The road ahead for 2025
Time to get serious…
I let myself down last year; I wanted to build and grow this newsletter. I planned on Semi-monthly releases (as if I had that much to write about), and that just turned into ‘whenever.’
Then, whenever it turned into never, this newsletter has been silent since September. (really?)
I had plans to print several new zines and attend many zine fests. Last year, I made precisely ONE new zine and attended zero fests.
Now it’s the start of a new year
Like most people do, I have predictable patterns regarding the New Year.
New Year’s Eve, I swear next year will be different.
Start making plans (and I am not a planner, by the way).
Wake up on New Year’s Day full of energy and excitement.
Give up around the second-third week of January and fall back into a lazy routine.
Why was I this many years old when I found out that there’s a national calendar day dedicated to this?
National Quitters Day. The second Friday in January where 80% of people have quit their resolutions
80 percent!
Granted, that was from a Strava study focusing more on exercise/fitness resolutions, so that makes sense. However, other studies have found that that percentage is pretty much across the board, regardless of your resolutions.
So…what am I planning on struggling with in 2025?
Making more zines (this one’s pretty easy.)
Tabling at zine fests/artbook fairs - there are a few that I’ve wanted to travel to for the last few years (Portland, Cincinnati).
Apply for more open calls - I want to start exhibiting my work virtually, in print, and [fingers crossed] in person!
Test the waters out applying for Grants and Residencies (you never know if you don’t apply).
Write at least ONE of these monthly newsletter posts (I should be able to get at least one a month, right?) In addition to trying to grow this thing, with how some social media platforms are going, newsletters and blogs are starting to look like the best way to distribute your work.
Stretch myself with my work—try some different things (projects I’ve had in mind since about 2021). I can’t keep just thinking about them and not doing anything.
Work on bookbinding—I have instructional books and supplies for this, and I’ve been half-assing it for two years; it is time to really put in some effort. For example, with this newsletter, I should be able to make one small case-bound book a month to work on my skills.
Journaling - I came across a diary my mom gave me when I was 9. It didn’t give you much room to write more than a quick summary of the day, but it was still interesting to see what I chose to write about back then. It also made me a little sad because I wished I would have kept up with writing my thoughts, especially during junior high, but nothing says that I can’t start today, right? In 15-20-30 years, I can reflect on this time more clearly.
No Zero Days
Have you heard of this concept? It’s basically a positive productivity hack: If you have a goal, you have to take one step towards it each day, no matter how small.
Want to get in shape and you didn’t make it to the gym? Do at least one push-up or sit-up before the day’s over.
Trying to write a book? don’t beat yourself up trying to write a chapter, write at least one sentence a day.
And so on. The hack is to get yourself in a positive state of mind while striving towards a future for yourself. Sometimes, it’s just as simple as saying to yourself, “Hey, I did x today, so it wasn’t a waste.”
Plus forgiving yourself if you happen to miss a day, say to yourself it’s okay, you’ll get it tomorrow.
The more non-zero days you string together, the more apt you are to push yourself. Instead of doing that one push-up, you might run a mile or put in an hour at the gym.
You had writer’s block, but after stringing some non-zero days, the words flow out of you.
This Reddit post has been an open tab on my phone for the last 3 years! It’s way past time I put it into action:
Also, I’m going to start improving this newsletter! The first simple thing was turning on the comments! What does 2025 look like for you?
Until next time,
Laidric
Also, you can find me here:
i can relate to this post all too much... been putting a lot of pressure on myself to produce, and ultimately for what I don't know... anyway I like the non-zero days idea. i need a lot more constructive habits around art-making. and I've been enjoying the newsletters! I met you at a zinefest in Denton--if you get a chance sometime in the future, try a zinefest in Albuquerque if you haven't been yet!
Thank you again for buying a zine and for your comment! I also put a lot of pressure on myself, even more so because I am a world-class procrastinator! This year has started differently for me, and I think it's all down to journaling; it's been helping me get my thoughts and feelings out of my head and on the page, and best of all, it's started to become a habit at the end of the day.
ABQ Zine Fest has been on my radar for the past couple of years, and I see that they announced the next fest in October, so I plan on applying this year! I love going to states/cities I've never been to before to table at a fest. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I get in!