For this past month I am celebrating writing + publishing my post on community + 1000 subscribers; feeling inspired about the new group programme I'm putting together and making a start on that in small bursts; connecting with other small business owners; and working with lovely clients. In addition to taking some days off and having nourishing adventures.
Over the coming month my main priority is, as always, to keep the core of my business going: working with clients + writing newsletters for Female Owned. I'm excited about starting this Accountability Club, and about the mini-mastermind. Sometime this week I also need to do my monthly business accounts. And, if I have time and energy, I'll be dipping in and out of my prep for the group programme this month.
I'd love to hear what you're celebrating this month and what you're planning to work on for the next month--and let's cheer each other on too :) x
Thank you for doing this Astrid, it's great to have a space to hold myself accountable! This month I'm writing a new Substack publication but I'm not sure whether to add it as a section on my existing Substack or start a new publication account. There are connections between the two but my existing is a tracking of a journey and the new one will be developed for paid subscribers. Trying to get my head around it, but at least while I do I'm writing lots offline ready to upload when I know which way to go! Out of interest, Astrid, do you have two separate Substack accounts?
Thank you Tina! Your plans for paid subscribers sounds exciting. For Female Owned I've got just the one publication--paid subscribers get access to the paid posts (and I only send them to them as well, I generally don't send previews of paid posts to free subscribers) as well as the free posts; free subscribers get access to the free posts. I'd say that this is the easiest thing to do. Is there a particular reason why you'd want to have two separate ones?
Thank you Astrid. The two ideas are actually quite different and my initial Substack was largely a 'play with it and see' project. I've decided to gently retire that one and start afresh with the new one. I want to make it simple - for me and for my readers. Because I'm right with you on the slow, gentle, no-hassle/hustle pathway. If it's not simple and fun, then it won't be sustainable.
Ah, I see--then it would make sense perhaps to transfer all your readers from the old list to the new one and start rolling out paid subscribers at the same time? Using that fresh start energy? Looking forward to hearing how you get on with it!
Sep 13, 2023·edited Sep 13, 2023Liked by Astrid Bracke
I'm so late to the party! This month I'm celebrating getting past my resistance to create and submitting three works to an art challenge. It offers an opportunity to earn a prize (money) and it had a deadline which also helped motivate me.
My goal this month is to switch my subscribers to Substack. I've already started prepping the branding on my page just need to keep going.
Hi Ana--the accountability club post for October is now live, do you want to come share how you got on in September? Remember: every thing you did is enough :)
Congrats on submitting three (!!) works to that challenge Ana! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a prize, but even submitting it, as you mention, such a big step.
Good luck on transitioning to Substack--I'm looking forward to seeing your Substack in all its glory by the end of the month 💪🏻
Wow that sounds amazing Janelle, well done for completing your book and sending it to an editor! That is a huge milestone 🎉 Your plans for this coming month sound equally exciting, and scary, but you've come so far now--I hope you can hold on to that feeling of pride as you focus on the edits and revision. I'll be rooting for you! x
Hi Janelle, how have you been getting on with completing your first book? I'm very excited for you--do you want to come share in October's accountability club thread? All steps count, and everything you did is enough :)
I am cautiously celebrating, or perhaps continuing to try and embrace, the fact that my many interests make it very difficult to run any sort of recognised 'business'. However, if business is interpreted as the way we spend our time rather than any particular financial metrics then I feel less of an imposter...
I very much want to make a firm decision on whether to return to my newsletter or to move to Substack as a place to write (for pleasure) and to share snippets of my life and creative occupations, partly as a record for myself and partly because writing it all down helps it feel more concrete and less flimsy.
I know I just need to start and see where it all goes and am plucking up courage....! x
Yes, Vanessa, do celebrate that you have so many interests that you follow--and surely there's no need to do one thing in order to have a business. I love that multifacetedness about you :)
I'm looking forward to hearing what you decide about the newsletter or Substack (and whatever decision you make, you can always change your mind later). Which of these options feels most inspiring or creative to you?
Sending you lots of courage and joy--your words, images and other creations are gorgeous and deserve to be seen by the world! x
Hurrah for a more concrete content plan Jules! And good luck on your pricing structure and finding a platform: I hope you settle on something that feels good to you. I'm with you on the cooler weather and fall, it's so lovely to soak up that fall air and loamy smell of the soil. Thank you for sharing, and I'll be cheering for you!
So, let's kick this accountability club off! 🎉
For this past month I am celebrating writing + publishing my post on community + 1000 subscribers; feeling inspired about the new group programme I'm putting together and making a start on that in small bursts; connecting with other small business owners; and working with lovely clients. In addition to taking some days off and having nourishing adventures.
Over the coming month my main priority is, as always, to keep the core of my business going: working with clients + writing newsletters for Female Owned. I'm excited about starting this Accountability Club, and about the mini-mastermind. Sometime this week I also need to do my monthly business accounts. And, if I have time and energy, I'll be dipping in and out of my prep for the group programme this month.
I'd love to hear what you're celebrating this month and what you're planning to work on for the next month--and let's cheer each other on too :) x
Thank you for doing this Astrid, it's great to have a space to hold myself accountable! This month I'm writing a new Substack publication but I'm not sure whether to add it as a section on my existing Substack or start a new publication account. There are connections between the two but my existing is a tracking of a journey and the new one will be developed for paid subscribers. Trying to get my head around it, but at least while I do I'm writing lots offline ready to upload when I know which way to go! Out of interest, Astrid, do you have two separate Substack accounts?
Thank you Tina! Your plans for paid subscribers sounds exciting. For Female Owned I've got just the one publication--paid subscribers get access to the paid posts (and I only send them to them as well, I generally don't send previews of paid posts to free subscribers) as well as the free posts; free subscribers get access to the free posts. I'd say that this is the easiest thing to do. Is there a particular reason why you'd want to have two separate ones?
This Substack guide has some more ideas on setting up paid subscriptions: https://substack.com/going-paid-guide I'll be rooting for you!
Thank you Astrid. The two ideas are actually quite different and my initial Substack was largely a 'play with it and see' project. I've decided to gently retire that one and start afresh with the new one. I want to make it simple - for me and for my readers. Because I'm right with you on the slow, gentle, no-hassle/hustle pathway. If it's not simple and fun, then it won't be sustainable.
Ah, I see--then it would make sense perhaps to transfer all your readers from the old list to the new one and start rolling out paid subscribers at the same time? Using that fresh start energy? Looking forward to hearing how you get on with it!
I'm so late to the party! This month I'm celebrating getting past my resistance to create and submitting three works to an art challenge. It offers an opportunity to earn a prize (money) and it had a deadline which also helped motivate me.
My goal this month is to switch my subscribers to Substack. I've already started prepping the branding on my page just need to keep going.
Hi Ana--the accountability club post for October is now live, do you want to come share how you got on in September? Remember: every thing you did is enough :)
(see the October post here: https://open.substack.com/pub/astridbracke/p/welcome-to-october-female-owned-accountability?r=1t1uc1&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web)
Congrats on submitting three (!!) works to that challenge Ana! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a prize, but even submitting it, as you mention, such a big step.
Good luck on transitioning to Substack--I'm looking forward to seeing your Substack in all its glory by the end of the month 💪🏻
What a great space, Astrid. And congratulations on a milestone, abundant and gentle month.
I am celebrating taking some big actions on completing my first book. My manuscript is with an editor and I have ordered a book cover.
Next month I'd like to focus on going through the edits, revising and polishing my book in advance of sharing it with the world.
It's a scary, vulnerable time! But I'm proud and excited to be pushing ahead with what I've been resisting for so long.
Wow that sounds amazing Janelle, well done for completing your book and sending it to an editor! That is a huge milestone 🎉 Your plans for this coming month sound equally exciting, and scary, but you've come so far now--I hope you can hold on to that feeling of pride as you focus on the edits and revision. I'll be rooting for you! x
Thank youuu, Astrid!
Hi Janelle, how have you been getting on with completing your first book? I'm very excited for you--do you want to come share in October's accountability club thread? All steps count, and everything you did is enough :)
(the thread for October is here: https://open.substack.com/pub/astridbracke/p/welcome-to-october-female-owned-accountability?r=1t1uc1&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web)
I am cautiously celebrating, or perhaps continuing to try and embrace, the fact that my many interests make it very difficult to run any sort of recognised 'business'. However, if business is interpreted as the way we spend our time rather than any particular financial metrics then I feel less of an imposter...
I very much want to make a firm decision on whether to return to my newsletter or to move to Substack as a place to write (for pleasure) and to share snippets of my life and creative occupations, partly as a record for myself and partly because writing it all down helps it feel more concrete and less flimsy.
I know I just need to start and see where it all goes and am plucking up courage....! x
Hi Vanessa--how has your September been? Have you been able to make a decision on your newsletter? Approaching it as an experiment rather than as something set in stone is also always an option :) If you'd like to, you are very welcome to come share in October's accountability thread: https://open.substack.com/pub/astridbracke/p/welcome-to-october-female-owned-accountability?r=1t1uc1&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
And: everything you've done is enough xx
Thanks so much Astrid, I’ve posted on the accountability thread and am going to embrace the experimental mindset! Xx
Yes, Vanessa, do celebrate that you have so many interests that you follow--and surely there's no need to do one thing in order to have a business. I love that multifacetedness about you :)
I'm looking forward to hearing what you decide about the newsletter or Substack (and whatever decision you make, you can always change your mind later). Which of these options feels most inspiring or creative to you?
Sending you lots of courage and joy--your words, images and other creations are gorgeous and deserve to be seen by the world! x
Hi Jules! How have you been getting on with your plans for September? The accountability-thread for October is now live and you can post a check-in there: https://open.substack.com/pub/astridbracke/p/welcome-to-october-female-owned-accountability?r=1t1uc1&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web Remember, all steps count :)
Hurrah for a more concrete content plan Jules! And good luck on your pricing structure and finding a platform: I hope you settle on something that feels good to you. I'm with you on the cooler weather and fall, it's so lovely to soak up that fall air and loamy smell of the soil. Thank you for sharing, and I'll be cheering for you!