My Year in Review
Finding my groove in the tragicomedy of life
Hey there, friends!
I always love a good year-in-review post, so today, I’m reflecting on 2024—a rollercoaster of a year. It brought heart-wrenching goodbyes that reshaped my perspective, a surprise “I do,” and even a joyous return to stand-up. Through it all, I stayed busy writing, podcasting, and teaching. This year forced me to embrace life’s messiness and find the beauty in simply being present for the people and projects I hold dear.
As I look back on this whirlwind year, I feel both exhausted and eager for what’s ahead. Here’s a peek at the highs, lows, and everything in between:
Personal
This year tested me. Last December, I lost my uncle—who’d been a huge part of my childhood—and my cherished dog within days of each other. Then, in April, my beloved grandma passed away. Losing all three so close together was devastating, but honestly, losing my dog hit me the hardest. Six brutal weeks of nonstop crying led me to adopt another dog who looks just like her—a sort of DIY cloning. We all grieve in our own ways (lol).
In the thick of my grief, a welcome surprise: I got married! The loss of our dog inspired the decision, and though I’d never dreamed of my wedding day, it turned out to be one of the best days of my life. Experiencing such high highs amid the low lows was a trip.
In moments of levity, I’ve felt almost guilty for being so adaptable, but I had to remind myself that moving forward doesn’t mean leaving loved ones behind. They’re still so alive within me. And the silver lining to grief is that it gives you perspective on what really matters. It’s reminded me that regardless of how much time you get, life is short, thus spurring me into action.
Standup
After a pandemic hiatus (thanks, Zoom comedy), I returned to stand-up this summer. In October, I performed a super fun set at The Ice House in Pasadena.
Here’s the video:
I wrote about my process for getting back onstage for
:
Perhaps unsurprisingly, returning to stand-up was therapeutic. On my way to open mics, I’d listen to pump-up music only to end up bawling in the car—cathartic and kind of hilarious. The base humanity of slogging through open mics gave me a renewed appreciation for dreamers everywhere. And nothing compares to getting laughs… even bombing has its own perverse satisfaction.
I have another taped show in March—I can’t wait!
Book stuff
This year was full of behind-the-scenes progress on my book projects, though not everything unfolded as hoped. Having patience for the publishing process is hard, but there’s promise on the horizon:
My memoir-in-progress made the Santa Fe Writer's Project Long List, the top 25 in the Roadmap Writers 2024 Write Start Manuscript Competition, was a semi-finalist for the Winning Writers Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest, and a finalist for the Trio House Press Aurora Polaris Creative Nonfiction Book Award.
Another narrative nonfiction project was the runner-up in the Book Pipeline Competition and inspired a related essay and podcast episode, set to release in early 2025.
Bylines
I broke into several new-to-me publications this year, including The Sun, HuffPost Personals, Slate, Business Insider, PS, and
. Here are my favorite bylines of 2024:Our Vegas wedding only cost $10,000. It didn't feel cheap and our guests had a blast.
Sleeping With the "Enemy"? Maybe a Politically Mixed Marriage Is a Good Thing
My OnlyFans Was a Fun Way for Me to Make Money. Then My Content Got Stolen.
Gisèle Pelicot Is A Hero, But What Does Her Case Do For Imperfect Victims Like Me?
My essays were featured in
’s roundups three times this year!!!
Teaching
I’ve been teaching for the past four years, but this year, something clicked—I leaned in and truly hit my stride. I’ve been (and still am) teaching for a few awesome companies, but I launched my own program in July and have since run three cohorts, each bigger than the last. I love it!
I’ve helped my students develop a writing practice and understand the industry, and it’s led to big successes. My students have landed pieces in The New York Times, HuffPost, Slate, Buzzfeed, Business Insider, and more. They’re absolutely crushing it, and it’s been an honor to be part of their growth. Here’s a round-up if you want to read about their wins:
In January, I’m kicking off a new cohort: New Year’s Newsletter & Pitch Party Extravaganza. If you’re ready to take your writing practice to the next level—and maybe land a dream byline or two—join us! Use code PARTY to save $100.
Antioch MFA
After completing two year-long essay/memoir generators, this year, I decided to pursue a low-residency MFA to dedicate a couple of intensive years to my book writing. My first semester at Antioch wrapped in November, and earlier this month, I attended the residency for my second semester. During this project period, I’m working on my second memoir manuscript. It’s been exciting to dive into something new-ish and explore themes that feel deeply relevant to my life now.
Podcasting
Of course, I’ve been podcasting like a mofo.
I published 46 episodes of
this year. There were too many great interviews to pick favorites, but conversations with Beth Bigler, , , Jennifer Case, and stayed with me long after they aired.This year, I launched a series of interviews with moms as I navigate the questions of when, if, and how to have a child. In 2025, I want to have even more conversations about pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood. If you’d like to share your story on the podcast, I’d love to hear from you. Also, feel free to comment below or reply with any advice you’d like to share—I’m all ears!
Three of my favorite interviews for
were with Chloe Caldwell, , and .I learned a lot in this conversation with Cara McGoogan for
, which is a great resource for any podcasters in the house if you’re not already subscribed.I have a really exciting podcast project coming up in the new year that is more narrative than my typical repertoire, and I can’t wait to share it with y’all.
Phew, what a year! I honestly felt like nothing happened this year—until I made this list, which made me want to take a nap. Looking back, I see 2024 as a year of almosts and quiet growth—a season of planting seeds as I nursed my heart back to good. However, I can now recognize some wins in the mix, too.
In a career predicated on rejection, I’m constantly reminding myself that failure is just a precursor to success—the faster I fail, the faster I succeed. Even when the external wins aren’t going my way, the intrinsic rewards are wonderful in their own right. Sure, the money could be more consistent, but the privilege of spending my adult life as an artist is a luxury I never take for granted.
Here’s to a brighter 2025, full of love, laughter, and whatever surprises the universe has in store. 💕
XO,
Courtney
Wow, what a year, Courtney! Congratulations on the writing accolades, the return to standup, and your podcast and teaching accomplishments. Publishing our memoirs takes us on a slow road, but you will get there! Here's to 2025.
Congratulations on all your successes and I’ve been recommending your podcasting class to anyone who tells me they want to start one. It was so helpful and I’m excited to launch mine hopefully in the spring.