“You can’t really come back to where you were before after a massive life event like that…”
Hi friends,
If you’re new here, welcome! I’m Lindsay - a writer, critic and facilitator from Glasgow. You can find out more in this post about what to expect as a free subscriber or as part of my Membership community:
FYI: There is just ONE SPOT remaining on January’s Memoir in a Month five-week course. Welcoming those who are already writing about their lives or those who are curious about the craft of memoir, take part live on Wednesdays from 15th January 7-9pm GMT or asynchronously if that suits your life / timezone:
And if you’re still looking for a festive listen my memoir, Held in Mind, might be just what you’re after. Click on the image below to take yourself back to Decembers past with the free prologue:
This week, a rich, wide-ranging and intimate conversation with
superstar who writes Creatively Conscious as well as the global top 10 Education publication, Sparkle on Substack.Claire brings such incredible energy and insight to her work with writers whether they’re just starting out or are ready to explore new ways to further build their communities. She’s one of us: a voice from within the creator community who came to this platform to write and build meaningful connections, who quickly realised that her decades of experience working in the cultural sector in the north-east of England could be of service in an online space. She supports, nurtures and connects so many of us, and really is the best hype-woman you could wish to have on your squad.
If you missed our conversation earlier in the year on utilising the power of audio, then catch up here:
Ok, let’s dive in…
We recorded this conversation last month and talked about what it means for your life when your business model is based on slow, intentional growth only for your career to accelerate in unexpected ways.
We got into what “being ‘on’ all the time” takes from you when the momentum feels unstoppable. How to marry that energy with the caring responsibilities you cannot delegate. We shared those lightbulb moments that force us to step outside of ourselves and see what “success” actually looks like, as well as the necessity of facing up to facts when it isn’t at all what what we imagined it would be.
“The momentum was outside of me and I couldn’t stop it. I had to really have a look at that. I was saying, ‘You’re all for joyful, sustainable growth and you’re also for the slow lived life,’ but that had been lost, Completely lost. It was driven by fear. Not being enough, not being able to support my family, you know.”
We talked about what feeds creativity when what once fed us has become “work”, and where the space can be found to nurture that side of ourselves when demands on our time and energy are many. What does it meant to embody joy, sustainable growth and creativity when the realisation of your goals leads to near-burnout? When others look to you as a source of support, inspiration and motivation as they embark upon their own creative journeys, but you’re hanging on by a thread?
As we, and others, commit to taking time off from publishing for a few weeks over the festive period, I wonder whether you will, too? Whether you’ll give yourselves the gift of creative rest, and what that looks like. For me, it’s long lies, tea and books, long stomps in the park and watching period dramas with my daughters. I know that a few weeks “off” (from publishing at least) will give future-me the gift of a powered-up January (bugs, begone).
I want to sign off by saying thank you so much for being part of my community. You’ve helped make 2024 an incredibly special year for me and I’m so looking forward to spending 2025 with you, too.
Go well, and happy holidays,
Lindsay x
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