Cruel Compendium #84 📓

Full moons, four notebooks, and firm foundations.

Last week, I shared my second annual Freelance Year in Review! You can check out 2023’s rundown too.

Be sure to click “View entire message” at the end of this email so you can read the whole post in your browser. On to the links!

I have a right to be here by

lyz

Your favorite newsletter’s favorite newsletter by

Caitlin Dewey

Very cool collection (and infographic) of beloved newsletters.

How to create a secular spiritual practice by

Catherine Andrews

Making better resolutions for 2025 by

Emily Amick

Skip the restrictive budget in 2025 by

Dana Miranda

Starting LIFTOFF: Couch to Barbell for the New Year? This is for you. by Casey Johnston

Johnston’s Liftoff is the perfect guide for anyone of any fitness level who wants to get started lifting. Her program is still the one I follow every time I’m getting back in lifting shape (like, literally right now). You can also pre-order Casey Johnston’s new book, A Physical Education: How I Escaped Diet Culture and Gained the Power of Lifting!

Bits and bobs about freelance writing.

• My new clips for Tribeza:

  • In print: Austin-Based Artist Lilac Frost Transforms Interiors with Lush, Sustainable Moss Masterpieces

  • Black Gold Blends Elevated Austin Barbecue with South Texas Heritage

• Thanks to

  Hitha Palepu
  and
  Madeleine Dore
  for sharing my piece about the art of return. I am practicing a slow return myself in Q1.

The art of return

• 15 creative tips

  Bizzy Coy
  gave to friends this year

• How to prioritize workload from

  Freelancing for Journalists

• Try timeboxing by

  Jeremy Caplan

• How to build your brand foundation by

  Melissa Perkins

• How to write a letter of introduction that lands clients by Kaitlyn Arford, who writes one of my favorite opportunities newsletters

• Working on media literacy: intentionally read the news, not people’s reactions to news.

• Workplace Resources Guide from the Trans Journalists Association via Teddy Wilson

Causes I care about and actions for change.

• Los Angeles (my hometown) fire relief efforts

  • Mutual aid and volunteer resources from MALAN

  • LA Works’ list of volunteer needs

  • Volunteer opps from the Volunteer Collective

  • Displaced Black families crowdfunding directory

  • Hyperallergic’s list of resources to help artists

  • Running list of GoFundMes from

    Rachel Davies

hikeclerb

A post shared by @hikeclerb

• Texas GOP targets abortion medications

• Jade Change and Ann Friedman are hosting the Pen to Power co-writing fundraiser for the National Network of Abortion Funds this Sunday.

• How do I take action where I am? from

  Prisonculture

kendramorous

A post shared by @kendramorous

oliviaherrickdesign

A post shared by @oliviaherrickdesign

@ravenous.x.raven_

• Austin Kleon
  gave us an inside look into his four notebooks. I keep three: one for journaling, one for creative thoughts, and one for Tarot.

• A bunch of questions to get to know yourself from

  Vulgar Advice

• An excellent thread from ethical stylist

  Lakyn Carlton
  about sustainable shopping

• How to stop overanalyzing romantic relationships from NPR’s Life Kit. Solid tips to keep in mind here!

• Wealth = Have / Want

• 77 facts that blew our minds in 2024 from The Atlantic

• If Justin Bieber had been cast as Boq

• Airport workers as soon as you land with that luggage

• A lovely song by Bahamas about making art:

• 🏋🏼‍♀️ What you clicked on most in the last Compendium:

  Ashley Reese
  ’s post-election rundown

Support for the week ahead from your higher self.

This is the first full moon in a Hermit year (via numerology).

To embrace this full moon in Cancer, pull cards for:
Yourself
What your heart is ready to explore
What your heart is ready to release
Your heart’s secret wish

biddytarot

A post shared by @biddytarot

Bliss.