16 Comments

Great post! Totally agree with the sentiment that you must do creative work that you believe in, even if that's just for the sake of doing it. I think passion comes across in any creative art form, and it is this that will make you stand out and appeal to an "audience". Thank you for sharing these three different creatives and perspectives : )

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May 27, 2023Liked by Dr. Kathleen Waller

Really good selection 👌

"In a way, it’s also allowing yourself to be satisfied with the dissatisfaction—to publish something you know isn’t perfect."

As an amateur/new/bumbling-along-finding-my-way writer, this is something that feels good to read, especially when related to having a Substack. I get fidgety sometimes trying to second guess what I should post and whether it's good enough, but I love this sentiment of being satisfied with dissatisfaction. That there's always something further to reach towards.

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May 27, 2023Liked by Dr. Kathleen Waller

Apart from being a really interesting article (as always) there is lots of reassurance for writers in it. Lovely read, thank you!

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May 27, 2023Liked by Dr. Kathleen Waller

I really like the wide range of others in this piece and especially the self perception of success that we have. I, like many, tie success and money/recognition/subscribers but really like the intrinsic thoughtfulness of this to highlight what your success is.

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May 28, 2023Liked by Dr. Kathleen Waller

I enjoyed your substack. I particularly liked the line that by writing we discover stuff about ourselves. I restacked that quotation.

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Loved your bit on the meaning of success for Jia Tolentino.

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“Success is freedom”. Maybe, but I’m bad at compromising even if I make next to nothing from writing. I’ve passed the stage now where I hope for financial freedom from writing. If it comes it comes but I don’t expect it so I might as well crack on with what brings me satisfaction. Now more than ever I write entirely about what piques my interest. That won’t interest everyone, and that’s fine. And every time I post I get loads of unsubscribes here on substack. But I just think that if they aren’t interested that ain’t my problem. I work through and figure out my own positions and thoughts about stuff in my writing, and that’s why I write.

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I quite enjoyed reading about these creative people who I probably wouldn’t have known about if I wasn’t subscribed to your newsletter!

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