Dear Priya, I have been in a similar space with respect to multiple things that I have wanted to do. So I completely resonate. It has been 6 months since I started my newsletter. A decision I made after mulling over it for years. Meanwhile, my poetry book compilation is extremely slow. I hope we do finish our respective books. Love your write up. Do check out mine :)
Hello Ranjini, you’re right! I’m really forward to the days when i don’t feel a little queasy because I haven’t worked on my book. I’m looking forward to finishing it. Good luck to you and I’ll definitely check out your work. Thanks!
I love your writing, Priya. Happy "monthaversary" to you too! I'm so glad that the sequinned version of your writing persona won in the end. I can totally empathise with many of your internal battles. But we made it and are continuing to get work out there in front of eager eyes. I, for one, am very pleased that you took that leap. Jan x
I feel this tension too. I picked the lowest threshold of effort for my newsletter because I didn't want to commit to deeper thoughts and more complex writing that I felt I should be saving for my book, but I still felt a yearning to share the small bit of content that I do with a wider audience (I don't know that anyone finds it as interesting as I do, but that's a different issue). I do and do not want to do more on substack - where to strike a balance?
I've decided I'm going to take the risk of running out of words. I've been working on my novel for a few years now and saving my best ideas isn't working for me. I'm hoping the more I write, the more I have to write. Or something like that! Thanks for your comment and good luck!
I just came across this on the “Substack letters you’re most proud of’ Note and I just wanted to pop into the comments to say how much I loved this post (letter? thread? note? Sorry, I’m new here myself). I’ve felt called to write, and to put myself out there publicly, for so long. I’ve added this post to the “just do it” side of my mental scale which is slowly and inexorably beginning to tilt away from caution and fear. Thanks for being a part of my journey!
I took far longer to start writing on substack than I should of - as that little voice in my head kept telling me “I wasn’t ready, my writing wasn’t good enough” etc etc.
I’m glad to have gotten over that hurdle, and I’m glad you did too.
There's a Paul Theroux quote "The more you write, the more you're capable of writing."
I'm sure the writing muscles are the same as all the others ... they need regular exercise. So glad you are writing here on Substack. It is bound to help your other work. Barrie
I love this Priya. It perfectly sums up what so many of us struggle with. I like what you say in a reply to a comment below about 'just write' and stop feeling the need to save up the perfect stuff. I very much feel like I'm writing and finding my flow here on Substack. Sounds like you are too. I really enjoying reading your newsletter.
Thank you, Bruce! Appreciate the feedback!
Keep it up, Priya! Good work.
Thanks Paul! Appreciate it!
Dear Priya, I have been in a similar space with respect to multiple things that I have wanted to do. So I completely resonate. It has been 6 months since I started my newsletter. A decision I made after mulling over it for years. Meanwhile, my poetry book compilation is extremely slow. I hope we do finish our respective books. Love your write up. Do check out mine :)
Hello Ranjini, you’re right! I’m really forward to the days when i don’t feel a little queasy because I haven’t worked on my book. I’m looking forward to finishing it. Good luck to you and I’ll definitely check out your work. Thanks!
I love your writing, Priya. Happy "monthaversary" to you too! I'm so glad that the sequinned version of your writing persona won in the end. I can totally empathise with many of your internal battles. But we made it and are continuing to get work out there in front of eager eyes. I, for one, am very pleased that you took that leap. Jan x
Thanks, Jan! Here’s to us! ❤️
Perfect is the enemy of good —Voltaire
It's better to get that draft done! Speaking of which... back to my daily word count.
Thank you for your comment! It’s taken me awhile but I’m finally learning to be happy with good
Good luck!
I feel this tension too. I picked the lowest threshold of effort for my newsletter because I didn't want to commit to deeper thoughts and more complex writing that I felt I should be saving for my book, but I still felt a yearning to share the small bit of content that I do with a wider audience (I don't know that anyone finds it as interesting as I do, but that's a different issue). I do and do not want to do more on substack - where to strike a balance?
I've decided I'm going to take the risk of running out of words. I've been working on my novel for a few years now and saving my best ideas isn't working for me. I'm hoping the more I write, the more I have to write. Or something like that! Thanks for your comment and good luck!
You're a wonderful writer. It's good you're here.
Thank you!
Oh that's where Priya found me! Was wondering how she reached my stack. Hey Nadia :)
Haha yay! Hello, hello!
I feel exactly the same when I started my blog on Substack! I am very much enjoying reading your work. HTTPS//anjujolly.substack.com
Thank you, Anju! Will check out your Substack.
I just came across this on the “Substack letters you’re most proud of’ Note and I just wanted to pop into the comments to say how much I loved this post (letter? thread? note? Sorry, I’m new here myself). I’ve felt called to write, and to put myself out there publicly, for so long. I’ve added this post to the “just do it” side of my mental scale which is slowly and inexorably beginning to tilt away from caution and fear. Thanks for being a part of my journey!
Thank you and good luck on your writing adventures!
I related to your experience a lot Priya.
I took far longer to start writing on substack than I should of - as that little voice in my head kept telling me “I wasn’t ready, my writing wasn’t good enough” etc etc.
I’m glad to have gotten over that hurdle, and I’m glad you did too.
Thank you, Michael! I'm glad you are writing!
There's a Paul Theroux quote "The more you write, the more you're capable of writing."
I'm sure the writing muscles are the same as all the others ... they need regular exercise. So glad you are writing here on Substack. It is bound to help your other work. Barrie
Thank you, Barrie!
I love this Priya. It perfectly sums up what so many of us struggle with. I like what you say in a reply to a comment below about 'just write' and stop feeling the need to save up the perfect stuff. I very much feel like I'm writing and finding my flow here on Substack. Sounds like you are too. I really enjoying reading your newsletter.
Thank you, Kim! It's great to have you here on Substack!