My Writing Block & Overthinking - Creating the Free Book Guide

(Turns out, not as easy as I had thought it would be)

When I first decided to offer a free printable guide alongside my book, I imagined it would be a quick, fun add-on. A helpful little bonus. Nothing too complicated.

But once I sat down to actually make it? I got stuck.

The whole heart behind Subtle Resistance is to help readers make small, intentional changes without adding to the pressure and overwhelm they already feel. So naturally, I wanted this guide to reflect that—something practical but simple. Grounded, but not heavy. Useful, but not too much.

That’s a tricky balance to strike.

I took over our long schoolroom table with info from each chapter.

I found myself overthinking every piece of it…

• What would actually help someone take these ideas and use them in their real life?

• What would feel calming and practical instead of chaotic?

• How could I create unique resources that were not just repetitive info from the book?

I kept picturing you—yes, you—sitting down with a cup of tea and a few quiet minutes to yourself, wanting something thoughtful and encouraging, not another “checklist” that makes you feel behind.

It also didn’t help that it had been a while since I finished the final manuscript for Subtle Resistance. I had to dive back in with fresh eyes and really study each chapter again. What were the core takeaways? What questions would help you reflect or take a next step?

In some ways, this process became its own form of subtle resistance—slowing down enough to listen. Not rushing to check something off my list, but being willing to shape it slowly, with intention.

In the end, I’m genuinely proud of how the guide turned out.

It includes thoughtful reflection prompts, space to respond, kindness, and extensions of exercises pulled directly from the chapters. It doesn’t try to be everything—but it does give you something to hold onto when you’re ready to put what you’ve read into practice.

And hopefully, it’s pretty to look at too. 😉

Creating this guide reminded me why I wrote the book in the first place—to help people (including myself) find small ways forward that don’t add to the noise.

If you’re like me, you don’t need one more to-do list. You need clarity.

A place to start.

A gentle nudge toward what really matters.

I hope this guide feels like that for you!

---

👉 Before you go, feel free to share my Substack with a friend who could use a little calm and clarity right now. They don’t want to miss the next free downloads I’ll be sharing (including bookmarks, wallpapers, and more).

I love creating helpful resources and can’t wait for you to have them.

More soon,

---

If you’ve found comfort or encouragement in my writing, please order a copy of my book!!