Hello, my friend. Luisa here. How the devil are you?
You may know me from my teaching, or my writing. Quite likely from my previous Substack publications, ‘Salted’ or more recently ‘This Writerly Life’. Possibly you will remember with fondness my talk of 5am bleary-eyed writing time, before the rest of the household wakes, complete with a hot water bottle shoved up my jumper and a head and heart full of pooling words.
It’s lovely to see you again.
First off, I should probably address the ‘elephant in the room’.
After coming to Substack as a reader and writer in mid-2022, for the past couple of months I have plate-spun and juggled my way round two different Substack publications; ‘Salted’ and ‘This Writerly Life’. The mental struggle has been far greater than the actuality, but as a fellow creative you may recognise it really is all about the mindset.
Now, there were undoubtedly easier ways to go about it, but patience truly is a virtue I do not possess. On New Year’s Eve-Eve I therefore had a grand old metaphorical burning-down after journalling my wishes for even further simplicity in 2024. (I do love a good creative fire, don’t you?)
The upshot is, both those publications have been archived in the ashes of those actions and instead, here we are, with the publication I probably actually wanted to create in the first place: Writing Around The Edges. My one and only online space to now show up and, all being well, one of quiet comfort and hope for you in times to come.
Thank you for bearing with me. No more changes now, promise. ;)
Shall I reintroduce myself? I’m a mother, fitness professional and yoga teacher specialising in exercise for long-term health conditions, working both an employed job managing a rehabilitative gym for a sports charity and nurturing my tiny self-employed business.
My writing space is a quirky little driftwood cabin (pictured) nestled in the bottom of our garden, just a stone’s throw from the wild sea and roughshod beach here in the south west of the UK. I’ve been happily (for the most part) writing long-form creative non fiction and sea poetry online for health and wellness magazines, since 2019. I often get lost in tales of mermaids and have been carrying the bare bones of a potential YA novel on scraps of paper for some time. Storytelling, always.
Discovering Substack halfway through 2022 and, having deleted all other social media entirely (which I thoroughly recommend and will no doubt write about soon), I have found inspiration, connection and community amongst this platform of beautiful writers (hello you!) It’s truly been a pleasure.
As much as writing for myself, my love is to encourage other creatives. Particularly those who don’t create for a living. Those who therefore need a little extra fortification, a little more persuasion. Those who, like me, have many daily commitments, jobs, responsibilities and even businesses, who may only find time to write in those narrow, overly-stuffed margins of their busy, full-to-the-brim and often overwhelming lives.
To share their voices.
To free their words.
To recognise their brilliance, for both themselves and their loved ones, when they allow themselves that precious time and space to write and create.
No. Not they.
You.
When you allow yourself that time. That space.
It truly is the most unselfish act.
And so, in the name of simplifying, my only Substack publication from now on, Writing Around The Edges, will be right here, for you.
My intention is that it will be rich with:
personal storytelling and memoir from my own notebook
permission slips to go gently, always
insights into my own simple, slow, creative routine
All in the midst and context of your own busy, beautiful life. I hope these occasional posts and quiet book club help bring you comfort, seasonal rhythm and sparks of delicious insight.
our gentle book club
You are also cordially invited to my gentle book club. Twelve months. Eight books. All female authors. Slowly paced. Seasonally inspired. Join me? It’s free!
Kind words from other writers
“Luisa is an exquisite writer, space holder and a beautiful human you will want to be connected to.”
“Engaging vividness”
“A highly creative writer and communicator whose blog is obviously an inspiration to many people.”
“Like the relief of a deep breath.”
Some other popular Substack posts I’ve written lately:
If you haven’t already please do consider subscribing (always for free, another lesson I’ve learned this winter because 1. we all already have enough financial stress, plus 2. my writing does not take kindly to any kind of pressure) to Writing Around The Edges, which I plan to soon have brimming with carefully and quietly crafted encouragement, as well as our gentle book club, with full access to any new posts and all publication archives.
Ah, that’s better. Reintroductions complete. Now, let’s take a gentle stroll together into 2024. We already have all that we need.
With loving kindness,
Luisa
P.S I would love to hear from you in a comment, with a ❤️, or a restack. :)
Helllllooooo (again) xxx
What a brilliant idea to simplify. I'm all for that. And about that gentle stroll, I'd call that a "moodle", which is part of the name of my tiny business that I'm trying to nurture as well as write a Substack. Not entirely sure if any of that is simple! 🤔