I so appreciate your honest reflection on the shifts and changes in your work. I was just sharing with a friend this week about how ten years ago, I never could have imagined what my work would look like today, and how grateful I am to have grown into this work that I love. It was helpful to read how your journey is unfolding, and thanks for bringing us into your own process of discerning and deciding what's next.
Love this Emily and so pleased to have discovered your page! Just a tiny correction that my self-published book did have bookstore distribution :) it’s in lots of bricks and mortar shops! Hopefully closing the gap between trad and indie slowly slowly. Thanks for including me in your fab piece!
Hi Emma! Thank you so much for reading! And for that note - updating now! I'm so inspired by your publishing journey. And love reading your perspective on how things are changing.
I love this! In 2017 I was a first time mom of an 8 month old barely surviving the last few weeks working as a staffer in the Texas legislative session. A friend gave me Grace Not Perfection and I hid it behind a Manila file folder and devoured it sitting on the Senate floor in the long hours of debate. Such strong memories of that book feeling like a lighthouse in a very crazy time of life!
I just left my corporate marketing job and I’m on a path to figure out my 2nd act as well. It feels different this time around and I want to be more intentional about how and where I’m investing my time. I really appreciate the perspective you bring and help me question what’s right for me!
I remember that day so well. I'm glad you're here. I have a masters in Public Administration (BA in English) and a minor in marketing. You're in good company.
Thank you Emily for such an open reflection on the realities behind a creative career. I was struck by the way you describe the moment that email arrived—those small, ordinary moments that quietly divide life into “before” and “after.”
One thought your story raised for me is that creative careers often grow from a simple habit rather than a grand plan. Blogging, writing consistently, sharing ideas—these small acts compound over time and create opportunities that couldn’t have been predicted at the start. In hindsight it can look like a trajectory, but in reality it’s often just someone showing up repeatedly with their voice.
I loved reading this behind-the-scenes post and getting a peek into your brain! Also, fellow data nerds would love to know how you are using Claude, in case you would like to elaborate in a future post 😉🤓.
Grace Not Perfection was my first introduction to you! Loved the message of the book then and it still holds true now. So excited to support you on this next chapter of your journey! Cheering you on!
I so appreciate your honest reflection on the shifts and changes in your work. I was just sharing with a friend this week about how ten years ago, I never could have imagined what my work would look like today, and how grateful I am to have grown into this work that I love. It was helpful to read how your journey is unfolding, and thanks for bringing us into your own process of discerning and deciding what's next.
Love this Emily and so pleased to have discovered your page! Just a tiny correction that my self-published book did have bookstore distribution :) it’s in lots of bricks and mortar shops! Hopefully closing the gap between trad and indie slowly slowly. Thanks for including me in your fab piece!
Hi Emma! Thank you so much for reading! And for that note - updating now! I'm so inspired by your publishing journey. And love reading your perspective on how things are changing.
Wow! A lot of exciting stuff on the horizon! 👏
I love this! In 2017 I was a first time mom of an 8 month old barely surviving the last few weeks working as a staffer in the Texas legislative session. A friend gave me Grace Not Perfection and I hid it behind a Manila file folder and devoured it sitting on the Senate floor in the long hours of debate. Such strong memories of that book feeling like a lighthouse in a very crazy time of life!
I cannot tell you how much this meant to me to read tonight! Thank you!
I just left my corporate marketing job and I’m on a path to figure out my 2nd act as well. It feels different this time around and I want to be more intentional about how and where I’m investing my time. I really appreciate the perspective you bring and help me question what’s right for me!
I remember that day so well. I'm glad you're here. I have a masters in Public Administration (BA in English) and a minor in marketing. You're in good company.
My writer heart needed this today! Here’s to finding our way 🫶🏼
Amen friend. Act 2, here we come.
Thank you Emily for such an open reflection on the realities behind a creative career. I was struck by the way you describe the moment that email arrived—those small, ordinary moments that quietly divide life into “before” and “after.”
One thought your story raised for me is that creative careers often grow from a simple habit rather than a grand plan. Blogging, writing consistently, sharing ideas—these small acts compound over time and create opportunities that couldn’t have been predicted at the start. In hindsight it can look like a trajectory, but in reality it’s often just someone showing up repeatedly with their voice.
Yessss. This. And I didn't even realize it at the time. Thanks, Kunlun!
Extraordinary comes from ordinary. Only looking back, we can connect dots. Thank you again for this great read and inspiration!
I loved reading this behind-the-scenes post and getting a peek into your brain! Also, fellow data nerds would love to know how you are using Claude, in case you would like to elaborate in a future post 😉🤓.
Thanks, Ruth! I enjoyed this on a whole other level today! It's fun to write this sort of thing.
When I was a young writer, I always dreamed of publishing traditionally because I saw it as a quick route to more readers and huge money.
Though I still love traditional publishing, I think self publishing is great. And with a platform like Substack.
I really enjoyed reading this. Thank you for sharing
Thanks, Faith!
Grace Not Perfection was my first introduction to you! Loved the message of the book then and it still holds true now. So excited to support you on this next chapter of your journey! Cheering you on!
Means the world. thanks, always Elspeth!