4 More Substack Writers You Really Should Know
A celebration of writers you may not know yet here who are doing inspiring things in unique ways and also happen to be friends of mine
What I’m doing here on Substack is creating an online library of resources related to the complex relationship between art and mental health including essays and interviews written from lived experience as well as historic and contemporary research.
The people who subscribe do so because they believe in the critical importance of building this library and the community around it. They believe in the work.
And today, I wanted to introduce you to some of those people. Because they aren’t just amazing humans but some of them are also terrific writers. So, let me tell you a little bit more about 4 writers here on Substack that you might want to get to know and why. I’ll share who they are, how we’ve connected, what’s awesome about them, and a few of my favorite posts that they’ve written.
These celebrations of my amazing paid subscribers will happen periodically throughout the year. Want to be celebrated in this way and get your work out there in front of more people? Get an annual subscription today:
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The title of Nina’s Substack refers to times of intentional change in our lives, which she describes as:
“For me, Burn to Bloom encapsulates those moments in life when you know that you have to strike that match and burn what you once knew in order to honor your current truth. It's when striking the match is an act of self-love and survival, and ultimately, you know that you're going to have to create some mess to make your magic.”
This speaks straight to my soul. I’ve chosen again and again to pivot, rework, start over. Sometimes these are small tweaks and changes. But sometimes these are burn to bloom experiences.
Nina shares essays as well as podcast episodes on this topic. She communicates not only with her words but also with her heart. There's a palpable sense of passion and purpose underlying everything she shares, as she encourages her readers to embrace their own journeys with courage and curiosity.
Posts I’ve loved from Nina include:
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I appreciate the information that Teri shares about her specific disability and her experience of living with it. We learn from people’s direct authentic experience if we are willing to do that learning. I find Teri’s voice refreshing, honest, and informative.
With candid reflections on her childhood education, personal identity, and the importance of authentic representation, she sheds light on the challenges and misconceptions surrounding disabilities, advocating for greater awareness and understanding, emphasizing the need for inclusivity and acceptance in society.
She recently launched a new Substack section for disability-related academic accountability information, sharing:
“My 27-plus years of experience administering academic accommodations at the post-secondary (aka higher education) makes me confident in sharing the legally supportable [ideal] policy scenarios at this educational level.”
Teri’s is an important voice in our world. You can see Teri with her cats in this Note.
Posts I've loved from Teri include:
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I love the title of this Substack, which refers to the old AIM away message, speaking to the way that chronic illness causes us to be “away” from our lives in so many ways. Rebecca shares her struggles with long COVID, explores various treatment approaches, and delves into the realms of literature, philosophy, and mind-body healing as ways to provide meaning, solutions, and connection in the face of the body’s challenges.
Posts I’ve loved from Rebecca include:
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I met Samantha here on Substack when she agreed to be part of my virtual book tour for The Artist’s Mind. I was touched by her review:
I also had the chance to interview her, discussing her personal journey with depression, the impact of therapy and medication on her creativity, and the transformative power of storytelling as a form of self-expression and healing.
I appreciate her ability to intertwine storytelling with themes of faith and human connection, articulating deep understanding of the human experience.
Posts I’ve loved from Samantha include:
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Kathryn I shall cherish your words dearly thank you. Honoured to feature in your celebration of amazing creatives xx
Thank you darling! Such a treat.