Be yourself: I think that part really resonated with me, because I've like this creative space offered early on to simply do so, especially in terms of essay / article writing! It reminded me that it was okay to let loose, and allow my idiosyncrasies reveal themselves in my writing, that I wasn't trying to compete with other writers writing processes, or perspectives. I love being poetic, funny, foul mouthed and chaotic,
If you don’t already have a side hustle writing perfect clickbait headlines for truly wonderful writers, I feel like that’s something you should consider. Loved this.
Thanks for those encouraging thoughts, which are helpful to me as someone who spent my working life in journalism, with agendas largely determined by my subjects, but now retired have recently turned to writing about things which interest me, including visiting unusual places, dinosaurs and raising orphan bats. I'm not sure how much interest there is in these topics, but there's only one way to find out, so here we go!
These posts are full of such wisdom. Thank you for your transparency and artistry, and for holding a candle out for all of us fellow writers out here. 🕯️
You are welcome! I wrote this one year ago, in Dec 2023. A lot has happened since then--including that WITD has more than tripled in size (though the core principles of what I do have remained the same). Thanks for reading. It's been nice seeing this make the rounds again, though I don't know how it resurfaced!
What a great summary, Jeannine. This is such a beautifully-written comprehensive guide that I reckon should be a Substack Must-Read! I so agree about the sharing - sharing new writing is one of the gifts of Substack
Thank you! Yes, sharing new writing is a main commitment of mine. I wrote this one year ago, in Dec 2023. A lot has happened since then--including that WITD has more than tripled in size (though the core principles of what I do have remained the same). Thanks for reading. It's been nice seeing this make the rounds again, though I don't know how it resurfaced!
Thank you. I hope I will take some learning from this. I am invisible in many ways. I just write and see where it lands. I have a background in SEO and am deliberately not using it. I somehow can’t integrate the two … the commercial copywriter and my own unfiltered voice. I also resisted “niche” writing but now I find myself in another cancer scenario it’s all I talk about 🙈 it’s a challenge to still embrace and express all aspects of my perspective..
Thank you for everything you invested into writing “How I Grew my Substack…”. When you spoke of passion and the delightful experience of “wanting” you totally spoke my truth. My Substack is called “What Do You Want?” It’s all about the role of wanting, and how are lives are meant to be lived intentionally which requires us to first figure out what we want. So much of what you said in these two parts validates so much of what I’m feeling and why I write.
But the most important thing I must thank you for is all I learned from reading your perspective. There are so many forces at work trying to drag us away from being our own true selves, especially in our writing. You address them all with simple wisdom and earnest advice.
Thank you for being you, and writing from your heart.
Very good post and insight. Can I translate part of this article into Spanish with links to you and a description of your newsletter?
No doubt your writing feels geniune..
Support me guys . I am a newcomer here
New Zealand^^
The Bird did it..South Island New Zealand^^
Be yourself: I think that part really resonated with me, because I've like this creative space offered early on to simply do so, especially in terms of essay / article writing! It reminded me that it was okay to let loose, and allow my idiosyncrasies reveal themselves in my writing, that I wasn't trying to compete with other writers writing processes, or perspectives. I love being poetic, funny, foul mouthed and chaotic,
I should be able to embrace that.
This was beautifully written
Thank you!!
Just Reposted. Such articles must be shared so everyone can learn!
Thanks, Veronica!
Hi everybody!
Happy new year and all the best wishes!
My dream and my wish may not be new -
but I’m new here on substack -
and it’s my first time so to speak!
Love to see you read my and “travel” with me along this journey along words, thoughts, ideas and self doubts.
- MW -
If you don’t already have a side hustle writing perfect clickbait headlines for truly wonderful writers, I feel like that’s something you should consider. Loved this.
Lol that would be fun. xo
Thanks for those encouraging thoughts, which are helpful to me as someone who spent my working life in journalism, with agendas largely determined by my subjects, but now retired have recently turned to writing about things which interest me, including visiting unusual places, dinosaurs and raising orphan bats. I'm not sure how much interest there is in these topics, but there's only one way to find out, so here we go!
These posts are full of such wisdom. Thank you for your transparency and artistry, and for holding a candle out for all of us fellow writers out here. 🕯️
Thank you Jeannine! Appreciate the work that went into documenting this
You are welcome! I wrote this one year ago, in Dec 2023. A lot has happened since then--including that WITD has more than tripled in size (though the core principles of what I do have remained the same). Thanks for reading. It's been nice seeing this make the rounds again, though I don't know how it resurfaced!
so your own advice works for you too!
Very Humane and kindness to the pinnacle
Thank you, Rane! Humane is a quality value.
What a great summary, Jeannine. This is such a beautifully-written comprehensive guide that I reckon should be a Substack Must-Read! I so agree about the sharing - sharing new writing is one of the gifts of Substack
Thank you! Yes, sharing new writing is a main commitment of mine. I wrote this one year ago, in Dec 2023. A lot has happened since then--including that WITD has more than tripled in size (though the core principles of what I do have remained the same). Thanks for reading. It's been nice seeing this make the rounds again, though I don't know how it resurfaced!
Thank you. I hope I will take some learning from this. I am invisible in many ways. I just write and see where it lands. I have a background in SEO and am deliberately not using it. I somehow can’t integrate the two … the commercial copywriter and my own unfiltered voice. I also resisted “niche” writing but now I find myself in another cancer scenario it’s all I talk about 🙈 it’s a challenge to still embrace and express all aspects of my perspective..
Thank you for everything you invested into writing “How I Grew my Substack…”. When you spoke of passion and the delightful experience of “wanting” you totally spoke my truth. My Substack is called “What Do You Want?” It’s all about the role of wanting, and how are lives are meant to be lived intentionally which requires us to first figure out what we want. So much of what you said in these two parts validates so much of what I’m feeling and why I write.
But the most important thing I must thank you for is all I learned from reading your perspective. There are so many forces at work trying to drag us away from being our own true selves, especially in our writing. You address them all with simple wisdom and earnest advice.
Thank you for being you, and writing from your heart.
Thanks so much, Howard.