With a new name for this space (The Publishing Spectrum), it felt like the right time to do a proper introduction — and invite you to introduce yourself, too.
Hi Amanda, it's lovely to meet you in this way. What beautiful offerings you provide. I'm excited to be here.
I'm Jesie, and a couple of things that shape my writing are my work as a Grief Therapist, and my identity as a Highly Sensitive Person. I have a small but rich audience of readers, some of whom are clients of mine. This creates a call for my writing to be really, deeply nourishing, as much as I can muster.
The unmistakable "me" in my writing is how lyrical I can be, I like for my essays to have a notable rhythm to them when read aloud. And, I am not afraid of a very long run on sentence, if it feels just right to help me stretch my legs.
Thanks for the re-introduction! I've been a follower for a little while, but it's nice to feel like I'm kind of in on a new beginning.
My Substack is small, and I'm not *super* ambitious about it, but I'd love to see it grow some more. I guess what shapes my newsletter is my tendency to notice questions that come up in everyday life and my desire to think them through--I'm a philosopher, so questions and (attempts at) answers is what I do. But--and this is what's "me" about it--although I make connections to professional philosophy, it's always just my sometimes-philosophy-nerdy take on the question, driven by curiosity, my knowledge of philosophy, my analytical skills, and a bit of humor.
I think what comes to mind is that in my writing I am always touching on how we are living life and what it means to have a good one while we're here.
What makes it me is the personal threads I weave in, drawing on being a Welsh woman, living in London, with a day job that doesn't light me up but leaning into a creative world that does.
I hope to always spark a bit of inspiration for readers - whether that's in changing daily habits, getting their own words down on the page, or just in deciding what to have for dinner!
I love reflecting on what it means to have a good life — and especially being surrounded by people who are doing the things to make life better when it's not going in the direction they want/need. ☀️
Hi Amanda, you know I've been here awhile, but fun to be part of the introductions with your new name for the newsletter. You asked: What’s one thing that shapes the heart of your storytelling, newsletter or creative work? The answer: Connecting with another human heart.
✨ What’s something that’s unmistakably you in what you publish? Generosity of heart.
As a new subscriber and new Substacker, I loved this (re)introduction, Amanda. And I'm so thankful for this amazing resource and space you've created here. 💛
As a writer, I'm 100% fueled by the things that I love. I just want to yap about the books and movies and places and ideas that inspire me so others can draw inspiration from those things, too.
I'm Nan Tepper, and I write two different stacks. One is dedicated to personal essays and memoir, (all mine). I bring myself to my writing, warts and all (I don't have warts, it's just an expression!). I rat on myself, very reliably. That one is called The Next Write Thing. https://nantepper.com/ And the second one is called Style Your Stack. I'm a graphic designer and I have brand expertise, I pivoted from web design which is how I've made my living for the last 15 years. But my priorities have changed and I want to devote most of time toward writing. I'm able to that with Style Your Stack being my primary source of income. I designed this stack to assist other writers on the platform with basics like wordmark and logo design, branding, overall and I help with nuts and bolts, teaching folks how to get the most out of their publications. I LOVE being here, have been on the platform since Jan 2024. I've heard so many great things about you, and have been following you for a while. I love your re-brand. The new name is perfect. Hope to get to know you better, Amanda. I'm going to stop now! Thanks for opening this up to us. xo
I LOVE the new name, Amanda. I'm in the process of learning what shapes my writing ... and a possible Substack pivot, which seems to be part of the journey on this platform. 😁 What comes to mind if I don't think about it too hard is creativity & connection. Those are the two things I want to build my life - and my writing - around. I'm still figuring out what that looks like, exactly.
My Substack is shaped by my aspiring author's life. What does it look like to start writing (short stories, personal essays) in my 40s, and then up the stakes to writing my first novel—while raising three kids? What does it look like to make a big midlife change and dare to dream big?
Characteristics that shape my work are drawing parallels between everyday moments and my writing journey, deep emotions, grit, and hope.
What shapes my writing? When I first began writing on Substack, I was unsure and resisted what was in the marrow of my bones—the teachings of Tantric philosophy. Years ago, the community I was a part of exploded (in fact, I mentioned it in my last post). I wanted to distance myself from the entire painful experience, but what arose were the teachings, which are timeless and unaffected by personal ego.
So, after some time, I followed my heart and the calling of the teachings that guide my life. While I write stories and personal narratives, I mainly offer a teaching, with an element from life, that I hope will support my readers in finding "the gold in the precious mess of their beautiful lives."
Paulette, I relate so much to the work you mention to untether the teachings from the teacher. I think you could definitely do a series on that, all the tentacles of the heart, how the ego gets tangled up inside the truths that are trying to belong to us. And the **lifelong** work that takes. Oof... is it ever work.
I'm so glad you're doing this work and I'm thankful our paths crossed.
Amanda, I've touched on this in past writing, but I've not seen it quite like you're seeing it, or in a series. I need to percolate on this. Thank you!
You asked what shapes my storytelling. I would have to say being a woman who lives with several chronic illnesses shapes my novels and my Substack newsletter. I'm a Gen X woman who lived with undiagnosed chronic illnesses for decades and I want to use my fiction and my Substack newsletter to provide support and encouragement for women like me.
I am excited about the power of fiction to help people feel seen and have hope. The rise of Biblio-therapy is super exciting to me and I include scientific studies in my newsletters so my readers can learn for themselves and dig into what interests and helps them.
I have hopes to write non-fiction as well. A book about living with an illness and being a partner with the medical team you see.
Thanks for sharing, Beth. I think a lot of folks will really resonate with the concept of being a partner with your medical team. It's such a needed concept — people need tools to learn what this looks like!
Hi Amanda! I have been writing my Substack for two years now. It is called The Kindness Boomerang newsletter and my goal is to promote kindness as often as possible. I publish once a week and subscribers receive a personal essay from me along with book reviews, positive human interest videos and inspirational quotes.
I have been told by my readers that I write in a conversational style (like they are sitting across from me at a cafe) and I share my personal experiences with parenthood, chronic illness, grief, etc. I have a little over 200 subscribers and I am trying to figure out how to get my newsletter out there to more readers. I would love to have you check out my newsletter and give me any advice you can. Thanks!
one thing that shapes my newsletter, Party Dip, is my Korean adoptee identity. writing it weekly for almost 2 years helped me redefine my identity at a transitional time where i resettled into my hometown on the precipice of 40 (after living in multiple cities for over half my life). My newsletter highlights both mainstream and slightly off-center pop culture (niche techno, documentaries, John Mulaney), plus personal narrative on connection, identity, and community. Adoptees have a power to belong everywhere and nowhere at once and I’m recently seeing my newsletter and interests in this light. How I see myself has certainly changed thanks to my substack!
thanks, Amanda! my first obvious identity shift stemmed from not going out at the frequency i had been when living in nyc. i channeled the influence of having lived in the Bay Area when i told myself i “cutty dipped” (quietly left) when it came to partying and after parties. so it became Party Dip, because i felt that a party dip concept opened up room for expecting an assorted variety, a party platter of topics! 🎉
My name is Donna. I publish creative, personal narrative that shines the light in our hidden corners, allowing us to uncover our true selves to live more fully. A signature aspect of my work is that it tends to be solution oriented. Another way to say this is you may find unasked for advice when you read The Bright Life🤣 I call us to examine the big questions, but often I will also suggest a solution to move toward the answer. Not THE solution but more of an offering of ideas so we don't stay stuck.
Hi Amanda, it's lovely to meet you in this way. What beautiful offerings you provide. I'm excited to be here.
I'm Jesie, and a couple of things that shape my writing are my work as a Grief Therapist, and my identity as a Highly Sensitive Person. I have a small but rich audience of readers, some of whom are clients of mine. This creates a call for my writing to be really, deeply nourishing, as much as I can muster.
The unmistakable "me" in my writing is how lyrical I can be, I like for my essays to have a notable rhythm to them when read aloud. And, I am not afraid of a very long run on sentence, if it feels just right to help me stretch my legs.
Thanks for being here, Jesie. I love the imagery of a long sentence being away to stretch out. 🤗
Thanks for the re-introduction! I've been a follower for a little while, but it's nice to feel like I'm kind of in on a new beginning.
My Substack is small, and I'm not *super* ambitious about it, but I'd love to see it grow some more. I guess what shapes my newsletter is my tendency to notice questions that come up in everyday life and my desire to think them through--I'm a philosopher, so questions and (attempts at) answers is what I do. But--and this is what's "me" about it--although I make connections to professional philosophy, it's always just my sometimes-philosophy-nerdy take on the question, driven by curiosity, my knowledge of philosophy, my analytical skills, and a bit of humor.
Congrats on the re-name Amanda!🌟
I think what comes to mind is that in my writing I am always touching on how we are living life and what it means to have a good one while we're here.
What makes it me is the personal threads I weave in, drawing on being a Welsh woman, living in London, with a day job that doesn't light me up but leaning into a creative world that does.
I hope to always spark a bit of inspiration for readers - whether that's in changing daily habits, getting their own words down on the page, or just in deciding what to have for dinner!
I love reflecting on what it means to have a good life — and especially being surrounded by people who are doing the things to make life better when it's not going in the direction they want/need. ☀️
What a lovely way to put it Amanda, thank you. That really is so important ☺️
Thank you for the re-introduction, Amanda!
I don't know what shapes my writing, to be honest. I start with an idea or image or object and see where it takes me.
Hi Amanda, you know I've been here awhile, but fun to be part of the introductions with your new name for the newsletter. You asked: What’s one thing that shapes the heart of your storytelling, newsletter or creative work? The answer: Connecting with another human heart.
✨ What’s something that’s unmistakably you in what you publish? Generosity of heart.
I agree, Amy. ☀️
As a new subscriber and new Substacker, I loved this (re)introduction, Amanda. And I'm so thankful for this amazing resource and space you've created here. 💛
As a writer, I'm 100% fueled by the things that I love. I just want to yap about the books and movies and places and ideas that inspire me so others can draw inspiration from those things, too.
I'm Nan Tepper, and I write two different stacks. One is dedicated to personal essays and memoir, (all mine). I bring myself to my writing, warts and all (I don't have warts, it's just an expression!). I rat on myself, very reliably. That one is called The Next Write Thing. https://nantepper.com/ And the second one is called Style Your Stack. I'm a graphic designer and I have brand expertise, I pivoted from web design which is how I've made my living for the last 15 years. But my priorities have changed and I want to devote most of time toward writing. I'm able to that with Style Your Stack being my primary source of income. I designed this stack to assist other writers on the platform with basics like wordmark and logo design, branding, overall and I help with nuts and bolts, teaching folks how to get the most out of their publications. I LOVE being here, have been on the platform since Jan 2024. I've heard so many great things about you, and have been following you for a while. I love your re-brand. The new name is perfect. Hope to get to know you better, Amanda. I'm going to stop now! Thanks for opening this up to us. xo
I LOVE the new name, Amanda. I'm in the process of learning what shapes my writing ... and a possible Substack pivot, which seems to be part of the journey on this platform. 😁 What comes to mind if I don't think about it too hard is creativity & connection. Those are the two things I want to build my life - and my writing - around. I'm still figuring out what that looks like, exactly.
Hi Amanda,
My Substack is shaped by my aspiring author's life. What does it look like to start writing (short stories, personal essays) in my 40s, and then up the stakes to writing my first novel—while raising three kids? What does it look like to make a big midlife change and dare to dream big?
Characteristics that shape my work are drawing parallels between everyday moments and my writing journey, deep emotions, grit, and hope.
Love the new name.😊
Substack is such a good place to unfold into our writing. :) I'm so glad you're here with us, Maria.
Hi Amanda.
What shapes my writing? When I first began writing on Substack, I was unsure and resisted what was in the marrow of my bones—the teachings of Tantric philosophy. Years ago, the community I was a part of exploded (in fact, I mentioned it in my last post). I wanted to distance myself from the entire painful experience, but what arose were the teachings, which are timeless and unaffected by personal ego.
So, after some time, I followed my heart and the calling of the teachings that guide my life. While I write stories and personal narratives, I mainly offer a teaching, with an element from life, that I hope will support my readers in finding "the gold in the precious mess of their beautiful lives."
Paulette, I relate so much to the work you mention to untether the teachings from the teacher. I think you could definitely do a series on that, all the tentacles of the heart, how the ego gets tangled up inside the truths that are trying to belong to us. And the **lifelong** work that takes. Oof... is it ever work.
I'm so glad you're doing this work and I'm thankful our paths crossed.
Amanda, I've touched on this in past writing, but I've not seen it quite like you're seeing it, or in a series. I need to percolate on this. Thank you!
Yes, I'm thankful as well.
Hi Amanda!
You asked what shapes my storytelling. I would have to say being a woman who lives with several chronic illnesses shapes my novels and my Substack newsletter. I'm a Gen X woman who lived with undiagnosed chronic illnesses for decades and I want to use my fiction and my Substack newsletter to provide support and encouragement for women like me.
I am excited about the power of fiction to help people feel seen and have hope. The rise of Biblio-therapy is super exciting to me and I include scientific studies in my newsletters so my readers can learn for themselves and dig into what interests and helps them.
I have hopes to write non-fiction as well. A book about living with an illness and being a partner with the medical team you see.
Thanks for sharing, Beth. I think a lot of folks will really resonate with the concept of being a partner with your medical team. It's such a needed concept — people need tools to learn what this looks like!
Hi Amanda! I have been writing my Substack for two years now. It is called The Kindness Boomerang newsletter and my goal is to promote kindness as often as possible. I publish once a week and subscribers receive a personal essay from me along with book reviews, positive human interest videos and inspirational quotes.
I have been told by my readers that I write in a conversational style (like they are sitting across from me at a cafe) and I share my personal experiences with parenthood, chronic illness, grief, etc. I have a little over 200 subscribers and I am trying to figure out how to get my newsletter out there to more readers. I would love to have you check out my newsletter and give me any advice you can. Thanks!
one thing that shapes my newsletter, Party Dip, is my Korean adoptee identity. writing it weekly for almost 2 years helped me redefine my identity at a transitional time where i resettled into my hometown on the precipice of 40 (after living in multiple cities for over half my life). My newsletter highlights both mainstream and slightly off-center pop culture (niche techno, documentaries, John Mulaney), plus personal narrative on connection, identity, and community. Adoptees have a power to belong everywhere and nowhere at once and I’m recently seeing my newsletter and interests in this light. How I see myself has certainly changed thanks to my substack!
This was so fun to read. And also what a fun name for a newsletter! Where’d you come up with it?
thanks, Amanda! my first obvious identity shift stemmed from not going out at the frequency i had been when living in nyc. i channeled the influence of having lived in the Bay Area when i told myself i “cutty dipped” (quietly left) when it came to partying and after parties. so it became Party Dip, because i felt that a party dip concept opened up room for expecting an assorted variety, a party platter of topics! 🎉
I love the new name!
My name is Donna. I publish creative, personal narrative that shines the light in our hidden corners, allowing us to uncover our true selves to live more fully. A signature aspect of my work is that it tends to be solution oriented. Another way to say this is you may find unasked for advice when you read The Bright Life🤣 I call us to examine the big questions, but often I will also suggest a solution to move toward the answer. Not THE solution but more of an offering of ideas so we don't stay stuck.
I love this Donna! Moving toward an answer, not just giving folks the answer … that’s really what we’re all needing. ☀️