I used to love your CBTR and nature writing pieces and lost you along the way with twitter exits, oligarch buyouts etc. Until you popped up on my feed with that xmas story, holy shit! Glad to hear you’re in one piece 🙌
You deserve to find a sponsor for Encounter. It's a fantastic motivational app. It would be a useful educational in schools. I use it nearly every day. If the weather hadn't been so unremittingly bleak it would be every day.
This is so beautiful, Melissa. "But music can help, if you know the tunes that will take you where you need to go and back out the other side"—so good (and so true of a spontaneous kitchen karaoke/dance session!). So exciting about the novel, and extraordinary about the snowdrops. (Also, had no idea about the Encounter app, how amazing, will share!)
Really interesting piece(s)! Great to have you back in my inbox.
I was drawn to the bit about Portaloo and the footnote! As someone with close links to the brand and company, I can say it's definitely not an army of lawyers who go through periodicals every week looking for a potential misuse of the brand!
Rather more boringly, It's one person who fires off occasional letters, supported by dozens/hundreds of employees with a wide range of reading interests who are encouraged drop an email to them when they see something in the 'wild' that has perhaps been wrongly labelled. Lawyers are only used as a last resort.
I used to think it was all very weird, but the brand has been going since the 60s and it's important to reinforce it when/where possible to minimise the chance of a copyright challenge so that any old Tom, Dick or Harry can't use it sell vastly inferior products.
I'm struggling with that tension myself here too, between "paid" subscribers and offering everything to everyone for free, which feels far more right and comfortable to me and within my particular value system. We each have to come to the decision ourselves, don't we - withstanding the pressure from Substack for constant growth and increasing revenue is something I've found quite stressful! I'll be talking more about my thoughts on this in my March newsletter, we will see where we all end up x
Yes. I had a couple of interesting suggestions - giving paid subscribers something physical, as a one off, and doing something with audio for paid subscribers - you could read out your existing short stories!
I do audio of all my posts now, inspired by you! Lot of work, isn't it? I am uncomfortable with reading my own stories and stuff here on Substack, though - I'm finding it very interesting what I am comfortable and uncomfortable with! I used to be utterly mortified about sending out a newsletter, so at least I seem to have passed through that phase. My "paid" subscribers (who are now not all paying) do get a 20% discount on the workshops I teach. Still thinking about it all...
Only got a couple of minutes after not much sleep (boooo). I'm a subscriber and thought I'd say I don't need subscriber only content. I want to play a little part in enabling you to do whatever it is you want to do/explore. I guess I'm informed by being a fundraiser - I know giving an unrestricted, regular gift is the best way to let people I know are trying to do good things be flexible and agile and respond to what they think is best for them to do at any given time.
Something else that is weird as a subscriber (paid or unpaid) is that I worry the people I'm subscribed to might feel beholden to following or interacting with me online even if they think I'm an idiot!
Haha, on that basis I probably shouldn't reply to you at all! I do try to reply to all comments, although when I set my newsletter up with a free part and a paid part, that necessarily means paying supporters only as the comments sit below the paywall, which I don't really like.
I feel the same about supporting other people's creativity (and thank you for saying that) but the set-up here does seem to be to spell out what free subscribers get, what paying subscribers get, what your various 'tiers' get, what founders get etc etc. It also seems to push you towards granting access, ie to a private convo in Chat, or a webinar, or whatever - but greater access to me isn't something I'm willing to sell in that way. It's really tricky!
Ah Melissa I've missed your posts, you are such an eloquent writer and your walks in the country were a delight for me born in England but these many years a Canadian. I've never lost the love for the countryside I learned as a child and walks here are in a very different environment, big conifers - Douglas Fir, Cedar, Balsam Fir mixed with Arbutus, Maple and Alder. Our snowdrops were starting before we had snow a couple of weeks back.
On the subscriber question I don't pay for any other substacks and I must admit having missed yours so much I am now going to sign up as a paid subscriber. A suggestion for you might be to do the occasional long free post just like this one which could introduce you to potential new paid subscribers. I wish you the best with your book and your journey to visibility.
I would love to see those big conifers, not to mention some of the other wildlife you have over there! Maybe one day. And thank you for your kind words :-)
The Portaloo letters were a real thing?! I was always warned about Portaloos and Portakabins at the local papers I worked on but thought it might have been a journalism myth.
On the subscriber thing, as a paying subscriber it’s nice to have something extra but I don’t expect it. I see it more as a way of supporting than buying something (but I appreciate not everyone will see it that way). Some Substackers offer a one-off, personal thing when people sign up as a paying subscriber, often a little piece of artwork. Don’t know whether there’s something similar you could do.
Yes! Though I never heard of them actually taking action. Just the endless letters. And thank you, that’s an interesting idea. Could be tricky with my existing subscribers though!
Aah lovely to have you back! Thank you, as always an inspiring and fascinating read. A timely reminder about embodiment of emotions for me - I'd sort of forgotten to think of it that way. You talk about how music can help move emotion through you, well sometimes reading good writing like yours works for me - just a little nudge of perspective and something clicks into place. Thanks!
Thanks, Melissa, thought provoking and eloquent as always. I know this wasn’t what you were asking for, but I realised that as much as I enjoy your work, your books, the app, and given that Stubborn Light.. pretty much saved me from meltdown during lockdown, when my work was relentless and we were confined in our Hackney house with our son who is very susceptible to lung complications and infection….in short it is entirely right that you are my first paid subscription on Substack. I know that wasn’t your ask, but hope enough people are similarly in a position to help out…
Oh, that is an honour! Welcome, and thank you for the kind words – it's amazing the way that podcast went out and did its work in the world. I'm very proud of it, despite how makeshift and jerry-built it felt at the time :-)
Thank you for your post and your insights and questions. I am new to Substack and feeling my way with the whole subscriber thing. I have a hard time with the idea of just writing for those who pay, as I see writing as part of my spiritual path and ministry. Money has not been my work's goal, although I welcome it when it comes. Cheers
You could always write some free posts and some paid. Or put your paywall halfway down a piece, so the first part is free. But yes, it's tricky - good luck!
Excellent as ever.
I too have a tattoo on my inner arm - 'I love not man the less, but Nature more' Byron of course.
I used to love your CBTR and nature writing pieces and lost you along the way with twitter exits, oligarch buyouts etc. Until you popped up on my feed with that xmas story, holy shit! Glad to hear you’re in one piece 🙌
*waves* Hi!
You deserve to find a sponsor for Encounter. It's a fantastic motivational app. It would be a useful educational in schools. I use it nearly every day. If the weather hadn't been so unremittingly bleak it would be every day.
Thank you, that’s lovely to hear!
This is all ace X
This is so beautiful, Melissa. "But music can help, if you know the tunes that will take you where you need to go and back out the other side"—so good (and so true of a spontaneous kitchen karaoke/dance session!). So exciting about the novel, and extraordinary about the snowdrops. (Also, had no idea about the Encounter app, how amazing, will share!)
Oh thank you! Yes, please do! :-)
Really interesting piece(s)! Great to have you back in my inbox.
I was drawn to the bit about Portaloo and the footnote! As someone with close links to the brand and company, I can say it's definitely not an army of lawyers who go through periodicals every week looking for a potential misuse of the brand!
Rather more boringly, It's one person who fires off occasional letters, supported by dozens/hundreds of employees with a wide range of reading interests who are encouraged drop an email to them when they see something in the 'wild' that has perhaps been wrongly labelled. Lawyers are only used as a last resort.
I used to think it was all very weird, but the brand has been going since the 60s and it's important to reinforce it when/where possible to minimise the chance of a copyright challenge so that any old Tom, Dick or Harry can't use it sell vastly inferior products.
Cheers, and keep up the good work. :-)
This information is GOLD! Thank you for clearing up SUCH a long-running question!
Haha, glad I could be of assistance! :-)
The Smuggler’s End letters were an absolute highlight over Christmas - I long for Series 2…
The snowdrops are a joy. Their resilience magics up something very special.
Everything about this post is beautiful, Melissa, and I’m wishing you every luck in finding a sponsor.
Oh thank you Jo! 💚
I'm struggling with that tension myself here too, between "paid" subscribers and offering everything to everyone for free, which feels far more right and comfortable to me and within my particular value system. We each have to come to the decision ourselves, don't we - withstanding the pressure from Substack for constant growth and increasing revenue is something I've found quite stressful! I'll be talking more about my thoughts on this in my March newsletter, we will see where we all end up x
Yes. I had a couple of interesting suggestions - giving paid subscribers something physical, as a one off, and doing something with audio for paid subscribers - you could read out your existing short stories!
I do audio of all my posts now, inspired by you! Lot of work, isn't it? I am uncomfortable with reading my own stories and stuff here on Substack, though - I'm finding it very interesting what I am comfortable and uncomfortable with! I used to be utterly mortified about sending out a newsletter, so at least I seem to have passed through that phase. My "paid" subscribers (who are now not all paying) do get a 20% discount on the workshops I teach. Still thinking about it all...
Only got a couple of minutes after not much sleep (boooo). I'm a subscriber and thought I'd say I don't need subscriber only content. I want to play a little part in enabling you to do whatever it is you want to do/explore. I guess I'm informed by being a fundraiser - I know giving an unrestricted, regular gift is the best way to let people I know are trying to do good things be flexible and agile and respond to what they think is best for them to do at any given time.
Something else that is weird as a subscriber (paid or unpaid) is that I worry the people I'm subscribed to might feel beholden to following or interacting with me online even if they think I'm an idiot!
Haha, on that basis I probably shouldn't reply to you at all! I do try to reply to all comments, although when I set my newsletter up with a free part and a paid part, that necessarily means paying supporters only as the comments sit below the paywall, which I don't really like.
I feel the same about supporting other people's creativity (and thank you for saying that) but the set-up here does seem to be to spell out what free subscribers get, what paying subscribers get, what your various 'tiers' get, what founders get etc etc. It also seems to push you towards granting access, ie to a private convo in Chat, or a webinar, or whatever - but greater access to me isn't something I'm willing to sell in that way. It's really tricky!
Ah Melissa I've missed your posts, you are such an eloquent writer and your walks in the country were a delight for me born in England but these many years a Canadian. I've never lost the love for the countryside I learned as a child and walks here are in a very different environment, big conifers - Douglas Fir, Cedar, Balsam Fir mixed with Arbutus, Maple and Alder. Our snowdrops were starting before we had snow a couple of weeks back.
On the subscriber question I don't pay for any other substacks and I must admit having missed yours so much I am now going to sign up as a paid subscriber. A suggestion for you might be to do the occasional long free post just like this one which could introduce you to potential new paid subscribers. I wish you the best with your book and your journey to visibility.
I would love to see those big conifers, not to mention some of the other wildlife you have over there! Maybe one day. And thank you for your kind words :-)
The Portaloo letters were a real thing?! I was always warned about Portaloos and Portakabins at the local papers I worked on but thought it might have been a journalism myth.
On the subscriber thing, as a paying subscriber it’s nice to have something extra but I don’t expect it. I see it more as a way of supporting than buying something (but I appreciate not everyone will see it that way). Some Substackers offer a one-off, personal thing when people sign up as a paying subscriber, often a little piece of artwork. Don’t know whether there’s something similar you could do.
Yes! Though I never heard of them actually taking action. Just the endless letters. And thank you, that’s an interesting idea. Could be tricky with my existing subscribers though!
Incredibly moving, eloquent reads. Thank you.
Good to have you back, Melissa. It seems a long time since your excellent Christmas posts.
It’s great to hear that the new book is moving in the right direction. When might you be able to tell us a bit more about it?
P.S. The snowdrops here in Yorkshire are absolutely sublime at the moment.
When it’s been accepted and then announced! Sigh… good to hear about your snowdrops. Bumper year for them here in Suffolk too!
Aah lovely to have you back! Thank you, as always an inspiring and fascinating read. A timely reminder about embodiment of emotions for me - I'd sort of forgotten to think of it that way. You talk about how music can help move emotion through you, well sometimes reading good writing like yours works for me - just a little nudge of perspective and something clicks into place. Thanks!
True - though it's harder to involve the body in reading (though not impossible!) :-D
Thanks, Melissa, thought provoking and eloquent as always. I know this wasn’t what you were asking for, but I realised that as much as I enjoy your work, your books, the app, and given that Stubborn Light.. pretty much saved me from meltdown during lockdown, when my work was relentless and we were confined in our Hackney house with our son who is very susceptible to lung complications and infection….in short it is entirely right that you are my first paid subscription on Substack. I know that wasn’t your ask, but hope enough people are similarly in a position to help out…
Stay bright!
Oh, that is an honour! Welcome, and thank you for the kind words – it's amazing the way that podcast went out and did its work in the world. I'm very proud of it, despite how makeshift and jerry-built it felt at the time :-)
Thank you for your post and your insights and questions. I am new to Substack and feeling my way with the whole subscriber thing. I have a hard time with the idea of just writing for those who pay, as I see writing as part of my spiritual path and ministry. Money has not been my work's goal, although I welcome it when it comes. Cheers
You could always write some free posts and some paid. Or put your paywall halfway down a piece, so the first part is free. But yes, it's tricky - good luck!
Thanks 🙏