One year of writing Beyond the Page
A brief retrospective + a special anniversary offer
Hi friends,
Somehow, it’s been one whole year since I launched Beyond the Page! Shockingly, I’ve published 26 posts, which means that despite the occasional late or missed post, I actually stuck to my bimonthly publishing schedule. When I started this newsletter last June, overwhelmed with new motherhood and writing in the brief snippets of quiet while my 6 month old napped, I never imagined I’d carry this newsletter through a whole year. It serves as another reminder that, at its essence, being a writer means constantly clawing your way through the madness to the still moments where you can jot down a few thoughts. It’s finding silence amidst the chaos to think a little more deeply, to dream. And if you keep at it, eventually it all adds up.
Penning this newsletter has given me a renewed vigor for writing, both here and in my memoir project. It’s proven that I can always find more time to squeeze in a few more words, especially when I’m up against my own self-imposed deadlines. And it’s helped me connect with friends old and new. My first ever post at Beyond the Page was about reviewing and critiquing memoirs. It’s a conversation I’d longed to enter for some time, and it was so satisfying to see it resonate with readers. It also helped me discover other memoir lovers along the way, and I continue to be delighted by the connections I find here on Substack.
Finally, Beyond the Page has helped me to loosen my death grip on perfectionism, just a tiny bit. I’ll never be rid of perfectionism altogether. It’s the cross I’ll carry for my whole life, but having to write two posts a month has helped me err on the side of good rather than perfect. When I began this newsletter, I committed to letting others see me try, even if that meant failing. I organized a writing challenge that nearly nobody participated in (including myself because I was so ill)1, and it didn’t even phase me. Instead, I kept exploring new ideas, and it’s brought me more creativity, a few more flops, and a lot more successes. It’s definitely meant more words written, and in my book, that’s a win.
So, let’s take a little walk down memory lane to commemorate the first year of Beyond the Page!
The posts you liked most
It’s no surprise that two of your most-liked posts are Notion-themed. You love Notion, and I do, too! It’s been a game changer for keeping track of my reading stats and reflections. My audiobook recommendations were also popular! I’m a big proponent of audiobooks. I read at least half of my books in audio form, so it’s fun to see that this post resonated with so many of you.
P.S. If you’re not a paid subscriber and you want access to these posts, check out the special anniversary offer at the end of this post!
My favorite posts to write
Perhaps unsurprisingly, many the posts I enjoyed writing the most were not the ones that were most liked or commented on by readers. (Isn’t that the epitome of writer life?) I enjoyed laying out my writing philosophy and illustrating how it keeps me aligned and focused as a writer. I found true joy in many of my Wrapped posts, including this one about how my return to my memoir coincided with many personal joys and last year’s wet, hot summer of bangin' re-reads. I found that writing about the journey of my memoir reconnected me to my work in a way I hadn’t anticipated.
In many of these cases, I enjoyed writing these posts because I learned something about myself or gained some focus or understanding that I didn’t have before I wrote them. It’s one reason I love writing. I always discover something I didn’t know about myself or my own views.
What I’m looking forward to in year two
In year two of Beyond the Page, I hope to engage more with the vibrant reading community I’ve discovered here. I want to do some collabs and highlight more fellow Substackers’ posts in my Notes and my own posts. I’d also love to find more folks in the throes of writing their own books to swap encouragement and commiseration as we fight our way to the end of our manuscripts.
I’d like to find more balance between my writing here and working on my book, which will likely always be a work in progress. Luckily, I’ve already been able to make some adjustments as I begin speed drafting my memoir.
As a diehard Notion nerd, I’m dying to write more posts about how I use Notion for planning my book, keeping track of interesting reads, and nurturing writing ideas. I’d love to share my templates for others who’d like to use them.
Finally, I’d like to take another shot at the Write More Collective, probably when I have more time and can be more dedicated.
Thank you for being here.
Truly, it means the world to me that you take the time to read Beyond the Page. Every subscription, paid or free, supports my ability to continue, and I’m eternally grateful. If you’ve been thinking about going paid and need an extra nudge, click the button below to get a discount on a year-long subscription.
You can also earn a paid subscription to Beyond the Page by sharing it with other readers that you think would enjoy it. Tap the button below and spread the word!
Cheers to another year of reading, writing, and creativity beyond the page!
Shoutout to my one participant, Emily! 😊
Happy one year!