CHAPTERS on #Goals: Why I'm starting fresh in October
Forget January—this is your sign to reset, rethink, and refresh your goals before the year’s end. Here’s how to plant the seeds for a brighter Spring 2025.
Hello readers! 🎉 The Slice of Pie era has officially come to a close—we’ve had a rebrand! Let me know if you like what you see with a love heart or a comment at the bottom.
Welcome to CHAPTERS by Abi Payet-Liu
After a year (and cheeky extra month) of pouring my thoughts onto Substack, it felt like it was time for a little refresh. Rest assured: it’s still the same vibe—just with a glow-up. I wanted a new name that truly captured the essence of what we’ve built here, plus some snazzy new banners and icons. After a spontaneous brainstorming session on WhatsApp with a friend (where many a bad idea was born), I finally landed on “Chapters.”
Why Chapters, you ask?
Well, my Substack dashboard currently holds 37 posts and 9 drafts, and flicking back through them is like taking a time-machine through my brain. There’s a little something for everyone: from spirit animals and adult friendships to chance encounters and that time I accidentally swam with sharks. We’ve tackled everything from dickheads to deep thoughts. It’s a smorgasbord of real-life moments and a garden of personal essays that’s been growing, piece by piece.
Each post is like a standalone episode—a mini-story, a chapter in its own right. As one of my most loyal readers (Hi Jacob! 👋🏻) put it, “You never know what each week is going to be about, it’s always a little surprise!” And well, isn’t that what life is all about?
So, welcome to the new era! Chapters is your Sunday morning go-to for personal essays and life-writing—stories to make you smile, ponder, and round off your week.
But that’s not the only change in the air.
It’s safe to say I’m in the middle of hitting the life reset button. In fact, this week, I’ve started a new chapter myself (pun fully intended).
I’ve set myself a mega six month goal.
As I mentioned in my last post, I made the big decision to leave my job. For the last six months, I’ve been working as a creative producer on the branded content team at LadBible. Before I interviewed, I read an article that described LadBible in 2023 as “run by nerds, not Lads.” And I can tell you, that is the truth.
How else would a Facebook page started by two guys in 2012 grow into a global digital publishing powerhouse with 450 staff and millions of followers? I got to work with some of the brightest creative minds in the industry and made some new friends along the way. Leaving wasn’t easy. I’ll always remember smashing up cars with eBay, rummaging through people’s drawers for GiffGaff, and launching LadBible’s General Election campaign, “You’re on Mute: Vote To Be Heard”. What a wild ride.
Meanwhile, I’ve been quietly chipping away at my passion project—a book. With very low expectations, I pitched my idea along with a 3,000-word extract to Curtis Brown Creative. And, to my utter surprise, I bagged a place on their Non-Fiction and Memoir writing course! 🎉
Given how all-consuming work in the media can be, coupled with my own slightly all-or-nothing tendencies, I knew I couldn’t do the course justice unless I was fully committed. So, I took the plunge. I have set myself a goal: finish the book in 6 months. Treating this course like a new job—only this time, I’m working for myself.
How do you want your life to look in 6 months time?
No one really knows how to answer the ‘where do you see yourself in 5 years?’ question, do they? Personally I like to look ahead in smaller, more manageable chunks. I also reckon this time of year is far better for setting goals than January, when everyone else is making their resolutions. October has that cosy, nestling-in feel—whether you’re leaning into nesting, cuffing, or spooky season (take your pick). It’s as good a time as any to think about what you want to bring into your life by Spring 2025. Maybe it’s a little habit tweak, like finally stopping that nail-biting. Or a savings goal. Finally watching the entire The Sopranos boxset. Or perhaps it’s something bigger—landing a new job, completing a sporty challenge, or finishing that DIY project you’ve been putting off. Write it down. Pop it on a post-it. Pin it to your vision board. Manifest it. Plant the seed now, give it some attention every week, and watch what comes when April arrives as the buds bloom.
I wrapped things up at Lad and started at Curtis Brown Creative the following week. No rest for the wicked. Now, I’m part of a class of 15 writers, all at different stages of their projects. Some have published before, others are deep into a manuscript, and then there’s me—about a quarter of the way through, with stories itching to be told. So far, aside from an unexpected vet visit and a few irresistible ‘research’ rabbit holes, I’ve managed to sit down at my desk daily. Fingers crossed the motivation sticks around. The end goal is to have something polished enough to send to a Curtis Brown agent. But hey, I’m taking it one chapter at a time. (Ok, will stop with the puns now).
Join me on this new journey. I’ll be sharing all the ups and downs right here as usual.
So, there you have it—new beginnings, new name, new goals, same me.
See you next Sunday!
Here are some of the fave essays from the last year (+1), with our new look:
Great stuff. Love the new name - and excited to hear more about the book. An October refresh suits you 👌🏻
lovely rebrand! well done!