A Year Full of Creativity

Dearest clever girls,

This year, I’ve decided to fill my life with creative endeavors. I don’t know about you, but I want to live life to its fullest. For me, the moments when I feel most alive and in awe of what I can do as a human are when I get to be creative. That’s why this year, I’m cultivating a more dedicated art practice.

What does that look like? Well, in January, I launched my art studio, Merge, with fellow artist Leslie Archibald. Throughout the year, I’ll be teaching a series of in-person workshops that aren't just meant to help pay the rent; they’re actually art forms I love or feel curious about. For me, teaching creatives is one way I find inspiration. It’s a truly exciting feeling to see people respond to my prompts and to guide writers through their experience, validating that writing is hard and that being creative can be even harder in today’s world.

It’s a strange feeling having my own art studio. Every time I walk into that space, I feel safe and at home. While most of the month it sits dormant, when a workshop happens, the strangeness suddenly slips away, and I realize: This little weird space I’ve carved out is right where I belong.

Near the end of the year, I’ll be walking with van Gogh to create my newest, hardest writing challenge yet: The Grow with Van Gogh challenge. This takes the form of a 70-day workshop. You can imagine that creating 70 days worth of content is a big challenge, but it will be worth it to get to gift that challenge to artists who want to grow their creative practice.

One thing I’m not giving up on is exploring what I love. When it comes down to it, the more I focus on the things that matter to me—Family, my pets, my own health and mental focus, and my creative practice—the happier I feel.

What would make you happy this year? Where can you find space to refocus and dedicate yourself to what you love? I hope you take time to keep things weird.

Write what you love, love what you write.

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I'm a working narrative artist, and you can catch some of my upcoming in-person workshops happening at my art studio, MERGE, in 2026: