Noor, I especially love your notes about your journey with writing fiction (I think I've learned it's called speculative fiction?) It's so different from what I'm working on. Do made up characters bring on real emotions? Absolutely! I've cried over many books, shows, and movies during the story and when it's over. And, I love how you share your family journey. Personally, I hate costco but I took my boys to so many places and worked to make the most of it - at HEB, we loved seeing large South Austin families filling their carts with fresh food for picnics or grilling out and I wanted to go home with them! I'm less interest in substack metrics because I am nervous as a new substack writer and don't want to think too much or worry about growing my following. I'm sure that means it will stay low. But you're doing a great job and I'm happy for you that your voice is getting out there.
A) I love the train theme. But every now and then, you should romanticize an electric train. Steam trains are obsolete! But also beautiful, I get it
B) one of these days I will rant to you about why I dislike Costco. Nothing to do with romance. Everything to do with inconvenience. I'm a simple man, I want my things to be easy. I'm willing to pat extra for convenience
Noted, I’ll definitely have to work in some electric trains :) 🚆
I also don’t like Costco, lol. I’m doing my best to enjoy it because Tom and Zakir love it so much. In reality I would rather have the Brooklyn bodega brunch life 😂
I think I just find Costco strangely inconvenient, and find smaller grocers a bit more convenient to jump in and out of. For the things I want to buy in bulk Costco is fine, but it's a commitment to go to Costco. There's no such thing as a quick trip. And my bulk items at the moment don't need to be replenished weekly, and since Costco is such a hassle we tend to save a Costco run for when we need a lot of things in bulk at once.
Thanks so much Ashley! Costco is so not the place I’d like to be on Sunday mornings, but like you I’m trying to make the most of it 😅 I really appreciate your input about the substack metrics. All the growth strategy posts can get so overwhelming. It has the tendency to suck the joy out of the writing. I’m hoping to have a happy middle where I write something authentic/vulnerable about the growth experience and then put the numbers at the bottom of the post and tell folks to ignore them if it’s not helpful. That kind of stuff can be pretty triggering.
Great Costco picture! Reminds me of this scene: https://youtu.be/dyvHERp4hss?si=F4rHyEepUSZtNEQz
Ha I loved that, thanks for the share, it was spot on!
Write your origin story- your why is why we read.
Thank you Michelle, this is exactly the perspective I needed to get me writing.
Noor, I especially love your notes about your journey with writing fiction (I think I've learned it's called speculative fiction?) It's so different from what I'm working on. Do made up characters bring on real emotions? Absolutely! I've cried over many books, shows, and movies during the story and when it's over. And, I love how you share your family journey. Personally, I hate costco but I took my boys to so many places and worked to make the most of it - at HEB, we loved seeing large South Austin families filling their carts with fresh food for picnics or grilling out and I wanted to go home with them! I'm less interest in substack metrics because I am nervous as a new substack writer and don't want to think too much or worry about growing my following. I'm sure that means it will stay low. But you're doing a great job and I'm happy for you that your voice is getting out there.
A) I love the train theme. But every now and then, you should romanticize an electric train. Steam trains are obsolete! But also beautiful, I get it
B) one of these days I will rant to you about why I dislike Costco. Nothing to do with romance. Everything to do with inconvenience. I'm a simple man, I want my things to be easy. I'm willing to pat extra for convenience
Noted, I’ll definitely have to work in some electric trains :) 🚆
I also don’t like Costco, lol. I’m doing my best to enjoy it because Tom and Zakir love it so much. In reality I would rather have the Brooklyn bodega brunch life 😂
I think I just find Costco strangely inconvenient, and find smaller grocers a bit more convenient to jump in and out of. For the things I want to buy in bulk Costco is fine, but it's a commitment to go to Costco. There's no such thing as a quick trip. And my bulk items at the moment don't need to be replenished weekly, and since Costco is such a hassle we tend to save a Costco run for when we need a lot of things in bulk at once.
So I dislike Costco.
Thanks so much Ashley! Costco is so not the place I’d like to be on Sunday mornings, but like you I’m trying to make the most of it 😅 I really appreciate your input about the substack metrics. All the growth strategy posts can get so overwhelming. It has the tendency to suck the joy out of the writing. I’m hoping to have a happy middle where I write something authentic/vulnerable about the growth experience and then put the numbers at the bottom of the post and tell folks to ignore them if it’s not helpful. That kind of stuff can be pretty triggering.
That Costco picture is too cute!!