A curious experiment
a note on community and why we crave it
Growing a community of curious readers is the goal of The Hyphen and all the best bits are behind the paywall (posts, comment sections, threads, community spirit!)
So, because I’m excited for what’s in store for this newsletter and its thousands of NEW readers who have found me recently: I’m doing a little experiment and offering a whopping discount.
For a few hours only, I’m offering you 70% off — that’s £15 for the whole year (instead of £50). Your special link is here. This is how much I’d love to offer you an opportunity to join (and come and say hi here!) — and connect about all things wellbeing, writing and doing work that we love. It’s my favourite corner of the Internet and I’d love to invite you in.
I’ve written a lot about the positives of Substack on how it helps writers make money. Today, I wanted to write something with a focus on how platforms like Substack have genuinely impacted my sense of community; and how building a community is my main goal here. Usually, we build the thing we want for ourselves, and by doing so, it may help others too.
I work alone; and have done for the past ten years. I work from my messy little office in my house, at a big wooden desk overlooking the garden (foxes, squirrels, neighbour’s cats) surrounded by piles and piles of books. Sometimes I work in cafés, sometimes in hotel rooms, sometimes at friends or family’s kitchen tables. I am nomadic with my laptop and there are so many perks to working solo. But there is one big, big con: occasional loneliness.
Every time December rolls round, I get jealous of other people’s office Christmas parties. Any time I go into my agent’s office, or my publishers, I am amazed by the steady hum of chitter-chatter, the ‘love your outfit’ comments, the buzzing coffee machines, the reception area, the phones ringing, the general energy. I miss being in offices and community hubs, but I also need a lot of quiet solitude in order to write the amount that I do. I never did well in an open-plan office and spent a fortune on noise-cancelling headphones.
Since launching this newsletter and including a paywall, it means that instead of broadcasting to the masses, I’ve created a safe smaller space for people who want to be there. We have meaningful conversations. Anyone who signs up as a paying subscriber becomes part of the community. I reply to comments happily.
Paid subscribers can access everything, comment whenever they like, talk to other people, ask questions, join in. I’ve watched the comment section come alive with people supporting each other, inspiring each other, giving advice and passing on their condolences upon hearing sad news. I’ve even witnessed members of The Hyphen meet each other in person at one of my creativity retreats (I have another one happening in Greece in September) and I know that they all stay in contact via a Whatsapp group now. It’s hard to beat that feeling of connecting with new like-minded people.
It’s also been great for my personal friend-life. I’ve also met up with many fellow Substackers in person. This October I’m going on a retreat with some fellow writers for the third year in a row. One Christmas I hosted a dinner at my house for some of my favourite writers here. And if I’m being honest, I’m currently going through a friendship reshuffle. I’m told this is normal at my age, I’m almost 36 and many of my friends have moved away, busy bringing up kids — and it leaves me with more time to meet new people in this city that I love. Via Substack, I’ve recently made a new friend who I go cold swimming with, another friend who I have regular coffees with, another who I just had a 45-minute phone call with in my local park while we both discussed our writing plans and what is currently exciting us. All through this newsletter platform.
If you’ve been intrigued about joining for a while — I want to make it easy for you. So I’m offering a 70% discount for a few hours. Peeking behind the paywall and reading the comment section is the best bit.
When you sign up as a member, you’ll receive my popular Sunday Scroll (every other weekend) which is a round-up of links (of what I’m reading, loving, watching, listening to). My 100th instalment goes out this Sunday.
Subscribe as a member of The Hyphen newsletter for £15 for the whole year (it’s usually £50) via this special link (it will be available for a few hours only).
Sending love always, Emma xoxo
In case you missed it, an exclusive reading from my new book A Creative Compass, on why I believe our creative intuition will become a lifeline in the years ahead, not just a nice-to-have. We are all creative, and I believe each of us can express that creativity especially we recognise its importance—not only in making and imagining, but also in healing, navigating ups and downs, and living a meaningful life. <3