Ok, now let’s chat.

I’ll be 44 in a week, and I’ve been wondering lately… have I reached the age of a “take me or leave me” attitude?

Maybe.

But if I’m being honest, this hasn’t been some overnight shift. It’s been building quietly for almost a year now… little changes in how I show up for myself, my family, and my business. The kind of changes that don’t always look dramatic to those of you on the outside, but feel you can’t stop thinking about them when you’re living them.

We all have those moments in life where something shakes us to our core, and suddenly, things that once felt important begin to fall away. I’ve been thinking of it like the trees in the fall… how the leaves let go, one by one, making space without protest. And then, eventually, spring comes. New growth. New energy. A different version of what was there before.

That’s what this season has felt like for me. (Although there are days when I want to grab the leaves and try to hold on. But, I know the season change for a reason.)

Over the last few months, I stepped away from my role as community manager at Jane Austen Literacy Foundation. It was something I poured my heart into for the past two years… building that community space from the ground up, watching it grow, connecting readers from all over the world. I’m incredibly proud of what I created there. But I also knew, deep inside, that it was time to move on.

At the same time, something else was growing behind the scenes.

Health and wellness found its way back into my life… this wasn’t just a passing interest for me, but as something I couldn’t ignore anymore. Years ago, I had started down the path of becoming a yoga teacher, but life got in the way and I let it drift. This time felt different. There was no more “someday.” It was time to go all in.

So I did.

I signed up for training. I showed up. I kept going. (Even though I had plenty of WTF am I doing this at 43 moments!)

And now, I’m officially certified to teach Barre, and just about finished with my Pilates certification. The wildest part? I’ll be teaching starting in June… at the same studio I first walked into back in October.

Am I terrified? Absolutely.

But I’ve been leaning hard into the idea of doing things scared. Of not waiting until I feel ready. Of trusting that I can figure it out as I go.

And honestly… it’s been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done.

So what does all of this mean for this space? It means things are shifting here, too.

The Literary Assistant isn’t going away. I’ll still be working with my clients and doing the business side of things I love… but that will live in its own space, a tab for those who are looking for it.

This will now be a space for me to talk about life.

This is where I show up as me. Melissa Makarewicz. No more hiding behind a business name. No more only sharing a part of myself to fit into a box.

I think I’ve always felt that a part of me has to stay tucked away, afraid if I just “be myself” I won’t be someone cup of tea. Well, I guess I’ve reached a point where I’m ok with that. Maybe I love myself too much to not show up as me.

So here I am, sharing what I’m learning, what I’m reading, the life I’m building, and what I’m becoming.

Health. Habits. Books. Life in all its messy, evolving stages. Because I’ve definitely learned in almost 44 years of life on this planet, that life is messy, good, bad, crazy, and lots of things in-between.

I hope you’ll come along for the journey. :)

To start this next chapter, I wanted to share three books that have truly shaped me over the years… books that found me exactly when I needed them.

One is Do It Scared by Ruth Soukup. This was a book that came into my life during a time when I was holding back more than I realized. It’s all about facing fear, stepping forward anyway, and building a life that actually feels like yours.

Another is Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg. If you’ve ever tried to change something in your life and felt like you kept slipping back into old patterns, this book is a game-changer. It completely shifts how you think about building habits and more importantly, how to make them stick.

And finally, The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. I love this one for its simplicity. Instead of trying to overhaul your entire life at once, it invites you to focus on one small area at a time. It’s approachable, inspiring, and a beautiful reminder that change doesn’t have to be overwhelming to be meaningful.

So here we are. A new season. A new chapter of life. Me sharing myself.

I’m really glad you’re here.

Subscribe now

You will notice a few little changes happening here. I’m changing my domain to melissamakarewicz.com and I’m also making some branding changes as well. ☺️

The Literary Assistant is Reader-Supported.

Every comment, like, share, and upgrades subscription helps keep this space thriving!

The occasional affiliate links are used at no extra cost to you the reader.

He had just finished Pride and Prejudice.

And he informed me, very confidently, that it had landed on his list of the top 10 worst books he’s ever read.

I paused. Took a deep breath. And then we talked.

I truly believe it is always okay to not like a book. We all come to stories with different experiences, different expectations, different moods. What feels slow and tedious to one reader might feel comforting and immersive to another. And sometimes a book that doesn’t work for us now might become a favorite later, simply because we’ve lived a little more life by the time we return to it.

That part of the conversation was our normal bookish chatter.

But then he said something that made my jaw drop.

He told me that a friend’s parents had told their son not to read Jane Austen at all because she was “completely boring.”

And I could feel my mom lecture loading.😬

Not because I think everyone should love Jane Austen. (Clearly, my own son does not.) But because of what their comment to their son represents.

Reading is about exploration.

It’s about discovering what you like. What you don’t like. What surprises you. What challenges you. What comforts you. What stays with you.

We read for so many different reasons. Sometimes for escape. Sometimes to understand something new. Sometimes just to see what all the fuss is about.

But the one thing I feel very strongly about is this…

We should never tell someone what they will or won’t like.

I can tell you what I enjoyed.
I can tell you what didn’t work for me.
I can share my experience.

But I cannot… and will not… decide for you.

Because I don’t bring the same perspective to a book that you do.

And that’s the whole point.

This conversation also had me thinking about something else… something I’ve been noticing more and more in our reading culture.

*Pauses to step onto a soapbox.

Starred reviews don’t really tell us much. And I say that as someone who has absolutely relied on them, and encourages readers to leave them as part of my job, they’ve become shorthand. An easy way out. A way to decide quickly whether something is “worth it.” But in many ways, I think they’ve made us lazier as readers.

(I’d like to pause here and 100% admit I am guilty of doing this when I read on my kindle. Unless its a book I’m reviewing and need to write something thoughtful, I just tap those starts and start the next book.)

We rush to the next book. We check the rating. We grab another.

Without asking ourselves…

Why did I like this?
Why didn’t I?
What stayed with me?
What didn’t?

What if we slowed down?

What if, after finishing a book, we took even 15 minutes to write down our thoughts? Not for anyone else (although since part of my job is helping authors get reviews it would be amazing if you did :). But we can write a version just for ourselves.

To absorb what we just experienced.

To actually think about it.

As we kept talking, I reminded my son about what he loved when he first started reading on his own.

Urban legends. Scary stories. Comics.

Not my taste at all. But they were his. And they mattered, because those books were part of how he became a reader. What if I had told him back then, “Those are horrible books. You shouldn’t read those. Comics aren’t even REAL books.”?

I wouldn’t have just been dismissing a genre. I would have been dismissing a part of who he was becoming. A 16-year-old who loves horror, anime, and stories that pull him into worlds I wouldn’t naturally choose myself.

And that matters more to me than whether he likes Jane Austen. (I’m still holding out hope he will come to love her books later in life.)

So I’m writing this as a reminder to myself as much as anything…

To explore, not dismiss.
To stay curious, not dogmatic in my likes and dislikes.
To form my own thoughts instead of leaning entirely on the crowd.
And to take a little more time to reflect on what I read.

Reading is about discovering. And I love new adventures!

I’d love to hear from you.

Have you ever been told not to read something and read it anyway?
Or found a genre you love that someone else would never pick up?

I would love to hear your stories.

Melissa
The Literary Assistant

Subscribe now

The Literary Assistant is Reader-Supported.

Your support helps keep this space thriving! 😊

The occasional affiliate links are used at no extra cost to you the reader.

I haven’t been merely think about how to build habits, but how they shape who we are over time… and it’s had me thinking about something I’ve never really questioned before… why are some people readers… and some aren’t? Is it personality? Preference? Time? Or is it something simpler?

I keep coming back to the idea that for many of us, reading started as a habit that was introduced early, encouraged, and… at some point… clicked. We found a book we loved, we felt something, we got curious, and without really realizing it, a pattern took root. You pick up another book, and then another, and eventually it becomes something you just… do. Something you return to. Something that feels like part of you.

I also think there’s a strong connection between reading and curiosity. Readers tend to be people who want to know more. You see a book cover and wonder what’s inside. You hear your friends talking about a story they loved, and you want to experience it too. There’s a pull toward discovery, adventure, toward stepping into someone else’s world, toward understanding something new. That doesn’t mean non-readers aren’t curious. Curiosity shows up in so many ways. But reading offers a very specific kind of curiosity. A slower one. A more immersive one. The kind that asks you to stay a little longer, to sit with something, to imagine, to question. Explore.

There’s also something powerful about identifying as a reader, because identity shapes behavior in ways we don’t always notice. There have been plenty of times in my life where reading wasn’t easy… seasons where I was too stressed to focus, or where I just couldn’t seem to find the right book, or where life simply felt too full. But I always came back. Not because I forced myself to, but because something felt off without it, like there was a small, quiet space in my day that had been left empty. So I’d adjust. I’d DNF(did not finish) and pick up a different kind of book. Maybe nonfiction instead of fiction, or something lighter, or I’d just read a few pages at a time instead of diving all the way in. And eventually, the habit would return. Because it wasn’t just something I did… it was something I was.

What’s interesting is that not everyone experiences reading that way. According to LitHub, the median American read two books in 2025, while the average reader read eight. To put it more harshly, 19% of American adults did 82% of the country’s reading. That’s a huge gap, and it makes you wonder what separates those groups. Is it time? Access? Interest? Or is it simply that some people, at some point in their lives, built a habit that stayed with them?

I don’t think being a reader is something you either are or aren’t. I think it’s something that grows. It grows from exposure, from encouragement, from finding the right story at the right time, from those small, repeated moments of choosing a book over something else. And over time, those moments stack until one day you realize you don’t have to think about it anymore… you just reach for the book.

So I’m curious what you think. Do you see reading as a habit that’s cultivated over time, or is it simply a form of entertainment that some people naturally gravitate toward more than others? And if you are a reader, was there a moment where it clicked for you? I’d love to hear.

Subscribe now

Looking for something new to read? Check out this new series by Andrea Rose.

Two worlds. One prophecy. A love that could doom them both.

Harper

Elves don’t exist.

They definitely don’t crash through portals in the middle of the DMV, looking like a gorgeous God of Thunder, and announce that I’m the chosen one destined to save their world.

Aaran is definitely real, dangerous, magic-wielding, impossible to ignore, and terrifyingly persuasive. After he saves my mother from a brutal, early death, how am I supposed to say no to helping him?

I can barely keep my own life together—my driver’s license is about to expire, for god's sake. How am I meant to fight a witch queen, survive her monsters, and save an entire world I didn’t even know existed?

Aaran

My mission was simple: find the human woman and bring her to Domhan to fulfill the prophecy.
Caring for her was never part of the bargain.

I shouldn’t have healed her mother of the cancer. The effort nearly killed me. But my world is dying, and I couldn’t stand the thought of Harper losing the last person she loves, even if it costs me everything.

The oracle claims her magic is powerful and untapped. If they’re wrong, we won’t survive long enough to reach the witch queen. If they’re right, maybe Harper will save us all, if dark magic and constant danger don’t tear us apart first.
Every step we take binds her closer to me. Desire may be the one magic neither of us can control.

Start reading!

Because on the very same day, I hit a streak of 100 workouts.

And I couldn’t help but sit there and think… Oh. This is exactly what he’s talking about.

I think most of us want to be successful.

Whether that’s in writing, business, fitness, or just feeling more in control of our lives.

But we tend to think success is something that happens when…

• we finally feel motivated

• we find the right time

• or we somehow push through with willpower

But the truth is, success is much more like writing… or sports…

It’s a skill.

And like any skill, it’s built slowly. Repeatedly. Imperfectly.

Those first 60 days? They were a grind.

I was rebuilding strength. My stamina wasn’t there yet. Some days felt harder than they should have. There were moments where it would have been very easy to say, “I’ll just skip today.”

But I didn’t.

And somewhere around Day 70, something shifted. I hit my stride. My routines started to naturally help me have the time for my workouts instead of compete with them. I wasn’t forcing it anymore. I actually started looking forward to it. And… I could push harder. I felt stronger. I found my rhythm.

And now? I’m already looking ahead to 150.

Not because anyone says I have to. Because it’s just part of who I am now.

There’s a quote from the book Atomic Habits that hit me hard…

“Time magnifies the margin between success and failure.”

And I’ve felt that firsthand.

Those early days? They didn’t feel like progress. My body was sore. It was hard to convince myself to start the workout.

But they were progress.

Each small workout was stacking. Quietly. Consistently. Building something I couldn’t fully see yet. Working my way to that 1% better.

Another quote that I think smacked me in the face when I read it…

“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”

This is where most of us get stuck.

We set goals. Big ones. Exciting ones. But we don’t build the systems that make those goals inevitable.

We think willpower will carry us through.

But willpower fades. Systems stay.

And, if there’s one thing I’ve learned from both this book, my own experience, and my work with clients, it’s this…

You have to get clear on three things.

What habit are you trying to build?
Why does it matter to you?
And how are you going to make it happen consistently?

That “how” is where most of the magic lives.

And it doesn’t need to be complicated.

James Clear talks about creating a “gateway habit”

“What you want is a ‘gateway habit’ that naturally leads you down a more productive path.”

Something small. Simple. Easy to start.

Because once you start, it’s easier to keep going.

Think micro habits. Something that take less than 2 minutes to do.

The core principles of the book that helps you get this “gateway habit” started and stay successful at it are this…

“The first three laws of behavior change—make it obvious, make it attractive, and make it easy.”

Not overwhelming. Not perfect.

Easy. That’s it. No need to overcomplicate it.

That’s how habits stick.

And then there’s this one…

“The average person spends over two hours per day on social media. What could you do with an extra 600 hours per year?”

That one made me pause.

Because if small habits build success…

Then small distractions build something too.

The truth is, success doesn’t come from one big moment.

It comes from the small things you do when no one is watching.

The workouts you don’t skip.
The pages you write.
The emails you send.
The time you protect for you creative endeavors.

Stacked together.

Day after day.

Once the habit is built, it stops feeling like work. It just becomes who you are.

If this idea of small shifts and consistent habits is resonating with you, I’d love to invite you into something we’re doing this month.

Inside The Alignment Edit, we’re running a low screen-time creative reset for April.

Because if habits shape our lives…
then creating space away from constant input might be one of the most powerful habits we can build.

✨ When you upgrade your subscription for $7/month, you’ll receive:

• daily prompts for one week each month

• gentle guidance to build sustainable habits

• and a space to reconnect with your creativity

Delivered right to your inbox.

If you’ve been wanting to create more, think more, or simply feel a little more in control of your time…

I’d love to have you join us. 💛

Subscribe now

I did.

This weekend, we headed up north to my in-laws’ cabin in northern Michigan. Ah… home sweet home. There’s something about being back in my home state that instantly makes me a little happier. Better Made chips, coney dogs, trees… so many trees… and water everywhere you look. It just feels different in the best way.

I didn’t plan on taking an email break. That wasn’t the goal. But between the change of scenery, being with family, and stepping away from my usual routine, it just… happened.

No emails opened. No replies sent. For four full days.

And I have to tell you… it was interesting to watch my own response.

On Day 1, I definitely felt the pull. That little voice chirping in your ear saying, “Just check… what if something urgent came in?” My out-of-office was on, everything was covered, and still—there was that urge. What if someone really needed me on a Friday afternoon?

But then the weekend arrived, and I started to unwind. By Sunday, I wasn’t thinking about my inbox at all. And by Monday? I was actually… happy to stay away from that little envelope app.

Which got me thinking.

I refresh my inbox way too much.

And I don’t think I’m alone in that.

Just like I talked about in my last post… focusing on a few things and doing them well… instead of constantly checking and reacting, maybe there’s something to be said for putting intentional time blocks around our inbox.

Because let’s be honest…

What is a “timely response” anymore?

It feels like we’ve all been conditioned to believe that the second an email hits our inbox, we need to respond. Immediately. No delay. No pause.

But do we?

I recently completed a fitness certification (yes, my version of personal development tends to involve sweat), and the instructor mentioned something that stuck with me. She said, “They’re based in Germany, so don’t expect the kind of immediate response you’re used to.”

I thought, okay… maybe 48 hours.

Four days later, I got a thoughtful, perfectly lovely response.

And you know what?

Nothing bad happened.

I didn’t need the answer sooner.
My life didn’t change based on how quickly they replied.

It just made me realize something:

Maybe we’ve been trained to believe that everything is urgent.
Everything is breaking news.
Everything needs our attention right now.

But… does it?

So I’ll leave you with this question this week…

Can it wait?

Can the email wait until morning?
Can the message wait until after dinner?
Can you take a walk, notice the first signs of spring, and come back with a clearer mind?

Can you take a breath before jumping from one thing to the next?

Maybe.

Just maybe.

It can.

Happy reading,
Melissa
The Literary Assistant

Subscribe now

The Literary Assistant is Reader-Supported.

Your support helps keep this space thriving! 😊

The occasional affiliate links are used at no extra cost to you the reader.

But what if you don’t actually know what the smart way is?

That’s where I found myself not too long ago.

I’ve always been interested in being more efficient. Getting more done. Finding the best way to do things without feeling like I’m constantly spinning my wheels. But knowing you want to be efficient and knowing how to be efficient are two very different things.

And honestly? That gap can feel really frustrating.

At some point, I stumbled across a YouTube video talking about The 12 Week Year. The premise immediately caught my attention…

With focused effort, you can accomplish in 12 weeks what most people accomplish in a year.

I remember thinking… okay, that feels too crazy simple to work.

But also… intriguing.

I played around with the idea a bit last year, but if I’m being honest, life was full. I was in one of those seasons where you’re just trying to keep your head above water. (If you’ve been here a while you know.) And when you’re in that space, even the best systems feel completely overwhelming and don’t quite stick.

At the beginning of this year, I decided to try again.. but this time, seriously.

The concept itself is pretty straightforward.

You take the time to really think about what you want to focus on. Not everything. Just a few key things that actually matter.

Then you break those goals down into what needs to happen over the next 12 weeks and more importantly, what needs to happen each week to get there.

There’s also a strong emphasis on weekly check-ins. Not in a punishing way, but in a “am I actually doing what I said I would do?” kind of way.

I’ll be honest… some parts of the method felt a little more intense than what I naturally gravitate toward. So I adapted it.

I created a simple Google Sheet.
I wrote down three business goals and three personal goals.
And then I mapped out the milestones I needed to hit each week to consider the 12 weeks a success.

Nothing fancy. Just clarity.

Well… this was my first full 12-week cycle.

And here’s what happened…

I don’t know if I accomplished what I would normally accomplish in a full year…

But I can confidently say I accomplished WAY more than I ever do in a typical 12-week period.

And not just small things.

Some of the things I achieved felt big to me. The kind of progress that usually takes longer because it gets pushed aside, delayed, or lost in the shuffle of everyday life. I finished a certification that I would have put off for ages. I attended a fitness workshop that was way outside of comfort zone, but I did it. And most of all, I stay consistent in working on my goals.

There’s something incredibly powerful about narrowing your focus and returning to it week after week. It removes so much of the mental clutter.

You stop asking, “What should I be doing today?”
And start asking, “Am I doing the thing I said mattered?”

You wake up knowing exactly what you are setting out to do and it’s so much easier to say “no” to things that don’t align with your goals.

I’m absolutely going to keep using this method. In fact, I already have my next 12 weeks mapped out, and I’m genuinely excited to see what this next quarter holds.

Because now I’ve seen what’s possible when I focus on fewer things, track my progress, and stay consistent over time.

Not perfectly.
But done with intention.

If you’ve been struggling to make progress… whether it’s in your writing, your business, or even your personal life… I really encourage you to explore this approach.

Not as another thing to “do perfectly.” But as a way to create clarity and momentum. Because sometimes the problem isn’t that you’re not working hard enough…

It’s that your energy is spread too thin.

I’m also pairing this next 12-week cycle with something that felt very aligned after my recent “no power” day…

A low screen-time (outside of work) month for April.

Less scrolling.
More creating.
More thinking.
More space.

If that sounds like something you’ve been craving too, I’d love to invite you inside The Alignment Edit.

It’s a gentle space where we take these ideas, focus, creativity, sustainability, and actually put them into practice together.

✨ You can upgrade for $7/month to join us.

No pressure. Just an open invitation if you’re ready for a different rhythm.

Subscribe now

The Literary Assistant is Reader-Supported.

Your support helps keep this space thriving! 😊

Affiliate links are occasional used at no extra cost to you the reader.

No big deal, we thought. It’ll be back on soon.

And then the updates started rolling in… delays, longer timelines, more waiting.

So I set my phone aside to conserve the battery, went to bed, and woke up the next morning to a full day without electricity ahead of me.

And I had that moment.

You know the one.

“…so what do I do now?”

As someone who works on my computer all day… client work, writing, content, strategy… it’s strange how quickly you realize how much of your life depends on being plugged in.

No business tasks.
No internet rabbit holes.
No “I’ll just quickly look this up.”

Just… space.

So I did the most obvious thing I could think of. I grabbed a book. I pulled Atomic Habits by James Clear off my shelf—a book I hadn’t reread since it first came out. And honestly? I remembered very quickly why it’s stayed so popular. At its core, the idea is simple…

Small habits shape who you become.

1% better each day compounds into something meaningful.
And the opposite? Small, repeated habits that slowly lead you somewhere you never intended to go.

One concept that really stood out to me this time around was the idea of being “in motion” vs. “in action.”

And wow… that one hit.

Because I see this all the time… in myself and in the creatives I work with.

We research.
We plan.
We organize.
We consume content.

We feel productive.

But we’re not actually moving forward.

We’re in motion… not in action.

With nothing to distract me, and only the pantry to raid for meals, I ended up reading about 180 pages.

Half the book. In one day.

I can’t even remember the last time I did that.

It felt so good to sit there, highlighter in hand, completely immersed. No notifications. No switching tabs. No background noise pulling my attention away.

Just me and the book.

After a while, I did start to go a little stir crazy, so I convinced my 16-year-old to go on a 2-mile walk with me (the lack of internet made him surprisingly will to get out of the house).

And something shifted.

My mind felt clearer.
My body felt relaxed.
I wasn’t rushing.

For a brief moment, I even caught myself thinking…

I wouldn’t mind if the power stayed off just a little longer.
(As long as the food didn’t spoil, of course.)

By the end of the day, the power came back on And almost instantly, everything snapped back into place. Everyone’s devices were lit up. Our work resumed. The noise returned.

And even now, I find myself missing that quiet.

Not the inconvenience of no power. But the simplicity. Would I want to live without electricity? Absolutely not.

But would I like to live with less screen time? Yes. Because that day reminded me of something I think we all know, but don’t always act on…

What we do in small, daily moments shapes our lives.

And maybe… just maybe… less scrolling, less noise, and more space for thinking, reading, and moving might be one of those small shifts worth making.

I’d love to hear from you!

Have you found ways to reduce screen time in your life?
Phone, TV, computer… any of it. What’s actually worked for you?

I’m genuinely curious… and maybe a little inspired to try something new.

And if this is something you’ve been craving too… next month upgraded subscribers who are inside The Alignment Edit with me will be exploring a gentle, low screen-time creative reset.

Nothing extreme. Nothing restrictive. Just small, intentional shifts to help you reconnect with your creativity without the constant pull of your devices. Those little 1% changes we make each month to create alignment with our desired future.

If that sounds like something you need, I’d love to have you join us.

Subscribe now

The Literary Assistant is Reader-Supported. Your support helps keep this space thriving! 😊

Affiliate links are occasional used at no extra cost to you the reader.

As we close this week’s Alignment Edit, I want to return to something simple but important…

Your creativity is always there.

Even when you feel busy.
Even when ideas seem far away.
Even when you’re not actively creating.

Sometimes all it needs is a little time and attention.

This week, you practiced making small moments for creativity… through mo…

Read more

Creativity isn’t just about generating ideas. It’s also about making meaning from what we experience.

Reflection gives us the chance to slow down long enough to understand what’s actually resonating with us… what we care about, what we’re learning, and what we want to explore further.

Without reflection, experiences pass by quickly. With refl…

Read more

Inspiration doesn’t always arrive dramatically.

Often, it shows up quietly…in the books we’re reading, conversations we’re having, or small details we notice throughout the day.

But when life gets busy, we stop paying attention to those moments.

Creativity thrives on curiosity, and curiosity begins with noticing.

One day as I was working while …

Read more

For many creatives, movement is one of the most overlooked sources of inspiration.

When we move our bodies, something shifts. Thoughts untangle. Ideas start connecting in new ways. It’s as if creativity has been waiting for us to step away from the desk.

I’ve noticed this again and again in my own life. Sometimes the clarity I’ve been searchi…

Read more

Welcome to March’s Alignment Edit.

This month we’re turning our attention to something that often gets squeezed out of busy schedules and creative work alike: time for creativity itself.

Not time to produce.
Not time to perform.
Not time to turn every idea into something shareable.

Just time to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the part of you that creates.

One thing I’ve noticed in my own life is that my best ideas rarely come when I’m sitting at my desk trying to force them. They tend to arrive when I’m moving my body, stepping outside, or giving my mind space to wander.

Creativity seems to thrive when we’re willing to step away from the noise long enough to hear ourselves again.

This week, we’ll spend just a few minutes each day creating that space.

Read more

I like structure. I like plans. I like knowing the “right” way to do things. In many areas of life that’s served me well… but creativity doesn’t always live inside the rules.

One of the most unexpected ways I’ve learned to loosen up creatively has been through moving my body, especially in group fitness classes.

If you’ve ever been in a yoga, Pilates, or fitness class, you know what I mean. The teacher might miss a cue, lose their balance, or laugh at their own mistake. The music might be off by a beat. Someone in the class might be moving the wrong direction.

And no one panics. (Well, I did when I first started going.)

Everyone laughs.
We adjust.
We keep going.

There’s something incredibly freeing about being in a room where imperfection is normal.

Watching instructors laugh at themselves and seeing other students embrace the messy moments reminded me of something important… creativity doesn’t come from doing things perfectly. It comes from being willing to try, experiment, and sometimes look a little ridiculous along the way.

Movement helped me loosen my grip on the idea that everything has to be done “right.”

And that has opened the door to more creativity than I expected.

Another thing that has surprised me is how much creativity comes from simply getting outside.

We all know fresh air and sunlight help us sleep better. But I’m convinced they also help us think better.

When we step away from our phones and computers… even just for a short walk.. our brains start noticing the world again.

The sound of birds.
The rustling of leaves.
Squirrels darting across the path with a mouth full of food.
The quiet rhythm of your own footsteps.

It’s hard not to feel inspired when you’re paying attention to those small moments.

Nature has a way of gently nudging us out of the mental fog we get from keeping our eyeballs staring at screens all day.

Something I’ve noticed on my own walks is that if I take the exact same path every day, my brain eventually stops noticing anything.

I’m moving, but I’m also on autopilot.

Creativity works the same way.

If we follow the same routines, consume the same content, and think the same thoughts every day, our brains stop seeing new possibilities.

That’s why sometimes the smallest change… taking a different walking route, trying a new class, sitting in a different coffee shop… can spark an entirely new idea.

A tiny shift wakes up the brain.

And suddenly inspiration comes back.

This month, we’re going to lean into that idea.

Inside the paid community, we’re taking one week dedicated to creativity… but in a very simple, low-pressure way.

Starting March 16th, each day you’ll receive a short prompt designed to gently shake up your routine and stretch your creativity in fun ways. Nothing overwhelming. Just small invitations to notice, explore, and experiment.

Because creativity doesn’t usually come from forcing it. Right, we’ve all been there and tried it.

It comes from changing the rhythm of how we move through the world.

If you’d like to join us and receive the daily prompts, you can upgrade your subscription for $7 a month.

I would absolutely love to have you join us for this little creative reset.

Sometimes the best ideas come when we simply step outside, take a breath, and let ourselves create for fun again.

Subscribe now

Want to join me as we create a strategic plan for how you grow your community and convert more sales? Check out my upcoming workshop with History Through Fiction. (open to authors of all genres)

Learn how to put your author funnel into action with a simple, step-by-step plan.

This hands-on workshop covers how to create a lead magnet that attracts your ideal readers, build an engaging email welcome sequence, and connect essential tools like BookFunnel, ConvertKit, and Substack.

This session simplifies automation for authors and helps you develop an efficient system that works while you write. Whether you’re new to email marketing or ready to streamline your current process, you’ll leave with a 30-day implementation roadmap and measurable goals.

Register individually as a standalone event or gain access to the Zoom link with a paid subscription to Colin Mustful’s Substack.

Check out the workshop!

But living it? That’s different.

There are seasons where everything feels like it’s clicking… momentum, growth, clarity. And then there are seasons where you swear you just pulled a “move back four spaces” card in the board game of life. (Did anyone else grow up playing Candy Land?)

It’s in those moments that the real work begins.

Yes, we have to know when it’s time to pivot. Sometimes a project isn’t aligned anymore. Sometimes a strategy needs adjusting. Sometimes something truly is complete.

But what I see far too often… and I am 100% guilty of this too… is not pivoting.

It’s quitting too soon.

There are so many people who don’t see results in the first few months and decide it “isn’t working.” They stop. They retreat. They put the dream on the shelf.

Then a year later?
They try again.

Only now they’re starting from the beginning.

Sound familiar?

Meanwhile, the people who stayed the course… even through slow growth, even through discouragement, even through invisible progress… are miles ahead. They may have had setbacks. They may have faced rejection. They may have felt stuck.

But they kept going.

And if you keep going, you get somewhere. Even if it’s slowly.

I have a client who I lovingly force to record reels.

She does not want to spend her time on social media. She would happily disappear into her writing cave and never post again.

But here’s the thing… she has a background in media. She is incredible on camera. Natural and confident.

So we found a rhythm that works for her.

Twice a week, she records a reel on a topic I send her. She records the video and sends it back to me. That’s it. No daily posting. No burnout. Just consistent visibility in a sustainable way.

This month, with just 8 reels…

• She gained 41 new subscribers.

• 718 people engaged (likes or comments).

• 9,700 people saw her content.

What if she had stopped?

What if she had said, “It’s not working,” after two weeks?

That visibility would not exist.

But by scaling back and staying consistent, she’s building momentum. Quietly. Strategically. Sustainably.

I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that we live in a culture that glorifies dramatic transformation.

But most real growth looks like this…

• Showing up when you don’t feel like it.

• Posting when engagement is low.

• Writing when no one is clapping yet.

• Refining when it would be easier to quit.

You don’t need to go viral.

You need to stay in the game.

Because when you stay consistent, something subtle but powerful happens… you build trust with your audience and with yourself.

And so I have a little challenge for you… I want you to pick one thing.

Not five.
Not a complete life overhaul.
One thing.

Maybe it’s…

• Posting twice a week.

• Writing 500 words a day.

• Sending one newsletter a week.

• Walking every morning.

• Pitching one podcast per week.

Whatever it is, take a screenshot of where you are right now.

Write down the goal.
Document your starting point.
Be honest about the numbers, the progress, the current reality.

And then commit to 30 days of consistency.

Not perfection.
Consistency.

I dare you to see what one month of staying the course can do.

Because the difference between the people who “make it” and the people who keep restarting isn’t talent.

It’s that they didn’t stop.

💛

What’s the one thing you’re committing to this month? Reply and tell me, seriously, I’d love to cheer you on.

Melissa
The Literary Assistant

Subscribe now

Want to join me as we create a strategic plan for how you grow your community and convert more sales? Check out my upcoming workshop with History Through Fiction. (open to authors of all genres)

Learn how to put your author funnel into action with a simple, step-by-step plan.

This hands-on workshop covers how to create a lead magnet that attracts your ideal readers, build an engaging email welcome sequence, and connect essential tools like BookFunnel, ConvertKit, and Substack.

This session simplifies automation for authors and helps you develop an efficient system that works while you write. Whether you’re new to email marketing or ready to streamline your current process, you’ll leave with a 30-day implementation roadmap and measurable goals.

Register individually as a standalone event or gain access to the Zoom link with a paid subscription to Colin Mustful’s Substack.

Check out the workshop!

That some people are just more disciplined. More talented. More motivated. More lucky.

But after running my own business for years, and working with authors who are building theirs, I’ve realized something much less flashy and much more freeing:

Success is rarely about intensity.
It’s about clarity and consistency.

And the older I get, the more I see that the same principles apply whether you’re writing a novel, growing a business, training for a race, or simply trying to build a life that feels aligned.

Here are three things that have changed everything for me.

1. Have a Plan (Even a Simple One)

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned as a business owner is this: you need a plan.

Not a 10-year master strategy. Not a laminated life blueprint.

Just… direction.

When you rush into things without clarity, you can waste so much time. You move fast, but you don’t move forward. You post randomly. You try every new idea. You pivot before you’ve given anything time to work. And at the end of the month, you’re exhausted with very little to show for it. ( I know the feeling because I’ve been there.)

That kind of chaos is fun on an impromptu road trip.

It is not fun when you’re trying to build a sustainable author career.

Life changes quickly. The internet changes even faster. Trends shift. Algorithms update. What worked six months ago might not work now. So no, I don’t believe in rigid long-term plans.

But I deeply believe in knowing what you’re working toward this season.

What are you building?
What matters most right now?
What are you saying yes to and what are you intentionally ignoring? Yep. I said ignore, because I have learned the hard way, you can’t be everywhere doing everything.

Clarity removes so much unnecessary overwhelm.

2. Work in 12-Week Sprints

Planning is powerful. But execution is where most of us struggle.

At the end of last year, I started using the 12 Week Year method and I can honestly say it’s been one of the most energizing shifts I’ve made.

The idea is simple… instead of thinking in 12-month timelines, you narrow your focus into 12-week sprints. You choose a few meaningful goals. You track your progress weekly. You stay committed for a defined period of time.

GAME CHANGER!

Something magical happened for me.

My brain stays engaged. I was excited to seem progress, and things grew one day at a time.

When a goal feels endless, it’s easy to drift. But when you know you’re in a 12-week window, you show up differently. There’s urgency, but not in a “the house is on fire” panic. Focus, but not burnout.

I’ve used this approach in my business and in my fitness goals, and it has helped me stack consistency in a way I never had before. Not perfectly. Not obsessively. Just steadily.

One day at a time.

That’s where real progress comes to life!

3. Regulate Your Nervous System (So You Can Actually Think)

This one might sound trendy. But I promise, it’s really, really foundational.

If your nervous system is constantly in fight-or-flight, you cannot make clear decisions. You cannot access your best creative thinking. You cannot build something sustainable.

You can hustle in that state.
You can survive in that state.
But you cannot thrive in it.

For a long time, I treated movement and self-care like rewards. I would schedule everything else first…work calls, deadlines, errands, all the obligations…and then try to squeeze in time for myself.

And then I’d wonder why I felt overwhelmed.

Now I’ve flipped it.

My walks, rebounding, yoga, and Pilates go on my calendar first. They are not optional. They are not a selfish indulgence. They are strategic and not optional.

They make me better at everything else.

And the ripple effect that comes with it is enormous.

When you feel regulated, you make better choices. You respond instead of react. You create from a grounded place instead of from panic.

That changes everything.

If I could simplify it, my advise would be…

Know where you’re going.
Work in focused seasons.
Take care of the nervous system that’s carrying you through it all.

Success really isn’t about doing more. I know it can seem like running all over the place must mean success. But trust the process… It’s about doing what matters consistently and equally important… sustainably.

And I’d genuinely love to know!

What helps you feel your best in your business and in your personal life?
What routines or systems have made the biggest difference for you?

Melissa
The Literary Assistant

Subscribe now

Want to join me as we create a strategic plan for how you grow your community and convert more sales? Check out my upcoming workshop with History Through Fiction. (open to authors of all genres)

Learn how to put your author funnel into action with a simple, step-by-step plan.

This hands-on workshop covers how to create a lead magnet that attracts your ideal readers, build an engaging email welcome sequence, and connect essential tools like BookFunnel, ConvertKit, and Substack.

This session simplifies automation for authors and helps you develop an efficient system that works while you write. Whether you’re new to email marketing or ready to streamline your current process, you’ll leave with a 30-day implementation roadmap and measurable goals.

Register individually as a standalone event or gain access to the Zoom link with a paid subscription to Colin Mustful’s Substack.

Check out the workshop!

As we close this month’s Alignment Edit, I want to leave you with this…

Burnout isn’t a personal failure.
It’s often a signal that something needs support, rest, or permission to change.

A healthier online rhythm isn’t about discipline.
It’s about protection of your attention, your creativity, and your capacity to notice your own life.

Some peop…

Read more

I want to pause here and say something clearly… because many creatives need to hear it.

You don’t have to do all of this alone.

Many of the clients I support choose not to handle every part of their online presence themselves. I post for them so they can show up how and when they want, often just in the comments, in conversation, building con…

Read more

Many creatives believe content comes from brainstorming sessions or prompts.

But the truth is, your life is already doing the work.

The questions you turn over while washing dishes.
The details you notice on a walk.
The books that linger with you longer than expected.

When you slow down, those moments become visible again.
That’s not wasted time.
…

Read more

When I start working with a new client, we rarely talk about posting schedules first.

We talk about energy.

Because when someone is creatively nourished, their ideas come more easily. Their voice sounds like themselves again. Content stops feeling like extraction and starts feeling like expression.

And that nourishment almost never comes from …

Read more

For February’s mini challenge we are going to tackle one of the most common patterns I see with burnt-out creatives I see… and it’s that they’re creating constantly, but they’re also consuming constantly and there’s no space in between.

I’ve seen it all. You start because you want to are excited to connect, but then somewhere along the way it spiraled out of control.

Scrolling feels productive.
Staying “in the loop” feels like a necessary evil you can’t escape.
But over time, all that intake leaves very little room for you to have proper look at what you are doing.

Creativity needs pauses.
It needs time for proper digestion.
Without them, everything starts to feel loud and overwhelming… even the work you once loved.

Read more