Every ThursdayISH

Substack Anniversary, Next Live Stream, & Actually Having to Try :(

I have been going around telling people that I have been on Substack for 3yrs, but as it turns out I am completely wrong. Many such cases. As of February, I will have been a Neo-Girl Blogger around these parts for 5yrs. That’s crazy! Especially considering this app didn’t have the name recognition, traffic, or features it does today. Substack writers weren’t the punchline in a Knives Out sequel quite yet.

I was an accidental early adopter. I made an account after getting kicked off of MailChimp. I honestly didn’t even notice the issues were posted publicly on your profile for the first few months, I thought the content I was putting out there was strictly Inbox Only like any other newsletter.

Once, I got the hang of it, I committed to posting every week. Overall, I would give myself a B+ on following through on that schedule over the years. Its not perfect, but I am satisfied with how consistent and self-disciplined I’ve been about it, especially considering my crazy travel schedule!

LoveNote, a name I had been using for previous newsletters since 2016, was supposed to be purely information and promotional. Just tour dates and the occasional exclusive paywall discount. That I could keep up every week indefinitely. No problem. But back then, I was pretty much the only girl “of my kind“ over here. You guys were impressed by anything! I could get away with the bare minimum if I showed enough leg in the pics. I put out tutorials for beginners to this world, behind the scenes of photo shoots, fun facts about the industry. It was cute for what it was. Nobody else was really doing it so it set me apart. I was more of an industry ambassador rather than an individual, which, for me, got old quick.

Now that Substack is becoming a household name at the same moment that my interests are evolving, it seems like the right time to make some rearrangements. Which means, unfortunately, I think I will have to begin actually trying 😔

I’m too experienced and skilled to keep winging it at this point. Some of my posts I will write the morning of. Others take months of prep and research. I have first drafts of LoveNotes now that will not be released until Summer. I have fully completed LoveNotes that I, at the last minute, decided weren’t any of your business and kept to myself. I know when a LoveNote will be a real banger or if its just filler before I even press “Send.“

I’ve developed a love writing again because of having this outlet and now “filler“ will not do. That’s what Notes are for. I don’t want to rush the process by trying to jam my thoughts into a completely self-imposed weekly deadline anymore. I want to space it out and see what happens if I give myself time to sit with my ideas.

LoveNote will be going to Every Other ThursdayISH beginning February.

This project has worked out a little too well for me so I don’t have the kind of open availability I did before I started this project 5yrs ago. But that doesn’t mean you’re rid of me! We will just have to hang out in less formal fashions like in Chat or during Live Streams, which I will be able to do with more regularly! I upgraded my Macbook camera to a nice Logitech over the holiday break and have been dabbling with streaming software in my free time. Its been fun! I am learning to basically produce my own TV show from my living room! (By the way, if anyone has any recommendations on mics, I’m happy to take them!)

I haven’t committed to what the new release schedule will be, but I feel comfortable promising going Live at least monthly. I’m going to give myself a few weeks to experiment with what works and what I realistically have the energy for. I would love to hear your input, you guys have been great to go back and forth it! We can chat about it at the next stream, which happens to be next week!

See you there..?

LoveNote LiveStream ♥️ January 22nd 8:30-10:30pm E