PLEASE UNSUBSCRIBE ME
Winter is coming and I'm cleaning -- a series of brazen invitations
Spring’s got nothing on my Winter clearout. Only this time, it’s digital.
If you love being around here please know that that fills me with a joy beyond a red nose on a reindeer — but if you don’t that’s ok too and I’d like to ask you to kindly UNSUBSCRIBE by hitting the button below. Go ahead! No shade. Treat it as a present from me, for me.
“That’s newsletter suicide!!” I hear them cry. But if you’re just someone whose insides contract a little every time one of these messages lands in your inbox despite the best of their intentions, then I’d like to invite you to experience the freedom of an inbox with only the things you want in it (more on that later*).
To borrow from one of my most topical of 2023 references, the superb US Office that I finally watched this year — it is Season 5 Episode 5 Crime Aid, and Dwight has once again been spurned by Angela. He reluctantly calls on Phyllis for advice: “She ignored my ultimatum. Now, what?” he demands. “Now you move on”, Phyllis tells him. He scoffs “Okay, fine. I’ve moved on. Now how do I get her back?” Phyllis takes a breath, “Well, Dwight, I don’t think you do. I think you got your answer… I just think we all deserve to be with someone who wants to be with us.”
Right on, Phyllis. I want to continue my Substack journey with those of you that really want to be here. And I see this end of year period as a wonderful opportunity to empty out the backpack, reorganise and replenish. No need to carry any excess baggage with us into 2024. Travel a little lighter, I say. And if that means taking off in a different direction (I certainly am), I respect that completely. I love that you made it this far down the road with me. Now, scram! (But if you’re still with me or at least, on the fence, read on…!)
(Please be mindful of the fact that sometimes it takes a minute for Substack to implement these changes so if you’re in the habit of sending shouty capitalised emails saying things like SORT THIS OUT NOW the likes of which (and far worse) inspired the title of this post, please know that those messages come direct to me (or whoever else you’re sending them to.) Not a disembodied Substack robot, but a person. Or they did. I turned off the feature where people can do that, so now you will actually be shouting into the ether. So maybe, DON‘T DO IT. 😘)
*If you have any trouble reaching the end of this email, click ‘view entire message’, apparently that should sort it :) or read the entire thing on Substack*
What can you expect from my Substack in 2024?
More. Writing.
Lol.
Somehow on a newsletter platform created specifically for writers, celebrating long-form writing, I have still managed to work my way into a spot where I avoid writing. Instead I produce lists, or critiques, or… start a film club.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s been great. I’ve been able to write in short bursts which means I’ve been writing more consistently than ever. Not quite every day, but almost. I have grown in confidence as a result and am less self-conscious. Still pretty terrified to put myself out there in this way honestly but doing it anyway. I have allowed myself to experiment. I have stayed open and curious. I’ve stayed true to myself. I’ve not been afraid to pivot when something isn’t working or I’m just craving a change, even if that means losing subscribers. (Case in point.) In fact I gave myself permission to actively spend this first year on Substack trying things out with the only condition being that each offering be given at least a three month trial. I’ve even gotten to know some of you during this time. (What a JOY.) And all the while I’ve learnt how to navigate the technical side of the platform a lot better.
If you have stuck by my side throughout all of this, consider us pen pals for life! Thank you for your patience and the generosity of your attention. I mentioned in a post a few weeks ago that I was taking some time to reflect and would report back on my findings. This is where I’ve landed.
Sometimes gifts come in a form we’re not expecting and this is certainly true of all of the above so I wouldn’t change a thing looking back, but up ahead is a new horizon.
In 2024 I want something a little more steady, a little more consistent, a little more streamlined. I also want to bed down and write.
I started there just shy of 11 months ago.
Then I got a little spooked. I think.
(I was maybe also trying to fulfil an idea of what others might expect of me.)
Now I’m circling back.
Call it a calling.
A return to the long-form.
Still playing. Still experimenting. Still staying open and curious.
But with a clean slate.
Still with me? If not, you can unsubscribe, right here.
If you stick around, from January onwards you will receive one considered, thoughtful, maybe thought-provoking post a week.
In addition, my monthly round-up of all the excellent things In Case You Missed It one of my most popular features on Substack, will still go out once a month.
This does mean that for now there will be an indefinite pause on my Culture Club offerings: the Cult Film Club, the Poetry Is For Everyone curation, A Little Night Music readings and monthly Cultural Digests — wowser, way to make it easy for myself. Is it just me whose default solution to way too much is to always add more to the pile?
Perhaps inevitably some of the elements of those formats may well crop up in my long-form pieces, or even make a triumphant comeback at an appropriate time in the future but for now, I have to recognise that they have fulfilled their purpose — they kept me engaged and showing up; they also distracted me, wonderfully, effortlessly!
All existing posts from those features will of course remain in the archive to be enjoyed at your leisure. However, if these cultural offerings were what was keeping you here; once more unto the breach dear friends —
Now I realise, some of you might have only just arrived — fresh-faced, clean boots on, a pack full of resources; so this bend in the road could have you feeling a little lost. Maybe you came seeking a new adventure and this appears to be a dead end. Fear not. I’m actually inviting you to join me on a journey that I hope will ultimately prove to be much more daring, enriching and expansive than it’s been up to this point. Here’s a bit of a roadmap to give you an idea of the direction I’m heading towards: I’ve discovered I love exploring the inner workings of creativity and the creative process in a deeply meta way so definitely some of that but also more reflective pieces; I really want to embrace my relationship to the esoteric more in my writing and share more pieces related to my spiritual and conscious living practices, as well as attempt to answer (for myself) some of life’s biggest questions. Below are a handful of the first posts I published earlier this year on Substack and they’re still the pieces I am proudest of on here. Tonally, consider these posts our new trailhead setting off point.
(Not your vibe? You know what to do.)
Still here, huh? Ok! Please know that I do not take your engagement for granted for a second. That’s one of the reasons I wanted to start afresh here today, it keeps me accountable. And now in an unlikely turn of events, I’m going to ask you to sign up to the full package. What the hell?! I know. But if you’re in, come and be all in.
It can be scary pursuing something new and I am still finding my voice as a writer so full disclosure, I will be turning my attention predominantly to the subscribership. Where it feels right I will definitely share occasional free posts and previews, but most pieces will sit behind a paywall. This protects the community as well as me when discussing sensitive topics (which I really want to do) and truthfully, your financial support is crucial to my being able to continue to create on Substack, it also lets me know that you’re enjoying the work.
As an extra incentive contrary to every other Substack gaining traction, I have also decided to significantly lower my prices to just £3.50 per month or £35 for a year (I actually wanted to make the monthly cost £3 but £3.50 is the lowest Substack would allow so I’ve tried to reflect that initial saving in the yearly price). I don’t want to undersell myself, I pour a huge amount of time and effort into my work on here but I am very conscious of the fact that the cost of living is an absolute joke right now, and I also want to acknowledge that I’m still learning (and prone to experiments!) so this feels like a good balance to me. I know for sure that this cost is still lower than any of the Substacks I personally subscribe to, I also don’t know how long I’ll keep it at this rate, so come along for the ride and grab a bargain whilst it’s hot. You can gift subscriptions too and group subscriptions (2 or more) receive an additional 10% discount.
To say thank you, *next week I will be sending out my Winter Digital Detox Guide entirely free of all Marie Kondo regret, for paying subscribers only.
Onwards sweet pals. I guess we’re really doing this! Thank you so much for being here. Let’s shed what no longer serves us and head into 2024, anew!
Yassssss! “.....I just think we all deserve to be with someone who wants to be with us.”
Nailed it reference. Onward brilliant Sian.
🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
Let’s go!! Excited to see the next chapter! 💫
We’ve all been a long way together and the journey continues ☺️ Always loved the long form writing and can’t wait to see what’s next. ❤️✨