As we approach 2024, I've found a renewed interest in doing more with this Substack.
I began it two years ago (really?), primarily to share articles from my blog at the time with my (few) subscribers. I was never very consistent, and eventually, I deleted all the content and changed the Substack name. And then it just sat there. I am grateful that most of my subscribers stayed on (or haven’t noticed I disappeared from the face of newsletters) - either way - thank you for reading.
Having a personal blog (as opposed to social media-type content) was something I dreamed of for years (especially back in the golden times of personal blogging – early 2000s) but never seriously considered. It was always something other people did; I was the content consumer.
Not until early 2020 (before the pandemic), when I started my blog on a self-hosted platform. That blog morphed into my own website, now covered by a “coming soon” page, because I can’t justify to myself (or others in my mind) why I would need a URL with my own name.
Now I have this (mostly) anonymous Substack because, really, I can’t help but want my own little space in the vast universe of content creation. A public space to share my thoughts and updates, things I learned and found useful. Something I'd share with a friend, discuss and debate, and learn more along the way.
I've updated some of my old articles from my original blog and I am reposting them here, to share and consolidate. I have months worth of content scheduled to go.
But I also want to keep writing, reflecting once a week on a topic that surfaced as important that week. For myself more than anything. So, "52 Weeks" will be an experiment, a trial to see whether I can actually sustain this momentum, writing a personal reflection once a week for the duration of this year. It may be a roundup of kind, a reflection; it will eventually evolve into what it needs to be.
My life is quite busy at the moment; I am starting a new job in February, doing a PostGrad Diploma, trying to navigate (well, follow along) the lives of my two kids, trying to be a wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a colleague, but writing here is for me…
And I am no longer hiding from that - from myself.
As a reminder, these are my whys for writing in public:
Write in order to just… well… write
I love sharing things I've tried that have worked for me, whether it's about organizing or living an examined (sometimes overexamined) life. But more than anything, I love to write.
I am a person who (used to) write comprehensive Facebook posts consisting of more than one paragraph. I've written an entire novel nobody has ever seen (yet). I've written essays, short stories, and journal entries. I am bilingual, and I write and share in both languages.
At this point, with relaxed confidence about my blog and having learned from my mistakes, I feel that this is my main reason for having a personal blog.
Write in order to explore your interests
I have many interests; most of them are fleeting, but they are interests, and I do devote my time to them. While I once felt guilty about my many interests, I learned to embrace my ability to be passionately interested in many things, even if for a short time, and even if nothing tangible came out of it.
Writing about things I care about results in more honest sharing of ideas and experiences.
Write in order to consolidate your collection of notes and useful advice
I love documenting things; I am a digital collector. But writing publicly helps consolidate my collection into something that may be useful for others too.
(I am not sure where it will lead, but I know that fleshed out to be read in public will lead to, at the very least, a collection of advice for my children.)
I share these gems of wisdom with friends and family anyway, so why not just put them out there for others? I have learned a lot from other people’s personal experiences described in their blogs over the years too.
Besides, I am forty-six years old now, and I do have some real-life, relatable experiences worth sharing, after all.
Write to learn in public
This short video about Elizabeth Gilbert’s advice about sharing/learning in public, resonated with me so much.
Basically, she says that any talent, wisdom or insight you have that you don’t share becomes pain. We should consider the cost of carrying around ideas for years. By sharing them, we’re not only freeing ourselves but also opening ourselves up to new ideas.
She also talks about sharing without feeling any responsibility for readers or followers. It’s too heavy to think that way, she says. Instead, she offers the path she is on and anyone can choose whether to follow or not. Counterintuitive and goes against most of the advice about content writing, but there we are.
I think that her wonderful book Big Magic proves the point.
Write to create rather than consume
Let’s face it; an hour spent researching a topic and writing will be an hour otherwise spent scrolling or watching, reading, or listening—consuming someone else’s content.
While it always feels daunting to take an hour to do something you don’t have to do, the same hour always seems available for content consumption.
And while my content may never amount to much, it is still something I created. Putting effort into that will help me expand in more ways than consuming ever could.
Write for fun
Yes, writing, sharing, consolidating, documenting – it’s a hobby, and it can be fun.
Unfortunately, I am still self-conscious and (too) aware of my limitations, and sometimes I really admire people who seem to overestimate their abilities . They just go ahead and do their own thing.
Just do your own thing. Really.
For most of us - nobody is watching.
Write for free
Yes, I suppose earning money from your writing would be nice, but there are other reasons to put your work out there.
This article helps put things into perspective and really resonates with me.
Is there anything else you would add to this list?
I feel like I could have written this myself! Gosh you sound so busy, I hope you find a writing schedule that works for you and doesn’t contribute to burn out. If you need a cheerleader, please let me know! We sound very similar. 💕
And about public vs private. Personally, I want it to go out and help people, but my personal thoughts aren’t for acquaintances who just want to be noisey. I think your idea of having a ‘anon’ is fab!
You’ve captured so much of my writing life. I also started with a blog (anonymous) when I was caring for my mom with Alzheimer’s, as a place to channel my thoughts and connect with other caregivers. That evolved into personal essays, some published, some not. Then, a weekly semi-anonymous substack (bc I was nervous to put myself out there). I finally came out of the shadows this year with another substack, the reboot of my late mom’s cooking newsletter. It’s been quite a journey and continues to evolve and all I’ll say is keep writing! The answers will come.