We all have to come up with ideas sometimes. And if you’re like me, it’s all the time. 

But what do you do when you feel you’ve hit a creative wall? When you’ve juiced your brain of every possible idea you could squeeze out of it?

Because I’m a copywriter by trade, I have to concept and write a lot for other brands. And after I’ve mustered the courage I need to face the dreaded blank page, I’m left with a hearty list of ideas. 

Then a sneaking fear hits me. Always quiet at first, but then it gets louder. 

I’m gonna need to do another round of this. Maybe more… What if I’m all out of ideas? What if this was the best I could do?

​I know that the first thoughts are usually beatable. But if I’m being honest, I fear that I won’t be able to generate more. That this is the best I can muster. That I’ll dig and dig for something, anything, and my mind will become infertile soil, producing nothing of substance.

But that has not happened. 

What helps me in these moments? Taking a break, for sure. When I know I have to brainstorm more after pouring my all into the first session, I’ll stop writing. I put my pen down and then go outside. I listen to music. I do some small chores. Maybe read or talk to another person. I let my mind wander and ask “What if?” at the objects and activities around me. I become a focused observer. Because it turns out that all of those actions are like putting fertilizer back in the soil of your imagination. 

So when I sit down to crank out another round, something in my head unlocks, and the ideas flow once again. Are they all great? No. But they are something. And experience has taught me that something “meh” can lead to something “wow.” 

And who am I to shoo away any inspiration?

Writing Updates: 
OMG omg, you guys…Jon has finished coloring! 

​Me when Jon announced he found the golden ticket….I mean, finished the last page. 

He focused and was ruthless with his schedule this summer, aiming to color two pages each day. Here’s a video of him grinding for the past two months. 

If you supported our comic on Crowdfundr, stay tuned for more updates and outreach as we get this book finalized and ready to send to the printer! 

Current Read: Wired for Story, by Lisa Cron

​Lisa Cron does a fantastic job of breaking down how we can make our stories more engaging, using psychology and brain science. Not only does she address common mistakes writers make, but she also provides examples of good writing that underscore her insights. And she does it in a way that is super conversational, approachable, and clear. We can all appreciate that.

If you're writing or thinking of writing a story, this is a great book to read before diving in. And if you’ve already written a draft (or two…or six…)—or even gotten several books published—this book is STILL helpful. 

Pet Pics: 

Sanity Corner:
Ever since my kids did distance learning, I’ve noticed a profound level of dependence on devices and an aversion to boredom. Everything they want to do (other than sports) is on a device, and it’s a reality I know many other parents these days struggle with. 

But there’s one activity they’ve rediscovered this summer: puzzles. During device-free periods—which we require even on these long summer days—they’ve started solving puzzles together, working on them little by little on the coffee table.

Here’s their current puzzle. I honestly love this so much. The quiet focus it takes. The peaceful camaraderie required to finish. I 10/10 recommend you try one on your own or with your loved ones. 

Fun fact: I worked as a preschool teaching assistant during college, working with 2.5-4 year olds. My supervisor was a strong supporter of puzzles to help kids learn and develop so many important skills (focus, perseverance, problem-solving, etc.). I never did a formal study on the impact of puzzles, but I can attest to their positive effect on the little ones. 

That’s all for June. Thank you so much for reading. I’ll be in touch again soon. 

Feel free to share this little newsletter with a friend and/or a favorite frenemy! :)

Take care,
Desi

They say “breaking up is hard to do.” And if we’re talking about relationships, yes. It is hard. But when it comes to doing work—especially creative work—breaking things up doesn't just make things easier to do. It’s essential. 

Let me explain. 

About two years ago, when I sent a new full manuscript to our agent, I thought the story was finished. Dear reader, it wasn’t done. Far from it. 

I was the one who was done, apparently. So when she responded with several pages of editorial notes, I literally blacked out. I wasn’t mad. The notes were spot on. I was just completely drained of energy from everything—and I mean everything—life had thrown at me, which is another story for another post. At that point, I decided that I needed to focus on just surviving each week. 

Then I put the manuscript away and couldn’t look at it for nearly two years. 

Throughout that time, it kept gnawing at me. This was a story I wanted to tell. It was a more emotional one, a more difficult one. But I just couldn’t muster the energy to work through it. 

Finally, my brain said, “OKAY, fine! I’ll do this thing.” But it still felt like too much. Too big and overwhelming for my perpetually overloaded mind to tackle. 

So I decided to trick it. 

I told myself that I just need to do one page at a time. Just one. And if I do more, great! 

So I made it a point to wrestle with one page a day. After that was done, I’d add a sticker to the chart. My goal was to do some hardcore revision on 100 pages, since those were the hardest, which is why the chart has 100 boxes. 

Okay, sure. It’s an elementary school vibe. But I’m telling you: it works!

Doing this for several days actually lifted me from my creativity block and helped me build some much needed momentum. And actually seeing my progress has been very motivating. 

So if you’re facing a big project and you feel paralyzed by the sheer size and scope of it, trick your mind. Break it up. You don’t need stickers. But you DO want to try to do one single, quantifiable piece at a time. 

Because baby steps are still steps. 

After a few days of this, my hope is that you’ll look back and feel good about your progress. 

And that’s how life works, isn’t it? It’s not about having these gigantic, Earth-shattering accomplishments each and every day. It’s the habitual small actions we take that eventually add up to meaningful results. 

Writing Updates: 
Aside from me re-working a new manuscript, Jon’s nearly done inking the pages for the THREE BEE HONEY Crowdfundr campaign. This endeavor has been much slower than we’d like, but we’re making progress each day. Jon’s even been inking pages during our sons’ baseball games, as you can see here. 

Current Read: Hello, Universe, by Erin Entrada Kelly

I just started reading this book, which explores friendships that surprise us and the self-acceptance that grounds us. Right away, I was pulled into Hello, Universe as it opens with Virgil, a shy boy who’s guarding a big secret. Often misunderstood by his family, Virgil struggles with the angst of growing up and not fitting in. Each chapter switches point-of-view between the four middle school characters, which kept me turning the pages. 

Furthermore, I love how even the supporting characters are developed with so much depth and personality: like Virgil’s opinionated grandma, Lola, who’s from the Philippines. Kelly expertly plots each scene, twisting it in ways that force Virgil into an adventure with these unlikely friends. While I haven’t finished the book yet, I already can see how rich the characters are in the world Kelly built. This is definitely a story I would’ve found solace in during my middle school years. 

​Pet Pics: 

​Lilo is just like me: if it’s under 70 degrees outside, we’re freezing and MUST wear a hoodie all day. 

​Amelie and Finn try their best to fit on top of their tower and watch the rainfall. 

Sanity Corner:
I’m an absolute sucker for inspirational quotes. So much so that I keep a growing list of them on my phone. Later, when I want to share one with a friend or a stranger, boom! I’ve got the perfect, mic-dropping line. 

Well, maybe it’s not mic-dropping. But it’s at least thought-provoking. And that’s good enough for me. 

I also have this calendar with quotes for each day of the year. It’s a very small but fun way to set the tone for the day. The insufferable teacher in me sometimes asks one of my kids to read it aloud and share what they think it means. 

​That’s all for today. Thank you so much for reading! I’ll be in touch again next month. 

Feel free to share this little newsletter with anyone who’d enjoy it! :)

Take care,
Desi