I resonated SO deeply with fiiiiiiinally giving yourself permission to just. write.
I've also spent years trying to show up "right." The right niche, strategy, value, SEO, etc.
No more, at least not on my Substack. And it took me a LONG time, too! Like, I'm REALLY starting to embrace it as of the last month or two!
But also, glad you're just going for it and not worrying so much about the fonts and logos and such (I, as well, am someone who usually talks herself into "being ready" first before diving into something.
That was a habit and imaginary rule I finally started to break a few months ago; I've rebranded my newsletter two or three times now! Now, I'm still finding my footing on what exactly I wanna write each week, but I see very vividly now (despite it being told to me SO. MANY. TIMES. over the years) that it's important to just keep writing!
What/how you're gonna show up as consistently as you need to will make itself clear eventually.
Love me a good personal blog! Miss the era when they were *way* more popular. I essentially write poems and personal essays too. Currently writing a weekly Friday Reflection update each week too (stumbled onto it by accident and people seem to like it!).
And now I'm playing with a new series around playing this game called Stardew Valley. We'll see how it goes! Wanted to write something more lighthearted and humorous (but the first piece coming out this upcoming Monday may end up being more psychological than super fun" haha!).
I was a pescatarian for a year back in college! The Polar Vortex ruined it for me haha. We had a freezing snow that had everyone trapped at home for days and I ran out of food... So I had to eat... hot dogs! And you know the whole, "WELP! I've eating 'wrong' for a couple days now so I've failed." And it was just over for me.
I like Gilmore Girls! I have a feeling you're a much bigger fan than me haha, but my mom and I used to watch it. And love you embracing the 90s kid! (Best decade, I must say... absolutely no bias being born in '91. None at all.... *cough cough*).
Haha, I enjoyed the contents of what you wrote (CLEARLY!), and... how you wrote it. You have a lovely way of writing and I can't wait to read more!
Thank you so much for this Cierra!! All for breaking our own imaginary rules, and finding our footing along the way! So excited to check out your work!
And love hearing about our similarities - I laughed out loud at the section about eating hot dogs in the polar vortex! And there will definitely be plenty of Gilmore Girls and 90's child references coming :)
Can't tell you how much I appreciate this thoughtful, thorough comment. Really happy to be connected with you.
That's nice. I love how you put yourself out there. I still keep my writing world separated from my professional world. But the goal is to merge them :)
Thank you Livio! I’m sure you’ll merge them when you’re ready :) I’m definitely merging mine slowly. Haven’t linked my Substack over on my personal website (alexajuanitajordan.com) yet.
I like your writing style, Alexa, and I look forward to reading this. I appreciate that you said it's okay to read some posts and not others, whatever resonates with you. It made me think I should stop expecting 100% of my readers to read every post. You're right, not every topic is for everyone, but they can still enjoy the newsletter overall.
This definitely resonated a lot with how I feel about starting my Substack and you are so right. One never feels "ready"and nothing is ever "perfectly curated". Often we just need to do our best and one-two-three GO.
Very much relate with the desire to be polished and perfect and "ready" - whatever that is. There's a dreaminess to your writing here that I love. Looking forward to reading more!
Thank you so much Kayla! Congratulations on starting your substack!! And so glad that dancing it out feels as wild cozy free to you as it does to me ❤️
I resonated SO deeply with fiiiiiiinally giving yourself permission to just. write.
I've also spent years trying to show up "right." The right niche, strategy, value, SEO, etc.
No more, at least not on my Substack. And it took me a LONG time, too! Like, I'm REALLY starting to embrace it as of the last month or two!
But also, glad you're just going for it and not worrying so much about the fonts and logos and such (I, as well, am someone who usually talks herself into "being ready" first before diving into something.
That was a habit and imaginary rule I finally started to break a few months ago; I've rebranded my newsletter two or three times now! Now, I'm still finding my footing on what exactly I wanna write each week, but I see very vividly now (despite it being told to me SO. MANY. TIMES. over the years) that it's important to just keep writing!
What/how you're gonna show up as consistently as you need to will make itself clear eventually.
Love me a good personal blog! Miss the era when they were *way* more popular. I essentially write poems and personal essays too. Currently writing a weekly Friday Reflection update each week too (stumbled onto it by accident and people seem to like it!).
And now I'm playing with a new series around playing this game called Stardew Valley. We'll see how it goes! Wanted to write something more lighthearted and humorous (but the first piece coming out this upcoming Monday may end up being more psychological than super fun" haha!).
I was a pescatarian for a year back in college! The Polar Vortex ruined it for me haha. We had a freezing snow that had everyone trapped at home for days and I ran out of food... So I had to eat... hot dogs! And you know the whole, "WELP! I've eating 'wrong' for a couple days now so I've failed." And it was just over for me.
I like Gilmore Girls! I have a feeling you're a much bigger fan than me haha, but my mom and I used to watch it. And love you embracing the 90s kid! (Best decade, I must say... absolutely no bias being born in '91. None at all.... *cough cough*).
Haha, I enjoyed the contents of what you wrote (CLEARLY!), and... how you wrote it. You have a lovely way of writing and I can't wait to read more!
Welcome again to Substack!
Thank you so much for this Cierra!! All for breaking our own imaginary rules, and finding our footing along the way! So excited to check out your work!
And love hearing about our similarities - I laughed out loud at the section about eating hot dogs in the polar vortex! And there will definitely be plenty of Gilmore Girls and 90's child references coming :)
Can't tell you how much I appreciate this thoughtful, thorough comment. Really happy to be connected with you.
Me as well! I'm so glad you popped over on Office Hours so I could find you! :D
And yaaay more refences, and making you laugh! Haha
Alexa! I'm so glad you didn't wait one day longer to start writing over here.
I love that your love language is making reservations and this is going to be a sacred place for sensitive souls to gather. How wonderful. Rock on!!
Cannot tell you how much these kind, thoughtful, encouraging words mean to me, Donna! Incredibly grateful.
And yes to reservations! Makes me feel so valued and seen.
That's nice. I love how you put yourself out there. I still keep my writing world separated from my professional world. But the goal is to merge them :)
Thank you Livio! I’m sure you’ll merge them when you’re ready :) I’m definitely merging mine slowly. Haven’t linked my Substack over on my personal website (alexajuanitajordan.com) yet.
I like your writing style, Alexa, and I look forward to reading this. I appreciate that you said it's okay to read some posts and not others, whatever resonates with you. It made me think I should stop expecting 100% of my readers to read every post. You're right, not every topic is for everyone, but they can still enjoy the newsletter overall.
Thank you so much Marisa! Love your writing style as well. Glad that line resonated with you! Planning to go into that more in future posts.
This definitely resonated a lot with how I feel about starting my Substack and you are so right. One never feels "ready"and nothing is ever "perfectly curated". Often we just need to do our best and one-two-three GO.
So glad this resonated with you! Congratulations on your first post!
Very much relate with the desire to be polished and perfect and "ready" - whatever that is. There's a dreaminess to your writing here that I love. Looking forward to reading more!
Thank you so much, Kim! This comment is so encouraging, especially re dreaminess! Great to be connected here.
I totally relate to this whole post. The hardest part was to just get started! We can figure out the rest of it as we go.
I have so. many. notes in my Notes app. It's ridiculous. But, I hope to eventually get it all together and all published on here.
Congratulations on starting! I will be following along!
Thank you so much Liz! Yes to the notes app!! So excited to have you on this journey.
I love your natural writing style and am so happy you decided to start sharing the unfiltered with the world. How ‘sciting’ (I like that)! 🥰
I just started my Substack on the last day of May and it’s been so freeing to write simple because I desire to. 🙌🏽
Also, I love Grey’s Anatomy too! I love that it’s one of the fantasy scenarios of what Wild, Cozy, Free feel like. Felt loud and clear. ✨
Thank you so much Kayla! Congratulations on starting your substack!! And so glad that dancing it out feels as wild cozy free to you as it does to me ❤️