2025 is barely a few weeks old, and already it’s shaping up to be a WTF year. But here’s what I know: when life throws its curveballs (or, let’s be honest, entire wrecking balls), the best way to deal is by turning to the writers and creatives who use their candour and humour to make sense of the chaos. Writer, editor, and Substacker Sophie Venz is one of those people for me.

With her sharp wit and unflinching honesty, she has a way of transforming life's messiest moments into stories that stick with you. She’s also an avid Plotline© journal-ist, and honestly, we can’t imagine a person who embodies our ethos more.

“I’m a big advocate for using The Plotline© the night before!!! I know a lot of people say it’s best to journal in the morning, but I am someone who has always loved journaling as I snuggle up in bed at the end of the day (warm bath + DND mode + pen to paper = my lifelong night time routine).

Since I’m a really vivid dreamer, I find that plotting my next move the evening prior can sometimes actually influence my dreams that night — it leaves me waking up even more inspired to tackle the day ahead.”

Sophie’s life, story, and Substack is a salve for the current situation and creating (and re-creating) your narrative every day.

xox

Meghan

What’s the one book or movie that feels like it’s written about you?

Catcher In The Rye, by J.D. Salinger. Holden Caulfield and I are absolutely cut from the same cloth. Unfortunately CITR has received sooo many negative connotations in the past decade online, with many-a-meme going around saying that any one who puts this as their favourite book on a dating app is an immediate red flag. And I wholeheartedly disagree!!!

Anyone who thinks Holden Caulfield is just a whiny teenager doesn’t understand the true meaning behind J.D. Salinger’s incredible writing & should take up a critical reading course immediately <3 (Or maybe I am just a walking red flag. Who’s to say!)

Describe your ideal ‘main character’ morning routine. What’s always part of it?

Since I’m living abroad in Scotland at the moment and still haven’t figured out how to sleep in later than 6am, my morning routine involves getting straight out the door for a long walk while I FaceTime my family back home (mostly just so I can talk to my two year old niece, let’s be real), a pila-physio session or a big hike to chase the insanely beautiful Scottish sunrises.

Always in hand? A chai latte. Let me have my silly little cinnamon drink!!!

When life feels like a montage, what drink (coffee, tea, or something stronger) is in your hand?

There is, quite frankly, nothing in this world that a cup of english breakfast can’t fix.

Is there a celebrity or creator you look up to (or someone who's career you admire?)

I really admire Matty Healy and his honesty. He’s never tried to hide the fact that his parents are famous and that it gave him accessibility to the music industry at a young age, nor does he shy away from accepting when he has done/said something shitty.

Ultimately, he’s a good example of the fact that famous people are indeed still people, and that all we can do as humans is accept that we sometimes get things wrong and then apologise for them.

I think that’s an important thing for everyone to remember in this incessant age of both creator culture and cancel culture.

What’s one quote, lyric, or mantra that you’ve scribbled in your Plotline that’s been keeping you grounded?

“It’s just a bad [hour/afternoon/night/day/week/month/year], not a bad life”.

I’m not actually sure who this quote is from but my darling friend Mia says it to me all the time, changing the term to relate to whatever I’m currently complaining to her about. It always puts things back into perspective for me.

If you could rewrite one ‘scene’ from your past, would you do it, or let it play out?

If you asked me this a year ago, I would have said “rewrite, rewrite, rewrite!”. For well over a decade I’ve really struggled with regret: it’s always been the main point of my therapy sessions.

My darling mother would always tell me that regret fades away when you get older, because you finally realise why things happened the way that they happened. In my 28th year, I can finally agree with her. Brain infection and all, I wouldn’t change a thing.

What’s the candle, playlist, or mood-setting ritual that helps you get into character for your day?

I grew up dancing my whole life, so I simply can’t start the day without a little boogie. I put my noise cancelling headphones on and whatever album I currently can’t get enough of, and I dance away while getting ready for the day.

Since June 2024 my album fixation has indeed been Charli XCX’s brat. I went to her Glasgow show in December and it confirmed for me that 2025 will be another big brat year. Can’t stop, won’t stop!!!

You simply MUST follow Sophie on Substack over at Never Make Your Bed Incorporated.

The Protagonists: Sophie Venz, Writer & Editor, Scotland

“I’m a big advocate for using The Plotline© the night before!!! I know a lot of people say it’s best to journal in the morning, but I am someone who has always loved journaling as I snuggle up in bed at the end of the day (warm bath + DND mode + pen to paper = my lifelong night time routine).

Since I’m a really vivid dreamer, I find that plotting my next move the evening prior can sometimes actually influence my dreams that night — it leaves me waking up even more inspired to tackle the day ahead.”

What’s the one book or movie that feels like it’s written about you?

Describe your ideal ‘main character’ morning routine. What’s always part of it?

When life feels like a montage, what drink (coffee, tea, or something stronger) is in your hand?

Is there a celebrity or creator you look up to (or someone who's career you admire?)

What’s one quote, lyric, or mantra that you’ve scribbled in your Plotline that’s been keeping you grounded?

If you could rewrite one ‘scene’ from your past, would you do it, or let it play out?

What’s the candle, playlist, or mood-setting ritual that helps you get into character for your day?

EST. 2024

The Protagonists: Sophie Venz, Writer & Editor, Scotland

Since I’m a really vivid dreamer, I find that plotting my next move the evening prior can sometimes actually influence my dreams that night — it leaves me waking up even more inspired to tackle the day ahead.”

What’s the one book or movie that feels like it’s written about you?

Describe your ideal ‘main character’ morning routine. What’s always part of it?

When life feels like a montage, what drink (coffee, tea, or something stronger) is in your hand?

Is there a celebrity or creator you look up to (or someone who's career you admire?)

What’s one quote, lyric, or mantra that you’ve scribbled in your Plotline that’s been keeping you grounded?

If you could rewrite one ‘scene’ from your past, would you do it, or let it play out?

What’s the candle, playlist, or mood-setting ritual that helps you get into character for your day?

The Protagonists: Reuben Cheok, Stylist and Creative Director, Melbourne

The Protagonists: Hannah Keys, Stylist & Founder at Athlette, New Zealand

EST. 2024