Allison Collins Writes

National Novel Writing Month is in full swing, and I am already seriously behind. The challenge is to write 50,000 words this month. I’m sitting at right around 1,000.

In the last week of October, I set up a Discord server called Muse and Moonlight in order to start building a community to write with (this totally wasn’t a way to procrastinate writing). It’s a community I hope will grow and help me stay accountable to my goals. My plans are to have channels for writers to connect, to share inspiration, and growing both their craft and friendships. I imagine weekly or monthly live writing sessions and workshops. Maybe even a virtual book club too.

So, why Muse and Moonlight? I named my Discord server to invoke the feeling of the first novel I wrote. It has a nod to Greek mythology and reflects my connection to the moon. I slapped together a logo on Canva to tie in the cozy, autumnal, bookish vibes I hope to establish within my brand. Eventually, I hope to paint my own logo, but the image I created works for the time being. Someday, I also want to have a podcast with the same name, so I’m slowly building the platform before I get to that point.

Yet as with any social media platform I’ve attempted to create on, I’ve already neglected it.

But the month isn’t over, and the Discord isn’t going anywhere. I need to stop thinking and acting in ultimatums. Doing something is better than nothing. Habits aren’t formed in a day. I can’t magically undo years of procrastination overnight. I need to have the same grace with myself as I have with others.

I’m also at the start of a new chapter in my life. This month, I stepped away from my first “big girl” job. The decision was bittersweet, but I know it was the right one for this stage in my life. I now get the privilege to focus on my child and caring for our home. It’s only been a week, but I’m already realizing I need to develop a routine in order to structure my days. Currently, my days are on 3-4 hour cycles as I care for my 11 week old. Feeding, changing, playing, pumping. Instead of doom scrolling while baby naps, I need to use my time in a healthier way. Whether that is writing, cleaning, cultivating a social media presence, or finding exercises that work with my body, I need to take advantage of the privilege I’ve been given.

It’s especially important to use the time I have effectively when my pain is controlled. Remember in the last post when I said I was already over the aches and pains of life after 30? Well, it turns out all of the joint pain has a source: lupus. Much to my dismay and Dr. Gregory House’s insistence that it’s never lupus, I’ve been officially diagnosed by a rheumatologist. This autoimmune condition is something I will face for the rest of my life. My lupus manifests in arthritis. It is also potentially attacking my kidneys, but I’ll know more after I meet with a nephrologist. Thankfully, my current combinations of medications keep the pain mostly at bay. It will be a long road determining what causes my lupus to flare and how to avoid those things, but I have the time and support I need.

Though fall is the time for harvest and when nature decides to sleep, I feel revitalized. The year is almost over so I start looking ahead. How can I set myself up for a successful 2026? What do I want to accomplish then that I can start now? I want to start small with this so my all or nothing tendencies don’t cause burnout. I’ve listed my three primary goals below:

1. establish a self-care routine
   • this includes caring for myself and home
2. write at least one hour each week
3. post on at least one social media platform once a week

What goals do you have for the remainder of 2025?