Happy Anniversary! What stuck with me really was the part about blogging and that you're writing here for a different reason. I've been blogging for years (and still have a small blog on my website for your mentioned reasons), but while it was also fun, it never felt as wholeheartedly good as writing on here. It's the reason why I came here; to have a place where I can simply write the way I want to. Really great to learn about your journey on substack 😊
Thanks Mareike 💛 it’s so funny isn’t it? I did enjoy the blogs and newsletters that we’re explicitly about advertising and promoting my work, but my heart longed for freedom to write whatever I wanted without worrying whether it fitted into the standard boxes of what gets clicks and traffic. I quietly rebel against it and find it now off putting when I see posts that are blatantly written for SEO - even if the content would be valuable to me, I move more and more to the archive button without even skimming. I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying the same freedom 💛
Yes, there is simply so much more to write about in so many different ways and you just can't squeeze everything into a neat X Things You Should or X Tips for kind of text. As you said, SEO-only texts are often incredibly boring. I've worked for a media agency (for short two months) once and I found the texts I wrote for them so boring and badly researched due to limited time that I would have never put them on my own blog. 🙈 So enjoying the freedom substack offers is incredibly valuable 😊
This is so beautiful Emily. And just what I needed to read right now, having just dipped my toe into Substack myself and, like you did, have absolutely no idea about what I'm doing! Just following my nose and seeing where it leads me and what feels right. Hopefully I'll still be here in a years time to celebrate an anniversary of sorts! So happy I found you over here - happy anniversaire! Nix
Ahh Emily, this is the perfect celebration of all you’ve done.. and you know what, I think a silly dance is more than acceptable.. remember that note that went a little bit viral..? I’d have danced for a week if that had been me..! You are a breath of fresh magic air and I love that you’re here and that you share your heart and you gorgeous creations with us..! Here’s to another year of happy letters and Notes..! I can’t wait to see what you send ♥️✨xxx
Oh I'd forgotten about that!! 🙈 Thank you so much Susie, you're always so supportive and say lovely things. It's so wonderful to be connected to you here. 💛💛💛
Congratulations on your very specific, precise, and exact anniversary, Emily! 🤣 So glad to be able to hear the story of how it all began - and a little nervous about all the apocalyptic misadventures that might be coming for the rest of us while you are drawing...
Thanks and congrats Emily, for the milestone--yours, and for the reminder that beauty, creativity, and imagination need to be celebrated. My first read of the day. Before getting out of bed!
Happy Anniversary! So cool to learn about how your substack came into being, a little bit at a time, sort of like a little drawing, or a story - line by line.
Happy anniversary, Emily! What a lovely reflection on the year! I love your art and photography--it always brightens my day. 😊
Thank you Steph, that’s so kind of you 💛
We need more of these kinds of celebratory posts: celebrating the magic you’ve found, what a treat! A lovely piece of writing Emily x
Thanks Laura, it feels good to celebrate the magic ✨💛
Here’s to no silly dancing 💃 🥰 and here’s to a year of creating and connecting on this lovely platform. So glad I discovered your writing! 🤍✨
Thanks so much Bella! Yes - thank god no silly dancing is required here 💛
Love the story behind your publication name! And I also love a Substack post about celebration rather than statistics. Happy anniversary(ish) 💛
Thank you Sarah! When I came to write it, I couldn’t quite remember which drawing prompted the name, it feels perfect that it was Georgie ✨
Happy Anniversary, I’m so glad to have found you and I look forward to many more comfy scrolls on my couch taking in what you have to share 🩷
Thanks so much Kathleen! I’m glad you enjoyed reading. So lovely to connect with you 💛
How
I
Loove
This!
Such a feeeeeeeel good read!🥹
Happy Anniversary! What stuck with me really was the part about blogging and that you're writing here for a different reason. I've been blogging for years (and still have a small blog on my website for your mentioned reasons), but while it was also fun, it never felt as wholeheartedly good as writing on here. It's the reason why I came here; to have a place where I can simply write the way I want to. Really great to learn about your journey on substack 😊
Thanks Mareike 💛 it’s so funny isn’t it? I did enjoy the blogs and newsletters that we’re explicitly about advertising and promoting my work, but my heart longed for freedom to write whatever I wanted without worrying whether it fitted into the standard boxes of what gets clicks and traffic. I quietly rebel against it and find it now off putting when I see posts that are blatantly written for SEO - even if the content would be valuable to me, I move more and more to the archive button without even skimming. I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying the same freedom 💛
Yes, there is simply so much more to write about in so many different ways and you just can't squeeze everything into a neat X Things You Should or X Tips for kind of text. As you said, SEO-only texts are often incredibly boring. I've worked for a media agency (for short two months) once and I found the texts I wrote for them so boring and badly researched due to limited time that I would have never put them on my own blog. 🙈 So enjoying the freedom substack offers is incredibly valuable 😊
This is so beautiful Emily. And just what I needed to read right now, having just dipped my toe into Substack myself and, like you did, have absolutely no idea about what I'm doing! Just following my nose and seeing where it leads me and what feels right. Hopefully I'll still be here in a years time to celebrate an anniversary of sorts! So happy I found you over here - happy anniversaire! Nix
Lovely to see you here Nikki! That is the perfect approach - following your nose and having fun and seeing where it goes. 💛
Thanks Emily - excited to see where this might go! 🎉
Ahh Emily, this is the perfect celebration of all you’ve done.. and you know what, I think a silly dance is more than acceptable.. remember that note that went a little bit viral..? I’d have danced for a week if that had been me..! You are a breath of fresh magic air and I love that you’re here and that you share your heart and you gorgeous creations with us..! Here’s to another year of happy letters and Notes..! I can’t wait to see what you send ♥️✨xxx
Oh I'd forgotten about that!! 🙈 Thank you so much Susie, you're always so supportive and say lovely things. It's so wonderful to be connected to you here. 💛💛💛
This is so lovely! Such genuine enthusiasm for what you're doing here and a lovely intro to your why. Love it!
Thank you Robyn, it just feels lovely and easy to be here and share with such a wonderful community. So glad to be connected 💛
Lovely! And congratulations, Emily!
Thank you Debs! 💛
So very well put!
Thanks Jo! It was fun to write 💛
Congratulations on your very specific, precise, and exact anniversary, Emily! 🤣 So glad to be able to hear the story of how it all began - and a little nervous about all the apocalyptic misadventures that might be coming for the rest of us while you are drawing...
Haha! Yep!! It’s good to be precise 😂 thank you. Let’s hope there’s no apocalypse for a while! 💛💛
Happy written anniversary blessings.
Thank you Tinabeth 💛
Thanks and congrats Emily, for the milestone--yours, and for the reminder that beauty, creativity, and imagination need to be celebrated. My first read of the day. Before getting out of bed!
Thank you John, yes! They’re great things to be celebrating 💛
Happy Anniversary! So cool to learn about how your substack came into being, a little bit at a time, sort of like a little drawing, or a story - line by line.
Thanks so much Nancy, that’s a lovely way of seeing it. I hadn’t thought of it that way. 💛