The Sheer Joy of a Fresh Blank Page
And circling back to our unique and beautiful reason/s for being here on Substack...
“There is not one big cosmic meaning for all; there is only the meaning we each give to our life, an individual meaning, an individual plot, like an individual novel, a book for each person.”
Anaïs Nin
Hi petals,
How are you? 🌸
It’s been nearly two months since I started this space and I’ve had THE best time. 700 of you have joined me with over 150 of you through recommendations from friends - 🥰
My membership is growing steadily at a pace that feels spacious and considered and I adore holding space for everyone’s creative ideas and blocks. Time zones are a challenge but I’m always open to suggestions to make it feel as inclusive as possible.
In my content calendar, plans this would have been the day to send you ‘Stay Creative on Substack #3’ but it became such a LONG post I scrapped it and went back to the drawing board.
I did that because I can. Because it’s possible to change direction, to follow the whirlwind of inspiration and re-write a thing, to leave something in a forever draft.
My focus here is to be of service to creatives and there are a million and one ways to deliver on that.
I know you’re not missing out by not receiving it, by not being over subscribed, overspilling with ideas and “to dos”. I know in my heart this post and invitation is MORE than enough…
Over in my paid for membership here, folks are deepening their unique and personal connection to their why, their reason for caving out time to write/ create here, co-creating with their subscribers, working on collabs and working out the best cadence and content pillars for them.
They are holding space for themselves in their long term plans and working out how
fits as part of that jigsaw puzzle. They are moving away from the work that doesn’t resonate and better understanding why and what’s important. They are less distracted and aligning with purpose.They are looking for deep connection and moving away from metrics that fry our nervous systems and fire up comparison… they are working in creative flow and quietening the decision making fatigue.
It’s work - deep creative, soul searching work and I’m doing the same, following the same process. In fact I’ve followed the same process my entire life.
That’s why I’m not sharing a post that pulls you in lots of different directions and gives you lots to contemplate today.
I’m simply asking one question;
What is your why for Substack?
Your reason for writing here, taking up space on Substack, why now, why here, what/ who is it for…?
I’d love to know…
…see you in the comments? I’ll go first (when I wake up) and I’ll also share what my why not is too!
Sending sparkles,
Claire x
✨
PS - If you want to go deeper on the question of ‘your why’ there’s an hour long community inspired workshop ready and waiting for you in the members portal. Upgrade your subscription today to get it and lots more benefits for just £8 a month.
PPS -
and I worked on a Pinterest for Growth on Your Creative Business/ Substack class for you this week and it’s ready (for my members and hers) should you want to access it. Watch/ listen here. We think Pinterest is the perfect partner for Substack and creatives. Please don’t feel like you need to dive in if it’s not part of your unique plan. I’ve been self employed since 2008 and I’ve never bothered with Pinterest until recently. It was/ is my time!
Just here with my morning coffee and remembered I said I'd go first and then some of my lovely over seas pals are already here! 🙌🏻 I'm here in service to creatives.
So my why here is two fold - over at Creatively Conscious I want to write the words out I've longed to speak my whole life (it's a process) and share behind the scenes of how we've designed our own life and our businesses to inspire others to design theirs the way they truly want to.
Here at Sparkle I want to remind you of the fact your story is already written for you, all you have to do is listen to your soul whispers long enough to learn it, make friends with it and step into your unique space with it. That and teach you that Substack might just be the platform to learn to share it all. 🥰 ✨🤓
We've been through a lot as a family the last couple of years and Substack has been the place I've circled back to again and again for connection, for possibility, for inspiration, eduction and hope! 💜
You know this, but my big why is connection. It’s lonely growing up neurodivergent and it’s been so wonderful finding kindred spirits online. What I’ve noticed over the past year is that I’m not out to connect with just anyone and everyone. It’s specifically with creative, sensitive souls who just get it. I feel like I’m 10 years old again and just want to start a magazine, but this time I have friends writing too. 💫