Last week’s Office Party is still going! Let’s do it again…
So often, our archives are neglected. All those posts only our earliest subscribers have seen.
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(Notice this is Office Party rather then Office Hours but feel free to ask any questions!)
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I haven't made crepes in years and I've wanted to get back into it - this is my inspo because it sounds DELICIOUS!! So thankful you shared this - this is my weekend project now!
Nuts and bolts on how to write a synopsis for a novel to use when pitching agents and publishers. This is my most-read post on my Substack, Ask an Author, and I just re-sent it this week for new subscribers and anyone who needs a refresher -- so it seemed like the right choice to share here, too! It looks like I'm the first comment, so I'm excited to see additional posts to read and share. :)
I just finished reading your post on writing a synopsis. Even though I write non-fiction (memoir), this still applies as I've had to give a synopsis when meeting potential bookstore owners and when interviewed by media. I also want to write fiction in the future, so thank you for such a detailed, concise, and informative post!
This makes my day, I'm so glad it was helpful! I work in different genres (fiction, non-fiction, academic writing) and there's so much overlap. It's all about getting the point across and getting people on board! Your non-fiction writing and pitching experience will help so much with fiction :)
Cannot wait to read this. My dad died last year & I've been flooded with my parents "stuff," shocked at how much meaning my mother assigned to material possessions. Thank you for writing on this topic.
I just read this and really enjoyed (and left comment). I'm always interested in accounts of the role of objects in people's lives and how they can act as prompts for writing and remembering. This is a great example of that.
I look forward to reading this. I pared down my life last year, put everything in a small storage locker and left town. I’m finding that the longer I’m away, the less even some of the essentials in storage call to me.
Looking forward to reading this! I'm interested because I also have a former life (as a TV news anchor) and am also doing some personal writing about it. GOOD ON YOU for serializing your memoir here and writing about such an important evolution. BRAVO.
Thank you, Beth! l was just looking at your Substack as well and am going to subscribe! The post you linked here is something l definitely needed to read, so thanks for that, too!
I needed to read this! My experience was with a different faith group but I could relate to so much of your experience. Kudos to you for reconnecting with yourself and now using your experience to help others with your words.
Thank you for this article. As a highly sensitive person who has experienced "a family emergency" more than one time, the idea of putting on different masks or "personas" really resonated with me. And the relief you can feel of just experiencing your unabashed grief only with a select few. Thank you for the kitten photo for a little palate cleanser as well. When my Dad died, I was just building my business and had to take a step back because I just couldn't compartmentalize in the way some people can. Great article. Thank you!
I grew up in a household where we would 'take a deep breath and carry on' after family emergencies. You're right, it creates an emotional cost later in life.
A braided, narrative essay that explores the American notion of generosity and how it drains us in unexpected ways, both in our daily lives and most especially in the workplace.
I chose it because I was surprised by the amount of traction it got!
So pleased you shared this here - the theme of 'generosity gone wrong' was something I fell prey to too so I was hooked reading your words. I'll be hunting 'The Giving Tree' book out too!
WHAT I SAY WHEN SOMEONE ASKS, "BUT WHAT'S SUBSTACK?"
I was so excited to become a Substack author, but when I'd share my big news with friends and followers they were flummoxed. "What's that?" they'd ask. I finally came up with a good response!
This was a great read. It took weeks for my husband to understand what I was doing on Substack and I eventually gave up with some friends who just said "Ugh?!"
This article is about how stress and chronic stress have a negative impact on your relationship with food, what foods you choose and how present and aware you are during eating.
I chose this article because it's a good representation of the various topics I like to write about and encompasses my love of both food, eating, psychology and nutrition (and stress reduction).
Thank you so much for reading and sharing if you feel compelled to do so!
This is about being comfortable when nothing is happening, you don't know what's going to happen next, and you feel uncertain.
We tend to be uncomfortable with awkward silences and want to fill them as quickly as we can. I find these moments fascinating and if we're willing to allow them, they can reveal new things about ourselves. (NOTE: I chose this because I want to start writing more personally and to learn how to write about things we're all afraid of. This isn't my best post but I want to get better at writing on topics like this)
This was so very helpful for me (as a professional artist with adhd) and for my students. Some wonderful gifts and techniques I can pass along to them. This was a generous read. Thank you.
I look forward to reading this Julia. I just wound up a series on how to create a meaningful change. In my final presentation I talked about what do we do if nothing is showing up and we don’t t know what the next step is! Reading about how to be is helpful💕
Interview with Australian sci-fi author Grace Chen about her debut novel, "Every Version of You."
The novel is about people wrestling with how relationships exist both in the real world and digitally (and at times hybrid). If you could live in a world without war, disease or environmental collapse, would you? Even if that world was 100% digital?
I loved talking to her about language, worldbuilding & her process.
It's a post about Cat Power's recreation of a famous Bob Dylan concert (first as live performance, then as album) and what that might mean for thinking about cover versions.
I chose this one because it's an arguably more accessible route into some of the nicher things I write about: objects in songs, songs as objects, the musicality of lists, the unthought known. Plus, it's a deliberately rambling piece but hopefully not in an annoying way. I took a prompt from Bob Dylan and Cat Power to 'go wandering'.
Thanks Lloyd. yes to Bettye Lavette! had already tagged your own entry in this thread as one to follow up. Looking forward to doing so when I finish work in a couple of hours.
ahhh! I enjoyed this very much. I have a soft spot for bakeries and bakers. I was a bookkeeper at a small bakery in Tennessee that was indeed a labor of love by everyone who worked there.
Thank you for commenting. I love how Leandre turned bakery on its head as it’s often not conducive to the slow life by standard commercial values. But his bread tastes of love and care from the time it’s taken ❤️
This is an essay I wrote ahead of releasing a podcast series about how, as creators, we must protect ourselves from haters.
I wanted to voice the anxiety creators feel about negative public feedback and contextualize the bullshit of "performance reviews" in American professional culture, something I dealt with in legacy media for 20 years before I became an independent journalist.
One of the most important practices to study art is to learn from others and sometimes taking a class is not possible, but how beautiful it would be if I could learn from Frida Kahlo! The resources we have then is to learn from their paintings. In this post I talked about how can we approach master paintings and how can we effectively study them.
I chose this is I keep coming back to this post and it is one of my favorite ways of doing art.
Oh man, I've been working on a pillar piece I want to write for the year lately called, "Make Your Own Canon" so I am looking forward to this. Will check out and report back.
I chose it because it was the first thing I wrote on Substack and I was quite nervous but I did it anyway. My favourite part of it is when I talk about what makes a great opening paragraph in fiction (or non-fiction):
"...when I read a great opening paragraph, I begin to feel a longing to stay with the author, the book, the characters, the place. I want to inhabit these rooms and these times."
THANK YOU Constance. My hottest tip is a great article by @Courtneymaum who is here on substack, though this link seems to be to her newsletter. BEST article and something like what I'm hoping to do more of on Great On The Page: https://mailchi.mp/67ad1dbc3c4e/pulsecheckingyourwriting
By cultivating our own artistic eye, we gain not only a new appreciation for life but also unlock our own incredible potential for creativity and innovation.
As a professional artist and arts educator, I've witnessed the powerful transformative effects that not only creating beautiful things has on us, but the healing impact of simply by gazing upon and unearthing beauty in the every day.
What a beautiful reminder to making an artistic practice of seeing. Enjoyed reading your post and I'm inspired to make more space to "observe, experiment, look for connections and patterns." Thank you!
I love this topic, Crystal! It’s almost hard to grasp how truly the way you see the world changes everything regardless of circumstances. To be primed to be beauty is such a gift. Just flagged this for my reading hour and very excited to read tips on this perspective!
Your post was inspiring and calming in equal measure Crystal. I was taking photos of lichens just the other day so was really happy to find you enjoy those too!
An overview of the music the beloved folk trio made between 1966 and 1968 after their primary period of commercial and cultural success.
I choose it because it is a good example of what I like to do with my writing: do deep dives on musical artists that have typically not received such treatment.
There are a lot of music writers here. Check out my recommendations on my Substack which includes many of my fellow scribes here: https://www.listeningsessions.ca/.
It's about how the cultural conversation about burnout often obscures the role of workplace trauma, and why we need a more nuanced conversation if we are to overcome it.
I'm sharing it because its journey has surprised me - the piece has resonated with people I didn't expect it would, and has provided a small measure of community around the topic of trauma, which is often defined by isolation.
Thank you for reading! (And now I'm off to open a million tabs and immerse myself in your wonderful work!)
Clare I loved this story -- burnout has become one more thing for us to name but not understand, looking so hard for a button to press that will reset everything back to some world where we weren’t hurting. Naming things helps us know which road to travel, but the journey to heal can’t happen in our head. Look forward to hearing more from you!
Thank you Melissa. I appreciate your kind words. One of my goals is to use langage to make big, scary concepts feel more accessible. By accurately identifying our challenges, we can work through them more easily. At least that's the hope! Thanks again for reading :)
This is a new post that reflects on (and links to) a post I wrote a year ago called IT’S TIME TO BURN MY $200 CANDLE -- the posts together tell the story of making a big purchase and then feeling undeserving of it, and not lighting my candle for 3 years... until my dog-sitter burned it for me. I use the experience to reflect on the “knowing-doing gap,” which is when we know we want to do something (burn the candle) but don’t take action. Ultimately I learned the lesson - which we tend to learn again and again-- that if you don’t burn your candle, somebody else will.
Me too. Ali, I have a Diptyque candle that someone gave me for my 50th birthday. That was two years ago and, so far, I have burned 1mm of it. I read your post when you first published it and it made me laugh out loud. So so good.
Read and liked this one before even coming here today. And it’s a terrific read! I can so relate to the holding on to something until ... the liminal space that you’re sitting in. 🕯
You had me at $200 dollar candle! And that in an event you didn’t want to happen, you found something to learn. I love this quality in a person and their writing, and am so happy to find more of it.
Oh man, I also have this problem and upon buying moderately expensive watercolour supplies for a fledgling watercolour hobby I am challenging myself to USE THEM ALL UP, not letting myself waste them by never using them.
I am all in on your candle and your piece and the bigger subjects you engage with and will now subscribe. 😌
I wrote this essay/sermon after a mass shooting in nearby Lewiston, ME. It is about dealing with fear and indifference and finding courage in the face of atrocity.
I chose this article because it is my most read post, and because it was written when I felt raw and gritty and angry, yet controlled and clear.
We runs lots of pieces about current suspense authors but researching and writing this piece (part of an Agatha series) helped me feel much better about my own chaotic notebooks; if it worked for her, it's good enough for me! All of the Agatha posts emphasize just how resilient and unique she was--one of the "least-suffering" and most prolific authors of all time. And did you know she surfed?
Ha! I'm a paddle boarder too, and a failed surfer. When I saw photos of her with a board (and she wasn't all that young) I felt less adequate. But Agatha outdoes the average person in lots of ways.
Seriously interesting to me. Will read! Agatha is a goddess of less suffering, more surfing. I'm a wannabe wakini writer and now I aspire to Christie. Fav surf movies are BLUE CRUSH and CHASING MAVERICKS. Surfed in Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Oceanside, and Maui. Bless Lahaina and their stories of restoration.
This essay is a self-inquiry of an immigrant's achievement compulsion and how that had eaten me alive.
I chose it because I believe the desire to achieve is rooted in our need to be seen, accepted and to belong. It's especially true and painful for immigrants in any country. I think many of my fellow first-generation immigrants can relate, but I also think that most of us, regardless of whether we are immigrants or not, can relate to the pressure of doing vs. being.
Thanks so much for reading, Anne. I'm glad to hear that my writing lends a new perspective to your commitment to being. I find it a life-long process to shift from our ingrained conditioning of "doing" to "being." Understanding the unique challenges in our childhood can be very helpful in this process.
Thanks so much for reading my piece, Steph! There's nothing more fulfilling as a writer than to know another soul resonates with what you write. I'm glad sharing my experience makes you feel seen.
I chose this post because we sometimes mistakenly think we should push ourselves to write about painful things - and I'd be so happy if this helps one person today. Thank you, Sarah!
Thanks for this! l read your post and found it useful - something that has helped me in writing about traumatic memories is titrating the dose - taking a walk, taking a break, etc, recentering myself if need be. Thanks again!
Anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues are a huge challenge for youth right now - this is a curated collection of excellent resources and ideas about how to help.
I chose this because it's the biggest concern for a lot of parents and teachers right now, and because it showcases one type of newsletter I like to write - providing a guide to resources from a variety of sources.
Thanks, Christopher 🙏🏼 I forward to this. My archive post is about sharing a graphic novel I wrote for young adults (I'm a former maker of suicide prevention materials) which includes a bit of my own teen trauma 😱
Why this one? Because I’ve seen so many artists & creatives bemoaning the Instagram algorithms. This post may help you to think a bit differently about social media & your creative work & worth.
Oooh yess this topic! I got filled to the brim with artsy angst about the algorithm too and *had* to pivot my thinking or else drown in it. So happy to see another soul who’s crafted a life raft! Heading over to check it out now <3
This post gives my reasons for writing on Substack, why I am excited to be pursuing this passion project, and excited to be part of this community.
I have only been on this platform for 3 months so I don't have a large archive but I think that this post is a good introduction to me and why I am here. It is sort of gateway into everything else I write.
I read your piece! I'm one of those who has a shorter attention span for reading on a screen, so I dropped off after a while. Passive voice is also a killer for me. But I loved the opening quote, the graphics and the intention. I'm probably not your audience as I'm not a bibliophile but thought I'd offer you some feedback from one of us :)
A spooky season themed read about the novel Pure, by Andrew Miller, and my own personal love of cemeteries. Reading this book about the destruction of Les Innocents and the creation of the Catacombes in Paris made me consider where my favorite resting places are, and why I love them so.
I chose it because not only are cemeteries a niche interest of mine, but also it encompasses so much of what my newsletter is about: books, how they relate to my life, humor, and a touch of chaos.
Thank you! Would love to hear your favorite Stateside gravesites (I'm giddy at the prospect of having a tax-deductible reason to explore the best of the nation's cemeteries).
Beautiful post. Thank you for sharing. Didn't know this book but ordering now. I've always felt like there's something essential about the best children's books, something fundamental. It's storytelling without any trappings or tricks. Appreciate this paean. Thanks again!
Wonderful post, Rona. I love that sentence. It makes me gasp, fills my imagination with images. What a touchstone to carry with you. Beautiful. Thank you for sharing this post.
I chose it because it shows a life that very few people get to see. Showing what ME/CFS is really like helps to fight stigma. We’ve been seen as ‘lazy’ or ‘malingerers’, but we aren’t. ME/CFS is a seriously debilitating illness that robs you of life.
I read this one before, and highly recommend it! You don't really get to see how hard it is to have ME/CFS because we're often confined to home -- out of sight, out of mind -- and when we're in public, we're (usually) having a better day so we might seem better off than we are (and you don't see us crash at home for a few days afterward).
Hello again Madelleine, I'm already following you. I've saved your article to read slowly and give it, its due consideration. I don't want to fast read this one! I'll comment from a very empathetic standpoint. Until then, before I read it, I wanted to say that your brave, vulnerable share will raise everyone's understanding; I'll read with curiosity to learn & understand more about ME/CFS.
This post is about using intention setting and gratitude to find hope in the midst of intense grief. I chose this archived post because, while writing it, I convinced myself that I could be hopeful and grieving at the same time. Thanks for the prompt, Sarah!
I just read this piece, Jennifer - it's so beautiful. We have some overlap in our subject matter; perhaps you'd like to answer one of my Dossiers for a post?
We don't always have to know where an idea will lead or what purpose a note will ultimately serve for it to be worth writing down—and in fact, there are long term benefits to be had when we do.
Chose this one because I see a lot of writing out there about very "left brained", highly structured PKM systems (which I love) *and* I see a lot about more "right brained" creative practices (which I also love), but not a whole lot out that that really marries the two.
I"m all about the right hemisphere (breathing into Heart and Soul) but don't always practice what I preach in my writing 🙏🏼 Thank you, Michelle - I'll check this out.
It’s about what happened when I got myself into a situation I didn’t trust myself to handle well.
I chose to share this because it was the second post I made and hasn’t been widely read. As a writer, I’m often too personally guarded. In this piece, I was more open.
Thank you for sharing this here Patricia. Awe and wonder are two of my favourite subjects (I teach mindfulness) so you had my attention from the title!
Following you now Carla. I was intrigued more because of your profile 'Definitely won't shrink for your comfort' - Yep. I've already read it. Loved the quote...about to restack.
Finally saying out loud, that I am, in fact a writer. The courage that takes. All the people that open little windows in my life, in all of our lives, for me to be able to see and say that.
I chose this post because it flowed out of me with ease when I wrote it.
"I am finally admitting to myself that I am a writer because I realize I can say this but still be bad at it." Yes, Gracie! Also love the Shania Twain and shrimp colored walls :)
Excited to read this! I'm currently writing a post all about creative courage, so it's wonderful to see this reflection! I'd love to connect more on this space
I love your writing nook Gracie and totally resonated with your reason for writing: "I use writing to digest my life. To make sense of it. To notice it. To pay attention." You are a writer for sure!
I chose this because I thought I was the only one who continue to struggle in my friendships and while kids are honest about their friends, adults aren't! So many people resonated with it, I was surprised. It also gave me courage to continue to write about what I want to write about which is how to live in the now within the nuanced topics we all face.
I read this as I struggle now (at 60) with some older friendships fading away without explanation. Your idea of different seasons might apply...and what you started with about where do we learn this stuff? I feel like being a loner in middle school and high school even now makes me ill-equipped to understand friendship dynamics. I'm loyal, I reciprocate, I try not to be needy, I'm proactive about suggesting getting together but not overbearing...and yet it remains a mystery why some stay and some go...Thank you.
thank you for sharing. you are right about the dynamics and not knowing exactly how to move about in certain situations. it can feel lonely and frustration while you are trying. your thoughts on your middle and high school years too - it seems like we bring many variables to the table- how we grew up, what we were taught, our personalities, how we like to spend time with people, etc. having said all that, it seems like we all need grace because it is mysterious in many ways.
I love this topic! I'm nearing my later 20s now, and friendships have taken on a whole new meaning, and I imagine they will ebb and evolve as time goes on. Really looking forward to reading this...I'd love to connect more on here :)
This is SUCH a great subject. Friendship is so vital and yet so fraught with, as you say here less honesty in our adult lives. Flagged this for my reading hour and very much looking forward to it!
This sounds wonderful, Laura. I've saved it and look forward to reading. I love the idea of a griever's dossier - others' stories can be such a balm as we carry our own losses.
That's exactly it. After working for just a year in grief coaching, the one "trend" or commonality I noticed is that grieving ppl tend to seek out other ppl's grief stories. Thanks for taking a look, Jackie.
In this short story, the protagonist goes across the world on a ludicrous adventure trying to escape himself and picks up some interesting traveling partners along the way but ultimately fails.
I chose to share this story because I am gearing up to write a lot more fiction and this has been a story I want to make into a series so it's been calling to me lately.
YES! 🙌🏼 Title reminds me of the Oscar-nom short by Wes Anderson, "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar." You'd like it. 🙏🏼 Thank you Charlie, for tending your magical realism (I write spec fic too).
I chose it because it expresses my joy in working with herbs as a seasonal adventure, and it invites others to join me in studying herbs in the kitchen.
Thank you, Sarah. I am having fun reading all the posts.
This post felt like a warm hug! I've been thinking more and more about connecting with seasonal rhythms lately *and* becoming increasingly curious about herbalism, so this was a treat to read. Admittedly it's tough to think about embracing winter herbalism today, since we're having an unseasonably warm 70+ degree day in central Virginia (!) but I'll bookmark this for the next time our temperatures inevitably drop. ❄️
Oh, I love, love this! I did a Herbalism apprenticeship in my early 20s, it was such a wonderful gift to give myself. Looking forward to reading this and diving into the world of Chai!
I NEED this, Anne 🙏🏼 Not an herbalist but just bought a stack of chai herbs (because I'm addicted to Bengal Spice tea and the price just went up to $8/box!) PS: once hosted "Chai Chats" a series of women's circles with homemade chai.
It's about how Oatmeal Cookies are the best cookie and the overthrow of the tyranny of chocolate chip.
I chose it because people love it, regularly cite it as their favorite of mine they've read and the photo of King Oatric is now my phone background that pops up when someone calls. Which....can be difficult to explain to people who are new to the whole Rick Experience™
I haven't made crepes in years and I've wanted to get back into it - this is my inspo because it sounds DELICIOUS!! So thankful you shared this - this is my weekend project now!
HOW TO WRITE A NOVEL SYNOPSIS: https://katebroad.substack.com/p/from-the-archives-the-synopsis
Nuts and bolts on how to write a synopsis for a novel to use when pitching agents and publishers. This is my most-read post on my Substack, Ask an Author, and I just re-sent it this week for new subscribers and anyone who needs a refresher -- so it seemed like the right choice to share here, too! It looks like I'm the first comment, so I'm excited to see additional posts to read and share. :)
This sounds super useful - thanks for posting!
I'm glad it resonated -- hope it winds up being helpful!!
I look forward to reading and sharing this others! I’ve reads lots about NF proposals but less about novel synopses!
Similar concept! At some point I'll do one on NF... I hope this is useful!
I need this. I will read it for sure. Thank you, Kate.
It's so hard to do, so I hope this helps!
Thanks Kate! I've bookmarked this and look forward to reading it
I hope it's useful!!
Thanks for posting. I found it very useful.
I'm so glad to hear it!!
Kate!! You precious unicorn. Thank you SO much for sharing your wisdom!!
Ahhhhh, I'm glowing!!! TY!
I just finished reading your post on writing a synopsis. Even though I write non-fiction (memoir), this still applies as I've had to give a synopsis when meeting potential bookstore owners and when interviewed by media. I also want to write fiction in the future, so thank you for such a detailed, concise, and informative post!
This makes my day, I'm so glad it was helpful! I work in different genres (fiction, non-fiction, academic writing) and there's so much overlap. It's all about getting the point across and getting people on board! Your non-fiction writing and pitching experience will help so much with fiction :)
Thanks for this! I’m busily working on my synopsis and this is super helpful
I'm so glad to hear it -- good luck with your synopsis!!
Thank you so much for sharing this article Kate! I will soon be writing my memoir synopsis soon; this will be so very helpful for that!
Yay, good luck with the memoir + synopsis! I'm so glad this seems helpful :)
OBJECTS OF BELONGING
The hidden link between our stuff and our sanity
https://alicewilkinson.substack.com/p/the-hidden-link-between-our-stuff
How, since I've moved around so much, the stuff I've carried with me is what brings me a sense of place and belonging.
I chose to share this with you all because it's a piece that, in the process of writing, helped me understand myself (and others) a lot more
Looking forward to reading one from your archives!
Cannot wait to read this. My dad died last year & I've been flooded with my parents "stuff," shocked at how much meaning my mother assigned to material possessions. Thank you for writing on this topic.
I just read this and really enjoyed (and left comment). I'm always interested in accounts of the role of objects in people's lives and how they can act as prompts for writing and remembering. This is a great example of that.
Hi Alice! This is gorgeous! Commented, restacked, subscribed. Thank you for sharing.
Love your thoughts here! I just read, liked, commented & restocked. I think that’s about all I can do. ❤️
Totally off to read this one. I've had similar thoughts about "stuff" and our connections to it.
I’ve restacked this. I’m facing off with all my mother’s objects of belonging. This is a fresh perspective
Bookmarking to read it! As someone who has moved around way too much I know what you mean.
I look forward to reading this. I pared down my life last year, put everything in a small storage locker and left town. I’m finding that the longer I’m away, the less even some of the essentials in storage call to me.
earlier today, I had a moment of nostalgia about the stuff i left in storage. Saved for reading later.
This is beautiful! It never ceases to surprise me how many memories flood back when reconnecting to even the smallest of objects from my past.
I’m heading over there now Alice. Self knowledge is hidden in so many places including our stuff!
The first post in my serialized MEMOIR ABOUT MY FORMER LIFE AN EVANGELICAL:
https://constanceford.substack.com/p/evangelical-therapy-part-1?utm_source=profile&utm_medium=reader2
I'm telling a story, so best to start at the beginning!
Looking forward to reading this! I'm interested because I also have a former life (as a TV news anchor) and am also doing some personal writing about it. GOOD ON YOU for serializing your memoir here and writing about such an important evolution. BRAVO.
Thank you, Beth! l was just looking at your Substack as well and am going to subscribe! The post you linked here is something l definitely needed to read, so thanks for that, too!
I needed to read this! My experience was with a different faith group but I could relate to so much of your experience. Kudos to you for reconnecting with yourself and now using your experience to help others with your words.
Thanks so much, Helen! I appreciate your support!
TRAUMA RECOVERY
The veiled meaning behind 'family emergency'
Few euphemisms are as handy in a traumatic crisis, but obscuring the truth comes at a cost
Why this one? Because I think it can help a lot of people who've been in this situation and didn't even realize the impact it had on them.
https://shriekingcactus.substack.com/p/the-veiled-meaning-behind-family
Hi Joy! I'm going to read your post and post a comment after. Your article sounds very interesting. I also followed you. Nice to meet you!
you too! love your 'hero image' post on your homepage
Joy,
Thank you for this article. As a highly sensitive person who has experienced "a family emergency" more than one time, the idea of putting on different masks or "personas" really resonated with me. And the relief you can feel of just experiencing your unabashed grief only with a select few. Thank you for the kitten photo for a little palate cleanser as well. When my Dad died, I was just building my business and had to take a step back because I just couldn't compartmentalize in the way some people can. Great article. Thank you!
I grew up in a household where we would 'take a deep breath and carry on' after family emergencies. You're right, it creates an emotional cost later in life.
SUPERHERO FICTION
My universe has strange defenders: https://davidperlmutter.substack.com/p/gabbin-with-the-girls
GENEROSITY GONE WRONG
What I Keep Getting Wrong about Generosity
https://open.substack.com/pub/onpurposeproject/p/what-i-keep-getting-wrong-about-generosity?r=f96pn&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcome=true
A braided, narrative essay that explores the American notion of generosity and how it drains us in unexpected ways, both in our daily lives and most especially in the workplace.
I chose it because I was surprised by the amount of traction it got!
This is a subject that has been on my mind lately, and I like a braided essay structure. Saving this and looking forward to reading.
Thanks Tara! I can't wait to hear what you think.
I saved a bunch from the list too — so many goodies!
So pleased you shared this here - the theme of 'generosity gone wrong' was something I fell prey to too so I was hooked reading your words. I'll be hunting 'The Giving Tree' book out too!
Thank you Helen! Don’t read that book in public you’ll smash something 😂
🤣😂 I'll keep that in mind!
WHAT I SAY WHEN SOMEONE ASKS, "BUT WHAT'S SUBSTACK?"
I was so excited to become a Substack author, but when I'd share my big news with friends and followers they were flummoxed. "What's that?" they'd ask. I finally came up with a good response!
https://open.substack.com/pub/tzivia/p/its-like-if-wordpress-and-mailchimp?r=1rzbry&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I've read your post, Tzivia, and restacked it. I like your description of what Substack is.
Thank you! I look forward to checking out your publication, too! (I like the title right off the bat!)
Thank you!
This sounds useful, I'm intrigued! Bookmarked 😊
just restacked a quote of yours describing what Substack is for those who have never heard of it!
I'm so glad you found it useful! I find it really helps people get a handle on what Substack is all about! (And thanks for the re-stack!)
This was a great read. It took weeks for my husband to understand what I was doing on Substack and I eventually gave up with some friends who just said "Ugh?!"
I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Hope it helps 🤣
Hi everyone! Happy Friday!
CHRONIC STRESS AND YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH FOOD
How Chronic Stress Relates to your Relationship with food.
https://jennyedenberkmsed.substack.com/p/how-chronic-stress-relates-to-your
This article is about how stress and chronic stress have a negative impact on your relationship with food, what foods you choose and how present and aware you are during eating.
I chose this article because it's a good representation of the various topics I like to write about and encompasses my love of both food, eating, psychology and nutrition (and stress reduction).
Thank you so much for reading and sharing if you feel compelled to do so!
Such an important topic! Great to meet a fellow mindfulness teacher here too 😊
BEING COMFORTABLE WITH JUST BEING
How to be comfortable when nothing is happening
https://juliarymut.substack.com/p/how-to-be-comfortable-when-nothing
This is about being comfortable when nothing is happening, you don't know what's going to happen next, and you feel uncertain.
We tend to be uncomfortable with awkward silences and want to fill them as quickly as we can. I find these moments fascinating and if we're willing to allow them, they can reveal new things about ourselves. (NOTE: I chose this because I want to start writing more personally and to learn how to write about things we're all afraid of. This isn't my best post but I want to get better at writing on topics like this)
Hi Julia! I am going to read this! Sounds wonderful as does your publication.
Thank you, Crystal. I really appreciate this. This means a lot to me.
I will read this. :)
Thank you!
Yes. More being, less doing please :-)
Totally! Once you start watching for the "doing" habit, it's amazing to find out how scared we are of being!
This was so very helpful for me (as a professional artist with adhd) and for my students. Some wonderful gifts and techniques I can pass along to them. This was a generous read. Thank you.
Thanks, Crystal. I restacked your post as well. Honestly, we give very similar advice even though it's for different purposes!
Agreed!
Like the sound of this! Bookmarked!
Thank you, Kate!
I’m going to read this! Sounds great and right up my alley.
Thank you, Amy.
The itch to keep "doing" is such a stinker! :-) Saving to read.
'Just Being' is so powerful yet so underrated - I really enjoyed reading your essay!
Thank you Crystal!
Thank you, Helen. I totally agree.
I look forward to reading this Julia. I just wound up a series on how to create a meaningful change. In my final presentation I talked about what do we do if nothing is showing up and we don’t t know what the next step is! Reading about how to be is helpful💕
SCIENCE FICTION (& CRAFT)
"What the future leaves behind".
https://thewritinggrove.substack.com/p/what-the-future-leaves-behind
Interview with Australian sci-fi author Grace Chen about her debut novel, "Every Version of You."
The novel is about people wrestling with how relationships exist both in the real world and digitally (and at times hybrid). If you could live in a world without war, disease or environmental collapse, would you? Even if that world was 100% digital?
I loved talking to her about language, worldbuilding & her process.
Will be reading this later. Looking forward.
MUSIC (specifically COVER VERSIONS)
Rearrange Their Faces ... Give Them All Another Name
https://songstudies.substack.com/p/rearrange-their-faces-give-them-all
It's a post about Cat Power's recreation of a famous Bob Dylan concert (first as live performance, then as album) and what that might mean for thinking about cover versions.
I chose this one because it's an arguably more accessible route into some of the nicher things I write about: objects in songs, songs as objects, the musicality of lists, the unthought known. Plus, it's a deliberately rambling piece but hopefully not in an annoying way. I took a prompt from Bob Dylan and Cat Power to 'go wandering'.
I love the title! And was a big Cat Power fan back in the day. Reading.
Thanks Lloyd. yes to Bettye Lavette! had already tagged your own entry in this thread as one to follow up. Looking forward to doing so when I finish work in a couple of hours.
Bettye Lavette also does a mean Bob Dylan cover
She's the queen of the cover, tbh
Thanks for sharing this. Enjoyed reading it!
I love covers!
Huge fan of music writing, can’t wait to get into this work!
LOAVES OF TIME
How Leandre thé boulanger rebelled against tradition to create a slow life on his terms
https://open.substack.com/pub/unfoldingconversations/p/loaves-of-time?r=hmlcq&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
ahhh! I enjoyed this very much. I have a soft spot for bakeries and bakers. I was a bookkeeper at a small bakery in Tennessee that was indeed a labor of love by everyone who worked there.
Thank you for commenting. I love how Leandre turned bakery on its head as it’s often not conducive to the slow life by standard commercial values. But his bread tastes of love and care from the time it’s taken ❤️
Looking forward to reading this!
Will read this! I’m craving more slowness in my life right now and trying to consciously cultivate it
Thanks for commenting and inspiring another post ❤️
This was so inspiring to read. I even felt my own mind slow down as I read and moved through the photos. Gorgeous!
Thank you Helen
Loved this, lovely photos
NOT READING THE COMMENTS
Outstanding Minus: On "performance reviews" and not reading the comments
https://bethshelburne.substack.com/p/outstanding-minus
This is an essay I wrote ahead of releasing a podcast series about how, as creators, we must protect ourselves from haters.
I wanted to voice the anxiety creators feel about negative public feedback and contextualize the bullshit of "performance reviews" in American professional culture, something I dealt with in legacy media for 20 years before I became an independent journalist.
What an important topic! Going to read it NOW
I must have missed this one when it came out, but am saving it now to be sure to go back. Great topic, and I always appreciate your writing.
Such a great call-out on the 'performance reviews.' Their loss is your gain!
Awwww- thank you!
HOW TO STUDY THE MASTERS
https://open.substack.com/pub/citlaflor/p/how-to-study-the-masters?r=1pf3ue&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
One of the most important practices to study art is to learn from others and sometimes taking a class is not possible, but how beautiful it would be if I could learn from Frida Kahlo! The resources we have then is to learn from their paintings. In this post I talked about how can we approach master paintings and how can we effectively study them.
I chose this is I keep coming back to this post and it is one of my favorite ways of doing art.
Oooh! I’m going to read this.
Oh man, I've been working on a pillar piece I want to write for the year lately called, "Make Your Own Canon" so I am looking forward to this. Will check out and report back.
Bookmarking the post to read when I get a minute!
How interesting! I’m going to read this.
I enjoyed this thank you. It's something I've never done and think perhaps I should give it a try!
"RELATABLE" FICTION,
"A lesson in Relatable Characters"
https://open.substack.com/pub/martileimbach/p/a-lesson-in-relatable-characters?r=3vbux&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I chose it because it was the first thing I wrote on Substack and I was quite nervous but I did it anyway. My favourite part of it is when I talk about what makes a great opening paragraph in fiction (or non-fiction):
"...when I read a great opening paragraph, I begin to feel a longing to stay with the author, the book, the characters, the place. I want to inhabit these rooms and these times."
I'm interested to read this and in your substack in general! Going to subscribe!
THANK YOU Constance. My hottest tip is a great article by @Courtneymaum who is here on substack, though this link seems to be to her newsletter. BEST article and something like what I'm hoping to do more of on Great On The Page: https://mailchi.mp/67ad1dbc3c4e/pulsecheckingyourwriting
Saving to read. I like the way you put this: "a longing to stay with the author, the book," etc.
Thank you xx
HOW TO SEE LIKE AN ARTIST
By cultivating our own artistic eye, we gain not only a new appreciation for life but also unlock our own incredible potential for creativity and innovation.
https://crystalbeshara.substack.com/p/how-to-see-like-an-artist
As a professional artist and arts educator, I've witnessed the powerful transformative effects that not only creating beautiful things has on us, but the healing impact of simply by gazing upon and unearthing beauty in the every day.
Hi Crystal, I'm going to post your article too!
Yay!
Loved your post. "Creativity thrives in community", indeed! Can't wait to read more.
Thank you Carla!
What a beautiful reminder to making an artistic practice of seeing. Enjoyed reading your post and I'm inspired to make more space to "observe, experiment, look for connections and patterns." Thank you!
Thank you very much. That's very encouraging :)
Yes! Photography is the closest I get to making art, but you summed up exactly why I love it.
Photography is so under appreciated. It’s a great way to capture fleeting and magical moments.
Bookmarked! Something I think about a lot so I am v curious to read
Thank you Kate !
I’ll read this for sure!
Thanks very much.
I love this topic, Crystal! It’s almost hard to grasp how truly the way you see the world changes everything regardless of circumstances. To be primed to be beauty is such a gift. Just flagged this for my reading hour and very excited to read tips on this perspective!
Awesome. Thanks for your support.
Your post was inspiring and calming in equal measure Crystal. I was taking photos of lichens just the other day so was really happy to find you enjoy those too!
Oh yes indeed!
Thank you 🙏
I really loved your post I felt like it was on point with how I see the world as an artist!!✨
Thank you so much.
sounds amazing, will read it!
Thanks robin. Let me know what you think ☺️
PETER, PAUL & MARY
Digging Peter, Paul & Mary
https://www.listeningsessions.ca/p/digging-peter-paul-and-mary
An overview of the music the beloved folk trio made between 1966 and 1968 after their primary period of commercial and cultural success.
I choose it because it is a good example of what I like to do with my writing: do deep dives on musical artists that have typically not received such treatment.
I can attest that every article that Robert posts is a must-read. This one is no exception.
Thank you so much!
Following! I'm doing something similar in my Earworm Wednesday series and would love to have more music writers in my Substack network.
There are a lot of music writers here. Check out my recommendations on my Substack which includes many of my fellow scribes here: https://www.listeningsessions.ca/.
Thank you, I'll definitely mine this list!
Hi everyone,
I'd like to shout-out my post on BURNOUT & TRAUMA: https://clareegan.substack.com/p/theres-something-missing-from-the
It's about how the cultural conversation about burnout often obscures the role of workplace trauma, and why we need a more nuanced conversation if we are to overcome it.
I'm sharing it because its journey has surprised me - the piece has resonated with people I didn't expect it would, and has provided a small measure of community around the topic of trauma, which is often defined by isolation.
Thank you for reading! (And now I'm off to open a million tabs and immerse myself in your wonderful work!)
Such an important distinction re: burnout being different from trauma. Another brilliant essay Clare!
Thank you Helen
Clare I loved this story -- burnout has become one more thing for us to name but not understand, looking so hard for a button to press that will reset everything back to some world where we weren’t hurting. Naming things helps us know which road to travel, but the journey to heal can’t happen in our head. Look forward to hearing more from you!
Thank you Melissa. I appreciate your kind words. One of my goals is to use langage to make big, scary concepts feel more accessible. By accurately identifying our challenges, we can work through them more easily. At least that's the hope! Thanks again for reading :)
ADDICTION, RECOVERY, SOBRIETY
On Shame & Cocaine, Giraffes & Communion
https://danaleighlyons.substack.com/p/shame-cocaine-addiction-connection
It's about shame, belonging, and enough-ness (with a side of drugs and insanity).
A short, interesting read...that offers a message some might find helpful and hopeful.
Yo! Another person wrote about giraffes. Going to check this out and report back.
Thanks, Charlie!
Wow. You write with such tenderness about such moving experiences. So happy to read you found you again!
Aww. Thank you from my heart, Helen.
HUMOR, CREATIVITY, WELL-BEING
SOMEBODY BURNED MY $200 CANDLE (AND HERE’S WHAT I LEARNED)
https://aliv.substack.com/p/somebody-burned-my-200-candle
This is a new post that reflects on (and links to) a post I wrote a year ago called IT’S TIME TO BURN MY $200 CANDLE -- the posts together tell the story of making a big purchase and then feeling undeserving of it, and not lighting my candle for 3 years... until my dog-sitter burned it for me. I use the experience to reflect on the “knowing-doing gap,” which is when we know we want to do something (burn the candle) but don’t take action. Ultimately I learned the lesson - which we tend to learn again and again-- that if you don’t burn your candle, somebody else will.
l loved that candle post! Glad you mentioned it here!
Oh, thank you so much!
Me too. Ali, I have a Diptyque candle that someone gave me for my 50th birthday. That was two years ago and, so far, I have burned 1mm of it. I read your post when you first published it and it made me laugh out loud. So so good.
I'm imagining what you said to the dog sitter when you found out! Ha! I've saved this to read. Look forward to it
Ha... He was already gone when we got home and I haven’t said anything to him... but maybe he’ll find the post lol. Thanks for saving it!
The dog sitter burned your $200 candle??? Okay, I'm hooked!
This was both funny and informative!
Thanks Carlos! Your newsletter looks so funny. Just followed you.
Read and liked this one before even coming here today. And it’s a terrific read! I can so relate to the holding on to something until ... the liminal space that you’re sitting in. 🕯
You had me at $200 dollar candle! And that in an event you didn’t want to happen, you found something to learn. I love this quality in a person and their writing, and am so happy to find more of it.
Gorgeous! Read it. Loved it. Subscribed. 💖 🕎
Oh man, I also have this problem and upon buying moderately expensive watercolour supplies for a fledgling watercolour hobby I am challenging myself to USE THEM ALL UP, not letting myself waste them by never using them.
I am all in on your candle and your piece and the bigger subjects you engage with and will now subscribe. 😌
GUN VIOLENCE, FEAR AND FACING EVIL
Title: Fear No Evil?
https://toddweir.substack.com/p/fear-no-evil
I wrote this essay/sermon after a mass shooting in nearby Lewiston, ME. It is about dealing with fear and indifference and finding courage in the face of atrocity.
I chose this article because it is my most read post, and because it was written when I felt raw and gritty and angry, yet controlled and clear.
Id like to read this. Post a link?
D'oh! Such a rookie mistake. Edited it in, but also here: https://toddweir.substack.com/p/fear-no-evil
I'm glad you shared this, Todd. I'll be reading it soon.
AGATHA CHRISTIE'S MESSY WORKING NOTEBOOKS
https://presenttense.substack.com/p/agatha-christies-working-notebooks
We runs lots of pieces about current suspense authors but researching and writing this piece (part of an Agatha series) helped me feel much better about my own chaotic notebooks; if it worked for her, it's good enough for me! All of the Agatha posts emphasize just how resilient and unique she was--one of the "least-suffering" and most prolific authors of all time. And did you know she surfed?
I love Agatha! I had no idea she surfed. I am a paddle boarder, so I think that is awesome!
Ha! I'm a paddle boarder too, and a failed surfer. When I saw photos of her with a board (and she wasn't all that young) I felt less adequate. But Agatha outdoes the average person in lots of ways.
This is right up my alley! Bookmarking to read when I have a minute this afternoon!
Definitely will read this!
Will definitely read it! I am such a fan of her work so I am curious about her process!
Seriously interesting to me. Will read! Agatha is a goddess of less suffering, more surfing. I'm a wannabe wakini writer and now I aspire to Christie. Fav surf movies are BLUE CRUSH and CHASING MAVERICKS. Surfed in Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Oceanside, and Maui. Bless Lahaina and their stories of restoration.
SELF DISCOVERY
From Doing to Being: An Immigrant's Quandary
https://open.substack.com/pub/lilypond/p/from-doing-to-being-an-immigrants-perspective
This essay is a self-inquiry of an immigrant's achievement compulsion and how that had eaten me alive.
I chose it because I believe the desire to achieve is rooted in our need to be seen, accepted and to belong. It's especially true and painful for immigrants in any country. I think many of my fellow first-generation immigrants can relate, but I also think that most of us, regardless of whether we are immigrants or not, can relate to the pressure of doing vs. being.
thank you for sharing. I have recently committed to being rather than doing in my life. Your writing lends new perspective to the challenge of it.
Thanks so much for reading, Anne. I'm glad to hear that my writing lends a new perspective to your commitment to being. I find it a life-long process to shift from our ingrained conditioning of "doing" to "being." Understanding the unique challenges in our childhood can be very helpful in this process.
Just read your piece and it resonates so deeply! I feel like we have so many shared experiences. Thank you for finding the courage to share 🫶
Thanks so much for reading my piece, Steph! There's nothing more fulfilling as a writer than to know another soul resonates with what you write. I'm glad sharing my experience makes you feel seen.
GENTLE ADVICE ABOUT WHETHER AND HOW TO WRITE ABOUT TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES WHILST KEEPING YOURSELF SAFE
Suggestions for Writing About Big, Scary, Difficult Things
https://sophienicholls.substack.com/p/suggestions-for-writing-about-the
I chose this post because we sometimes mistakenly think we should push ourselves to write about painful things - and I'd be so happy if this helps one person today. Thank you, Sarah!
Look forward to reading this, Sophie. Thanks for sharing
Thank you, Jackie!
Thanks for this! l read your post and found it useful - something that has helped me in writing about traumatic memories is titrating the dose - taking a walk, taking a break, etc, recentering myself if need be. Thanks again!
Thanks so much for reading, Constance, and for sharing what's helpful for you. Sending many warm wishes your way.
My archive post is "Vulnerable Monkey Business" - how I felt after sharing my trauma here. Your post is now Top of List. 🙏🏼 Thanks, Sophie
Christine, thank you! What a joyous, playful space you're creating. 😄 ✨ LOVE!
Aww, thank you so much 🙏🏼 Sophie. I feel *SEEN* More to come. We may be Substack sisters!
This post is brilliant Sophie - your combination of art with the topic made such a sensitive topic feel approachable and safe. Loved it!
Thank you so much, Helen. I really appreciate you taking the time to read it and thank you for your kind words.
CONQUERING FEAR
"Nobody is thinking about your secret stash of nudie mags"
https://farmingfulltime.substack.com/p/nobody-is-thinking-about-your-secret
It's about not worrying about what others think and doing the things that bring you happiness.
I chose it because I enjoyed the hell out of writing it and hitting publish was terrifying, but so worth it!
Thank you so much for reading!
Just read and restacked. Nice article! It was encouraging and sounded like good counsel coming from a friend.
Thank you so much, I apprecate it!
Yay for hitting Publish! Brave One. We gotta walk our talk, eh??
Yes, we sure do!
Anyone brave enough to put "secret stash of nudie mags" out there is alright in my book. Looking forward to seeing where this is going.
A FAVORITE PIECE OF CLOTHING - a prose poem about a coat.
https://open.substack.com/pub/johnmoyermedlpcncc/p/trench-coat-2016?r=3p5dh&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
MENTAL HEALTH
Teens Are Struggling With Mental Health - Here's How You Can Help
https://www.teenhealthtoday.com/p/the-teen-mental-health-crisis-what
Anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues are a huge challenge for youth right now - this is a curated collection of excellent resources and ideas about how to help.
I chose this because it's the biggest concern for a lot of parents and teachers right now, and because it showcases one type of newsletter I like to write - providing a guide to resources from a variety of sources.
As the parent of a teen this sounds interesting. Going to give it a read.
Thanks, Christopher 🙏🏼 I forward to this. My archive post is about sharing a graphic novel I wrote for young adults (I'm a former maker of suicide prevention materials) which includes a bit of my own teen trauma 😱
MY COCKER SPANIEL.
"For the Love of Dog - Bruce Almighty"
https://jackiedaly.substack.com/p/for-the-love-of-dog
The lovable antics of my amazing dog, and how he saved me.
Come for a stroll with the almighty Bruce and I...
you can't go wrong with a lovable dog post! :-)
especially when it's the almighty Bruce
LOVED this!!!
Thank you so much!
Bruce is such a cutie! I love reading about people’s dogs. (And cats!)
Thank you! Bruce sends tail wags 🐾
SOCIAL MEDIA
Why focus on the numbers may be the worst advice for creatives
https://shinjinim.substack.com/p/focus-on-the-numbers-worst-advice-for-creatives
Why this one? Because I’ve seen so many artists & creatives bemoaning the Instagram algorithms. This post may help you to think a bit differently about social media & your creative work & worth.
Love this topic, Shinjini! Heading over!
Oooh yess this topic! I got filled to the brim with artsy angst about the algorithm too and *had* to pivot my thinking or else drown in it. So happy to see another soul who’s crafted a life raft! Heading over to check it out now <3
WHY I AM HERE ON SUBSTACK
The Books of Our Lives
https://matthewmlong.substack.com/p/of-the-books-of-our-lives
This post gives my reasons for writing on Substack, why I am excited to be pursuing this passion project, and excited to be part of this community.
I have only been on this platform for 3 months so I don't have a large archive but I think that this post is a good introduction to me and why I am here. It is sort of gateway into everything else I write.
I read your piece! I'm one of those who has a shorter attention span for reading on a screen, so I dropped off after a while. Passive voice is also a killer for me. But I loved the opening quote, the graphics and the intention. I'm probably not your audience as I'm not a bibliophile but thought I'd offer you some feedback from one of us :)
Thank you for sharing. I am also new on Substack and still creating my archive.
Thanks, Matthew 🙏🏼 I'm writing my Why piece...look forward to yours.
CEMETERIES, HISTORICAL FICTION, BOOK REVIEWS, MEMORY
Graveyard Ghost
https://marissagallerani.substack.com/p/graveyard-ghost
A spooky season themed read about the novel Pure, by Andrew Miller, and my own personal love of cemeteries. Reading this book about the destruction of Les Innocents and the creation of the Catacombes in Paris made me consider where my favorite resting places are, and why I love them so.
I chose it because not only are cemeteries a niche interest of mine, but also it encompasses so much of what my newsletter is about: books, how they relate to my life, humor, and a touch of chaos.
Sounds fascinating. Going to give this one a read.
Great topic list, had me hooked.
Oooh, this sounds interesting. Looking forward to reading
So glad to have found this! I'm planning a cemeteries tour in support/research for my upcoming novella, which mostly takes place in a graveyard.
I love this!! I hope the post gave you some inspiration. Definitely want to read that novella when it comes out.
Thank you! Would love to hear your favorite Stateside gravesites (I'm giddy at the prospect of having a tax-deductible reason to explore the best of the nation's cemeteries).
I happen to live near a graveyard named 'the Cemetery of Pleasures" (i wrote a short post about it here: https://www.talesofinkandlight.net/p/cats-cemetery-of-pleasures?r=joizp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web), and i also generally find cemeteries interesting places. I've saved your post to read it later.
FORGIVENESS
"Seeing with our eyes. Recognizing with our hearts."
An astonishing story of how the parents of a daughter who was murdered recognized the goodness in her killers, and.....
https://onmoneyandmeaning.substack.com/p/peter-and-linda-biehl-story-of-forgiveness
I chose it because I've been learning from Peter and Linda (the parents) my adult life, and you can too.
Thank you Sarah. I look forward to reading other's posts.
WHAT MAKES WRITING IRRESISTIBLY GORGEOUS
The Sentence That Hooked Me On Words
https://ronamaynard.substack.com/p/the-sentence-that-hooked-me-on-words
How and why the first sentence in a children's book is still my touchstone as a writer
I dared to be a joyful nerd and found a lovely band of word nerds.
Thanks, Sarah, for starting this inspired and inspiring conversation.
Love this! Beautiful line with such joy and love attached to this memory. Thanks for sharing!
Beautiful post. Thank you for sharing. Didn't know this book but ordering now. I've always felt like there's something essential about the best children's books, something fundamental. It's storytelling without any trappings or tricks. Appreciate this paean. Thanks again!
Wonderful post, Rona. I love that sentence. It makes me gasp, fills my imagination with images. What a touchstone to carry with you. Beautiful. Thank you for sharing this post.
My pleasure to share it here with you.
I can learn a lot from you, Rona 🙏🏼 Thank you.
Thank you. I took a deep breath before posting this because it seemed a little weird.
Yay Big, deep breaths for bravery! Weird is my middle name (or it should be).
LIVING WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS
What it’s like to live with severe ME/CFS: https://madelleine.substack.com/p/what-its-like-to-live-with-severe
I chose it because it shows a life that very few people get to see. Showing what ME/CFS is really like helps to fight stigma. We’ve been seen as ‘lazy’ or ‘malingerers’, but we aren’t. ME/CFS is a seriously debilitating illness that robs you of life.
I read this one before, and highly recommend it! You don't really get to see how hard it is to have ME/CFS because we're often confined to home -- out of sight, out of mind -- and when we're in public, we're (usually) having a better day so we might seem better off than we are (and you don't see us crash at home for a few days afterward).
So true!!
Hello again Madelleine, I'm already following you. I've saved your article to read slowly and give it, its due consideration. I don't want to fast read this one! I'll comment from a very empathetic standpoint. Until then, before I read it, I wanted to say that your brave, vulnerable share will raise everyone's understanding; I'll read with curiosity to learn & understand more about ME/CFS.
Thank you so much, Victoria, for your empathetic consideration 🌸
PROFOUND HUMAN CONNECTION OF A MOST UNEXPECTED KIND
The dark side of the hut, 50 years later
https://open.substack.com/pub/johnsundman/p/the-dark-side-of-the-hut-50-years?r=38b5x&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
A journey I made fifty years ago to a remote African village during a time of famine, pestilence and drought.
This is by far my most popular essay, people seem to relate to it.
hi John - I believe this post is paywalled?
OooPs! I'll fix it right now!
Thanks for the heads up. It should be accessible now.
HOPE + GRIEF
Navigating Grief + Finding Hope
https://open.substack.com/pub/jenniferbochik/p/navigating-grief-finding-hope?r=5nk2i&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcome=true
This post is about using intention setting and gratitude to find hope in the midst of intense grief. I chose this archived post because, while writing it, I convinced myself that I could be hopeful and grieving at the same time. Thanks for the prompt, Sarah!
I just read this piece, Jennifer - it's so beautiful. We have some overlap in our subject matter; perhaps you'd like to answer one of my Dossiers for a post?
Hi Laura! Yes! Thanks for asking! How would you like to connect?
Thank you for writing this, Jennifer. I'm going to read it ASAP.
Both/And! Yes, you can!
RURAL IOWA'S BIG DIVIDE
Leaving Okoboji
https://iowatransplant.substack.com/p/leaving-okoboji
A frumpy 60-year-old woman in a yellow Mustang convertible driving across rural Iowa with its wind turbines and pig stink.
This was my first post and it helped me start to decide what my voice would sound like on Substack.
What a brilliant read! Thanks for sharing this. Loved it.
PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT (in support of CREATIVE PRACTICES)
Planting a garden of notes and ideas
https://michellelacroix.substack.com/p/a-garden-of-notes-and-ideas
We don't always have to know where an idea will lead or what purpose a note will ultimately serve for it to be worth writing down—and in fact, there are long term benefits to be had when we do.
Chose this one because I see a lot of writing out there about very "left brained", highly structured PKM systems (which I love) *and* I see a lot about more "right brained" creative practices (which I also love), but not a whole lot out that that really marries the two.
I"m all about the right hemisphere (breathing into Heart and Soul) but don't always practice what I preach in my writing 🙏🏼 Thank you, Michelle - I'll check this out.
That's an open issue for me... Saved for reading later.
MY STRUGGLES WITH FEAR AND HOW YOGA HAS HELPED: https://danehrenkrantz.substack.com/p/afraid-of-fear
Headline: Afraid of Fear
It’s about what happened when I got myself into a situation I didn’t trust myself to handle well.
I chose to share this because it was the second post I made and hasn’t been widely read. As a writer, I’m often too personally guarded. In this piece, I was more open.
Yoga has helped me with my fear also! I love this reflection including making the difficult decision to return your sweet pup. Thanks for sharing!
I'm a fan of anything that melts the Monkeys of Fear. 🙏🏼
TO REMAIN POSITIVE KEEP A CHILDLIKE SENSE OF WONDER (Rachel Carson, Super Moon, Ancestry)
https://patriciacusack.substack.com/p/to-remain-positive-keep-hold-of-a
I chose this post because I enjoyed writing it.
Hi Patricia! I tried reading this post and it's behind a paywall. Can you remove the paywall for this thread? Here's instructions: https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/7737934503828-How-do-I-change-a-post-from-paid-to-free
So sorry, it should be accessible now.
Thank you for sharing this here Patricia. Awe and wonder are two of my favourite subjects (I teach mindfulness) so you had my attention from the title!
MY LOVE FOR WRITING
Why I write... and why I can't stop.
https://wordsbycarla.substack.com/p/why-i-write
I wrote a piece about why I write and how important it is to me, even through the pain. Mostly through the breakthroughs.
I chose it because even with the dozens of posts I've written, this is the one that, at its core, represents why I'm here and why I do what I do.
Looking forward to reading this, Carla!
Oh, love this Carla! Will definitely be following :)
Following you now Carla. I was intrigued more because of your profile 'Definitely won't shrink for your comfort' - Yep. I've already read it. Loved the quote...about to restack.
It was pain that brought the writer out in me too Carla - I really enjoyed reading your words, they felt spoken from the heart.
Thank you so much! Sending you a hug. <3
CALLING MYSELF A "WRITER"
This Morning, No 47. On where I am.
https://graciegardner.substack.com/p/this-morning-no-47
Finally saying out loud, that I am, in fact a writer. The courage that takes. All the people that open little windows in my life, in all of our lives, for me to be able to see and say that.
I chose this post because it flowed out of me with ease when I wrote it.
YES! You go, Gracie! This is wonderful to see, and beautiful to read. Sending you loads of strength and applause. 👏🙌
Thank you so much Amanda!!
Can't wait to read it.
Thank you Kathryn!! So much.
"I am finally admitting to myself that I am a writer because I realize I can say this but still be bad at it." Yes, Gracie! Also love the Shania Twain and shrimp colored walls :)
I think it was Shania that summoned the courage to write that piece!
I love that! Shania was such a big part of my childhood <3
Excited to read this! I'm currently writing a post all about creative courage, so it's wonderful to see this reflection! I'd love to connect more on this space
Hannah! Looking forward to reading your post.
Yay 🙌🏼 Courage to share your Brave Voice. Thank you, Gracie
Thank you Christine!!!
I love your writing nook Gracie and totally resonated with your reason for writing: "I use writing to digest my life. To make sense of it. To notice it. To pay attention." You are a writer for sure!
Thank you Helen! That means so much.
FRIENDSHIPS
15 Truths About Adult Friendships I Didn't Know Before
https://latebloomersclub.substack.com/p/reflections-on-friendships
I chose this because I thought I was the only one who continue to struggle in my friendships and while kids are honest about their friends, adults aren't! So many people resonated with it, I was surprised. It also gave me courage to continue to write about what I want to write about which is how to live in the now within the nuanced topics we all face.
Love your post, Kyunghee. We don't talk about friendship enough - I'm not surprised it resonated with people.
thank you so much for reading it and yes, we don't talk about it enough.
AH making friends as an adult is so hard — gonna go give this a read, Kyunghee :)
thank you! glad to know i am not alone on this. :)
I read this as I struggle now (at 60) with some older friendships fading away without explanation. Your idea of different seasons might apply...and what you started with about where do we learn this stuff? I feel like being a loner in middle school and high school even now makes me ill-equipped to understand friendship dynamics. I'm loyal, I reciprocate, I try not to be needy, I'm proactive about suggesting getting together but not overbearing...and yet it remains a mystery why some stay and some go...Thank you.
thank you for sharing. you are right about the dynamics and not knowing exactly how to move about in certain situations. it can feel lonely and frustration while you are trying. your thoughts on your middle and high school years too - it seems like we bring many variables to the table- how we grew up, what we were taught, our personalities, how we like to spend time with people, etc. having said all that, it seems like we all need grace because it is mysterious in many ways.
Delighted to have discovered your substack, Kyunghee. I'm excited to stay in touch!
I love this topic! I'm nearing my later 20s now, and friendships have taken on a whole new meaning, and I imagine they will ebb and evolve as time goes on. Really looking forward to reading this...I'd love to connect more on here :)
This is SUCH a great subject. Friendship is so vital and yet so fraught with, as you say here less honesty in our adult lives. Flagged this for my reading hour and very much looking forward to it!
GIVING INTO CHAOS
A post about embracing the messiness of parenting young children and not sweating the small stuff.
https://open.substack.com/pub/ourtimesandseasons/p/giving-in-to-chaos
I look forward to checking it out!
Thanks Kathryn
Q + A WITH A GRIEVER
- Griever's Dossier: "grief, like a lot of hard feelings, was something I carried with me but always outside of me"
- https://grieversball.substack.com/p/grievers-dossier-mona-lee
- This is one in a series of ongoing interviews called the Griever's Dossier where a grieving person shares their story.
- I chose it because it's the most popular feature of my Substack and I see myself going in the direction of more interviews.
This sounds wonderful, Laura. I've saved it and look forward to reading. I love the idea of a griever's dossier - others' stories can be such a balm as we carry our own losses.
That's exactly it. After working for just a year in grief coaching, the one "trend" or commonality I noticed is that grieving ppl tend to seek out other ppl's grief stories. Thanks for taking a look, Jackie.
We grieve best in community. 🙏🏼 Thank you, Laura. (Lots of grief tending circles here in the Northwest USA)
How I WRITE
https://open.substack.com/pub/agingwithgraceandgrit/p/how-i-write?r=2vma6f&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
MAGICAL REALISM, FICTION, ALCOHOLISM, GIRAFFES
"The Masculine Urge to Visit a Psychic Giraffe in Khartoum"
https://charliebecker.substack.com/p/the-masculine-urge-to-take-marzipan
In this short story, the protagonist goes across the world on a ludicrous adventure trying to escape himself and picks up some interesting traveling partners along the way but ultimately fails.
I chose to share this story because I am gearing up to write a lot more fiction and this has been a story I want to make into a series so it's been calling to me lately.
What a brilliant title! It makes me want to read. I've saved this and look forward to reading
YES! 🙌🏼 Title reminds me of the Oscar-nom short by Wes Anderson, "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar." You'd like it. 🙏🏼 Thank you Charlie, for tending your magical realism (I write spec fic too).
HERBALISM
Herbal Joy in Winter and a Chai Tea Adventure
What is Herbal Joy in Winter to you?
https://anne4712v.substack.com/p/herbal-joy-in-winter-and-a-chai-tea?utm_source=profile&utm_medium=reader2
I chose it because it expresses my joy in working with herbs as a seasonal adventure, and it invites others to join me in studying herbs in the kitchen.
Thank you, Sarah. I am having fun reading all the posts.
Ooh, tea and herbs. Definitely going to read. Thanks!
Thanks, Tanith. I look forward to reading your gardening and farming adventures in Canada. I am in Tennessee, so not quite as cold here :-)
Thanks :) My newsletter is not so much about me gardening (yet) as it is sharing cool stuff about gardening.
This post felt like a warm hug! I've been thinking more and more about connecting with seasonal rhythms lately *and* becoming increasingly curious about herbalism, so this was a treat to read. Admittedly it's tough to think about embracing winter herbalism today, since we're having an unseasonably warm 70+ degree day in central Virginia (!) but I'll bookmark this for the next time our temperatures inevitably drop. ❄️
Thank you for your kind words. Enjoy the sunshine today! It is warm here in Tennessee as well after our week of arctic winter.
I'm in! Reading & Subscribing. I can smell that chi tea over the internet!
yay! thanks for joining me at the virtual kitchen table :-)
Oh, I love, love this! I did a Herbalism apprenticeship in my early 20s, it was such a wonderful gift to give myself. Looking forward to reading this and diving into the world of Chai!
Hi Hannah, I am so glad we connected here. I wish I had discovered herbalism in my 20s! It really is a life long study.
Can't comment on your post, 😔 but I do enjoy a chai!
hmmm I will see if I can adjust the settings. thanks for letting me know. I am still figuring out all the various settings.
Yeah it takes some getting used to!
I NEED this, Anne 🙏🏼 Not an herbalist but just bought a stack of chai herbs (because I'm addicted to Bengal Spice tea and the price just went up to $8/box!) PS: once hosted "Chai Chats" a series of women's circles with homemade chai.
oh I love that, "Chai Chats"
Totally enjoyed your chai adventure!
I am so glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading!
HUMOR - OATMEAL COOKIES ARE THE BEST EVER, DONT @ ME OR KING OATRIC
Coronation of a New King: Oatmeal Raisin
https://www.findingwitsend.com/p/coronation-of-a-new-king-oatmeal
It's about how Oatmeal Cookies are the best cookie and the overthrow of the tyranny of chocolate chip.
I chose it because people love it, regularly cite it as their favorite of mine they've read and the photo of King Oatric is now my phone background that pops up when someone calls. Which....can be difficult to explain to people who are new to the whole Rick Experience™
Oatmeal raisin is the best. :D
No doubt. It's a cold, hard world out here for True Believers of the Faith.
I love your wacky voice! And envy your badass "I AM RIGHT ABOUT THIS" stance. More Kings and Queens, please. 🍪 🍪 🍪
Thank you Christine! I definitely felt like this is one of my strongest pieces showcasing my more wacky or unhinged voice.
(Also, see how those emojis are default to chocolate chip? The bias engulfs us all.)
I took an hour out of this Firehose of Goodness thread to search for a genuine Oatmeal Raisin Cookie emoji. To no avail. We clearly have work to do.