I am part of a lot of writing groups online, and in so many of them, I see people defending what is essentially their fear of saying, “I want this as more than a hobby.” It’s been really disheartening to come across that so often. I love that Substack has consistently been a writing community that wants to own their truth — this isn’t just a hobby and we want the opportunity to be paid for our work. Our art. Our love.
oh, alex, i feel this so much. it’s wild how many of us wait for permission to even think about making our art into our profession. but the truth is, what we create has always been more than a hobby. it’s a way of being in and interacting with the world. i’m so grateful for this corner of the internet where people are allowed to own that longing and say, actually, yes—what i make is worthy of care, and of support. thank you for putting it into words so beautifully.
I love that this started as writing for your younger sister. So often, when we imagine speaking to a younger sibling, or our own daughters, we find this wisdom and self-love that we rarely offer ourselves. Hooray for creating, and hooray for it being something worth your time, worth others' money, and worth living for. <3
elle, this is so sweet and kind. thank you. it’s true, isn’t it? when we're trying to help someone else, we access a gentleness and wisdom we forget to give ourselves. i’m trying to remember that voice belongs to me, too. i hope you can do the same. thank you for seeing the heart behind these letters, and for cheering on the act of creating just because it matters. hugs! <3
Rooting for you so hard with turning on paid subscriptions, Sofia! That pattern of convincing yourself you don't even want something the second it gets scary is so relatable. Huge step just putting it out there anyway.
thank you so much for this, my friend. <3 honestly, it took me so long to even admit to myself that i had that pattern—let alone say it out loud. it’s wild how quickly fear can turn into convincing ourselves we don’t care, just to stay safe. i’m trying to practice wanting things openly, even when it feels terrifying. thank you from the bottom of my heart for rooting for me. having your support makes me that much braver.
I loved reading this. I am currently battling my own personal resistance as I am trying to chase my dreams. I'm full of fear which I take means I NEED to keep going. Who
oh, i feel this so much girlie. fear has such a sneaky way of showing up the moment we get close to something that matters. i always think that kind of resistance is a sign you’re right where you need to be, on the edge of something meaningful.
keep going, even if it’s messy or slow. i’m rooting for you as you chase those dreams. you’re not alone in these feelings. <3
This was an incredibly beautiful article, let alone one announcing your paid tier! Honestly, we get enough frameworks and strategies from everyone else (and ChatGPT), so it’s really your authentic, raw and poetic work that helps us and shows us we aren’t alone! Keep being you 💗
thank you so much, kathleen. <3 it’s easy to wonder if sharing the softer, messier side of life is “enough,” so that truly means so much to hear. i think we’re all craving more honesty and less strategy, and i’m really grateful to get to share that with you here. keep being you, my lovely friend. 💛
only you could turn a paid-tier announcement into something this tender and honest. the bit about how you quietly talk yourself out of things when they scare you , deciding you don't want them anymore rather than facing the fear, I felt that so precisely. and "what are we creating together" is such a beautiful reframe. it's the truest thing about this whole platform, and about your writing especially. the couch, the room beyond it, the sealed heart-stamped envelopes ahh🥹 I'd follow you into any of it. so proud of you. 🤍
my hearttt, your words always reach me in the most beautiful way. i'm so grateful to you for reading with such tenderness and curiosity. you've helped me believe in myself in so many ways, and i'm eternally grateful for your support. i'm so, so proud of you, and i'll be here rooting for you 🤍
Sofia, your shift from “What do I offer?” to “What are we creating together?” releases the essay from the impossible burden of proving a solitary artist’s worth. The couch and the room beyond it give readers two expressions of belonging, with payment becoming one possible form of participation in a relationship already alive through reading, conversation, and recognition. Your decision to open that room before certainty arrives makes the launch itself an act of the self-trust you hope to explore there. Grateful for the honesty with which you let us witness an artist extending to herself the faith she has long offered everyone else.
"Grateful for the honesty with which you let us witness an artist extending to herself the faith she has long offered everyone else." this brought tears to my eyes. thank you so, so much.
i love how you describe payment as just one possible way to participate in something that’s already alive between us. that really is the heart of it: the couch, the smaller room, all just different ways to belong and keep the conversation going. opening that door before certainty feels, honestly, like the most vulnerable thing i’ve done here, and it means the world to have your support in that.
I am part of a lot of writing groups online, and in so many of them, I see people defending what is essentially their fear of saying, “I want this as more than a hobby.” It’s been really disheartening to come across that so often. I love that Substack has consistently been a writing community that wants to own their truth — this isn’t just a hobby and we want the opportunity to be paid for our work. Our art. Our love.
oh, alex, i feel this so much. it’s wild how many of us wait for permission to even think about making our art into our profession. but the truth is, what we create has always been more than a hobby. it’s a way of being in and interacting with the world. i’m so grateful for this corner of the internet where people are allowed to own that longing and say, actually, yes—what i make is worthy of care, and of support. thank you for putting it into words so beautifully.
So true.
💌 💌
I love that this started as writing for your younger sister. So often, when we imagine speaking to a younger sibling, or our own daughters, we find this wisdom and self-love that we rarely offer ourselves. Hooray for creating, and hooray for it being something worth your time, worth others' money, and worth living for. <3
elle, this is so sweet and kind. thank you. it’s true, isn’t it? when we're trying to help someone else, we access a gentleness and wisdom we forget to give ourselves. i’m trying to remember that voice belongs to me, too. i hope you can do the same. thank you for seeing the heart behind these letters, and for cheering on the act of creating just because it matters. hugs! <3
This post was so comforting to read!
<3
thank you for taking the time out of your day to say this. it means so much <3
Rooting for you so hard with turning on paid subscriptions, Sofia! That pattern of convincing yourself you don't even want something the second it gets scary is so relatable. Huge step just putting it out there anyway.
thank you so much for this, my friend. <3 honestly, it took me so long to even admit to myself that i had that pattern—let alone say it out loud. it’s wild how quickly fear can turn into convincing ourselves we don’t care, just to stay safe. i’m trying to practice wanting things openly, even when it feels terrifying. thank you from the bottom of my heart for rooting for me. having your support makes me that much braver.
I loved reading this. I am currently battling my own personal resistance as I am trying to chase my dreams. I'm full of fear which I take means I NEED to keep going. Who
oh, i feel this so much girlie. fear has such a sneaky way of showing up the moment we get close to something that matters. i always think that kind of resistance is a sign you’re right where you need to be, on the edge of something meaningful.
keep going, even if it’s messy or slow. i’m rooting for you as you chase those dreams. you’re not alone in these feelings. <3
This was an incredibly beautiful article, let alone one announcing your paid tier! Honestly, we get enough frameworks and strategies from everyone else (and ChatGPT), so it’s really your authentic, raw and poetic work that helps us and shows us we aren’t alone! Keep being you 💗
thank you so much, kathleen. <3 it’s easy to wonder if sharing the softer, messier side of life is “enough,” so that truly means so much to hear. i think we’re all craving more honesty and less strategy, and i’m really grateful to get to share that with you here. keep being you, my lovely friend. 💛
only you could turn a paid-tier announcement into something this tender and honest. the bit about how you quietly talk yourself out of things when they scare you , deciding you don't want them anymore rather than facing the fear, I felt that so precisely. and "what are we creating together" is such a beautiful reframe. it's the truest thing about this whole platform, and about your writing especially. the couch, the room beyond it, the sealed heart-stamped envelopes ahh🥹 I'd follow you into any of it. so proud of you. 🤍
my hearttt, your words always reach me in the most beautiful way. i'm so grateful to you for reading with such tenderness and curiosity. you've helped me believe in myself in so many ways, and i'm eternally grateful for your support. i'm so, so proud of you, and i'll be here rooting for you 🤍
This is just the beginning. I am proud of every little milestones you achieved. Rooting for you, my friend.💜
you just made me cry, sabina. thank you thank you thank you. rooting for you, my love. 💛
as a child all the way to highschool i loved writing love plays in which i was the main character, wattpad style type of stories.
aw i love that! thank you for sharing. it reminds me of when i read one direction fanfiction on there lol 🥹
Sofia, your shift from “What do I offer?” to “What are we creating together?” releases the essay from the impossible burden of proving a solitary artist’s worth. The couch and the room beyond it give readers two expressions of belonging, with payment becoming one possible form of participation in a relationship already alive through reading, conversation, and recognition. Your decision to open that room before certainty arrives makes the launch itself an act of the self-trust you hope to explore there. Grateful for the honesty with which you let us witness an artist extending to herself the faith she has long offered everyone else.
"Grateful for the honesty with which you let us witness an artist extending to herself the faith she has long offered everyone else." this brought tears to my eyes. thank you so, so much.
i love how you describe payment as just one possible way to participate in something that’s already alive between us. that really is the heart of it: the couch, the smaller room, all just different ways to belong and keep the conversation going. opening that door before certainty feels, honestly, like the most vulnerable thing i’ve done here, and it means the world to have your support in that.
thank you again.
as someone who is also bringing out a paid tier i am so proud of us for fighting those self doubts. we are allowed to want this more than a hobby <3
so, so proud of you my girl. <3 having you in my corner means the absolute world. and i know there's no limit to what you'll achieve on here!
cheering you on for these brave choices!
in awe of your kindness! thank you, luize <3 rooting for you!