How to Know When to Transition from Work Mode to Play Mode

https://dreamspacestudio.net/how-to-know-when-to-transition-from-work-mode-to-play-mode/

When Freelance Feels Lonely: Building Your Own Creative Community Online

https://dreamspacestudio.net/when-freelance-feels-lonely-building-your-own-creative-community-online/

The Creative Overachiever With Zero Patience (A.K.A. Me)

You know that feeling when your brain explodes with creative ideas faster than your hands—or printer—can keep up? Yeah, that’s me. I have so many ideas for goodies to go with my books—zines, bookmarks, stickers, magical rituals, you name it—but my patience level? About the size of a coffee bean. ☕

I swear, sometimes I think my creativity caps at writing. But then I remember: I’ve taught myself to make graphics, edit videos, design websites, and even figure out how to use Affinity Publisher when I had zero clue what I was doing. I have the capacity—it’s the patience I’m still working on.

Like this week, for example. I wanted my zine bonus chapter to look all professional and pretty—folded neatly, double-sided, the whole thing. I could see it in my head: this cute little printed piece of art that early readers would hold in their hands like a secret treasure. But then reality hit. Printing double-sided? Aligning pages? Figuring out how to get my printer to cooperate? Suddenly, I was fighting a battle between perfectionism and the urge to nap.

And guess what? The nap won.

That’s usually how I solve most of my creative puzzles. I walk away, sleep, come back with a fresh brain, and somehow things make sense. That’s how I built my website, actually—me, the queen of “click this and hope for the best.” I’d get stuck, close my laptop, nap, and then wake up with divine tech wisdom. It’s a process. A chaotic one, but a process nonetheless.

Now, as for my homemade zine? She’s imperfect but adorable. The lines might not match up, the folds might be a little off, but she’s mine. And there’s something about holding something you made with your own hands that feels like magic—especially when you know how many times you almost gave up trying.

At the end of the day, I remind myself that being creative isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up, experimenting, and forgiving yourself when the Cricut eats your design or your printer decides to skip a page. Because even when things don’t go as planned, they still carry your energy, your heart, and your determination to create something beautiful out of frustration.

So yeah—my zine might not look like it came out of a fancy print shop, but it came out of me. And that’s enough.

But I tell you what’s going to happen no matter how these zines look, I will have The Ordinary Bruja ready for you. So go ahead and preorder so you can get these homemade zines

The Ordinary Bruja: Book One of Las Cerradoras Series – Johanny Ortega

Marisol Espinal has spent her life trying to disappear from her family’s whispers of magic, from the shame of not belonging, from the truth she refuses to face. She’s always wanted to be someone else: confident, capable, extraordinary.

But when strange visions, flickering shadows, and warnings written in her mother’s hand begin to stalk her, Marisol is forced to confront her deepest fear: what if she isn’t extraordinary at all? What if she’s painfully ordinary?

Yet Hallowthorn Hill doesn’t call to just anyone. And the more Marisol resists, the stronger its pull becomes. The past she’s buried claws its way back, and something in the mist is watching—waiting for her to remember.

If Marisol cannot face the truth about who she is and where she comes from, the same darkness that destroyed her ancestors will claim her, too.

Somewhere in the shadows, something knows her name.

And it’s time for Marisol to learn why.

Feeling the creative burnout? Recognize the signs, take breaks, nourish your mind and body, and stay connected. Recharge your passion and finish the year strong.

#CreativeBurnout #StayInspired #ArtistLife #EntrepreneurTips #MentalWellness #SelfCare

https://zinkmag1.wordpress.com/2025/09/19/creative-burnout-is-real/

How to Return After Creative Burnout with Ease

We hear it all the time: “Reinvent yourself.” As if the only way to move forward is to become someone else entirely. But I want to offer a softer truth—one that feels more real to me: you don’t need a reinvention. You just need a return.

A return to your rhythm.
A return to your voice.
A return to what felt like you before life got too loud.

Let me tell you how I figured that out.

TikTok used to be a fun space for me. I’d talk about books, about my podcast, about my upcoming novel The Ordinary Bruja. But then life got hectic—and when I say hectic, I mean chaotic-spiraling-energy-suck hectic. Between parenting, pets, responsibilities, and trying to stay emotionally afloat, I just didn’t have it in me. I didn’t want to be on camera. I didn’t have the creative energy to even think of what to say. And if I’m being honest, I felt disconnected from myself.

So I stepped away.

I didn’t announce a break. I didn’t delete the app. I just… didn’t post.

And when things calmed down—when I had more space in my schedule and could finally breathe again—I didn’t come back with a dramatic announcement or apology. Not because I think there’s anything wrong with doing that (honestly, shoutout to everyone who’s honest about needing space), but because I didn’t have the energy to perform a comeback. I just had the energy to begin again.

So I did.

One day, I opened the app and made a video about a book I was reading. That was it. No elaborate explanation. Just, “Hey, let me tell you about this.” And then I kept talking. I talked about The Ordinary Bruja. I talked about the themes, the characters, the process. I showed up—not for reinvention, but for reconnection.

And people noticed. Some of my mutuals left sweet comments like “It’s so nice to see you again.” And you know what I said?

“It’s nice to be back.”

Not I’m new or I’m different—but back. Because I wasn’t becoming someone else. I was coming home to myself.

That shift in mindset changed everything. I stopped overthinking how to return. I stopped worrying about whether I should rebrand or “start fresh.” I didn’t need a grand plan. I just needed to put my energy into doing rather than doubting.

And as I kept posting, I started learning. I realized I didn’t want to juggle three different TikTok profiles for my writing, podcasting, and pet rescue content. That might work for some people—but not for me. My time is limited, and I don’t want to waste energy maintaining multiple versions of myself. I want one account that feels like me. The full me—messy, multifaceted, and always evolving.

Now, I focus on showing up with intention.
I post when I can.
I schedule when I know I’ll be busy.
I talk about my rescued dogs, my love for books, what I’m writing, what I’m reading, and all the beautiful chaos in between.

And I sprinkle in updates about The Ordinary Bruja because this book matters to me. It’s a love letter to identity, to self-forgiveness, to magic. And I want people to discover it, not because I forced it into an algorithm, but because I shared it from the heart.

The Ordinary Bruja: Book One of Las Cerradoras Series – Johanny Ortega

When grief pulls Marisol Espinal back to Willowshade, she uncovers a legacy buried in shadows, silence, and ancestral magic. The Ordinary Bruja is a haunting coming-of-age story that blends psychological horror with Dominican folklore and magical realism. For fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Isabel Cañas.

If you love what you read, I’d be honored to hear your thoughts. Please leave a review on your preferred platform and let other readers find the magic in The Ordinary Bruja.

If you’re reading this and feeling like you need to “start over” or “reinvent” yourself to be creative again, I want you to know: You don’t.

You don’t have to perform your return. You don’t have to show up with all the answers. You don’t have to be a brand-new person with a brand-new plan. You can simply return.

Return to what lit you up.
Return to what made you smile.
Return to your own voice, your own rhythm, your own truth.

Even if your return is quiet, it’s still powerful.

🧸 New Book Title:
“Timmy Has Too Many Tickets and No One Cares”

🖼️ Cover Description:
A cluttered kindergarten room. Timmy, wide-eyed and overworked, sits buried under a towering pile of crayon-colored “tickets”. little slips labeled “URGENT,” “QUICK WIN,” and “DATA REQUEST.”
In the background, a smug “Product Pete” waves a flag labeled “Vision 2025 🚀” while standing on a Lego rocket that’s clearly missing wheels.
The teacher cheerfully holds up a pie chart made of construction paper. It says:
“Creative Output: 0% – Efficiency: 110%”
All the other kids play with broken toys labeled “Legacy System” and “Tech Debt”, giggling as the sandbox burns behind them.
One lone child stares out the window, dreaming in finger paints about creativity and innovation.

Back Cover Quote:
“When everything is urgent, nothing is important. Except pie charts.”

#TicketMonkey #TooManyTickets #KindergartenAgile #QuickWinCulture #VisionWithoutVision #CreativeBurnout #DataKillsInnovation #OKROverdose #UrgentNotImportant #PieChartMadness #SprintToNowhere #OperativeOverload #TechDebtPlayground #InnovationSuppression #ProductHypeDisaster
#PlaytimeIsOver #KindergartenLeadership #NoFutureRoadmap #EfficiencyCult #ConveyorBeltCoding

The Healing Power of Stillness

Have you ever felt that sinking feeling of anxiety when things aren’t going as planned? That’s exactly what happened to me at Latina Fest, standing at my author table watching people walk by without glancing at my books. My stomach tightened as those insidious thoughts crept in: “Maybe I won’t sell anything today. This was a waste of time.”

But then something magical happened – a microsecond of perfect stillness descended, slowing my perception of everything around me. Suddenly, I noticed the joy permeating the festival – the music, the laughter, the community celebrating together. A voice inside whispered, “Wait, this is perfect just the way it is.” The revelation transformed my experience: the accomplishment wasn’t in selling books but in being present, in feeling the joy of community. When I released my attachment to outcome and embraced the moment, I started smiling and dancing by my table. People began to notice, wave, and approach me to learn more about my work.

This episode explores a counterintuitive truth: sometimes stillness isn’t a pause in your healing – it IS the healing. After completing my emotionally demanding “Why Behind the Bruja” miniseries, I found myself in a quiet emptiness that felt uncomfortable for someone who thrives on productivity. Yet that discomfort held an invaluable lesson: I had been moving too fast, meticulously crafting my message while forgetting to leave room for myself in the process. What if the real power isn’t in perpetual motion but in the courage to stand still?

Where in your life might stillness offer you clarity that constant motion cannot? Where are you rushing when you could be noticing? Before you push harder, consider whether softening might be the braver choice. Share this episode with someone who needs permission to be still, and message me about what resonated with you. Remember, stillness isn’t weakness – it’s sacred.

#anxietyAndCreativity #AuthorJourney #creativeBurnout #findingJoyInTheMoment #healingThroughStillness #LatinaFest #permissionToPause #PersonalGrowth #podcastForWriters #theWritingLife

Being an indie author means wearing every hat — writer, marketer, designer, and more. The invisible workload is real, exhausting, and rarely talked about. If you're feeling overwhelmed or unseen, this post is your permission slip to breathe, reflect, and reset. #IndieAuthor #WritingLife #AuthorBurnout #SelfPublishingStruggles #AmWriting #WritersSupportWriters #CreativeBurnout #IndieAuthorJourney #AuthorWellness #WritingCommunity #WriteWithHeart #SoniaRompoti

https://soniamrompoti.com/2025/05/24/indie-author-life-beyond-the-writing/

Your Starving For Fun in Your Knowledge Creator Business

Read on blog here -> https://medium.com/@lifewithtina/3b1dd908b0af

Join 3000+ Knowledge Creators Who Are Automating Their Business & I'll Send you a database of tools they're using to do it -> https://tinalopez.com/toolsrecommendation
#BusinessOverwhelm #MarketingAutomation #SalesAutomation #CreativeBurnout #FunInBusiness
Refer & Get Rewarded: https://creatorsclub.tinalopez.com/referral

If you are blocked, you still love your idea. You do. If you are burning out, you're starting to hate it. That's a hard place to be. #burnout #creativeburnout #burningout #preventingburnout

https://youtu.be/-zOLkauZPco