I wrote a bunch of stuff in the summer. So many drafts that weren’t getting finished. I hadn’t published anything online besides a tweet, FB post, or IG post in years. I wanted to write a book about the last few intense years of my life and my experience raising a daughter with cerebral palsy. But I knew I need an audience of some sort to have any sort of success as an author. So I took the plunge and started publishing weekly. It has completely changed my life and I’m not going back. I’m a writer now. Sure, it doesn’t pay the bills (yet) and I’m not even sure I’m that good at it either. But I’m a writer. https://lyle.substack.com
And this story is near and dear to my heart, because it sprang from my own personal challenges, and ended up helping so many others. A reminder that being vulnerable is so powerful: https://www.rewire.org/coming-out-grandparents-worth-risk/
This is awesome, Mike! Congrats on the Bloomberg Byline! As terrible as it was to see small businesses struggling this past year, it's heartening that so many people have stepped up to amplify their stories and ways to help—and coverage like this is such a crucial piece of that.
Love your letter, Britany! Thanks for sharing it. :)
Here's an article I wrote for my newsletter subscribers. It's about sweet cat who passed away earlier this month. She was such a good buddy & will be deeply missed > https://www.rowdykittens.com/blog/beautifulgoodbye
I love this post, and this newsletter has kept me going through a lot! I fell into writing full-time because of the pandemic and while most of my freelancing projects have been copywriting pieces that I don't dream of publishing, I'm really happy with the work I've done on my newsletter, a collection of essays and comics about anything, like this piece on violence against women in Balkan culture:https://thebestfckingyearsofyourlife.substack.com/p/sometimes-our-women-sing-to-keep
Wow, Rebecca! I just checked out a couple of your essays and you are publishing such beautiful, important work on your newsletter. I'm so glad you've found a way to get your writing out there, even while you're not super excited about the freelance projects you're being paid for. I have no doubt your newsletter (along with the other copywriting work you're doing) will lead to exciting opportunities.
I absolutely love all the newsletter mentions in here. If the early 2020s are a kind of OG-blogging revolution except using newsletters instead of WordPress, that might be a fine thing. Vive la revolution - especially considering the state of things in traditional media, as you note.
Happy 1 year anniversary, Britany. You're storming it. Thank you for doing such a great job, because it's been super-encouraging as I bumbled my way towards launching my own.
So, about that: I started Everything Is Amazing, a newsletter about curiosity, attention and wonder, at the end of January - and so far, this is my favourite thing I've done for it, about the truly insane working memory of a modern chess-player: https://everythingisamazing.substack.com/p/how-to-remember-what-really-matters
Thank YOU, Mike! Everything is Amazing has been one of many twinkly stars in the black hole of my inbox lately, and it's truly inspiring me to find new ways to discover new things. Everyone should subscribe!
Thanks to your newsletter and many others, and getting clear on what I wanted to say and how I wanted to say it, I started a weekly newsletter for good troublemakers, The Find! Featuring cultural commentary & recommendations highlighting the work of WOC, The Find offers a community for those who are interested in dismantling the white patriarchy and having fun while doing it. I’m especially proud of this week’s issue, which many readers have shared made them feel less alone: https://thefind.substack.com/p/you-belong-here
I started a newsletter in 2020! I called it yoga etc. because I wanted a place to share my own yoga journey as a student and teacher and write essays about yoga, healing, mindfulness, personal growth, friendship etc. Lately, I've been writing a lot about grief, as my dad died suddenly two months ago. These are two of my most healing pieces of writing.
I'm so sorry about your dad, Laura. The tribute you wrote to him is beautiful. It can be really hard to put that kind of fresh vulnerability and heartache out into the world, but it's also an incredible opportunity for healing and connection with those who are going through something similar. I hope you found some of that.
This is a lovely idea, and congratulations on one year of your newsletter! I've really enjoyed reading it these last few months. :)
I mostly worked on the draft of a novel during quarantine (not share-able yet, but hopefully one day!) I also wrote my own newsletter about writing and snacks, which felt more like a lifeline at times: https://sorelatable.substack.com/
As for freelance, I got to write a few freelance pieces for local magazines. My two favorites were profiles of local women - one was about one of the leaders of our local BLM movement, and the other was about our Elections Director.
That's incredible that you were able to make progress on the draft of a novel this year. I have about zero experience writing fiction, or tackling book length writing projects. I imagine it is quite isolating to be working on this BIG THING that you don't really get to share with the world for so long. So I am very impressed (and a little perplexed) by anyone who is able to put their head down and do that.
I've just discovered this amazing community and some of the great work by everyone who responded! In a similar boat as many folks and I've both struggled to write but also had this burning desire to do nothing but write. The reality is somewhere in the middle!
Two pieces that I wrote this past year linked below. The piece for Oh Reader magazine was about making peace with being angry after refusing to acknowledge that emotion my entire life. The second linked piece for Book Riot was on realizing I'd rather spend my time reading about romance than actively pursuing it during quarantine.
I'm really proud of this piece. It was originally supposed to come out the week that COVID hit the US, and it got pushed, and then it seemed like it was just going to be killed, so having it come out and be the cover story a year after it was originally supposed to be published feels like such a WIN!
I started a wellness blog that focused on a personal project called "12 Months, 12 Challenges" focused on physical, mental and spiritual well-being! Here is my website: anacordera.com
Thank you for what you’re doing, Britany!
I wrote a bunch of stuff in the summer. So many drafts that weren’t getting finished. I hadn’t published anything online besides a tweet, FB post, or IG post in years. I wanted to write a book about the last few intense years of my life and my experience raising a daughter with cerebral palsy. But I knew I need an audience of some sort to have any sort of success as an author. So I took the plunge and started publishing weekly. It has completely changed my life and I’m not going back. I’m a writer now. Sure, it doesn’t pay the bills (yet) and I’m not even sure I’m that good at it either. But I’m a writer. https://lyle.substack.com
You ARE a writer. Always. It is so lovely to see you write those words with conviction, Lyle.
I love this idea, Britany!
I cried and screamed when I landed this story in my dream publication during my first month of freelancing back in October: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-05/in-troy-ny-a-small-city-s-new-revival-is-at-risk?srnd=citylab
I could not believe that I was able to pull off this story, too, because it represented a huge change in my life, and I was thrilled I got to share it through my writing on such a big platform: https://www.bicycling.com/skills-tips/a35166335/how-went-car-free/
And this story is near and dear to my heart, because it sprang from my own personal challenges, and ended up helping so many others. A reminder that being vulnerable is so powerful: https://www.rewire.org/coming-out-grandparents-worth-risk/
This is awesome, Mike! Congrats on the Bloomberg Byline! As terrible as it was to see small businesses struggling this past year, it's heartening that so many people have stepped up to amplify their stories and ways to help—and coverage like this is such a crucial piece of that.
As crisis after crisis emerged in 2020, I started a biweekly newsletter about what people could DO about it (no bullshit donation advice, etc).
Last week I did something different, and wrote about liberal vaccine hesitancy, and I’m really proud of it: https://anyamarchenko.substack.com/p/17-a-vaccine-pep-talk-for-liberals
Anya, I love this piece you did on vaccine hesitancy. It's such an important angle that I've not yet seen. I'm so glad you put it out there!
Love your letter, Britany! Thanks for sharing it. :)
Here's an article I wrote for my newsletter subscribers. It's about sweet cat who passed away earlier this month. She was such a good buddy & will be deeply missed > https://www.rowdykittens.com/blog/beautifulgoodbye
What a beautiful tribute, Tammy! Thank you so much for sharing. :)
I wrote a tribute to my (somewhat estranged) grandmother - https://alicia-houser.medium.com/a-complicated-grief-56383d693ba7 - and my experience reporting a colleague for sexual harassment - https://alicia-houser.medium.com/i-reported-a-superior-for-sexual-harassment-da4b0c5b2758
Thank you for sharing, Alicia! The tribute to your grandmother is beautifully honest, and I hope it was comforting to write about her.
Thanks for the newsletter. I have been working hard on my blog the past month and am proud of it. https://hopebuilding.wordpress.com/
Good stuff, Rosemary! Love the focus on local solutions.
I love this post, and this newsletter has kept me going through a lot! I fell into writing full-time because of the pandemic and while most of my freelancing projects have been copywriting pieces that I don't dream of publishing, I'm really happy with the work I've done on my newsletter, a collection of essays and comics about anything, like this piece on violence against women in Balkan culture:https://thebestfckingyearsofyourlife.substack.com/p/sometimes-our-women-sing-to-keep
Wow, Rebecca! I just checked out a couple of your essays and you are publishing such beautiful, important work on your newsletter. I'm so glad you've found a way to get your writing out there, even while you're not super excited about the freelance projects you're being paid for. I have no doubt your newsletter (along with the other copywriting work you're doing) will lead to exciting opportunities.
I absolutely love all the newsletter mentions in here. If the early 2020s are a kind of OG-blogging revolution except using newsletters instead of WordPress, that might be a fine thing. Vive la revolution - especially considering the state of things in traditional media, as you note.
Happy 1 year anniversary, Britany. You're storming it. Thank you for doing such a great job, because it's been super-encouraging as I bumbled my way towards launching my own.
So, about that: I started Everything Is Amazing, a newsletter about curiosity, attention and wonder, at the end of January - and so far, this is my favourite thing I've done for it, about the truly insane working memory of a modern chess-player: https://everythingisamazing.substack.com/p/how-to-remember-what-really-matters
Thank YOU, Mike! Everything is Amazing has been one of many twinkly stars in the black hole of my inbox lately, and it's truly inspiring me to find new ways to discover new things. Everyone should subscribe!
Aw. Aherm. Er. Look, I'm British, WE CAN'T TAKE COMPLIMENTS. Um. (But thank you. And right back at you.)
Ha! Yes, i know, which... I must admit... makes it even more fun to throw them at you. :)
Thank you for all of the encouragement, Britany!
Thanks to your newsletter and many others, and getting clear on what I wanted to say and how I wanted to say it, I started a weekly newsletter for good troublemakers, The Find! Featuring cultural commentary & recommendations highlighting the work of WOC, The Find offers a community for those who are interested in dismantling the white patriarchy and having fun while doing it. I’m especially proud of this week’s issue, which many readers have shared made them feel less alone: https://thefind.substack.com/p/you-belong-here
I love everything about this! Community is so, so important right now. Thank you for doing the work to create a space for that, Emma.
Thank you, Britany!
I started a newsletter in 2020! I called it yoga etc. because I wanted a place to share my own yoga journey as a student and teacher and write essays about yoga, healing, mindfulness, personal growth, friendship etc. Lately, I've been writing a lot about grief, as my dad died suddenly two months ago. These are two of my most healing pieces of writing.
https://laurabchilds.substack.com/p/7480841_yoga-etc-30-things-to-do-with-a-broken-heart-
https://laurabchilds.substack.com/p/yoga-etc-28-to-love-and-let-go-
I'm so sorry about your dad, Laura. The tribute you wrote to him is beautiful. It can be really hard to put that kind of fresh vulnerability and heartache out into the world, but it's also an incredible opportunity for healing and connection with those who are going through something similar. I hope you found some of that.
This is a lovely idea, and congratulations on one year of your newsletter! I've really enjoyed reading it these last few months. :)
I mostly worked on the draft of a novel during quarantine (not share-able yet, but hopefully one day!) I also wrote my own newsletter about writing and snacks, which felt more like a lifeline at times: https://sorelatable.substack.com/
As for freelance, I got to write a few freelance pieces for local magazines. My two favorites were profiles of local women - one was about one of the leaders of our local BLM movement, and the other was about our Elections Director.
BLM: https://www.wilmamag.com/lowercase-for-a-higher-cause/
ED: https://www.wilmamag.com/an-election-village/
thank you, Chrissy! So glad you're enjoying it.
That's incredible that you were able to make progress on the draft of a novel this year. I have about zero experience writing fiction, or tackling book length writing projects. I imagine it is quite isolating to be working on this BIG THING that you don't really get to share with the world for so long. So I am very impressed (and a little perplexed) by anyone who is able to put their head down and do that.
I can't wait to hear more about this!
I've just discovered this amazing community and some of the great work by everyone who responded! In a similar boat as many folks and I've both struggled to write but also had this burning desire to do nothing but write. The reality is somewhere in the middle!
Two pieces that I wrote this past year linked below. The piece for Oh Reader magazine was about making peace with being angry after refusing to acknowledge that emotion my entire life. The second linked piece for Book Riot was on realizing I'd rather spend my time reading about romance than actively pursuing it during quarantine.
https://kiranj.squarespace.com/oh-reader-003
https://bookriot.com/literary-dating-life/
I'm really proud of this piece. It was originally supposed to come out the week that COVID hit the US, and it got pushed, and then it seemed like it was just going to be killed, so having it come out and be the cover story a year after it was originally supposed to be published feels like such a WIN!
https://www.wweek.com/sports/2021/03/31/some-people-keep-telling-christina-malone-she-looks-unhealthy-shes-an-elite-athlete/
I started a wellness blog that focused on a personal project called "12 Months, 12 Challenges" focused on physical, mental and spiritual well-being! Here is my website: anacordera.com
Thanks for this, Britany! I'm proud of this story that connects a vegan sensation to my family and so many others from a little island. http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20200916-jackfruit-the-vegan-sensation-that-saved-sri-lanka
I'm proud of this essay about traveling alone as a woman. Thanks for the encouragement to keep writing! https://cruelsummerbookclub.substack.com/p/single-woman