I’ve Been Keeping Something a Secret
Am I delusional or determined? Let's find out.
✿ Did you know— I have a new 1:1 coaching program for writers! I work with emerging and debut authors who are ready to prioritize their writing and build a writing life that feels sustainable, aligned, and true. My 3-month coaching packages are designed to support you deeply through the current stage of your novel—whether that’s getting started and planting a seed, reworking a messy draft, or preparing to query. ✿
When you are “online” as I am, sometimes it can feel weird to not announce every new thing you are doing. Especially, to you, in this newsletter, which has been such a wonderful space to have curated over the years. I love sharing my novel writing process with you and hearing about yours. This newsletter has been such a joy to write and I’m so grateful to all of you who have subscribed ♡︎
What I have come to realize over the years, is that I am a long form girlie at heart.
I’m sure you all remember when I tried TikTok and how disconnected I felt from it. While it was fun at times to brainstorm content and to provide writers with an inside look or a word of encouragement about writing novels, the platform itself left me feeling rushed and overwhelmed. Everything is fast, fast, fast and that is just not me.
I don’t want to teach you or encourage you quickly. I want to to have a conversation. I want to use more words. I don’t want to feel like I’m in the middle of a race.
After giving TikTok an honest to goodness 90 day try, I abandoned it, thinking I would just build my audience elsewhere. And while this newsletter will always be my preferred mode of communication, I have decided to try something new that is aligned with my love of long form content.
Your Girl is on YouTube
There is something slightly embarrassing about starting something new, especially something with your face all over it. But I have been a YouTube watcher for YEARS and there has always been a little part of me who longed to be a creator.
・❥・ What I love about YouTube— you have the potential to create fans instead of followers.
A subscribe on YouTube feels a lot weightier than a like or follow on Instagram to me because that subscriber, that person, committed to watching me talk for over 5 minutes. YouTube is a place you go to learn, to find camaraderie, to find out the answers to your problems. I don’t know about you but scrolling on TikTok is too fast of me to actual internalize what someone is trying to teach or share with me. My brain is not in that headspace, its just ready to numb out or be entertained.
And while there is nothing inherently wrong with that, I just have decided to move away from those spaces as I build my coaching business and aim to reach more writers who are looking to write novels in a way that feels aligned to their authentic selves.
I absolutely love talking about writing and providing any kind of clarity, companionship, or direction in this wonderful, yet challenging pursuit of being an artist. (I love it, okay!!)
・❥・ Where do I fit on YouTube
I have found that in the YouTube space, writers are typically talking about genre fiction. How to write fantasy and sci fi and romance. But there seems to be a gap in the literary, upmarket, commercial space and those are the genres I read and write and love to talk about.
Also as a watcher of YouTube, some of my favorite content is for women who want to learn about being their authentic selves, level up in their lives, and be the best versions of themselves— the women they have always wanted to be.
But I haven’t seen any content in this feminine space for women who are writers or creatives. And being a writer is so integral to me as a women so I’m hoping what I can provide on YouTube can fill that space— videos for women who want to be connected to their creativity, write their novels, trust the process and their natural rhythms and build sustainable and fulfilling writing lives without the more masculine approach of grinding and hustling. A softer approach to a creative life.
Over the last few months, I’ve been learning all I can about YouTube. And honestly, its been fascinating to me. The importance of titles and your thumbnail. How to write a hook and an engaging script. How this platform differs from others.
It has felt like a new part of my brain has been unlocked and the ideas have been flowing. I feel all lit up inside which I haven’t felt since writing my novel or starting this newsletter.
As I get older (my birthday is tomorrow!!) I understand more the importance of learning and trying new things. Taking this step has not only been fun and creativity stimulating, but the unknown and scary part of it all has reminded me of my strength, my imagination and my diligence to create the life I want. Even though I feel delusional just about every day! (Last night, I had a dream that my teeth fell out and my hair was cut short — shall we interpret?)
So here is my leap into a new phase, a new challenge and a new way I hope to provide you with inspiration, encouragement and guidance.
Here is my latest video! I’m aiming to get 1% better with each upload and this one is my best so far. (Look at my use of graphics! My mention of
! My lighting getting a little better!)What’s to come
Here is a sneak peek of some upcoming video topics! Next week’s took me 6 hours to edit so if anything, please watch that one to make it worth my while (LOL)
𖤓 How I *Actually* Got My Literary Agent (No Gatekeeping!)
𖤓 How To Trust Your Creative Intuition (And Finally Finish Your Book)
𖤓 3 Feminine Energy Shifts That Unlock Creative Authenticity
𖤓 What I’m Doing to Prepare to Write My Second Novel
And if there are any topics you would like to see, PLEASE LET ME KNOW! I would love to hear from you and any feedback is always appreciated!
I've ALWAYS wondered where the general fiction content creators are! I love the amount of focus there is on genre fiction content, but I'm thrilled to see you step in to fill this gap for non-genre writers. Can't wait to follow along!
So exciting to see your YouTube channel and to start watching your videos! I've watched the first one and really enjoyed it--looking forward to the other ones (oh and, happy birthday! 🎂)