Hi friends—We’ve made it to our final trail stop. I know “final” can sound like the end of something, but in creative life, endings are just trail markers. They’re the point where you stop, look back at the path you’ve walked, and decide where to head next.
You’ve spent the past twelve lessons exploring your storyteller self—figuring out how you like to create, what makes you want to pick up a pen (or stickers), and how to keep going when it’s messy or hard. That’s a big deal. Whether you filled every page in your Creative Trail Journal or just tucked a few sticky notes between the covers, you’ve still moved forward in your story.
So today, we’re going to talk about what happens after the workshop ends—how to keep your creativity alive without letting it turn into a chore.
What We’re Focusing On
Celebrating how far you’ve come
Seeing your creative work as a cycle, not a checklist
Making a future plan that actually works for you
Celebrate How Far You’ve Come
Before you flip the page into “what’s next,” take a beat. You’ve shown up for yourself. You’ve taken time, space, and energy—precious resources—to create something that’s entirely yours. That deserves more than a mental “cool, done.”
I love making a little ritual at the end of a big creative chapter. Sometimes I’ll snap a photo of my finished notebook stack, or print a sticker for the spine. Sometimes I treat myself to a new roll of washi or a fancy coffee, because yes, even small victories deserve whipped cream.
Celebration isn’t fluff—it’s fuel. It’s a way of telling your brain: this mattered, let’s do more of it.
Campfire Reflection
How will you mark the end of this chapter in a way that feels good?
This Is a Cycle, Not a Checklist
You don’t “graduate” from telling your story. This isn’t a box you tick off—it’s a loop you keep walking. Think of it like your favorite trail: you might hike it in spring when the flowers are blooming, then again in fall when the leaves are fiery red. Same path, completely different experience.
Here’s how that can look in real life:
Revisit a lesson: Open your Trail Journal to a random prompt and answer it again. See how your response has shifted.
Print a fresh worksheet: Pick a page you loved and fill it out with where you are right now.
Use it as a seasonal check-in: Each season, give yourself a little “storytelling refresh.”
Listen while you do something else: Play the voice lessons while you’re painting, cooking, or commuting—sometimes the ideas land differently when your hands are busy.
The more often you cycle through these ideas, the more natural it feels to weave creativity into your everyday life.
Campfire Reflection
What part of this journey do you most want to revisit—and what do you hope to see differently next time?
Make a Plan That Works for You
You’ve spent the last six weeks figuring out what helps you create and what makes you stall. Now’s the time to use that knowledge to your advantage.
If you thrive on accountability, keep playing along with community prompts like:
#Thursday3 (a selfie + three things about you right now)
The Currently List (Mondays are my favorite time to reset this one)
ALP Challenges in the community forum
If you need community, lean on the spaces that make you feel welcome. The Awesome Ladies Project is full of people who get it—share your pages, ask questions, or just check in and say hi.
If you love a routine, make it official:
Add “story time” to your calendar like any other appointment
Join Daily Pages Live (weekdays at Noon ET)
Set up solo creative dates—yes, just you, your notebook, and maybe a pizza slice
Or mix and match. Maybe you need a little of each. Maybe it changes month to month. That’s okay—the only “right” plan is one that fits your life.
Campfire Reflection
What’s the smallest, easiest step you can take this week to keep your storytelling practice alive?
Creative Challenge: “Full Circle”
Make a page that captures this exact moment at the end of your journey
Here are a few jumping-off points:
A “Before & After” list of how you felt at Lesson 1 vs. now
Use one of your favorite prompts again—see what’s shifted
Collage snippets from your pages into one spread
Write a short letter to your future creative self
Remember: Whatever you do—keep it simple, low-pressure, and true to you. This is about noticing what works.
Wrapping It Up
You’ve built something here—a creative foundation, a rhythm, and a toolbox that’s all yours. You can revisit it anytime you need inspiration, a nudge, or a familiar trail to walk.
You’re already a storyteller. You get to keep telling your story your way. And the next time you pick up your pen, you’ll be doing it from a place of experience and confidence.
Join the Conversation
What’s one way you plan to keep your creative momentum going now that camp is over?
Drop it in the comments—one word, a sentence, a whole story—anything goes.
