What skipping class taught me about creativity

The Writer’s Code — Edition #9

Good morning. I paused my Korean classes, skipped running all week, and ignored the “just do one more mock test” voice in my head. In return, I took the TOPIK exam feeling calm, not frantic. Wild how rest sometimes works better than over-prepping.

Also wild: New York cheesecake ice cream might be my new emotional support plan.

— Em

📓Creative Check-In

This week was about quiet recalibration.
I didn’t write much, but I paid attention.
I outlined a few blog ideas, journaled more than usual, and let myself sit in the creative fog instead of forcing my way out of it.

Win of The Week

I took the TOPIK exam without spiraling.
No cram session. No crying in the shower. Just… did it.
Not perfectly, but peacefully.

Spiral of the Week

Last week’s Korean class broke my brain a little.
I was tired, unprepared, and felt like I couldn’t answer anything.
So I paused the lessons. Guilt-free.
I’ll return when it feels better — not just harder.

Tools I Actually Used

– The Notes app — plain and simple
– Pen + paper for uncluttered thinking
– Ice cream for emotional regulation
– Watching The Americans for low-pressure plot absorption (still suspicious of everyone)

From the Blog: CTRL+ALT+Spiral #7
This week’s blog is soft, slow, and spiral-shaped.
I talk about overuse injuries, exams, and why rest isn't the enemy of progress.

Read it here →

👀Coming Soon

I’m building something for writers who feel stretched thin but still want to show up: part toolkit, part reset button.
More soon.

💭One Last Thought

Creative growth isn’t just about what you make.
It’s about what you recover from…
and how you treat yourself in the in-between.

bye for now.

see you next week.