The Storyletter - Deposing the Imposter | Survey Results
Want to buy books and support independent writers? Check out The Storyletter Book Shop. We’ve curated lists of our favorite books and will continue to add more. Plus, every purchase supports The Storyletter! You make this all possible. Thank you! ~ WM I've been struggling with self-doubt brewing in my subconscious like a storm on the open ocean. There’s a sense of panic mixed with turbulent uncertainty. It's akin to what some might call "Imposter Syndrome". Apparently, it’s quite common and comes in various forms. The good thing is that I’m not depressed because of it. On the contrary, I’m quite happy with my writing, running this Substack, and interacting with you. I believe it’s stemming from the fact that I’m being too hard on myself to be “better”; in a way where I feel compelled to be someone I’m not. I follow a lot of other Substacks and I’m wowed at the amazing talent present on the platform. It’s truly incredible. Then, I think: is what I’m doing worth people’s time? The irony in all of this is that I cringe under the spotlight. I’m terrible at public speaking, and I’d much rather function in the background as part of a team-driven project. But I can’t accomplish a whole lot sitting on the sidelines waiting for someone to tell me what to do, especially when it involves my own passions. So here we are. A year ago, almost to the day, I was pushing for 100 subscribers. I told myself, "At 100 subscribers, you've made it." But who was I kidding? That's not how any of this works. Once you hit a milestone, another one emerges. 250 becomes 500, 500 becomes 1000, and so on. The mark of "success" is an ever-moving goal post. Whenever I lose sight of my goals, it’s like I’m navigating stormy seas without any bearing or direction. I have to constantly remind myself that satisfaction comes from within, to be at peace with the work and not the results. That’s not to say that I shouldn’t reflect on my accomplishments, but I should treat them like buoys bobbing along the surface, guiding me toward the stability of solid ground. I'm the same person as when I was vying for those initial signups, questioning whether what I provide has value or not. Nothing has changed. True, my eyesight has worsened, but my overall mission, my personality, and my writing remain unwavering. We don’t have the ability to decide what has value for someone else. That can be the ultimate trap, fulfilling the desires of others over our own. I hope this post is encouraging for anyone starting out, or for people who feel like they aren't getting anywhere with their writing. I'm of the notion that more transparency is almost always better than less. People like achieving milestones, especially achievements that are a result of a collective effort. Substack has become a perfect place to collaborate and network toward these shared goals. None of my posts have gone “viral”. I stick to a semi-rigid schedule by posting 2 times a week, sometimes 3 if I have a newsletter going out. My subscriber count has slowly, yet consistently grown mostly from the Substack network (80% of all traffic). In the past 12 months, the community here has increased exponentially. I would like to thank you for be curious enough to check out The Storyletter. I’m going to attempt to not overthink your reasons for being here. A good thing is that after sending out the subscription survey, I’ve seen a lot of wonderful feedback on how I can improve. Big THANK YOU to those of you who filled out that form. I’ll go into more detail on those results later in the newsletter. Keep chugging along, but don’t worry yourself into an early grave. You have value. You have purpose. You have people to talk to. The storm will pass. If you have any questions, or just want to chat, email me at storyletter@protonmail.com. ~ WM What’s Happening in March
Writing Prompt - Exploring the UnknownThe Storyletter hosts quarterly writing events. Writers can either post the story on their own Substack and we’ll cross-post it to our audience, or the story can be submitted for publication consideration as a Storyletter Original. Storyletter Originals are automatically eligible for inclusion in the Storyletter Anthology (volume one currently in the works). For more information, check out the post below: Indie Promo - Realms of RoushEscape to new and exciting realms once a month with Realms of Roush. This newsletter (and podcast) gives you new sci-fi and fantasy stories right in your inbox. Check out "Eagle," a post-apocalyptic comedy to get a taste Realms of Roush. *If you’d like to promote something in The Storyletter’s monthly newsletter, send me your pitch in an email to storyletter@protonmail.comTips & Tricks - Work Without PurposeOpen Calls
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In Case You Missed ItThank you for being a free subscriber to The Storyletter. If you’d like to support us further, consider becoming a paying subscriber. Have you hit writer’s block? Do you need fuel to keep going? Check out Coffee Brand Coffee! Every purchase means 5% of the proceeds are kicked back to us. Plus, if you use code STORIES5, you get an extra 5% off. |
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Boldly Going
Saturday, March 18, 2023
The Storyletter cross-posted a post from Elly's Mystified Fluff Winston MaloneMar 18 · The Storyletter Dear Reader, Following the launch of the new writing prompt "Exploring the Unknown",
Storyletter Prompt: Exploring the Unknown
Thursday, March 16, 2023
Community event | Win prizes | Grow your audience
Mountain Talk
Sunday, March 12, 2023
Mountain Talk by Shaina Read is a horror short story set in the mountains of Tennessee and follows a group of naïve teens determined to find the best place to camp before summer ends. What they find is
Showcase: Necessary Fiction
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
A Substack featuring short and fun fiction for all
If You Only Knew What Lived in Your Shoe
Sunday, March 5, 2023
Poem | Arachnophobia
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