That last part is key: enjoying the process rather than using outside markers to deem its result a success or a failure.
I’m part of a printmakers’ guild and this year, we had a seconds sale, a sale of those things we weren’t successful at it in our eyes. People came and bought our “failures.” We carry on no matter.✨
I love your honesty and share the struggle! lt doesn’t help that I suck at self-promotion and obsessively self edit which means I don’t publish on Substack nearly as often as I should. (Should? What does that even mean?) I’ve decided I write for me, and if one person is encouraged by it that is a really nice bonus. Will anything I write ever go viral? Probably not. But if that is the reason I write it will make what I produce awfully shallow.
Absolutely! If you try to write for everyone, you'll appeal to no one. Someone out there needs to hear your words. But, most importantly, you need to write them.
I have failed at many things. And when my eldest failed for the first time I cheered (inwardly obviously). And I’ve nearly bought your cards, even though I wouldn’t use them, they aren’t calling to me, and the design is not to my personal taste, but it’s Xmas time and my money is needed elsewhere. And I sort of felt guilty for not doing so but reading this maybe I’m okay to not buy them.
I always wanted to be a writer but I never expected to live by doing it, oddly my careers ‘officer’, drafted in by the school, made us fill in a long form and I remember making sure I answered that I wanted to be outside in nature etc. and then she told me if I didn’t want to work in an office I should just be a homemaker. Autistic me didn’t really know what that was and thought it was a sort of architect. Now I’m annoyed at her, I bet she didn’t tell the boys that. I was set 1 for everything, near the top of the class, had already taken Maths and English Language a year early, and got a total of 12 O levels over the next 2 years. It’s not like I was thick! I did apply and get into architectural school, but did not go for various reasons.
Of course it's OK! Never buy anything out of guilt. None of need more *stuff* for the sake of it. And honestly I'm starting to think careers advisors should be banned!
Love all this and as a newbie on here for the same reasons (to make a living from my writing has been my dream for soooo long!) it really struck a chord. I often feel like I’m a crap writer and should just give up but like you I can’t, words are forever pilling up in my head desperate to spill out like an overstuffed drawer and they have to go somewhere!
This is so refreshing to read Allegra, I really feel the conversation around ‘failure’ needs to be opened up more. I have had way more failures than successes in my business, some sting more than others, and for a while I didn’t put anything new out there because my nervous system couldn’t take the rejection…. It slowly I’ve adapted to it again and now I just see it as re routes. It’s like that saying of throwing mud at the wall and seeing what sticks. It’s never personal either, always a circumstances thing I find. Better to try and fail than not try at all, at least we can say we gave it a go! Xx
Hear, hear! I'm so sensitive to rejection, it's probably the part of running a business and having a creative career that I find the hardest. But when the dust settles, I never regret the things I failed at, but I do sometimes regret the things I never tried.
Yeah I'm an 80s/90s child too. I think back then they gave careers advisers a checklist that only had like 10 jobs on it. I wonder if things have got any better?!
Beautifully said. And I think your Oracle cards look wonderful too - I wish the exchange rate was more favorable for me, but it looks like you might actually meet your goal :)
When I was younger I loved to read stories and write, write, write. I thrived in English at school and when it came to choosing a career, going to uni EVERYONE said I should be a journalist! I hated newspapers, the news, I couldn't think of anything worse than being a journalist. So at the end of my first year of uni with no 'career prospects' in sight I gave up English Literature all together and continued with the Psychology elrment of my degree. I kept writing for myself, at work in other ways but never imagined being a writer. I got excited when I heard about Substack, thought this would be it. I would thrive and grow. However, it has been harder than I imagined, of course it has! I have only 78 subscribers and my interaction is sporadic but I'm not giving up yet. I have so many ideas, have started so many projects and given up when they 'fail'. I am committed to keeping going if I can.
Why can no one imagine a career that involves writing beyond journalism?! There are SO many ways to write for a living, but no one seems to have told any teachers.
Getting started on Substack is tough. Most of the people who are "overnight successes" came here with a mailing list of a few thousand to start with. We're at the very beginning of building that audience, and it takes time. But if you keep writing what's meaningful to you, you'll get there. I definitely think it gets easier as your numbers increase - getting the first 100 is super hard, then getting to 500 is a little less hard, then it starts to get easier as more people engage with and share your work. It's getting over that first bump in the road that's the tricky bit! You got this!
Since the cards are already designed, I think it might be worthwhile to talk to a company that publishes things like oracle decks...
Well, weirdly, I've just hit the crowdfunding target. But if they prove to be a hit, it would definitely be good to look at working with a publisher.
That last part is key: enjoying the process rather than using outside markers to deem its result a success or a failure.
I’m part of a printmakers’ guild and this year, we had a seconds sale, a sale of those things we weren’t successful at it in our eyes. People came and bought our “failures.” We carry on no matter.✨
I love this!! We give things such a short window to be a "success" or find their audience, but who knows what could do well given enough time.
I love your honesty and share the struggle! lt doesn’t help that I suck at self-promotion and obsessively self edit which means I don’t publish on Substack nearly as often as I should. (Should? What does that even mean?) I’ve decided I write for me, and if one person is encouraged by it that is a really nice bonus. Will anything I write ever go viral? Probably not. But if that is the reason I write it will make what I produce awfully shallow.
Whatever happens, we keep on keeping on :)
Absolutely! If you try to write for everyone, you'll appeal to no one. Someone out there needs to hear your words. But, most importantly, you need to write them.
I have failed at many things. And when my eldest failed for the first time I cheered (inwardly obviously). And I’ve nearly bought your cards, even though I wouldn’t use them, they aren’t calling to me, and the design is not to my personal taste, but it’s Xmas time and my money is needed elsewhere. And I sort of felt guilty for not doing so but reading this maybe I’m okay to not buy them.
I always wanted to be a writer but I never expected to live by doing it, oddly my careers ‘officer’, drafted in by the school, made us fill in a long form and I remember making sure I answered that I wanted to be outside in nature etc. and then she told me if I didn’t want to work in an office I should just be a homemaker. Autistic me didn’t really know what that was and thought it was a sort of architect. Now I’m annoyed at her, I bet she didn’t tell the boys that. I was set 1 for everything, near the top of the class, had already taken Maths and English Language a year early, and got a total of 12 O levels over the next 2 years. It’s not like I was thick! I did apply and get into architectural school, but did not go for various reasons.
Of course it's OK! Never buy anything out of guilt. None of need more *stuff* for the sake of it. And honestly I'm starting to think careers advisors should be banned!
Love all this and as a newbie on here for the same reasons (to make a living from my writing has been my dream for soooo long!) it really struck a chord. I often feel like I’m a crap writer and should just give up but like you I can’t, words are forever pilling up in my head desperate to spill out like an overstuffed drawer and they have to go somewhere!
As long as you're enjoying writing, then that is success.
Well written! And I can emphasise with the you. I am never as confident or competent as other people. In my eyes….
Just remember that everyone else feels the same!
Ha ha, but they seem so confident!!! I know what you mean, someone told me once that they wished they had my confidence and I thought, nah not me!!
This is so refreshing to read Allegra, I really feel the conversation around ‘failure’ needs to be opened up more. I have had way more failures than successes in my business, some sting more than others, and for a while I didn’t put anything new out there because my nervous system couldn’t take the rejection…. It slowly I’ve adapted to it again and now I just see it as re routes. It’s like that saying of throwing mud at the wall and seeing what sticks. It’s never personal either, always a circumstances thing I find. Better to try and fail than not try at all, at least we can say we gave it a go! Xx
Hear, hear! I'm so sensitive to rejection, it's probably the part of running a business and having a creative career that I find the hardest. But when the dust settles, I never regret the things I failed at, but I do sometimes regret the things I never tried.
I know the whole 'journalism ' thing is mad. I also grew up in the 80's90x's where only the 'big' careers like journalism were considered as worthy.
That's interesting about the Substack numbers, good to know. Thank you 🙏
Yeah I'm an 80s/90s child too. I think back then they gave careers advisers a checklist that only had like 10 jobs on it. I wonder if things have got any better?!
I really hope so!
Beautifully said. And I think your Oracle cards look wonderful too - I wish the exchange rate was more favorable for me, but it looks like you might actually meet your goal :)
I have, I can't believe it! The universe has a funny sense of humour - as soon as you come to terms with failure, it all turns around!
Also a good lesson! :) Sometimes things take a bit longer to bloom than anticipated.
Thank you for this. Failure is just a part of life, thank you for reminding me of that 😊
When I was younger I loved to read stories and write, write, write. I thrived in English at school and when it came to choosing a career, going to uni EVERYONE said I should be a journalist! I hated newspapers, the news, I couldn't think of anything worse than being a journalist. So at the end of my first year of uni with no 'career prospects' in sight I gave up English Literature all together and continued with the Psychology elrment of my degree. I kept writing for myself, at work in other ways but never imagined being a writer. I got excited when I heard about Substack, thought this would be it. I would thrive and grow. However, it has been harder than I imagined, of course it has! I have only 78 subscribers and my interaction is sporadic but I'm not giving up yet. I have so many ideas, have started so many projects and given up when they 'fail'. I am committed to keeping going if I can.
Why can no one imagine a career that involves writing beyond journalism?! There are SO many ways to write for a living, but no one seems to have told any teachers.
Getting started on Substack is tough. Most of the people who are "overnight successes" came here with a mailing list of a few thousand to start with. We're at the very beginning of building that audience, and it takes time. But if you keep writing what's meaningful to you, you'll get there. I definitely think it gets easier as your numbers increase - getting the first 100 is super hard, then getting to 500 is a little less hard, then it starts to get easier as more people engage with and share your work. It's getting over that first bump in the road that's the tricky bit! You got this!