5 Substack Writers You Really Should Know on the creative mind, fiber arts, writing, international literature, gratitude, slow living and more ...
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 one of the ways I honor and recognize their support is by making sure you know more about the ones who are also writing here. So, let me tell you a little bit more about 5 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.
Today meet:
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If you’re a regular reader of Create Me Free then you might already know Helen because I had the honor of sharing an interview with this terrific woman back in November:
Art and Mental Health Interview with Writer / Artist Helen Conway
I love to interview smart people about the complex relationship between art and mental health. I have plenty of my own thoughts but it’s through conversations with others that I really develop those into more nuanced, layered understanding of the true complexities. So, I’m very happy today to have an interview for you withHelen Conway of Encore by Helen Conway.
I already shared a lot in that post about what I adore about her work and of course she shared some terrific stuff with us about her creative experience. She was very open and vulnerable and gave lots of great insight into the relationship between art and mental health for her. Please do go read all she had to say.
I wanted to share things here that I hadn’t already shared about her, though, like this beautiful description from her about page:
“I roam through a world filled with art materials, books, art galleries, travel, journals, psychology, photography, and the ancient life wisdom found in Judaism. I will invite you into my messy studio and the world outside it as seen through the eyes of a creator.”
Posts I’ve especially loved from Helen include:
You can also find Helen on Instagram and Facebook @studioconway and there’s more on her website.
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If I remember correctly, I first met Donna through Notes. Like many of us, I sometimes have mixed feelings about Notes because it’s easy to spend too much time there in that “oh, this is just more social media” kind of way but as long as I’m aware of when it’s not feeling good, mostly I find Notes to be this really special place where I can connect with interesting people. It’s that perfect combination of seeing my regulars that I like to exchange thoughts with and meeting new people.
Donna and I share a love of the fiber arts. She shares on her Instagram bio: “The artist formerly known as dmvtatter. Fiber arts, needle arts, textile arts, and roots music... these are a few of my favorite things.” I always love seeing when she shares her tapestry work here on Substack. She shares an excellent combination of terrific photos of the work (always a delight), descriptions about both the technical process of weaving and the creative process of it), and little stuff about life.
Posts I’ve especially loved from Donna include:
That one, which I shared in one of my Friday link love roundups, is about a weaving swap project that required three starts to finally get going. What I love most about this story is that Donna did keep coming back to the project and in time found a way to make it work.
Donna hasn’t shared new posts since October but check out what’s in her archive and subscribe in case something new comes out!
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I think this video from the English Republic of Letters website really says it all better than I could:
And this from the About page adds:
“My writing is an invitation to see the world through a literary lens while twisting and turning through the streets of Mexico City, Kyoto or Istanbul.”
Posts I’ve especially loved from Jeffrey include:
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The first thing I noticed in visiting Jenn’s website is the subtitle: Creative Slow Living with Mental Illness. I am so about this. From her about page, we immediately get a sense of her authentic, personable writing voice:
“I’m old enough to have an adult son, to be getting a few gray hairs, and to be a little scared of TikTok. I’m young enough to consider myself a digital native, to eat pink cotton candy, and to still think I have a shot at changing the world.”
And also see that she’s not afraid to dig into the deep stuff:
“In 2021, my husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer and I discovered I was suffering from complex PTSD. I'm currently building a very different life than the one I anticipated when I first moved to LA, managing my recovery and savoring every remaining moment with the love of my life.”
She is taking us along on some of this journey and we are all better off for it.
Posts I’ve especially loved from Jennifer include:
Connect with Jenn on YouTube and Instagram.
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Like with Donna, I met Joyce and have connected with her mostly through Notes. In fact, last year I used to compile a roundup of Notes conversations to share with you each week, and when I look back, I see so many terrific conversations that Joyce and I have had. For example, this:
And this:
I’ve also regularly shared Joyce’s work in my Friday digests. What I’m trying to say, I suppose, is that I feel regularly inspired both by the thoughts she shares in Notes and by her own writing. And I’m super excited about her new work around the village of Cherán, which already has several posts but start here:
Other posts I’ve especially loved from Joyce include:
Find Joyce also on Instagram.
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Kathryn ... thank you for this round-up ... I have subscribed to all of the writers you featured and look forward to an expanded view of the world. While I am excited to continue reading the work of each of them, the welcome video from @JeffreyStreeter amazed and inspired me. What a unique introduction.
Wow, Kathryn, thank you so much for so generously including me in your round-up. Your generosity in supporting writers here on Substack has struck me repeatedly over the past year. You are a role model for me ... and I'm sure for so many others ... for your generosity and your dedication to your writing and to mental health and creativity. I love having you with me as I venture in a new adventure looking for more stories and murals in Mexico.
Borrowing a thought from Star Trek, which was borrowed from Leonard Nimoy's Jewish heritage: "Live long and prosper." I would give you a Vulcan salute but I never could get my fingers to do that.