Charlotte, you are a very special person and you've got a big heart (I was in sales and marketing for decades too, so I got pretty good at recognizing what people were really about). And what you're really about, is writing beautiful content that's chock full of truth and goodness. I'm truly glad that I came across you're writing here on Substack. Sure, I write nasty crime fiction but that's certainly not all I read. What you write, is what I enjoy reading. Doesn't matter the subject. Thanks for being you. - Jim
You can’t get more niche than “Homeless pigeon sex.”
Y’know, there are pitfalls to every social platform but I love the slowness of building relationships thru writing on Substack as opposed to gaining flighty followers on IG. It feels more substantial on here, like it did in the early days of online blogging.
Hi, Charlotte, I'm relatively new here on Substack, and I have seen many posts on this topic of late, but yours was the one that I was most interested in reading due to our similarities as women, mothers, and writers who write from the heart. I agree with your list (albeit as an novice writer), but I would like to add this thought to the conversation: the passage of time and/or life experience is a natural progression that allows or "frees up" this ability to really DO the damn thing, right?
In my experience, motherhood has been such a massive shift in identity that has reshaped my life purpose, my priorities, etc. that I almost feel that I have nothing to lose and also at the same time that I have everything to lose. In other words, I must do this work; I must write from the heart. There is no other way. Do you agree?
True success is enjoying what you're doing - YES YES YES, so good! And the naptrapped... it happens to me almost on a daily basis. And if not nap trapped, bedtrapped for the evening haha. In the same boat x ps i also chuckled at your re-names f you children - very clever!
Bedtrapped for the whole evening sums up my life, I'm glad I'm not alone haha
Thank you, I actually do call them Poppet, Pickle and Peach so it comes very easily to rename them on here. I actually think I might call them by their various nicknames more often than I call them by their actual names!
Charlotte, I agree with Jim that I’m truly glad I came across your writing! This is the first piece of yours I’ve stumbled on and I can’t wait to first, read your “From the vault” and second, read more from you. Thank you!
Writing my newsletter on Thursdays are my favorite moment of the week. Connecting with my readers and with other writers I follow is a close second. The followers come and go, but that's ok because I'm doing this for me. Thank you for the reflection.
Oh my goodness. I don't live in a wedgewood area but now I have dreams of owning a wedgewood children's tea set. It's beautiful. Also, wholesome advice about growing. I can't deal with the "do it this way" brigade.
Isn't it beautiful? Honestly if I had a space in my home that my children couldn't access I'd be very tempted to buy it. As it is I think it would break my heart if they were to accidentally break it, so it's destined for another
Thank you, I followed a lot of the "DO THIS AND YOU'LL BE SUCCESSFUL!" type advice when I blogged and all it did was make me feel inadequate and resentful. I'm much happier with my current approach, and won't be following any quick win advice this time around
I agree with you - Wedgwood is awesome! I once bought a Wedgwood humidor for my wife for Mother’s Day - I think I was instructed to return it, but that’s not the point.
Me too. I do enjoy Notes, but sometimes - without thinking - I post stuff to there that would have been nice to flesh out in an actual post. Still need to find my balance I think
“writers are sensitive creatures and we want everyone to love us, but we can't be changing the way we do something we're happy with just to please someone else. Thats how you end up writing ‘copy’ instead of writing from the heart. I used to write ‘copy’ for a living and it is BORING”
I feel this to my core. Words I needed to hear as I make the transition from writing to suit everyone else to doing it because it’s good for my soul (and hopefully those reading it!). Glad to have found you
It all rings true—consistency, community, and authenticity are most important for success on here. There aren’t any shortcuts or tricks. Thanks for sharing, Charlotte!
1. This is the kind of 'How To Succeed on Substack' post I love. I wonder how many people will read it because of the title, thinking they're going to get the latest hints to be like everyone else. Such a post, that is actually calming, rather than hyper-izing (a word you must know, as a mother), is rare indeed. Sherman Alexie's notes are like this. (https://shermanalexie.substack.com/)
2. My son is 25. My lap-trapped days are far behind me. Unless they're ahead of me, too. One can hope for grandchildren. But it won't be the same. So thank you for the lovely reminder.
3. Nora Ephron deserves as many revisitings as it takes to appreciate her genius.
4. Here's to building skills (even if while doing a boring job like copywriting) and then putting them to use in service of something you love.
Thank you for this comment, Kim - I hadn't heard of Sherman Alexie but will have a read now. One can always hope for grandchildren, you're right - I already think about my future grandchildren and my children are still babies, haha
Charlotte, you are a very special person and you've got a big heart (I was in sales and marketing for decades too, so I got pretty good at recognizing what people were really about). And what you're really about, is writing beautiful content that's chock full of truth and goodness. I'm truly glad that I came across you're writing here on Substack. Sure, I write nasty crime fiction but that's certainly not all I read. What you write, is what I enjoy reading. Doesn't matter the subject. Thanks for being you. - Jim
Thank you so much, Jim, your comments are always so kind!
You make it easy to be kind, Charlotte.
Great insights. Love the lap trapped photo. I'm in the same lap trapped state as I read this ❤️
It's my standard writing position, haha
You can’t get more niche than “Homeless pigeon sex.”
Y’know, there are pitfalls to every social platform but I love the slowness of building relationships thru writing on Substack as opposed to gaining flighty followers on IG. It feels more substantial on here, like it did in the early days of online blogging.
I agree - I loved the early years of blogging and am so happy to find that sense of online community again so many years later.
Homeless pigeon sex is the great mystery of my lifetime, it would be a real shame if it's what I'm remembered for when I'm gone, haha
Hi, Charlotte, I'm relatively new here on Substack, and I have seen many posts on this topic of late, but yours was the one that I was most interested in reading due to our similarities as women, mothers, and writers who write from the heart. I agree with your list (albeit as an novice writer), but I would like to add this thought to the conversation: the passage of time and/or life experience is a natural progression that allows or "frees up" this ability to really DO the damn thing, right?
In my experience, motherhood has been such a massive shift in identity that has reshaped my life purpose, my priorities, etc. that I almost feel that I have nothing to lose and also at the same time that I have everything to lose. In other words, I must do this work; I must write from the heart. There is no other way. Do you agree?
With this in mind, I'd be honored if you read my latest over on Human Mother: https://katrinadonhamwrites.substack.com/p/how-to-eradicate-the-loneliness-epidemic?r=3cnvg1
Oh completely, Katrina, writing from the heart is so important - what's the point otherwise? Thank you for sharing your post, I'll take a look now :)
True success is enjoying what you're doing - YES YES YES, so good! And the naptrapped... it happens to me almost on a daily basis. And if not nap trapped, bedtrapped for the evening haha. In the same boat x ps i also chuckled at your re-names f you children - very clever!
Currently naptrapped going on 2 hours 😆
Bedtrapped for the whole evening sums up my life, I'm glad I'm not alone haha
Thank you, I actually do call them Poppet, Pickle and Peach so it comes very easily to rename them on here. I actually think I might call them by their various nicknames more often than I call them by their actual names!
Charlotte, I agree with Jim that I’m truly glad I came across your writing! This is the first piece of yours I’ve stumbled on and I can’t wait to first, read your “From the vault” and second, read more from you. Thank you!
Thank you so much Jessica!
Writing my newsletter on Thursdays are my favorite moment of the week. Connecting with my readers and with other writers I follow is a close second. The followers come and go, but that's ok because I'm doing this for me. Thank you for the reflection.
Yes! Love this approach
This felt really supportive to read….thank you!
Thank you for reading, Morgan :)
Oh my goodness. I don't live in a wedgewood area but now I have dreams of owning a wedgewood children's tea set. It's beautiful. Also, wholesome advice about growing. I can't deal with the "do it this way" brigade.
Isn't it beautiful? Honestly if I had a space in my home that my children couldn't access I'd be very tempted to buy it. As it is I think it would break my heart if they were to accidentally break it, so it's destined for another
Thank you, I followed a lot of the "DO THIS AND YOU'LL BE SUCCESSFUL!" type advice when I blogged and all it did was make me feel inadequate and resentful. I'm much happier with my current approach, and won't be following any quick win advice this time around
I agree with you - Wedgwood is awesome! I once bought a Wedgwood humidor for my wife for Mother’s Day - I think I was instructed to return it, but that’s not the point.
Oh, I bet it was beautiful. I hope you kept it for yourself instead of returning, haha
Lovely post. These days, I too often find myself posting on Notes in the in-between moments with my boys. :)
Me too. I do enjoy Notes, but sometimes - without thinking - I post stuff to there that would have been nice to flesh out in an actual post. Still need to find my balance I think
“writers are sensitive creatures and we want everyone to love us, but we can't be changing the way we do something we're happy with just to please someone else. Thats how you end up writing ‘copy’ instead of writing from the heart. I used to write ‘copy’ for a living and it is BORING”
I feel this to my core. Words I needed to hear as I make the transition from writing to suit everyone else to doing it because it’s good for my soul (and hopefully those reading it!). Glad to have found you
I hope the transition goes well. It's hard to break out of that mindset, but so worth it
Came here reading bout "succeeding" on Substack but staying because of the humor and I'm a mother of young children too!
Yay, thank you for dropping by! How old are your children?
5 and 2!
#7 made me laugh out loud!
Long live homeless pigeon sex, I guess, haha
It all rings true—consistency, community, and authenticity are most important for success on here. There aren’t any shortcuts or tricks. Thanks for sharing, Charlotte!
Thanks, Bethel!
1. This is the kind of 'How To Succeed on Substack' post I love. I wonder how many people will read it because of the title, thinking they're going to get the latest hints to be like everyone else. Such a post, that is actually calming, rather than hyper-izing (a word you must know, as a mother), is rare indeed. Sherman Alexie's notes are like this. (https://shermanalexie.substack.com/)
2. My son is 25. My lap-trapped days are far behind me. Unless they're ahead of me, too. One can hope for grandchildren. But it won't be the same. So thank you for the lovely reminder.
3. Nora Ephron deserves as many revisitings as it takes to appreciate her genius.
4. Here's to building skills (even if while doing a boring job like copywriting) and then putting them to use in service of something you love.
Thank you for this comment, Kim - I hadn't heard of Sherman Alexie but will have a read now. One can always hope for grandchildren, you're right - I already think about my future grandchildren and my children are still babies, haha