A Reflection On The Past & Goals for The Future

Jan 11

Written By Kate Gaulke

This post is longer and more personal in nature, but I have a helpful treat for those who read to the end.

For the first 24 hours this treat will be free with code “STORIES” - so get yours before I start charging 😉

Note: Current coaching clients will be receiving this treat as part of their service

I love the new year.

I love turning over a new leaf, taking down the old calendar and putting up the new. I love cleaning out my life, looking back on the year prior and envisioning how the dawning year will unfold.

It feels sacred. Outside of the typical day-to-day bullshit. This time of year we’re coming off a period of deep rest and reflection. We’ve probably revisited old friends, family and, alongside them, our old selves.

For me, the practice of visiting family over the holidays is incredibly grounding. It reminds me that I’m safe. That my loved ones care for me has nothing to do with any success I may or may not have achieved.

I saw my family, my old town, and took comfort from the slower speed of Minnesota in winter.

I saw my closest and oldest friend (we’ve known each other since kindergarten) and saw her adorable ham of a son who is only a little over a year old, though my goodness how he has grown.

I saw my old college roommate, who I also happen to have been friends with since childhood. We caught up in her backyard hot tub, feeling the winter snow steam against our skin, lit by moonlight.

I drove my little sister to school - the same high school I (and the Coen brothers) attended.

I went on long walks through the snow with my dad and his hunting dog. We talked and took note of how the world shifts in all the subtle ways I tend to gloss over in LA; the shifting density of the snow, the thickness of the ice, the cut of the wind.

Driving through my old world in a giant tank-like truck, I saw little libraries and reminders to buy and support local everywhere.

I felt peace and kinship.

The rest was so incredibly necessary. Not only for my business and creative process, but for my very being - because the truth is:

2023 was an incredibly difficult year

With the combined WGA and SAG strikes, I questioned if it even made sense to continue on my own screenwriting journey.
Health issues plagued my family.
My Dad had a stent put in and is on regular medication for the first time in his life.
My stepmom had a painful surgery where she couldn’t walk normally for months.
My sister fought demons of her own.
I flew home for a month in early spring to move my mom out of my childhood home - sorting through piles and piles of built up storage and childhood memories.
Work dried up for both myself and my partner - as it did for the whole city.
I went into debt.

**Choosing an artistic path is not always easy.**

Sometimes it’s downright brutal. That being said -

2023 had some good bits as well

I exceeded my goal of conducting at least 50 Market Research Meetings
I dove headfirst into social media and made countless posts & reels - learning tons in the process
I exceeded my goal of reaching over 1,000 followers on Instagram
I got even more serious about reel creation and invested in small pieces of lighting and audio equipment
I saw Yosemite national park for the first time
BARBIE. Barbie gave me the confidence to dive deeper into my own work and stop pretending I liked certain movies or shows because they were “popular.” I got more honest about what I want to create and dedicated myself to building deeply truthful, emotional work, which just so happens to be female-centric.
I started building an email list and a weekly newsletter
I took on my first coaching clients
I polished my Pilot, “Assisting”
I had numerous writers and professionals respond positively to my pilot and offer to introduce me to their reps (with the caveat of “once the strike is over).
I was tapped to write an indie short film, with expectations to expand into a feature
I had a producer tell me my pilot made them cry and asked if they could champion it
I tried a variety of outlining processes and settled into one that fits my style of creativity
I outlined a Feature
I wrote nearly every single weekday
After serving faithfully for 10 years, I finally retired my old laptop and got a new one
I automated a bunch of my regular business processes and freed up time to focus more on the aspects of my journey that I actually want to work on
I had the flexibility to travel and was able to go home and provide my family with the support I knew they needed

The tough times pass, changes are made, and we learn and grow throughout the entire process.

My Goals for 2024

Make/Organize 90 reusable “ever-green” posts for Instagram (about 3 months worth of content) - having this crafted should open up my schedule considerably
Hit 5K followers on Instagram (definitely feels like a stretch goal)
Find a writing mentor of my own
Start getting more onto TikTok (sigh)
Continue with my newsletter and writing weekly articles
Get 200 subscribers to my newsletter (currently at 64)
Complete + polish my Feature (Horror/ Comedy, Working Title: “Frat House”)
Create more digital products (worksheets, etc.) to help my current coaching clients and to offer individually at a low price point for writers who can’t afford my other services. 1/month at the minimum.
Put more effort into active networking
Put more effort into friendships
Start interviewing my creative professional friends for articles
I’d like to try getting a brand deal & learn more about how that whole world works
Read more scripts
Read more educational books
Dabble in longer form educational videos on YouTube
Refine my website & user experience
Write a Bio + build an “About” page

This isn’t a fully comprehensive list. Some of these goals are more important to me than others. Some are more clearly defined than others. I’m okay with that.

There’s nothing else I would rather be doing with my life right now.

I love stories. I love creating. I love my clients. I love how we are pushing each other to grow in ways I never would have anticipated.

I still want to learn. I still want to gobble up stories as much as ever. Tapping into my creative side is the most rewarding thing I could ever think of doing.

This year was tough, but we weathered the storm. This line of work is not always going to be rainbows and sunshine.

For everyone out there who takes the time to dedicate themselves to writing or creating stories - I see you. I see your effort and I think you’re beautiful.