CHAPTERS : Behind the Scenes

It’s always surprising to me how much love and support there’s been for this Substack. Since I started writing, people have been so generous with their time to read, take an interest, and talk to me about my writing. Often people have been wondering the same things about it, so I’m going to answer a few of the FAQs.

Sometimes I will get inspiration for a piece when I’m out and jot down an outline in notes on my phone. Or I’ll sit on the sofa and write on my notepad. But this is the desk where the real, meaty, writing tends to happen.

I’ll confess it is usually a lot messier than this ⬇️ and yes my wall colours are very similar to this website. The paintwork came before the blog. Honest!

When do you write?

Last Sunday, when I met for coffee with a friend, she said, ‘you must have been up early, your essay is out already!” I am flattered when people think I write the blog and post it in real time, but sadly I’m not that fast. Usually, I try to work a week in advance. So I write an article around one week before it’s due to go out and schedule it to be released automatically on a Sunday. That way I can bank an idea while I think on the next one.

I have experimented with different writing schedules. When I started the blog I would write first thing in the morning but now I mostly use the evening, sometimes lighting a candle, throwing a blanket over my knees and getting cosy with my keyboard. The best of times are when the whole thing pours out in an under an hour. I can barely speak properly after a session like that. I feel like I’ve been hypnotised and I’m returning from a trance. Those ideas will have perhaps milled around in the back of my head for a few days or weeks before I sit to write, but in the moment it feels as though the words come from nowhere. Other weeks it takes me days to write a post and I have to force myself to sit still until I’ve got something. Last week’s post was one of those times. Though they are more difficult to stomach, these posts can ultimately feel more rewarding.

What is CHAPTERS about?

I hate to admit to people that I’m not writing about important world politics, using my essays to highlight environmental causes or to fight against inequality. I’m just writing about me and my life. This is something I’ve spoken with other writers about a lot recently. They are kind to remind me that writing about your own life is brave and many are too afraid to put themselves out there. I can vouch for the fact that it is nerve-wracking and I get embarrassed and doubt myself constantly. I’m still figuring it out. But that’s part of why I’m doing this too. I am learning, growing and accepting who I am. Seemingly not someone who is going to change the world through political journalism or campaign writing. But someone being brave and cringe. That’s what Chapters is about because that’s what life’s about.

Why did you start this?

A combination of things prompted me. I went on a life-writing course at Faber Academy last summer and this reawakened my inner writer. I’ve always kept diaries and written stories privately, but I’ve never been disciplined with it or confident enough to share them. By the Autumn of last year I was feeling frustrated and needed a creative outlet where I could use a different part of my brain and get excited by something new. The idea of posting every week was a huge, terrifying, challenge but I wanted to test myself. Add to that a dose of instagram-fatigue and there we have it. I discovered Substack and found it to be a special corner of the internet, where people are creating, experimenting and sharing their experiences via the magic of words. How else can you tell this story or talk about this?

Are many people reading?

Over 100 people read every week now! My best performing post has been read by 250 pairs of eyeballs! For me, this is many MANY people, yes! Given that my first post had 10 views, I am absolutely amazed.

What are you writing it for?

When something hasn’t gone to plan or I’m struggling to work things out, I think ‘well at least I can write about it’. It’s like a form of therapy. I am writing because I really enjoy it but equally I am writing because you, amazing readers and substack community, say you enjoy it too. To all the supportive people who have messaged, subscribed, commented, liked, embedded my work into other articles, thank you.

Finally

Thanks for being here🥂