My First Post

And why it's scary

It’s been two months since I created my Substack account. Throughout that time, I have returned to this blank page at least 12 times to stare at it. Do I have anything to say yet? Each time I would edit a few minor details on my profile and then close out the page. What am I scared of? I think that I have 6 subscribers currently, 4 of which being family members and the 2 others being best friends. Knowing that information, one may wonder why there would be any sort of anxiety around posting to this page. WELL- I’m not used to sharing my creative writing with anyone but myself. The tone I use when I speak to -well, whoever I speak to when I journal- strikes me as embarrassing to share with those who know me well. What if they think it’s super cheesy? What if they think I’m trying too hard to be something? It’s not like I’m a real writer. What I realized? Anyone who writes anything is a real writer.

I was first introduced to Substack through my favorite author, Mari Andrew. To say that her newsletters have changed my life would be a big understatement, as I deeply internalize and genuinely apply her guidance, life lessons, and perspective to my everyday life. She has inspired me to believe that writing has no rules and that the best way to produce good work is to be honest and vulnerable. Many times, experiences and feelings that may feel insanely specific and unique are actually familiar to more people than we think (at least as some version of the feeling). So here I declare my first post to Substack, a simple hello to my 6 subscribers, and excitement for the future.