My Substack rules

must be broken

Hello you,

It’s been a while! More than five weeks in fact.

I’ve not been well and it caused everything to come to a quiet halt, including writing and reading here. (Feeling much better than I did, now.)

I’ve missed you. What’s been going on? How’s your week been? What have I missed?

Getting my nature self care fix by the river earlier this week

A recent watercolour doodle, some more self care

Now that I’ve had a gap from writing here weekly, I’ve noticed something. Because I’m returning, the pressure is suddenly on. It’s like this letter has to be A THING.

I wrote a draft of a piece which felt lovely. And then all these random rules started appearing in my way. They’re my rules apparently but I didn’t even know they were there. They just exist in the background, dictating how I write here without me even knowing. RUDE.

As a recovering goody-two-shoes, I’ve always done my best to follow the rules.

But these ones, wherever I’ve collected them from…I’m not feeling them. I don’t think they’re doing me or my creativity any good. And I don’t hold any of the writers I appreciate and enjoy to these rules so why should I bloody live by them?

I think it’s about time to be a rebel and a rule breaker.

JANELLE’S RULES FOR WRITING ON SUBSTACK

• newsletters must always be a certain (substantial) length

• They must be written now or they don’t count. Any old drafts that weren’t shared at the time are obsolete

• A theme/ idea can only be written about once

• It has to be edited

• It has to have flow

• It has to be properly structured with an opening, a middle and a thoughtful conclusion

• It has to be vulnerable, honest and authentic

• If it’s not scary to post then it’s not a real post

• It should be of value

• It must be creative, crafted and beautifully written

• It must pose a question to encourage people to comment

• It must be about something you know

• It must be unique and original

• They must be posted on Sunday mornings

• Because you started recording audio readings they must always have audio

There may well be more too, lurking in the shadows.

I’ve noticed I’ve got lots of other rules too about all sorts of facets of life. I think it’s time for an audit.

I hope to be back again soon (with whatever I feel like at the time!)

Love,

Janelle x