Currently listening to…
I’m a little relieved the holidays are over. In December, I traveled to see Georgia cousins and Oklahoma in-laws, my niece was born, and my couch was covered in so many thoughtful gifts after Christmas that it took almost two days to put everything away. I’m feeling spoiled, satiated, and eager to be a little more selfish with my time.
NYE 2022 at approximately 10pm. Yes, I’m still reading Girlhood by Melissa Febos. It is absolute poetry and must be digested slowly.
Last week was the first full week of writing I’ve had at home in a while. As with most commitments this time of year, everything feels fresh and newly important. As I’m fleshing out what 2023 will look like in this space, I’d like to welcome the small influx of newcomers whose subscription notifications have been brightening up the start of my new year with a short list of what’s to come.
New Years Day beach trash I found — a soft thing that was once a hard thing.
+ more blogs
I made a blog schedule! When I started last year, I was writing whenever inspiration struck me, or more accurately, whenever I needed a break from writing my book. I think it worked well to establish a foundation and begin to grow an audience, and I’m really proud of what I’ve written so far. I didn’t feel a pressure or a need to keep track of what I might write next, and so a roster of ideas formed quite naturally. I’ve used those ideas to create a flexible monthly blog schedule for myself, with room for potential inspiration to strike at random.
+ more TikToks
I don’t want to talk about this any more than I already have, but I think I’m getting better at embracing the platform as a necessary (and maybe temporary?) evil in my life. In 2023, I hope to find the confidence to admit that sometimes, I like being liked on the internet. If you’re new, you can follow along here.
+ more Hard Things (the book)
I’m realizing as I type this that I haven’t shared much about actually writing my book. This is probably because I believe that writing a book is the most embarrassing thing a person can do. Nevertheless, it is an exhaustive process that’s very difficult to explain, and I’m in it. I’m currently working with an agent to polish up my book proposal. I’m ironing out the structure and dissecting and assimilating my first draft according to that new structure. When I reference daily writing, I’m talking about my damn book proposal, which currently includes several sample chapters.
+ more talking to people about vaginismus
One of the main premises of Hard Things is that vaginismus is a difficult thing to discuss openly. Throughout the aforementioned process, it has become more apparent that my outreach efforts need to improve. I’ve spent the last year connecting with experts and patients in varying stages of diagnosis and treatment. This year, I will be stepping further out of my comfort zone to continue and expand upon those conversations.
+ more actively overcoming vaginismus while writing a book about it
While I’m trying to build something that will ultimately help people overcome vaginismus, I’m still struggling with the condition. In the background of all of the above, I will be trying to be more present in my own body. I will be trying to have more mindful sex, as well as trying to practice dilation with more regularity. Since this is quite possibly the hardest thing on this list, I’m sure you’ll be reading all about it soon enough. Welcome!