21 Comments

"six figures" always sounds amazing but oh my goodness that's a lot of work. I'd be thrilled with £40,000 a year tbh 😂

I don't have any practical writing advice to give. Seriously though, the beginning for me was just to write some fiction, engage with the fiction of others, engage with communities and theme days, recommend other publications and it all just follows tbh. Thank you for the tag. I had no idea of any influence on your feelings. I'm happy to help.

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You are so real in your notes, and that makes me feel comforted and secure. I’m so appreciative! 🥰

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What a grab you by the throat title. Love it. I had to read. And then this comment space, maybe I can be transparent here a moment. I don't want to share over in the chat with the community because that would affect the turn out of tonight's experiment The moment they heard I'm anxious, they'd run to the rescue--but I won't learn anything that way. I've got a new serial launching today, and new tease to bring people to my bookstore. I've been working on that one thing this week, how can I improve the percentage of people who flow-through from a post to the bookstore. It's the first step in getting everything in place to actually start selling books through Substack. I wrote about it, and then did what I wrote, and had an epiphany--and tonight's the test. I'll post the related article Sunday or Monday. The nerves are INTENSE, and the only thing at risk are a few click-throughs. It feels like the weight of the world, though.

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Thank you!! Yes, it can be overwhelming but we just have to keep pushing for our dreams!

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Informative

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I’m always cheering you on!

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Thank you so much!!! Cheering for you too. 💕☺️

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We are in your corner and rooting for you.

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Thank you! ☺️ Your support means the world!

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Sep 2Liked by Emma Nelson

Thank you for mentioning me Emma 🥹 I'm not even a writer yet as I still have so much to learn but I'm honored to be mentioned in a post written by a talented writer like you 🫶🏾

Most of what I've seen on this app isn't genuine. For example, I saw someone gain 500+ subscribers with just one hit note about a meme even though they only had one post. Or many users are already popular on other social media platforms, so their engagement here is high. This can be really demotivating for those who truly deserve recognition. That’s why I’ve stopped worrying about my subscriber count or engagement (they aren't genuine anymore).

But no matter what happens, you will get there <3. I'm rooting for you :) All the best 💕

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Thank you!! I so appreciate your consistency and kindness. And have more confidence in your writing because it’s GOOD! 😄 I love reading your pieces.

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Sep 1Liked by Emma Nelson

Life is hard. Dream big, but understand dreams are realized through a lifetime of hard, dedicated, consistent work. I believe in you; I am continually amazed by your spirit, your determination, and your talent and your bravery.

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Thank you!! I love you!! 💙

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Also-dream big. Never stop.

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Dreaming big it’s important as it gives you goals and the motivation to try to achieve them. And when someone does make it, they say “I’m living the dream.”

But it’s important to remember that not everyone makes it, which is why it’s called a dream, not a reality.

It’s OK to have modest success in life (something I am writing about soon on Living a Principled Life). We don’t all achieve our dreams, but it is still fun to dream, and why not have fun in life?

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That’s true - I think the key is not mixing my personal value up in my writing/career dreams. That’s the dangerous territory where life feels meaningless when you’re on a journey that should be meaningful in and of itself!

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You are you, not what you do for a living. If you identify with your job, if you job goes poorly, you feel like a failure. You are NOT a failure, you just had a job that failed.

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I realize we are writers here, and yes, we identify as such. What I mean by “a job” is a project.

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Yes!! I’m so appreciative of your insights. You’re always a great encourager and I’m so glad to have you in my little corner of the internet.

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Emma, a sincere thank you for the mention but even more pleasing to me is that you consider our discussions meaningful. I'm surely no guru or expert in the world of writing and I don't know how much I can truly help you - but you can absolutely count on this, I'll support you in every way I can. Keep your head up and just carry on. - Jim

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Thank you for all of your thoughtful additions to my pieces and for engaging in real, meaningful discussions with me! I so appreciate you!

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