thank you so much for sharing this! it is so very relatable - the balance of life, work, writing when you don't have the privilege of endless hours of free time and sometimes the energy is just not there for those dedicated few hours of freedom
ELLEN. i can't even tell you how much i relate. part of why i am running older pieces again is that regardless of whether or not it's true, i feel i don't have the time, energy, bandwidth, whatever you want to blame it on, to write. i just don't have it in me, for whatever reason. i go on substack a few times per week, and rarely read or respond to things and it makes me very sad but i feel i cannot keep up with the internet's constant changing and updating and the influx of information, though now that i say it i think we are not meant to be able to keep up with it. the age of needing to constantly produce and consume to this great degree is fairly new, and maybe we are just experiencing the results of that. i know you may not feel it always, but everything you write is lovely to me and you always have a place at my table. always. even if there are 0 words on that table from either of us!!! love you 5ever <3
oh ellen! this is so relatable and i totally get you. i genuinely thought i wouldn’t be able to manage writing anything after december. i had so many ideas and i just couldn’t finish a thought. what i have learned over the the years is that i can only write when my mind quiets down. with all that said, you’re such a phenomenal writer and i’m soso glad to have you met you on here. i wish the pressure eases for you soon, love💗💗
Oh, to be a writer. :') Not that it makes the feeling any easier, but know that we've all been there and there's and end to it. I always look forward to your pieces and I'm happy that you're on Substack. <3
I've noticed in your writings that you often set the title before you write.
I love how this can be seen in your work -- it's a signature of yours.
It's a funny little thing, isn't it, how we set our mind on writing a particular thing and then get completely lost on something only almost completely unrelated.
If this is something you're wanting to get better at, try writing, and then making a title after you've written?
(I find your process endearing and entirely relatable. I would not be upset if you didn't consider this, but wanted to recommend it because you might find writing this way to be freeing.)
ellen this was such a beautiful and vulnerable piece and please don't doubt your writing ever again because I LOVE IT TO BITS and would be so offended if you said anything negative about it! 😤 anyway. that aside, this was so relatable and full of encouraging reminders that all of us need! I especially love this sentiment: "Put your energy into growing a little community, even if it’s just you and another person hyping each other up" this!!! our substacks might never be huge things, but even if we find one person we connect with and love reading and rambling with, how can that not be the biggest success? love you ❤️
anoushka thank you THANK YOU!!!!!! you’re the kindest person ever!! i’m so glad i discovered you on here and we get to be substack friends, love you! ❤️ we can forever hype each other up
This is exactly how I’m feeling at the moment, you’re not alone! I love everything you write, but this just hit that bit more close to home. The quote about having to wait for your words to come back to you made me want to cry, because that’s exactly how it feels. Sending you love 🩷
I LOVE THIS PIECE!! And I feel I epically relate to the block of something you feel that you have nothing left to say- I fear that’s where most of my writing slumps come from! This is such a relatable piece 🧡 u are honestly one of my favourite substackersssss and I look forward to reading ur work always!!!! Love uuu🫶
this is extremely sweet, thank you for posting this. substack can feel like an unfriendly void at times its nice to be reminded we are all here just to share our thoughts and cultivate creativity
the way i saw you posted and read it as soon as i could!! ellen, you've been one of my favorite writers on this platform since we started connecting a while back. your words always relate in such a cozy way. when i read your work, it feels like i'm sharing a cup of tea with you! community is what makes this place so beloved, and i'm so thankful we're substack friends!! <3
emma!!!!! this is one of the nicest comments i’ve ever gotten, thank you!! i’m so glad that you feel like you’re sharing a tea with me when you read my stuff, that’s exactly the vibe i want to create on here. forever thankful to be your friend on here!!! <3
you’re one of my favourite writers on here Ellen and i get so excited to see a post from you!! thank you for your authenticity, as you know, we all relate to the comparison curse in some way 🫶
Gosh this is relatable! Also side note but I always look forward to your posts. I got advice once that said that life is a constant ebb and flow. Sometimes things come so easily and they flow, other times they ebb and it feels so difficult. Looking forward to more of your writing, but don’t feel afraid to take a break if you need it Ellen! X
thank you victoria!!! i really like that advice, sometimes things will flow and be great but other times they will ebb and i’ll hate it BUT i’ll always make it out the other side :) i really appreciate your kind words x
thank you so much for sharing this! it is so very relatable - the balance of life, work, writing when you don't have the privilege of endless hours of free time and sometimes the energy is just not there for those dedicated few hours of freedom
thank you for reading!!
ELLEN. i can't even tell you how much i relate. part of why i am running older pieces again is that regardless of whether or not it's true, i feel i don't have the time, energy, bandwidth, whatever you want to blame it on, to write. i just don't have it in me, for whatever reason. i go on substack a few times per week, and rarely read or respond to things and it makes me very sad but i feel i cannot keep up with the internet's constant changing and updating and the influx of information, though now that i say it i think we are not meant to be able to keep up with it. the age of needing to constantly produce and consume to this great degree is fairly new, and maybe we are just experiencing the results of that. i know you may not feel it always, but everything you write is lovely to me and you always have a place at my table. always. even if there are 0 words on that table from either of us!!! love you 5ever <3
thank you!!!!!!! you’re so sweet!!!! have a lil smooch on the head from me!! <3
This resonated more than I expected. Burnout has a way of making doubt feel factual, even when it isn’t.
i agree! it can be hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel sometimes
oh ellen! this is so relatable and i totally get you. i genuinely thought i wouldn’t be able to manage writing anything after december. i had so many ideas and i just couldn’t finish a thought. what i have learned over the the years is that i can only write when my mind quiets down. with all that said, you’re such a phenomenal writer and i’m soso glad to have you met you on here. i wish the pressure eases for you soon, love💗💗
thank you!!!! you’re so kind 🥹 i’m so glad we discovered each other on here, you’re one of my favourite writers on this platform!! 🫶🏻
i’m glad too!! and omg this is the best compliment ever😭
Oh, to be a writer. :') Not that it makes the feeling any easier, but know that we've all been there and there's and end to it. I always look forward to your pieces and I'm happy that you're on Substack. <3
thank you!! so glad we’re friends on here <3
❤️
I've noticed in your writings that you often set the title before you write.
I love how this can be seen in your work -- it's a signature of yours.
It's a funny little thing, isn't it, how we set our mind on writing a particular thing and then get completely lost on something only almost completely unrelated.
If this is something you're wanting to get better at, try writing, and then making a title after you've written?
(I find your process endearing and entirely relatable. I would not be upset if you didn't consider this, but wanted to recommend it because you might find writing this way to be freeing.)
i actually don’t! usually i set it after i’ve written :)
Oh! :D you have a sporadic style of writing, then. I quite love it.
ellen this was such a beautiful and vulnerable piece and please don't doubt your writing ever again because I LOVE IT TO BITS and would be so offended if you said anything negative about it! 😤 anyway. that aside, this was so relatable and full of encouraging reminders that all of us need! I especially love this sentiment: "Put your energy into growing a little community, even if it’s just you and another person hyping each other up" this!!! our substacks might never be huge things, but even if we find one person we connect with and love reading and rambling with, how can that not be the biggest success? love you ❤️
anoushka thank you THANK YOU!!!!!! you’re the kindest person ever!! i’m so glad i discovered you on here and we get to be substack friends, love you! ❤️ we can forever hype each other up
This is exactly how I’m feeling at the moment, you’re not alone! I love everything you write, but this just hit that bit more close to home. The quote about having to wait for your words to come back to you made me want to cry, because that’s exactly how it feels. Sending you love 🩷
thank you emma!!! so glad we get to be substack friends ❤️
I LOVE THIS PIECE!! And I feel I epically relate to the block of something you feel that you have nothing left to say- I fear that’s where most of my writing slumps come from! This is such a relatable piece 🧡 u are honestly one of my favourite substackersssss and I look forward to reading ur work always!!!! Love uuu🫶
thank you so so much poppy!!!! so glad we’re friends on here! i’m glad i’m not alone in how i feel, love you 🫶🏻
really appreciate this perspective!! much needed reminder that writing is what matters, not the numbers. love this essay
thank you so much!!!
this is extremely sweet, thank you for posting this. substack can feel like an unfriendly void at times its nice to be reminded we are all here just to share our thoughts and cultivate creativity
thank you!!
You inspired me so much to bounce back and write again, no matter how many times I thought of quitting :( Keep going bestie
i’m so happy to hear that, thank you!!!! i’ll keep going if you do too <3
the way i saw you posted and read it as soon as i could!! ellen, you've been one of my favorite writers on this platform since we started connecting a while back. your words always relate in such a cozy way. when i read your work, it feels like i'm sharing a cup of tea with you! community is what makes this place so beloved, and i'm so thankful we're substack friends!! <3
emma!!!!! this is one of the nicest comments i’ve ever gotten, thank you!! i’m so glad that you feel like you’re sharing a tea with me when you read my stuff, that’s exactly the vibe i want to create on here. forever thankful to be your friend on here!!! <3
even empty, you write so well <3 take the time you need, and shake off that rust :)
thank you!!!!! your words mean so much to me :’)
you’re one of my favourite writers on here Ellen and i get so excited to see a post from you!! thank you for your authenticity, as you know, we all relate to the comparison curse in some way 🫶
thank you em, that really means a lot to me! 🫶🏻
Gosh this is relatable! Also side note but I always look forward to your posts. I got advice once that said that life is a constant ebb and flow. Sometimes things come so easily and they flow, other times they ebb and it feels so difficult. Looking forward to more of your writing, but don’t feel afraid to take a break if you need it Ellen! X
thank you victoria!!! i really like that advice, sometimes things will flow and be great but other times they will ebb and i’ll hate it BUT i’ll always make it out the other side :) i really appreciate your kind words x