Substack LOVE

Is for everyone... (February edition)

“Life itself is the most wonderful fairytale.”

Hans Christian Andersen

WELCOME back to Substack LOVE with Claire and Kat

We dreamed of a world where creatives celebrated each other, where there was enough eyes, enough cheerleading, more than enough support. Where almost impossible synchronicities swirled like strawberry syrup onto ice cream cones on endless summer’s days.

We dreamed of a space where everyone felt celebrated no matter how far they were on their “creative” path. From the emerging artists to those in seasons of full bloom. Those recovering from burn out and questioning it all. Those clear on their path and forging forward to deliver the work of their soul.

Those with 10 subscribers, those with 10,000 and the rest.

Those with flourishing communities, those happy to post their words into a welcoming space, those watching from the side lines and wondering if they could, if they should, if they might…

We dreamed of a space big enough to hold you all and in that we both found Substack.

Substack Love

💌

Substack LOVE is a seasonal shout out (in a quiet way) to the makers, the creatives, the artists, the artists who don’t call themselves artists, the writers, the experimenters, the healers, the wellbeing enthusiasts, the brave, the slightly cautious, the people who just want to share reciprocal support for each other’s work.

It’s for all of us. It’s the thing I wish existed when I started writing here in Spring ‘22.

Substack Love is an experiment in generosity behind the scenes.

About Claire

Claire lives under dark skies in Northumberland with her family. She champions life (and work) in the slow lane and works with a multitude of clients as an Engagement Consultant and Mentor.

She is passionate about celebrating and curating underrepresented voices through award winning art, heritage and community projects.

Claire writesCreatively Conscioushere on Substack and also teaches folks how to stay creative on the platform over atSparkle on Substack

About Kat

Kat is a multidimensional woman with a thousand faces, passions, secret interests and not so secret interests.

Though more practically, she’s an Australian creative, living in the Noosa Hinterland of QLD Australia with her husband Tully, and her two littles… and six chickens. Hattie, Elma, Daisy, Maple, Orange and FluffyMello.

She writesKat Riverhere on Substack.

We (Claire and Kat) met through a shared appreciation of creating through the prism of similar lenses. Right here on Substack. We sought out other ways to build friendship and community here for ourselves and others.

We have both felt supported by community and hit personal milestones since. The former is what’s really kept us showing up, honing our craft, co-creating, testing ideas, week after week.

Let’s get to it…

On holding space… your unique space, the one that makes the most sense to you.

Here’s the thing about community building,

It’s beyond networking. Beyond who you know.

Community is a felt experience.

It’s a deeper weaving through the hearts of one another.

It’s both the giving and the receiving.

The intention of this post is in the spirit of community, and rising together rather than alone.

We’ve all read a post from a writer here that has moved us in some way.

Whether they are brand new to the world of Substack (welcome!) or have been here for years.

As readers, we are lucky enough to be connected to incredible content here that can spark conversation, thoughts and a whole new perspective, often.

As writers, we have the ability to connect to others in our field, share what lights us up, support and uplift one another as creatives.

Substack is the sort of place that can nourish a “we all rise together” narrative- and that’s one we’d like to subscribe to.

Who would you like to help rise?

Who have you been moved by?

Who is heart storming and stopping YOU in your tracks with their creative approach?

Are you looking for more people to connect with here? More topics that tickle your fancy?

This is the little red post box.

A community nomination station of sorts, hosted by us.

So share a friend’s Substack post URL in the comments and tell us what they write about?

Pop them in a silky envelope, sealed with wax and slide it through the postbox into the comments section right here.

It doesn’t matter if you’re just starting out, or if you’ve found home here already.

Everyone is more than welcome to participate.

How it works…

You nominate a post from a writer or creative you’ve loved here on Substack and your reason why in the comments by mid March. We’ll turn the comments off and you can all come back and find new beauty in the recommendations.

You can also restack this post with your nomination and writer tag if you like?

We then re post a link to this post on BOTH of our platforms and in Notes in line with our regular scheduling.

New editions of Substack Love will come out July and October…

Photo by Michael Fenton on Unsplash

All our LOVE,

Claire and Kat

✨

PS - If you’re new to Substack and you’ll feeling overwhelmed or stuck please know this platform is built on generosity and there’s enough space for all of us.