came time to hit those afternoon weights or resistance sets, I…just didn’t.
A few times I sat down to start and felt my body say, “Nope. Not today.” I was tired. Not sore, just drained. And I made the call to listen. That wasn’t always easy. The little voice in my head likes to whisper, “You’re slacking,” or, “You said you’d do this, so what’s your excuse?” But this time, I shut it down.
I didn’t want to hurt myself.
That might sound obvious, but when you’re chasing consistency and discipline, it can be easy to blur the line between pushing through and pushing too far. And I’m not about that burnout life. Rest is part of the plan, too. And the deeper I get into this journey—whether it’s writing, fitness, or just life in general—the more I realize that discipline isn’t about never missing a beat. It’s about knowing which beats matter the most and showing up for those no matter what.
So yeah, I missed a few workouts. But I stayed present with my body. I paid attention. And that’s a win too.
The Mind Game: Why This Week Was Different
Here’s the real heart of what I learned this week, though.
I made a decision early on to stop making excuses.
Now, I’m not talking about being cruel to myself or pretending everything’s fine when it’s not. I’m talking about calling myself out—gently, but firmly—when I start spinning reasons not to do the work I know I want to do.
And you know what? That mental shift changed everything.
I had one of those moments early in the week where I caught myself procrastinating. I was staring at my notes, thinking, “I’ll just work on this later.” And then I stopped and asked myself: Why not now? I had time. I wasn’t waiting on anything. The only thing in my way was…me.
So I got up. Sat down again. And started.
It was that simple.
That one moment snowballed into a series of small wins. The writing flowed. The edits happened. The publishing tasks I’d been putting off for no good reason? Done. And every time I felt that mental resistance rise up again, I reminded myself: Do the work. Don’t wait for the perfect mood. Just do it.
That mindset carried me all the way through the week, and it left me with this really clear insight: our minds can be our greatest obstacle—or our greatest asset.
I don’t say that lightly. I’ve had weeks where anxiety or burnout made it genuinely difficult to get anything done. But this week? The block wasn’t emotional. It wasn’t mental health. It was just habit. It was the old rhythm of putting things off out of comfort.
And once I realized that, it became so much easier to override the system.
Looking Ahead: Building a Publishing Schedule on the Fly
So what’s next?
This week is all about client work and getting more stories out into the world. I’ve been sitting on chapters for a few different projects—some finished, some close—and there’s no reason for them to keep waiting.
In fact, I’m putting together my new publishing schedule as you read this. No, seriously. I’m outlining what goes up when right here, right now. The goal is to get consistent. I want to build some rhythm into my releases—not just for the algorithm (although, sure, that helps), but for me and you, the reader.
I know what it feels like to follow someone’s work and get super invested, only for updates to dry up or happen at random. That’s not the kind of experience I want to offer. So I’m going to change that. If I’ve got stories ready—and I do—they’re going out. Period.
I’m also streamlining my workflow so I don’t get caught up in the tiny delays that steal time and energy. Things like:
- Over-revising instead of trusting the work.
- Waiting for the “right moment” to publish.
- Worrying if one story isn’t as strong as another.
- Thinking I have to launch something instead of just sharing it.
No more of that.
My new rule is: if it’s done, it goes live.
A Quick Shoutout to You
Before I close this out, I just want to say thank you to everyone who’s reading this—whether you’ve been following my work for a while or just stumbled across this post.
Accountability posts like these might seem a little self-indulgent on the surface, but they’re part of how I stay grounded. When I take the time to reflect, write it down, and share it publicly, I’m not just doing it for me. I’m doing it to create transparency. To show the real ups and downs of this creative journey.
It’s not always glamorous. It’s not always smooth. But it is always worth it.
So thanks for being here. For reading. For cheering me on—even silently. I see you. And I appreciate you more than you know.
Final Thoughts
Last week wasn’t perfect. But it was successful.
I showed up. I did the work. I stopped making excuses and just…got it done. And even though I missed a few fitness sessions, I gained something more important: insight into my mindset, and proof that I can trust myself to deliver.
That’s the kind of win that sticks with you.
Now I’m rolling into this week with clear goals, stronger energy, and a publishing plan that’s going to bring a lot more stories your way. So if you’ve been waiting for updates, buckle up—because they’re coming.
Here’s to the next seven days.
Let’s go make something great.