The debilitating part of having Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria, along with the emotional dysregulation that is prevalent in autism and ADHD, is that whatever feeling hits you in the moment becomes the whole truth of who you are. The overwhelm convinces you that this is permanent, even though the actual evidence of your life says otherwise. I’ve had joy. I’ve had stability. I’ve had momentum. My brain just forgets those parts whenever it feels like the kitchen is on fire.
Right now, yes, I feel the sharp prickles of failure. I’m anxious about paying upcoming bills. I’m worried about whether I can grow a loyal audience, land new clients, and build something resembling a sustainable writing career. But I also can’t deny that there is a career here. Even with the setbacks, I’ve climbed enough rungs on the ladder, until my tumble, to know I can do it again.
Which is why I’m drawing up new plans for the coming days and weeks. Even though today’s brain insists none of them will work, I know that voice is as real as the Brad Pitt version of Tyler Durden, dangerous if I obey it, but in the end I call the shots. And no, I’m not going into the soap business.
So what’s on the docket?
1. Personalized Christmas Stories & Letters
I’ve talked about offering customized Christmas stories before, but I’ve never actually marketed them properly, explained how they work, or attached a price. That changes now. I’m planning to offer last-minute Christmas offerings: completely personalized short fiction, Santa letters, and holiday notes. Unique, heartfelt, and made to order.
2. A Real Push Into Copywriting
I’ve always offered copywriting in social media, newsletters, blog posts (simple and researched), and ghostwriting, but only halfheartedly. That’s not an option anymore. Over the next stretch, I’m making an intentional, focused push to pitch businesses that need compelling writing. My bank account is begging for this one.
3. Pitches, Pitches, Pitches
I love writing for magazines and websites, so I’m staying persistent. I’m refining my pitches, focusing on volume, and embracing the law of averages. My goal for 2026: 100 rejections.
4. Growing the Substack
This isn’t directly income yet, but I want to grow the readership so that a paid tier in 2026 feels justified and sustainable. Meanwhile, I’ll keep posting worthwhile pieces here because I enjoy it and it supports the ad revenue.
5. The Podcast (Slow and Steady)
The Movie Breakdown earns pocket change, but every new episode is a long-term deposit. With everything else going on, I’m focusing on quality over quantity with everything relates to the site.
6. A New Essay Collection
For years I’ve considered bundling my strongest essays into a collection. So I’m doing it. This week. A curated, slightly revised set of pieces—old and recent—that fit a theme and represent the best of what I do. Instead of just asking for help, I’ll finally have something concrete to offer.
7. Pay-to-Choose Movie Reviews
I’m also considering a new experiment:
For $100, you pick the movie I review next.
Any film. Any era. Any genre. The price reflects the time commitment in finding the movie, watching it, and writing the review is a solid three to four hours of work. But it could be fun… or chaotic… or both.
Do any of these ideas appeal to you? Let me know in the comments—I genuinely want to know what resonates.
If my work resonates with you, you can support it by subscribing to my Life on the Balcony newsletter or tossing a few dollars into the tip jar through the Support Me badge or my Ko-fi page. Every bit helps me keep going and keep building.
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