Course updates for the weeks ahead

Buckle up, friends. Lots of goodness incoming...

“Lindsay immediately made Substack another home for me. She's a deep well of insight and inspiration and examines the challenges and glories of writing life as a woman in midlife with verve, humour, curiosity and contemplation. Her writing is accessible, relatable and often a teaching moment in how to engage, not just other readers and writers, but everyone. Even while she asks herself, "What Now?" she helps us all navigate the path towards the myriad potential answers to that vital query.”

Nancy Forde

Hi friends,

Hoping you’re all hanging on in there and that the start of May has been gentle on you. I’m dropping a few updates your way in lieu of my usual Friday Members’ Chat Thread as there are a couple of exciting things happening in the coming weeks in the Membership that free subscribers might fancy knowing about, too.

The sun it did shine in Glasgow the other day, I can attest

First up, a reminder that the Glasgow Substack writers’ meet-up I’m co-hosting with

Neil Scott

is only a couple of weeks away now. Here’s the link you need to sign up. There are nearly 20 of us so far, and not all of them from Glasgow, just saying:

Next, (Zoom link below the paywall) I’m back facilitating four weekly one-hour LIVE Writing for Better Mental and Physical Health sessions (replays available and folk love this option if live isn’t possible). We’ll meet for this block on Thursdays 2-3pm BST on the following dates:

9th May

16th May

23rd May

30th May

These gentle expressive writing sessions are based on the Pennebaker Method and you absolutely do not need to class yourself a writer to take part. This is a no-sharing-required course where the aim is to connect, reconnect or deepen your journaling practice for better health.

The rest of the info on the course, including beautiful words from previous recruits, is in this free post:

Next up, an invitation from the ever-generous

Claire Venus

to join the two of us as we podcast LIVE on Friday 10th May 2-3pm BST on deepening community and connection through audio. Whether you’re a creator, audio-curious or simply an avid consumer of it, this session promises mega value and I can’t wait to share how using audio helped my publication become a Bestseller at the start of this year. The session will be available as a replay for any paid member who signs up using the link below the paywall, even if live isn’t possible for you to be with us live next Friday.

Using all of Substack’s audio features has been hugely valuable to me in terms of growth and depth of connection, and I know Claire’s had a similar experience. From starting out just using it to add voiceovers to written posts for accessibility, it’s now a fundamental part of my publication and I LOVE being able to share my memoir in weekly podcast episodes and offer audio-only of the video conversations on caring and creativity I’ve shared…

How do you use / enjoy audio best on Substack, I wonder?

The next Seasonal Session for early summer takes place on Wednesday 5th June 8-9pm BST. Want to know what to expect from these sessions? Hop on over and watch this wee video:

A reminder that registration is still open for the final few spots on September’s Memoir in a Month with guest reader,

Ali Millar

. The March run with guest reader

Dr Lily Dunn

sold out, and this one looks set to do the same. The investment for the course is £150 which gets you five 2-hour live sessions and a 1:1 with me to discuss your writing, as well as a year’s membership to my publication. This is the last time I’ll run this course at this price as my Founding Member tier will be increasing in price before the next run in early 2025. Add your name and email to the waitlist here:

And find out everything else about the course here:

Ok, now for that Zoom link for Thursday’s session. Remember, you can upgrade any time before the virtual doors open on the 9th: