Okay i'm going to fully lean into the idea of going back to school and applying for the University of Vermont (for my Masters, then move to PhD) along side the current projects I'm working on. I'm working on a podcast, Too Many Characters, along with a Queer Zine In Our Own Skin. I also make book-themed stickers, pins, and bookmarks via Riley's Studio & Nook, where I hope to sell Sapphic & other Queer Books specifically, along w/ maybe some writing craft books (the good stuff not just stephen king)
Some background of me: I am a Writer first. I have many creative ideas and stories, specifically a Japanese Fantasy series, along with Sapphic, Fantasy, and Dystopian stories. I graduated back in 2018 from Rutgers University New Brunswick w/ honors. I was an English major w/ a creative writing minor. I'm currently located in New Jersey. My current job has nothing to do with anythng i'm trying to do.
August 1st â December 20th 2026
Queer literature of the 21st century developed new and hybrid forms (graphic novel, fragmented prose, nonlinear narrative, autofiction) not as a stylistic choice, but as a necessity because the identities being explored were too fluid, too complex, and too long invisible to fit the shapes that traditional literary fiction offered.
A Focus on queer identity and the creation of new forms of telling stories
Thesis Reading (Primary Goals)
Read Queer America by Samantha Allen
This Arab is Queer edited by Elian Johshan
On Earth Weâre Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
This One Summer by Mariko & Jillian Tamaki (Graphic Novel)
Spinning by Tillie Walden (Graphic Novel)
How to Write a Thesis by Umberto Eco (spread out throughout the semester)
Literary Theory: A very Short introduction (Start Early)
Feminist Philosophy: A Very short Introduction by Katherine Jenkins
Writing Fiction by Janet Burroway (WIP)
The Actorâs Guide to Creating a Character by William Esper
The Emotional Craft of Fiction by Donald Maass
Chaos, Creativity and Completion by Chloe Martinez
Dabble / No Pressure to Finish
The Business of Being a Writer by Jane Friedman
The Book on Writing Romance by Leigh Michaels (For Sapphic WIPS)
The Art of War by Sun Tzu (For Japanese Fantasy WIP, War Arc)
1,000 True Fans by Caroline Sophia Masters (Social Media)
26 books in 2026 Challenge
8 out of 26 ; two-three books on hold
The New Lesbian Pulp edited by Sarah Fonseca & Octavia C Saenz
Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Two poetry books: Emily Dickson ; Depression & Other Magic Tricks
Sapphic Books (Finish the ones started (or donât and pick something else thatâs gay ; Dream on Ramona Riley)
Revisit the Zombie story and polish it ; Goal is to send an updated version to Professor for fun ; Start to Review and Transcribe old Journals
Phase One: August (Foundation)
Get grounded ; Build habits ; launch the podcast.
Week 1 (Aug 1â7): Continue Writing Fiction (Burroway) ; This One Summer, read in 1â2 sittings ; Add stickies and take notes on form and queer identity
Week 2 (Aug 8â14): Spinning â read 1â2 sittings ; Add stickies and take notes on form and queer identity.
Week 3 (Aug 15â21): Begin Real Queer America, Read roughly 50â60 pages ; Start Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction alongside (a chapter or two).
Week 4 (Aug 22â31): Continue Real Queer America ; Aim to finish ; Continue Literary Theory
Dabble: Dip into The Business of Being a Writer when possible
Sunday Riley's Studio hour: dedicated to whichever novel fits the mood at the time ; Keep track of word count, the goal is to get as much done as possible, but its not the priority ; just write something.
Monday or Friday: one additional 30â60 min writing session ; Can be journaling, scene drafting, character notes, anything ; Try to aim for 200 words (or just write anything)
Thesis notebook â Every book you read this month, write 1 page of notes on how it connects to your argument.
By end of August: have a working one-sentence thesis
Begin How to Write a Thesis ; Read the first few chapters to understand structure
Record episodes 1, 2, and 3 in August
Edit episode 1 by end of August ; target release: Late September or October?
Monday/Friday blocks of time: scheduling, guest coordination, show notes
Saturday: content creation block ; work on TikTok and Instagram posts
Zine: advertise submissions at least once a week on FB, IG, and TikTok
Nook and Studio launch prep (use Monday/Friday flex time)
Phase Two: September (Expand)
Go deeper into thesis reading ; Start writing sample outline
Week 1: Finish Real Queer America if not done ; Write 2 pages of thesis notes on it
Week 2: Begin This Arab Is Queer ; Read roughly 60â80 pages
Week 3: Continue This Arab Is Queer ; Finish Short Introduction to Literary Theory
Week 4: Begin Short introduction to Feminist PhilosophyÂ
Continue Writing Fiction (Burroway). One chapter per flex/weekend day if possible ; Read some gay romance
Sunday: Riley's Studio hour is novel work ; try to use this month to focus on the Sapphic WIPS
Monday or Friday: Begin thesis writing ; Start with a rough outline of writing sample (just headers and bullet points)
Goal by end of September: a full outline of the 10â15 page writing sample
Writing sample outline complete by September 30.
Continue How to Write a Thesis ; read the chapters on structure and argument.
Identify 3â4 primary texts for the writing sample
Episode 1 releases in September or October ; confirm date and promote.
Continue editing episodes 2 and 3.
Monday/Friday: show notes, social content, guest stuff
Phase Three: October (First Draft)
Get the writing sample on paper ; Â Done is the goal.
Finish This Arab Is Queer and Feminist Philosophy early in October.
Begin The Emotional Craft of Fiction ; Read a chapter per week alongside writing.
Parable of the Talents or Project Hail Mary
Dabble: The Book on Writing Romance when working on sapphic novels.
Continue How to Write a Thesis as needed.
Aim for a complete rough draft by October 31.
Monday and Friday: thesis writing blocks , focus more
Sunday Riley's Studio: novel work.
Mid-October check in: writing sample word count check ; Try to at least half done by Oct 15
Revisit older work on a weekend
Fall weekends â> Â craft fair selling ; weekend energy shifts here.
Content creation: one piece per week minimum ; lean into the queer literary identity from thesis work
Zine: submissions window, keep advertising, track what's coming in.
Phase Four: November (Revision)
Sharpen the writing sample and deepen the thesis argument ; Start the statement of purpose.
Continue The Emotional Craft of Fiction ; finish it this month.
Finish Writing Fiction by mid November
Finish Parable of the Talents or Project Hail Mary ; Pick up a poetry
Work on reading Chaos, Creativity and Completion
Dabble: Art of War for Japanese Fantasy series
Edit and sharpen writing sample
Focus on: is the thesis clear in every paragraph? Am I close reading or just summarizing?
Incorporate secondary sources (Butler, Halberstam, Chute) ; whatever supports the current argument
Begin Statement of Purpose draft ; 1â2 pages ; Why University of Vermont? Why this topic? Why now?
writing sample second draft done by November 30.
Sunday: novel work ; try to build a loose draft of at least one WIP
Monday/Friday: start alternating between thesis revision and creative writing (donât burn out, switch it up)
Japanese Fantasy series: try to focus on drafting some scenes for Afterstory
Phase Five: December (Polish and Rest)
 Polish application stuff and rest
Early December: finish Actor's Guide to Creating a Character
26 books in 2026 â> Â what do you need to finish the challenge? Add in whatever gets you to completion
Dabble/Read the New Lesbian Pulp
Light reading only after December 15
Writing sample: final polish ; Read it out loud ; cut anything that doesnât work ; see if someone can read it
Statement of Purpose: final draft ; get someone to read it .
Confirm three recommenders & reach out by early December
Transcripts: request official copies from Rutgers
Application: aim to have everything ready by Christmas so that week after / January is just review and submit.
Sunday Riley's Studio: keep showing up ; Take a break Christmas â January ; restart in the new year
Creative writing lighter this month Ă Â thesis takes priority
End of year: review a job well done / what you accomplished
Podcast goes on break at Christmas ; Â resume in February.
Schedule any remaining 2026 episodes before the break.
Use the break to plan Season 2
24th STOP â Holiday, then do literally anything else ; switch to creative journaling and drawing and painting for the rest of the year ; fun creativity
Christmas break is for polishing the application and recovering, not making more writing / project stuff.
January: submit the application.
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