Substack is my favorite new playground. All the cool kids are here. Well, at least many smart & kind writers are.
I do get lost here in rabbit holes as I used to on the socials, but I never feel icky or like I’ve wasted time. The Substack writer community is so supportive. It feels like an extension of my online sober community: warm, uplifting, honest, real, loving.
Thanks, Rosemary! I'm very excited to dive in. I get what you mean about falling into more healthy rabbit holes. This feels like the early days of Medium but with higher-caliber writing.
Excited you’re making this leap! I just launched a substack as well and have many feelings about the evolution over here versus on IG or other platforms.
And PS: the ClearSpace App changed my life/relationship with IG. Which had a trickle down effect for my phone usage overall. I found I became so specific about how/when to use my phone and it became a tool again. I love that it makes you wait and truly choose to use the app. I found it via Michael Easter!
This feels so authentic and fulfilling in a sea of flashy disconnection. My experience is that the deepest connection happens when we can show up as our full selves, and social media has erased so much of that. I’m excited for your work and it’s inspiring to me to do more of my own writing and creation (just for me!) I think so often we think everything has to be monetized and made into a side hustle and we’ve forgotten the delicious joy of doing something for the pleasure of doing it. Onward, and congrats! 🥰
Thank you for saying it so clearly. It's not about the quantity, but the heartfelt meaning.
I do love these words "my overactive brain is complex to live with" it's a lot for a needlepoint pillow, or tattoo, but it's truth. Can't wait to read more!
Substack is beautiful, it won’t reduce your screen time 😂 but you’ll love it here. I think it has the novelty and freshness we all miss in IG, and it is made for the people who’s in love with words.
I have an online grief community for Spanish speakers, and I think your voice notes to you dad project is beautiful and very easy to relate.
Thanks for the kind words! I'm hoping to stay off the Substack app and mainly use the desktop browser, so let's see what that does. But, at that point ,I'm just replacing a little screen for a bigger screen!
Looking forward to it! I guess what you’re mentioning in your post - next to your authenticiteit - speaks to me since this is what I always look for. More time, deeper thinking and connecting to people. And I downloaded Substack once with the goal of writing myself. But then life happens again, and I never actually get to it. Too busy at one hand with many other things, not focussing enough to do it. It’s all a matter of choices. So maybe your writings will inspire to give it a go after all. Good luck with your writings. And a brave concept, voicemails to your dad. My dad died way too young 12 years ago. The word voicemails in this context is well chosen I think, with the associations I have with it.
I was talking to a friend and I told her "If I don't start writing, I'll never get around to writing" and we both laughed at how true and absurd that comment is. Great to see you here Hubrecht and I'm glad you like the voicemail idea. I haven't recorded one yet, but decided to "tell on myself" in this post to make sure I do.
So great to see you here, I think I will like this better than your IG, it resonates with me more. I look forward to your voicemails to your dad, what a sweet and wonderful way to honour him.
Congratulations, it sounds like you’ll be doing amazing things. I agree that having a smaller inner circle is better, I have intentionally kept my circle small, while allowing myself to play big! The connections are so much more rewarding, and I connect a lot! It’s what I do. I would hate having thousands follow me. Quality over quantity any day! Best of luck Shaun.
Really looking forward to hearing your writing voice. And your voicemails to your father is pretty brilliant and brave; grief offers you so many portals to explore once you can lift yourself off the ground.
Super happy to see you and The Love Drive move over here, Shaun! I have a similar love-hate relationship with social media and am hoping to shift the exorbitant amount of time I spend on IG. I've been on Substack for a handful of months now and it really does feel like the place where thoughtful conversations and real connections are organically happening in a way that reminds me of the golden age of blogging.
Let's do this! My phone screen time is out of control, I'm not sure this is going to help much, but I hope it does. Here's to revisiting the golden age of blogging!
Thanks Linda, great to see you here! I'm really looking forward to diving into a what feels like a slower and more intentional way to connect with folks. Plus, the posts can surely help inform the future book.
I’m excited for your new book. I have a feeling a lot of people will be interested in reading it and it will open up all kinds of new opportunities for you. Yes, the pace of Substack is wonderful. I have to be careful not to subscribe, but rather to follow people because then my email inbox gets too full. Just a tip 😉
I can't resist but respond to this one - I just published my first Substack post that more or less uses Ai throughout. Although I think I used the Ai in a novel way that is positive. Every writer can appreciate the intention to be authentic - Myself included. So - I look forward to your future posts!
Hi Shaun and welcome.
I’m glad you’re here.
Substack is my favorite new playground. All the cool kids are here. Well, at least many smart & kind writers are.
I do get lost here in rabbit holes as I used to on the socials, but I never feel icky or like I’ve wasted time. The Substack writer community is so supportive. It feels like an extension of my online sober community: warm, uplifting, honest, real, loving.
Looking forward to reading your content.
Thanks, Rosemary! I'm very excited to dive in. I get what you mean about falling into more healthy rabbit holes. This feels like the early days of Medium but with higher-caliber writing.
Excited you’re making this leap! I just launched a substack as well and have many feelings about the evolution over here versus on IG or other platforms.
Tell me about those feelings? Is this a more evolved place?
TBD! Just got on the substack’verse myself but so far it seems like the culture is more about a deep dive and community. People really have to opt in.
Podcast sounds super interesting - looking forward to it
And PS: the ClearSpace App changed my life/relationship with IG. Which had a trickle down effect for my phone usage overall. I found I became so specific about how/when to use my phone and it became a tool again. I love that it makes you wait and truly choose to use the app. I found it via Michael Easter!
Awesome! I'm giving it a try as we speak. So far so good.
This feels so authentic and fulfilling in a sea of flashy disconnection. My experience is that the deepest connection happens when we can show up as our full selves, and social media has erased so much of that. I’m excited for your work and it’s inspiring to me to do more of my own writing and creation (just for me!) I think so often we think everything has to be monetized and made into a side hustle and we’ve forgotten the delicious joy of doing something for the pleasure of doing it. Onward, and congrats! 🥰
Thank you for saying it so clearly. It's not about the quantity, but the heartfelt meaning.
I do love these words "my overactive brain is complex to live with" it's a lot for a needlepoint pillow, or tattoo, but it's truth. Can't wait to read more!
Thanks, Kathleen. Overthinking can make fantastic writers!
Substack is beautiful, it won’t reduce your screen time 😂 but you’ll love it here. I think it has the novelty and freshness we all miss in IG, and it is made for the people who’s in love with words.
I have an online grief community for Spanish speakers, and I think your voice notes to you dad project is beautiful and very easy to relate.
Welcome, Shaun 💌
Thanks for the kind words! I'm hoping to stay off the Substack app and mainly use the desktop browser, so let's see what that does. But, at that point ,I'm just replacing a little screen for a bigger screen!
Mucho gusto!
Looking forward to it! I guess what you’re mentioning in your post - next to your authenticiteit - speaks to me since this is what I always look for. More time, deeper thinking and connecting to people. And I downloaded Substack once with the goal of writing myself. But then life happens again, and I never actually get to it. Too busy at one hand with many other things, not focussing enough to do it. It’s all a matter of choices. So maybe your writings will inspire to give it a go after all. Good luck with your writings. And a brave concept, voicemails to your dad. My dad died way too young 12 years ago. The word voicemails in this context is well chosen I think, with the associations I have with it.
I was talking to a friend and I told her "If I don't start writing, I'll never get around to writing" and we both laughed at how true and absurd that comment is. Great to see you here Hubrecht and I'm glad you like the voicemail idea. I haven't recorded one yet, but decided to "tell on myself" in this post to make sure I do.
I am going to enjoy exploring this platform, with the incentive of reading/hearing your wisdom
I'm glad you're here, and I think you might like it.
So great to see you here, I think I will like this better than your IG, it resonates with me more. I look forward to your voicemails to your dad, what a sweet and wonderful way to honour him.
Congratulations, it sounds like you’ll be doing amazing things. I agree that having a smaller inner circle is better, I have intentionally kept my circle small, while allowing myself to play big! The connections are so much more rewarding, and I connect a lot! It’s what I do. I would hate having thousands follow me. Quality over quantity any day! Best of luck Shaun.
Small circle while playing big is a nice way to design a life, Tannis! Glad you're here and hoping you like this format.
Love this, Shaun.
Hey bud!
Really looking forward to hearing your writing voice. And your voicemails to your father is pretty brilliant and brave; grief offers you so many portals to explore once you can lift yourself off the ground.
Thanks, Kit. I'm excited to develop my writing voice further. I used to blog more some seven years ago and I'm excited to get back into the practice!
Super happy to see you and The Love Drive move over here, Shaun! I have a similar love-hate relationship with social media and am hoping to shift the exorbitant amount of time I spend on IG. I've been on Substack for a handful of months now and it really does feel like the place where thoughtful conversations and real connections are organically happening in a way that reminds me of the golden age of blogging.
Let's do this! My phone screen time is out of control, I'm not sure this is going to help much, but I hope it does. Here's to revisiting the golden age of blogging!
Welcome, Shaun, and congratulations on your new Substack! I love the community here. Looking forward to your missives. 💜
Thanks Linda, great to see you here! I'm really looking forward to diving into a what feels like a slower and more intentional way to connect with folks. Plus, the posts can surely help inform the future book.
I’m excited for your new book. I have a feeling a lot of people will be interested in reading it and it will open up all kinds of new opportunities for you. Yes, the pace of Substack is wonderful. I have to be careful not to subscribe, but rather to follow people because then my email inbox gets too full. Just a tip 😉
You can opt to subscribe but not get email notifications, I think. I also created a filter and all substack emails go to a folder and skip the inbox.
Great pic! 😅 and lovely to read a longer post…looking forward to reading more!
I can't resist but respond to this one - I just published my first Substack post that more or less uses Ai throughout. Although I think I used the Ai in a novel way that is positive. Every writer can appreciate the intention to be authentic - Myself included. So - I look forward to your future posts!