24 Comments
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Vivi's avatar

This is such beautiful reminder. Me starting my own substack was also a spur of the moment. And it is was the bravest thing I ever did and I'm proud of it.

Happy birthday to you 🫶

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Siobhan Fitzgerald's avatar

Thanks so much for giving this insight, Brittany. Just this week I said in my newsletter that it’s like shouting into the void sometimes (but I’m showing up anyway). I’ve loved watching your journey on TikTok and happy birthday! 🎈

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C. Maine's avatar

Definitely the post I needed to find today. I have no audience and very few followers who are active in any sense of the word and yet I've set this idea in my heart to try a newsletter about art, writing, and life wherever it fits between the two.

Thanks for the reminder that everything must be started somewhere

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Shulammite's avatar

I have 10 subscribers and it already feels heavy

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Elly's avatar

Loved reading! Very much needed to read.

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tess allen's avatar

Thank you for this!!

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Brooke Barker-Pottle's avatar

Even if you shout into the void and all you hear is your own echo, it's still worth it. Creating art is always worth it. Even if it's just for your eyes or ears only.

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maca's avatar

This is my second day on Substack, and first long-format I read in here. Since a friend told me about this app, something sparked inside me, like I (a political journalist) should write about something else than the Parliament, than I (a culture lover, a writer, a woman) should listen to my heart and share more of what’s inside it. However, the fear of my thoughts going straight to the void is a big one. So thank you for this piece, it was very inspiring and encouraging for this young writer, starting the search of an audience and overcoming the fact that I might not find one.

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Simone Rudloff's avatar

Thank you for this! Love it.

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Amiee Kane's avatar

This is a great take. I severed social media a couple of months ago (besides here which I'm brand new to) and with it all of my online art groups I belonged to. I'm having to learn to to let go of letting outside validation drive my desire and find acceptance knowing that that doing art for my sake is enough.

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not enough & too much's avatar

So needed 🥹❤️

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Sabina's avatar

AAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!

(that’s me shouting into the void)

This essay reminded me of the rock scene from Everything Everywhere All At Once. Like—oh good. You’re here too.

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Therapy Truck's avatar

And all this time later, I've just launched my own site here on Substack and find this to be so true. Thanks for sharing & I hope you continue tossing petals in the canyon!

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Shaina's avatar

I needed to hear this so much! I saved bits of this to remember and look back on. Thank you so so much!

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elisa's avatar

I really enjoyed reading your take here. I started a substack to share but quickly learned without a following there isn’t much engagement - but then I shifted my mindset- I see it as an online journal for me and if people find it along the way then that’s grand. I will say I’m not sure if I ever have a project to send out in mind but if I did I’m sure my perspective much shift some.

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Mary Barker's avatar

“I used to wait for the new issue of the WW” — What magazine title are you referring to here?

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Brittany V Wilder's avatar

the Willamette Weekly in Portland, OR! <3

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