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Day 1 of the 75-Day Joa Challenge: Why I Started and What I Already Learned

https://youtu.be/tDwpX6w4VWk

If you’re like me, you’ve probably tried a million different ways to organize your life and still ended the day wondering where the time went. That’s what led me to start the 75-Day Joa Challenge.

Inspired by AuthorTube’s take on the 75 Hard Challenge, I wanted something more personal. Something softer, more in tune with who I am—disciplined, yes, but also gentle with myself. So on July 17, 2025, I created my own version. Here’s what it includes:

• 📖 Read 10 pages of nonfiction (currently craft books)
• 🧘🏾‍♀️ Do a 5-minute mind reset (a.k.a. meditate)
• ✍️ Write for 45 minutes
• 📣 Post one brand-building item
• 🪞Have one mirror moment (y’all, I love this one)
• 📸 Take one picture to track the journey

What Day 1 Taught Me
On July 18, 2025 was my first day and let me tell you, when I actually carved out time for these tasks—intentionally and early—I finished everything on my list before my workday ended. That gave me something I don’t usually get: free time.

I didn’t expect that.
But here’s the epiphany: structure can give you back your time.
It felt like peace. Like I was finally in rhythm with my day instead of chasing it down.

And that feeling? That’s what I want more of. Check out the video for a more in depth account of my first day.

If this resonates, I’d love for you to follow along or even join in with your own version. Tag it.

Don’t forget The Ordinary Bruja is available for presale and during the presale she is 50% off. So get it while the sale last!

The Ordinary Bruja: Book One of Las Cerradoras Series – Johanny Ortega

When grief pulls Marisol Espinal back to Willowshade, she uncovers a legacy buried in shadows, silence, and ancestral magic. The Ordinary Bruja is a haunting coming-of-age story that blends psychological horror with Dominican folklore and magical realism. For fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Isabel Cañas.

If you love what you read, I’d be honored to hear your thoughts. Please leave a review on your preferred platform and let other readers find the magic in The Ordinary Bruja.

Move First, Write Later: My Top 5 Ways to Wake Up Creativity

In my last post, I talked about how I don’t wait for inspiration anymore. I go looking for it—or better yet, I move until it finds me.

Here’s the thing about my brain: it loves motion. Something about my body being active while my mind wanders is the sweet spot. When I’m physically moving, I slip into a mental space where my characters come alive, my scenes find clarity, and I start dreaming up new ways to get my protagonists into (and hopefully out of) trouble.

So when the creative well runs dry, or I’ve gone a while without being immersed in my current WIP, I go back to the last thing I wrote and then get moving. That combo is like flipping the switch back on.

Here are my Top 5 Activities That Always Bring Me Back to My Story:

1. Shower Time = Plot Time

There’s just something about being in hot water—literally. When I’m in the shower, calientita and relaxed, my mind drifts straight into my stories. The warmth, the white noise, the solitude? It’s my personal idea incubator.

I’ve plotted full chapters in the time it takes me to condition my hair. Shower thoughts are real—and for writers, they’re golden.

2. Walking with a Soundtrack

Give me a clear track and I’m good to go. I plug in music (instrumentals only—no lyrics to fight with my thoughts) and start walking. The key is matching the music to the mood of the scene or character. If I’m writing action, I’ll queue up something cinematic and fast-paced. If it’s a sad or introspective moment, cue the violins. Love scene? Break out the soft piano or even the moody love songs.

I’m not just walking—I’m building worlds in my head, one step at a time.

3. Running to Jumpstart the Brain

Now let’s be clear: I’m not out here sprinting like I’m training for the Olympics. I run at a chill pace, but it’s enough to shake things loose. Running helps me get unstuck faster than walking, especially when I’m wrestling with a scene or trying to figure out a character’s next move.

Nature, movement, and that steady rhythm of breath and heartbeat—it’s like my inner storyteller gets jogged back to life.

4. People Watching for Character Fuel

I spend a lot of time in airports, so I do this without even trying. But whether it’s a coffee shop, bookstore, park, or library—watching people is one of the best ways to get inspired. Every person has a story, and when I imagine what those stories could be, I start unraveling new threads of fiction.

Sometimes it’s just the way someone adjusts their bag strap or looks at their phone. Those little details open the door to big narrative questions.

5. Driving (or Being Driven) to Think Freely

When I’m on a known route, driving becomes meditative. I play the kind of music I mentioned earlier and let my thoughts drift into story territory. If the drive requires too much focus, though, I’ll ask someone to take the wheel while I zone out in the passenger seat.

Even better? Public transportation. No need to focus on the road. Just sit back, put on your headphones, and go wherever your mind takes you. That mental space? It’s priceless.

Final Thoughts:

Creativity isn’t passive—it’s something you chase, court, or wrestle with. For me, that chase almost always starts with motion. When my body gets going, my brain follows. That’s the rhythm I’ve learned to trust, especially when inspiration is hiding.

And honestly? There’s no shame in needing a little push. Not every writing session begins with magic—but if you move first, the magic usually shows up.

Writers, what’s your version of creative motion? What do you do when you’re feeling stuck or disconnected from your current work-in-progress?

#creativeProcess #LatinaAuthor #writerSBlock #writingHabits #WritingTips