Logging off to Lock In
Daydreams over doomscrolling
The seasons are shifting, and so is the Montrezverse. Fall is coming. School is nearly back in session, and we’re shaking things up here on Substack. It’s been 15 days since my semi-hiatus on Instagram, and I’m honestly loving it. While I miss posting and connecting on IG, I don’t miss the long hours of doomscrolling and the effects of imposter syndrome, comparison, and harsh inner critique it induced.
Since my hiatus, I’ve finished writing the entire first volume of my debut comic book, Goregeous , written several chapters in multiple projects, and I’ve finally made sense of my digital spaces. My IG hiatus has me getting my priorities straight and investing more time and energy into the spaces that matter most.
Changes to Novel Creature
Many of you originally subscribed to Novel Creature for my monthly newsletter. You wanted to stay connected for news on story updates and upcoming events. I want to thank you for sticking around and following my creative journey. I know this space has went through so many shifts and changes, and sometimes that’s part of the fun.
But in true scenic route fashion, in honesty and simplicity, I want to return Novel Creature back to its original intent. Novel Creature will remain a central hub of connection and communication. The primary purpose for this newsletter is to keep you informed on what’s happening in the Montrez-Verse each month. Here on Novel Creature look for a monthly newsletter featuring story updates, events, and a little Blerdspiration and occasional Power Reads , mood reader recs, and other random musings.
I hope you enjoy the more consistent and simple take to our Novel Creature hub, but if you’re looking for some extra fun, I’ve got that covered too.
Novel Creature Adventures is coming
The choose-your -own adventure segment is taking on a life of its own. It’s growing into something bigger than I had first imagined, and I’m really excited to see it take shape. It’s evolving into something I think could really make an impact here on Substack, so I’ve decided to separate it from our main Novel Creature newsletter.
I created The Novel Creature Adventure segment with three major goals in mind:
Stay connected to the Montrezverse between books.
It takes time to craft quality published works. While you’re waiting on the next book, I want to give you more ways to explore and stay connected to the fictional worlds in the Montrezverse. Choose your own adventures is low pressure and interactive way to do that without pulling time from our major stories. Its also a love letter to those feeling a bit nostalgic.
Power up with more free fiction fun.
I’ve seen posts here on Substack where readers are craving more fiction that’s not behind a paywall. Look for free serialized adventures that you cannot only read but help shape with your choices. And it’s part of my gratitude for you joining the journey and enjoying the stories, you will also be able to collect free character wallpaper/screensaver downloads with custom art by real artist ( no AI.). Which leads me to my last goal for this new series…
Discover and celebrate diverse artists and their unique style.
You know I love some good character art, but my reason for incorporating character art for this segment is more than just bringing diverse characters to life (or my art addiction). I want to give back to the amazing artist who dedicate their time and talents to the bookish community by creating more opportunities to support and celebrate their work. There are so many amazing creators out here, and I want to give them a chance to shine just as much as my own stories and the other writers I like to recommend.
So, I hope you’ll check out the new segment coming officially in September. Our first adventure has already been chosen and the first round of character art is already in the works. Subscribe now for free reads or become a paid subscriber to show some extra love to what I’m building (and enjoy even more adventure fun).
Patreon just got a lot cozier
Substack isn’t the only platform with added new features and fun. If you are interested in cozy, creativity, and peeking at my upcoming projects behind the scenes, Patreon is the place. You can read my upcoming projects early, now with audio intros featuring author confessions, light commentary and interesting facts. You can also dive into comic book tips and creation.
Pen to Paper
Logging off of Instagram isn’t the only change I’ve made to refresh my creativity. In between getting my priorities together and cleaning up my digital space, I’m also making an effort to write off-line and to reconnect with a physical process of both creating and engaging with books. Wow, typing up my drafts and reading digital books feels more immediate and convenient, there’s nothing like putting pin to paper or leafing through the cozy paperback.
I’m finding and this time and season that sometimes the greatest change is a return to things you didn’t even know you left behind. I start writing by hand when rheumatoid arthritis made it difficult. I stopped reading physical books when I became a mother. Returning to those practices felt a little foreign at first, but it also feels like the proverbial and stereotypical release of “the breath I didn’t know I was holding.”
May we all breathe easier this month and it in the months to come…
💜Montrez
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