Are you pivoting or abandoning?

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How do you stick with a project when you’re constantly inspired by new ideas that seem even better?

How do you distinguish between truly pivoting to something better and simply abandoning a project?

Hello friend!

Happy new year!

The questions above are ones that haunt me. I have started and stopped so many projects, businesses, jobs and roles.

I am a person with strong vision and perseverance. But when I look at the historical evidence of my endeavors, that seems debatable.

But when something feels off, or I figure out how to solve a problem in a new way, I just can’t keep going without making a change.

I like to think of that as a strength.

But every strength has a shadow side.

It seems like most people fear change, and I am the opposite. I thrive in change and possibility.

The season of life I am in is full of change on its own. It seems like learning to become a steady, consistent person shouldn’t be so hard and would offer freedom. Or would that just be fighting with my nature?

I know my creative energy can be explosive. I really don’t want to fight with it.

The Bookmarks

• Weekly Write-Up: Prioritizing the holidays

  • 3 daily habits

  • 4 weekly habits

• Between the Lines: Does documenting the writing jo …

• The Resource Shelf: Marketing from day 1

• Poll & Prompt: What would help you start?

Weekly Write-Up: Prioritizing the holidays

The holidays were upon us last week, we were traveling and then had sick kiddos. I haven’t written or journaled since December 21, 2024 and that is okay. I knew those things wouldn’t fit in last week, and I am grateful to come back to them this week!

3 daily habits

4 weekly habits

Between the Lines: Does documenting the writing journey get me closer to my goals?

I am feeling uneasy about how I’ve framed this newsletter, and how it fits into the broader view of my work. But I am struggling with trusting myself in how to pivot or evolve it (see intro). I’m questioning if I need “Write a Book” series as its own thing after all, or if I should just stick to my previous email essay format and include short updates on the book writing process.

I have such a strong desire to “productize” my work. To make it understandable. To make it sellable. To create something that other people can find when they need it. But then I feel both confined and like its a moving target.

After sending the first issue of this Write a Book series, I realized that it would lead to building an audience of aspiring writers. And, I’m not confident that audience would translate into readers of my book.

But, who will read my book?! How do I find those people?!

I have done the exercises to understand my ideal reader/customer and I see her! I just don’t know how to pin her down.

Anyways, I sort of feel like a dumb-dumb, but I might scrap this whole newsletter template after 2 sends. Maybe I won’t. Whatever I do, I want to make it better.

The Resource Shelf: Marketing from day 1

I just have one podcast recommendation for you this week. I listened to this one night while tackling a sewing project. Afterwords, I went upstairs and had a 1000-word burst writing session fueled by the feeling that I knew who my protagonist is and why my future readers will love her.

• #167. Why Marketing Matters From Day 1 With Lacy Lieffers - Fiction Writing Made Easy with Savannah Gilbo

It’s also worth noting that thoughts in this episode are contributing to my confusion if this newsletter format will attract the right readers or not!

Poll & Prompt: What would help you start?

Journal Prompt:

I have not had time to sit down and reflect on the past year or the new year. But I was moved by reading the reflection questions Christina Tasooji shared in her new year newsletter. I thought I’d share them here with you, too.

• What beliefs have I outgrown?

• Where can I trust myself to take bold, aligned action?

• How can I create systems that support my intentions—without overcomplicating the process or burning out?

Thank you for being here. If you know someone who could use some company on their journey to build something, please pass this along! If you have any thoughts or feedback, I’d love to hear them.

Warmly,
Jennifer