It’s a new moon today, and we’re in the last days of the eleventh month of 2025. A good time to stir up some dreams designed for you.

Directions: This is a workbook designed to get you ready for the rebellion that is you pursuing your creative dreams. Here is a link to a Google Doc version of this workbook. Simply file/make a copy of this document, and you can easily customize it to fit your needs. Or simply copy/paste the content of this post to print, adding space for you to write where you need to and print.

Introduction: Why “like a rebel”? Because the world we live in is not supportive of the creative work we are aspiring to do. To make time with the limited time and energy we’ve got left (after day jobs, children, pets, housework, and all the demands that come along with keeping a household), rebellion is necessary. I’m a writer. For the most part, the rebellious work I am doing is writing. And I’m doing it just about every day. If you’ve read my posts over at Make Time, you’re privy to some of the ways I magic that into my life. Whatever creative practice you are aspiring to do, this is a place to plan how you will make that happen in 2025. For me, this means mostly writing. But I also aspire (less successfully) to someday be able to play at least a couple of songs on guitar and make more collages. I like to spend as much time as possible in the kitchen, making a delicious meal that takes time. Maybe you want to make time for dancing, for practicing your singing, for writing poetry, for putting together a cookbook for the world, or just for you and your family. Maybe you want to learn carpentry, calligraphy, or crocheting.

Making time for creative work is the best investment you can make this year. It’s an investment in self-expression, joy, and peace of mind. If you did this planning workbook with me last year, I’ve changed some things up to focus more on this year’s theme of rebellion.

Directions: In truth, this workbook is not just about planning your creative life, because–let’s face it—it’s all interconnected. If you stay rested, hydrated, and physically active, you are going to show up to the “page” more consistently and with a clearer, more focused mind. The focus of this worksheet is to break down your goals. In order to do that, we will reach into all parts of your life and help you plan out your creative journey for the coming year. Work through each section of this packet at your own pace. Single-focus on the task of planning and reflection. If that becomes impossible, take a break and finish later. Get comfortable. Brew some tea, set out some snacks, put on some relaxing music. Take this time for yourself. Set everything else aside. If meditating is your thing (or you wish it were), do a short meditation before you begin. Make time for this, too. Maybe only do the parts you feel you need.

Rage Cleaning

Rage cleaning is a phrase passed easily between me and my best friend. No explanation is needed when one or the other of us says this phrase. It is understood by us that this means we have fallen into self-sabotage and prioritized the dishes or other people’s problems to our own detriment, and it has reached a point where we literally have to rearrange the furniture and gather some bags for donation to get back on track. So, let’s take a look at the furniture, see what might work better, and gather some things to get rid of. Below, make a list of the things that get in the way of your creative time. List as many things as you can.

Now that you’ve got your list, look for anything that you can simply eliminate. I know that it won’t be as easy as crossing an item off a list, but a good place to start is recognizing what you can let go of that is getting in the way of your work. Okay, get started crossing out.

What should be left now is a list of things that get in the way and must stay. You love them too, or you need them. There is no getting rid of them. This is where you try to rearrange the furniture. Let’s say your day job is on that list. Are there ways you can tighten down that commitment? For me, this means no work email on my phone, trying to hold to my contracted work time, making efficient use of my time while at work, and trusting the universe that the work will eventually get done. This last one is big for me, because I have a tendency to get stuck in busy mode, caught up in the delusion that work ever really gets done. When you look at your furniture, what can be rearranged? Draw some lines and arrows. Make a list of ideas.

Now, stand back and consider your list.

Breaking Down Your Goals

Directions:Write at least three goals for the year, but feel free to focus on only one for now.

GOAL 1:

Why this goal?

How will you feel when you achieve it? Take some time to describe and visualize yourself being in that moment already and write down what you see/think/feel.

GOAL 2:

Why this goal?

How will you feel when you achieve it? Take some time to describe and visualize yourself being in that moment already and write down what you see/think/feel.

GOAL 3:

Why this goal?

How will you feel when you achieve it? Take some time to describe and visualize yourself being in that moment already and write down what you see/think/feel.

Breaking Down Habits

Directions: Fill in the chart below with the daily habits that are tried and true (or that you suspect will be). You may not always do these things every day, but you’d like to. Be specific and list as many as you can.

Body.

What are the things that you would like to do every day to keep your physical body happy and healthy?

Mind.

What are the things that you would like to do every day to keep your mind happy and healthy?

Creative Routine.

What are the things that you would like to do every day to keep you moving forward with your goals?

Your Ideal Creative Week

Directions: Plan out your ideal creative week. Of course, there will be times when life gets in the way, that’s how life goes. Let that go and imagine anyway.

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Action Steps

Directions: What are ten action steps you can commit to take to make your creative goals happen?

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Reflect on how you’ll feel when these things happen, and how you think your life might be different. Fill the space that takes up the rest of this page.

Vision Board

Directions: Use cardstock or this Google slide template to collage images, words, phrases, or quotes that represent the achievement of your creative goals for 2025. Insert a picture of your board here, or a link to your slide. If you’re using Google Slides, simply file/make a copy to edit for yourself. Consider doing this low-tech with a good old piece of large cardstock and a stack of magazines. Disregard all the baggage you have about vision boards and do it anyway. The real power of a vision board is the time you spend making it, the time you spend concentrating on what you want your writing year to look like.

Letter To Your Future Self

Directions: Write a letter to yourself via this email service and have it arrive three months into the new year. In the letter, remind yourself of your goals and give yourself a pep talk as well as any reminders you might need to keep going.

Write Your Creative Manifesto

A manifesto is a public statement of your values, beliefs, or intentions. Once you write yours, consider sharing it to at least one other person. Aim for at least one page double-spaced. Not sure how to begin? Consider some of the following starts:

Begin with “I believe”.Ask a provocative question.Identify what has been getting in the way of your making time for your creative goals. Then proceed with the manifesto for change.Make a bold declaration.Start with an inspiring quote.Start with a vision of the future.Challenge the way things are.

Creative Friend,

This is how dreams get built: by making time, like you just did. Pull out your three creative goals and put them somewhere where you can review them from time to time over the course of the year. Share them with at least three friends who you can depend on for their support and encouragement. Consider asking at least one of those friends to be your accountability partner this year. Make a plan for how and when you will check in with each other.

I’m here doing this work with you, sending out good thoughts to you. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions about this exercise, feel free to email me at eatyourwords.lizshine@gmail.com.

I also work as a writing coach and love helping writers gain confidence, set goals, and develop their work. I was a writer first, but I’ve been teaching for over twenty-five years. Coaching weaves those two skill sets in a way that I love, love, love. I work with writers locally and over Zoom. For more information on coaching, email me at eatyourwords.lizshine@gmail.com or see my website.

You can see my books here and read some of my short works here.

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