Closing 2025
On revisiting and categorizing my 2025 entries.
Around two years ago, I was tinkering about Substack to set up this very newsletter. I can’t believe that (nearly) 24 months have passed—and that I managed to keep this up!
For the end of 2025, I thought to expand on something I wrote last year: a categorization of all of my posts. Here are the main themes:
👓 Entries about Fun Research Topics
💪 Entries about Motivation
⏰ Entries about Time Management
✍️ Entries about Writing Stuff
📚 Entries about Books
I’d like this post to be a chance for you to revisit some past entries or to read any that you’ve missed (or you can skip it 😆).
While in 2024 I didn’t miss a beat, this year I took the liberty to take breaks and, at some point, lowering the frequency of the posts by publishing them every three weeks instead of two. I realized that, even though this newsletter is very dear to me, it’s not my main goal: my main goal is working on fiction and storytelling. The newsletter is fed by the other stuff that I do, so, if I don’t do stuff, I don’t have anything to write about.
It’s a good reality check and it’s a helpful prioritization. Anyway, even if slower, I’m planning to keep on going with this project: I’m looking forward to sharing with you more of my thoughts and my writing progress! Thank you so much for reading and supporting this endeavor of mine ❤️
This is it for this year from me! I’ll be back in your inbox in January. Take care!
👓 Entries about Fun Research Topics
A small section of posts on interesting topics I had to research about for my book.
Magic in the Middle Ages — A few fascinating things I’ve learned while doing research for my fantasy book.
Medieval Ghost Mechanics — “Medieval Ghosts: the Stories of the Monk of Byland” by Maik Hildebrandt
💪 Entries about Motivation
In these entries, I write mostly about the struggle of finding the motivation to write. I believe, though, that most of the content can be applied to various other aspects of life as well.
Having something you want to do — On remembering the past, reflecting on how things have changed, and wondering how to plan my projects.
You can’t decide what you want — On different types of wants, a switch in the mind, and things we can actually control.
In defense of procrastination — On feeling called out, obsessing over productivity, and procrastinating by optimizing.
There is always someone doing more than you — On marathons and ultramarathons, the similarities between running and writing, and the temptation to compare yourself to others.
What makes you a writer — On feeling angsty, remembering how I started writing, and reframing goals.
How to talk yourself into doing stuff — On realizing I’m a whole of parts, identifying those parts, and talking to myself.
Trying is all we can do — On developing my journaling habit, wondering about the connection between “trying” and “failing”, and trying to reframe it.
Why you shouldn’t follow inspiration — On deciding when to stop, deciding when to start, and teaching your brain to follow you and not your whims
Creativity is a muscle — On an interesting podcast about writing and beliefs about writing ideas.
⏰ Entries about Time Management
In these entries, I write mostly about the struggle of finding time to write. I believe, though, that most of the content can be applied to various other aspects of life as well.
One hour and a half at a time — On asking a more experienced writer for advice, quality vs quantity, and sacred time.
How to schedule time as a part-time writer — On scheduling time for writing, applying a weekly rotation, and studying books on editing.
How long does it take to write a book? — On writing first drafts, wordcount calendars, and the importance of going back to doing the thing.
Habit Trackers — On choosing what to track and why.
How a calendar can help you write — On implementation intentions, my calendar habits, and a variety of possibilities.
✍️ Entries about Writing Stuff
These entries are mostly updates on my writing progress, plus a few other posts that are specifically about writing topics.
POV Struggles — On re-discovering one of my favorite series, having fun moments of panic, and trying to write something different from usual.
Analysis paralysis — On book analysis that are taking longer than what they should, completing a short story, and wondering about the future of this newsletter
Beats, scenes, sequences, acts = Story — On finishing the All Systems Red’s analysis, wondering how to go about the next one, and simmering on a dangerous idea.
Spoiler, or no spoiler — On the definition of spoiler, how they affect the experience of a story, and my thoughts on them.
Putting an octopus to bed — On finishing the last book analysis, being left alone with my draft, and a few other little things.
Let’s talk about Grandpa’s Farm — On how a letter RPG could help you improve your writing.
Writing fiction is problem solving — On wondering how to explain to a non-writer friend what’s it like to fix my first draft and realizing that I don’t feel that creative.
A merry game of Uno — A very little Christmas story.
Starting 2025 — On what I achieved in 2024 and how I discovered free-writing about my second draft.
How I wrote the first draft of my novel — And why it doesn’t work.
Useful tools for writing — Otter.ai, Scrivener, and Power Point.
How do you make a reader care? — On DNFing a book and falling into a rabbit hole on what makes me care about a story.
The rewrite has begun — On realizing I’ll never be ready, using the Snowflake Method, and finding fun in writing
Worcount tracker - for free! — For 2025 (or what remains of it).
On journaling — Are you a stationery junkie like me?
Identity crisis — In which I have yet another writing crisis but also a lot of fun.
Intrigue the reader by giving information (not withholding it) — On an epiphany I had while rewriting my novel.
Re-establishing the routine — I finished chapter two and started a whole new project!
📚 Entries about Books
Here you can find some thoughts about books I’ve read.
Red Rising: Writing vs. Plot — Thoughts on Red Rising by Pierce Brown - MILD SPOILERS
Turtles All The Way Down: if characters are real — Thoughts on Turtles All The Way Down by John Green - MODERATE SPOILERS
The Emperor’s Soul: on art and understanding — Thoughts on The Emperor’s Soul by Brandon Sanderson - MODERATE SPOILERS
All Systems Red: what makes a good Foil — Thoughts on All Systems Red by Martha Wells - MAJOR SPOILERS
The books I DNFed in 2024 and why — MILD SPOILERS
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries: a good first chapter — Thoughts on Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett - MODERATE SPOILERS
The Poisonwood Bible: the experience of reading — Thoughts on The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver - MILD SPOILERS
If you have any thoughts on what I shared, let me know by simply replying to this email, writing me at ryeyoubs@gmail.com, or leaving a comment!
Also, everything on Rye & Writing is currently free—nothing is behind a paywall. But if you like what I’m doing and you’d like to support me, feel free to drop a little donation. You’ll have my eternal gratitude ❤️
Thank you for reading and take care!
Rye Youbs