My coziest newsletter yet—with a notebook giveaway!
And an extremely eccentric writing prompt...
Writing Prompt:
While I was in Europe earlier this year, I had a deeply imperfect but nonetheless curious idea, which was that everyone in the world can be divided into 3 categories (stay with me here): “creators,” “preservers,” and “reflectors.” I guess they’re less like distinct categories and more like a prism, because we all contain some ratio of all three, but I think we each have 1 or 2 dominant ones. Anyway, creators are dreamers who love progress and innovation, but they can leave destruction in their wake or spend too much time living in the future. Preservers take great care of tradition and the beauty that’s already here, but can be stagnant or resistant to change, getting lost in the past. Reflectors are strong empathizers, highly present, and bring out the best in others, but their senses of individual identity can be tenuous, giving way to copycat or zealous fan behavior. Not trying to be the next enneagram here (it’s just for fun), but I invite you to free-write for 15 minutes about which of these three categories you think you fall into and why! And feel free to comment your gut-instinct answer below :)
The Age of Magical Overthinking galleys are in!!!
Galleys, or advanced reader copies, are uncorrected soft-back proofs of the manuscript. I just received mine for TAOMO, and dear god, they are gorgeous!!! If you’re a member of the press and/or a bookstagrammer and would like to request one, feel free to email falon.kirby@simonandschuster.com !!
Recordings of our “how to hustle” writing workshops are up for grabs:
My author friend Alisson Wood and I just finished teaching our workshops on how to hustle your writing career and launch your book the scrappy way, and they went splendidly! If you’d like to receive video recordings of the workshops, you can buy a ticket here and we’ll email them to you :)
My Harper’s Bazaar piece on therapyspeak in the workplace is finally online.
Click here to read my feature on the mixed blessing that is the rise of mental health language in corporate offices!
A Cultish docuseries is in the works…
I’ve mentioned it a couple times on this newsletter, but I’ve been *developing* Cultish as a docuseries for the past two years alongside a trio of sensational, deeply kind and creative producers at Loveless Media (ever seen Couples Therapy on Showtime? That’s their show!) and Topic Studios. At last, we finalized our pitch deck and sizzle both (both are fire if I may say so), and now I’m officially in the process pitching it around to networks!! Hollywood is such a bizarre, capricious little cult, so who knows if the show will ever see the light of day, but I’m certainly busting my tail off in these pitches to boost my chances that it does! Send culty ~vibes~ for me.
A weekly roundup of books, podcasts, TV shows, tchotchkes, and anything else I’m currently “cult following.” This week, a list of recs for peek coziness… and a giveaway! (Sincerely beloved, not sponsored.)
MUSIC: Daphne Gale
Phoebe Bridgers, eat your heart out. My favorite sad folk girly as of late is an up-and-comer named Daphne Gale, whose songs “Sandalwood,” “Beachwood Canyon,” and “Sweet Creature” are woven into the fabric of my brain these days. I would say I’m biased because Daphne and I have become friends IRL, but I’m literally not. Her music is JUST. SO. GOOD. Coziness personified.
SLEEPWEAR: Rifle Paper Co. Strawberry Fields Cloud 9 Pajama Set
I see your Coastal Grandma aesthetic, and I raise you Hillside Widow. These holiday-appropriate silk floral jammies make me feel like a Classy Adult Woman as I loaf about the house, mourning the days when it didn’t get dark at 4pm. And they’re on sale!
SLIPPERS: Birdies The Phoebe
In 2022, I officially became a slipper person. (Holds for applause.) These angelic “smoking slides” in Cream Velvet Faux Fur were what finally did it!! Do your soles a favor and simply buy them!
STATIONARY: Papier Journals & Notecards
If you sign up to be a “Founding Overthinker” for this newsletter, you can expect a Thank-You note from yours truly written on my favorite stationary of late by Papier! (I’m a fan of their monogrammed “Bright Dinosaurs” pattern because I am actually an 8-year-old boy.) They also make delightful journals and notebooks, and I’m giving one away this week to one lucky paid subscriber! Photos below. If you’re a paid sub, you’re automatically entered. Upgrade your subscription below :)
Definitely the reflector! I'm a psychologist-in-training and feel so privileged to hold space with individuals who are raw, real, and vulnerable with me. I'm also an outgoing and social person who considers herself an introverted extrovert (honestly just depends on setting and who I'm around). But sometimes I feel like I lose a tiny bit of myself bc I can "chameleon" according to who I'm with at a given time. Would love to hear about other reflectors!
I’d say I fall mostly into the creator category. Although, this was hard for me to decide. The more I thought of how each felt, I connected most with the creator description. If a job or task I’m doing allows me freedom, it’s so much easier for me to enjoy. Also, I sometimes find it hard to stay grounded in the moment because I’m looking towards what comes next often.