What I’ve Learned from 1 Month on Substack
It’s (un?)surprisingly positive
Today marks Week 4 (Four!!!) of posting an article every Tuesday (Q: Why Tuesday? A: It sorta rhymes with my publication name).
I’ve had this idea for over a year and I finally got tired of waiting to start. After a month, I am happy to report that I am loving this.
Here are some thoughts on what I’ve learned.
A challenge doesn’t have to be stressful
I used to LOVE a challenge. As I’ve grown though, my body is typically in a constant state of stress (I’m sure my therapist could give you a number of reasons for this, but thanks to HIPAA you’ll never know 😋). The anxiety can make challenges more daunting than fun; HOWEVER, with writing Silver-Studded Blue, I’m slowly finding my spark again. I feel motivated by my self-imposed Tuesday deadline rather than dreading “another task I have to complete.” I’m remembering that life is supposed to be fun, that creative hobbies are supposed to fuel joy, and that no one is giving me a grade. Every time I hit post, I feel more encouraged to keep going
It takes longer than a month to overcome the fear of mistakes
Look, I meant what I said above that this is becoming more fun than stressful. Although, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t still terrified of mistakes. Even after proofreading, I still wonder what mistakes I’ve made, what points could have been better, and if I should have tried harder. I do know that the joy I get from posting outweighs those fears. I also know that the only way to squash the negative thoughts is to keep pushing forward. So, if you’re worried about making mistakes, welcome to the club. We can get through this together!! Maybe by month two??
Autonomy is AWESOME
I love love love treating my Substack as my own little world. I can write what I want, when I want, and I can change my mind! I had an entirely different article planned for today but it just wasn’t coming together. Rather than force a post on something I know isn’t ready, I decided to pivot to something else. It’s really reminded me of the importance of choosing creative projects. So much of our lives is spent following someone else’s idea and it’s incredibly freeing to have something entirely within your own creative control.
The Butterfly Effect was a great choice for inspiration 🦋
I chose a butterfly as the name of my substack because I believe anything can happen from one small act. This month, the ideas have been pouring out of me. Once I started, everywhere I went I saw something that triggered an idea or I met someone who was a great source of motivation. Sometimes the key to everything really is to just start doing something.
Having a plan isn’t really all that helpful
I have so much to learn and I’m trying out so many ideas that any initial content plan has gone out the window. Right now, I’m really enjoying writing in the moment and keeping a notebook of things I’m interested in rather than trying to stick to a strict topic list. Maybe someday I’ll hit a groove and my writing will be both natural and on-plan, but for now I’m not going to worry about it.
I am on the right path (at least for now)
On occasion, I feel a little spark light up my soul. This is one of those moments. I’m happy writing, I’m excited about the possibilities and the ideas fluttering through me, and I can feel that this is the shake-up I’ve been seeking.