On one more job to do, sell-out events & getting out of your own way

“If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet,
then you must write it.”
Toni Morrison

Hey and hi. Happy October.

Thank you for the very gorgeous Substack welcome last week. Very cool to connect with so many brilliant friends and colleagues and Instagram-to-IRL buddies here. I love the atmosphere here - it’s open and supportive and has so much promise.

Even if I know there’s work to do. On Monday, I attended Farrah Storr’s  “How I grew my Substack” masterclass. She shared that when she started her Substack, she had to treat it like a job to make sure she showed up to it:  weekend working, a business plan. Which hit hard. Because I really need another job…  

On work, my Creative Writing Workshop with Daisy Buchanan happens tomorrow at Henley Literary Festival.  I can’t wait to spend an hour in a room with beautiful writers to talk about writing practice. Also, my 15-year-old asked to come so that’s sweet.  

Turns out the event’s a sell-out.

Nobody was more surprised than me. While I joked that I thought it was going to be Daisy, me and my friend Helen (hi, my babes) in the room, I’m so grateful I moved past the gaping leap between me and my comfort zone to make it happen

On getting out of your own way

I’m an expert expert in placing a huge boulder in front of the next scary thing. And rolly-polying away from what I want.

I did consider not exploring the workshop with Daisy. It would have been easy to say, “Sure! 2028 would be a GREAT time for me.”

I think so many of us do this with our creative work and marketing and business building.in

Let than inner voice push back the scary launch (next month?), the new business (someday), the book (when I…)

Some small lessons I’m still learning on how to get out of your own way and Do The Thing:

1. Create what you want

The course you would have loved to take. The podcast you want to listen to. The community you want to be part of.

I once read Romesh Ranganathan  saying he simply built his comedy narrative around the things he found funny and interesting. Then he realised thousands of other people did too.

Follow that. What delights you? Tomorrow is exactly the kind of event I love going to (hope everyone there does too).

2. Don’t overthink it
Daisy and I came up with this event driving to an event together last year. In a casual chat about a million other things.

I emailed the Henley Literary Festival team late one Tuesday night as an afterthought to another pitch. It was literally a PS.

Marketing the event felt easy and un-scary. Possibly because I know how congruent this is to where my business is going. Of course, collaborating with a brilliant partner helps too – I’m under no disillusion that this has made it feel lighter.

I spend so much time feeling like I’m pushing a boulder up a hill in my work. Pitching stories. Selling-in articles. New business development. Oh, you too?

When something feels effortless it’s for a reason. It’s because you’re in your zone of flow and strength and ease. Take note of those moments tell you about where you want to be.

3. Take a creative risk

I recently had some feedback on my poetry saying I’m holding myself back on the page. That I need to be braver. I think the words were “go wild”. 

Anyone who knows me will know “wild” is not a place I go often (unless it’s the Cheryl Strayed book or that time I stayed up past 2am at my friend’s 50th last November).

In marketing, business building, creative work, risk is part of the deal.

My last Farrah Storr mention for this issue (😉). Experimentation has been key to her growth strategy: with give-aways, competitions, collaborations, partnerships, content swaps. Some have worked. Some fell flat. She took the data, adjusted, and refocused. Where can you take that leap today?

Ok, I’m off to shimmy right out of my comfort zone towards the next scary thing. Join me?

With love,

Antonia xo

PS if you have any questions about building a creative writing practice or a more consistent writing habit – especially around a day job- pop them in the comments below.❤️