My 2 year anniversary on Substack

A love letter to mark 2 years on this platform

Hello everyone,

The 22nd of July marks two years since my very first post on here!

“You should get yourself a Substack”

A good friend (she knows who she is ❤️) said one day as I posted one of my creative endeavours on Twitter. Probably a poem.

“A what?”

“It’s a bit like a website where you upload your work and it sends emails to people”

Being a lazy fucker with limited tech skill, the idea of a free, ‘ready to go’ website appealed greatly. The email thing, not quite so much. Seemed a little too unBritish. Did I really want to be popping up in inboxes all the time? Wouldn’t it annoy people? Wasn’t it all a bit salesy? *feels the ick*

“I sign up for quite a few and they don’t annoy me. I like receiving them.”

said the same friend.

Hmm…..

I chewed this idea over for months, until one day my Twitter account was nuked and suddenly I had nowhere other than Facebook to post my stuff.

Twitter had always been my ‘home’, I had so many friends there, people who ‘got’ me. Not only that, as my confidence grew, I wanted to write longer form pieces that maybe didn’t sit well on traditional social media. To challenge myself.

Substack…..it was time!

When I’d considered having a website in the past, I’d always wanted somewhere I could be 100% me. A place I could host both light and dark, biting social commentaries and romantic/nature-loving poetry. Random rambles about folk I met on the bus,  depressing short stories, pretty photos I’d taken….……

I knew some of my cynical world views would maybe feel at odds with tender poems, that swearing isn’t the best rubalong with the gentle language of love, but I refused to niche. Refused to sand over the less palatable, refine. The stubborn Northern streak in my soul always reared like a bolshy mare;

“No, people can take me as I am. All or nothing!”

Someone once described my content as being ‘like a magazine’, and it’s probably a good fit. There’s a bit of this, a bit of that. And not everyone will like everything, I know. I write to mood, NOT to order.

I’m appreciative of all subscribers. Especially those who maybe don’t get/like certain offerings but stick around anyway because they appreciate other things I write. How very adult to just ignore the stuff you don’t enjoy! Who knew that was a thing grown ups could actually do?🤔

Paying

I never wanted to give readers ‘more’ for paying, either. Want my content on this site to remain free, to be accessed by all who want to see it. That’s not to say I don’t accept money, I do, hence my paid subscription offer and ‘buy me a coffee’ links.

Suppose I’m a bit like ‘The Guardian’ really…….

Ha ha ha - like BOLLOCKS I am 😂😂😂

Nah, paywalls annoy me as a reader, especially when I get midway through something. Bloody hell. What a frustrating half wank that is! Any monies paid to me must be done through a filter of gratitude, NOT expectation. I mean, one day I might write a book and I would absolutely charge for it, but my social commentaries will always remain free, because how do you open up wider debate if you limit who sees them or comments? A desire for greater discussion and public scrutiny is what drives all my opinion pieces.

So………thank you to everyone here, anyway.

If you’re new to my Substack, I now have over 300 pieces on here!

Who knew I had so much to say?

(Answer - anyone who ever met me in real life for five mins 😂😂😂)

They are categorised at the top of the homepage under ‘Opinion Piece’, ‘Musing’, ‘Poetry’ and ‘Story’ so you can easily find the type of writing that most appeals.

If you have ever left me a little comment, shared a post, bought me a coffee or paid for a subscription, please know you have made my day. Given me smiles and glows that I then pay forward to others.

To all the wonderful writers I have connected with on here (too many to name), thank you for the support you have given, the inspiration, joy and reflection I have found from reading your work. Great writers and kind souls have never merged so often and seamlessly than on this site. I am propelled to do better both as a writer and human being.

And the notes section - well, that’s starting to bloom too. It’s like Twitter without arseholes, ads and pornbots. What’s not to love?

To anyone new writing on here; it’s easy to get hung up on numbers. Try not to. Have fun, do what makes your soul sing. I’ve been here two years now and *only* have 600 which isn’t a huge number, but you know what? I’ve never once compromised. Have always just written exactly what the hell I wanted to. Those meant to find you, will! And some will even stick around too, accept all of you!

Love and strength to anyone who reads this, whatever your political/religious/vax stance. Whatever your ‘take’ on these trying times.

We live in a planet of abundance NOT scarcity.

With that in mind, fill yourself with love, humour, beauty, art and knowledge like you’re filling the tallest, widest glass you can find in the messy cupboard of life.

Then……..go knock the fucker over.

Because, my friends, our time on Earth is all about the beautiful spill.

Julie xx

Mother of Hope