27 Comments

Please carry on going deep. I’ve already got a lot out of your writing. I’d rather read something thoughtful and considered three times a year than trivia three times a week. I’ve been on Substack a few months now and if you don’t get your relationship to it right it can become completely overwhelming. Now I’m backing off a little and committing to the writers and thinkers that really challenge me, and you are one of them.

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Thank you, and good for you for taking a step back!

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I think it’s great that you are resisting the pressure (social, algorithmic or otherwise) to post more often. We don’t need more quantity, we need more depth. Thank you for your wonderful and thought provoking essays!

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This really resonates - write well and deeply about the stuff that matters to you rather than simply creating content. Thank you!

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I love that you don’t post constantly. I *always* make time to read everything you share because of it! I know I can count on it to be well-written, thought-provoking, and generally worth my time. Looking forward to reading more of your thoughts in 2025!

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"Worth my time" is the best feedback -- thank you for reading.

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Stay the course, Rosie! Your newsletter is a special place. And thanks so much for the shoutout, really appreciate it.

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More than happy to be supporting your work Rosie 😊. I’m one of those many subscribers you picked up with your friendship piece last year.

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Thank you Rosie - I love your pieces and am always thrilled to see when a post hits my inbox! Hope you have a lovely Christmas and NY.

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And to you! Thanks for being so supportive and kind.

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Thank you for your depth and quality and resisting over-production culture!

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Thank you -- as a fellow writer constrained to three days of childcare a week (and only during the school year!), this resonates. I also have not attained the lofty goals I set when I started my substack but have tried to write with authenticity when I do get a chance. Your work is an example and an inspiration to me.

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Thank you that is so kind. The three days a week thing is so funny. It sounds like plenty of time, but when you have to fit your entire adult life (paid work, life admin, self care, creativity) into three days it's suddenly ... not! Solidarity.

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Glad you found a rhythm here; I am struggling as I feel it is a bit of a writer's circle jerk. Hard to figure out what hits among the morass of writing. I am a humorist and brought my Dear Gail over from AGEIST . It worked over there but floundering on Substack. It literally takes 90 seconds to read my weekly letters. That appears to be too long or no one thinks it's fun/funny/frothy. I spend real time editing and punching them up. Soon feel like just giving up in this space. I also do stand up comedy and get a kick out of humor not turgid stories that are not edited. Humor is like pure gold to me or bitcoin!

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Keep experimenting! I've been writing this thing since 2016, brought it to Substack in 2019, added a paid option in 2021. It's been anything but a quick success story and I've adapted and tweaked a lot along the way as I've grown a readership.

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nice to hear. I have some pledges but really don't feel my short posts deserve $$ . Not in as much as they aren't good/fun enough just so short and no cliff hanger moments to stop and pay.

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YOU ARE AMAZING! I stand in awe.

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Thank you Betsy! Always a thrill to know you're reading this.

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As ever - a joy to read 🌷 P.s I’ve tried to adopt a less is more approach to my substack writing (i got in such a tangle at the start trying to write something every week!) and pieces like this are a reminder (and reassurance) of why I’m much more content in doing so. Thank you !

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Whenever people ask for advice I’m like: post less!

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It’s great advice ! Although I also need make sure I keep myself a little bit accountable with my writing and not use posting less as a reason to write less. It’s a fine balance!

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Yeah, I hear that. The maxim I return to: "Only hit send when you really have something to say." You know when you have something to say because it won't leave you alone — that's when you should find a way to prioritise writing time!

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Loved finding this article, I have subscribed 💛

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I’m a recent subscriber and have really been enjoying what I’ve read. I’d like to ask that you think about the fatphobic implications of repeating/linking to the ‘intellectual obesity’ metaphor; it’s pretty gnarly stuff and it’s been disappointing to see it get taken up without reflection on how it recreates cultural tropes equating fat with bad, stupid, lazy.

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Thanks for reading and for your comment. I can't really provide you with an answer that has the depth and nuance your question warrants (because I don't have enough time, and even if I did, the comments section isn't a great place to do that!) But I've been open about the fact that it's not realistic for me to try and make sure every word/term I use and piece I link to in this newsletter is unimpeachable and won't offend any of the thousands of people who read it. I am simply not that perfect! And I'm okay with that. I wrote a little more about it here: https://rojospinks.substack.com/p/no-one-left-to-cancel-with-africa

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I didn't ask a question, though; as someone who's directly impacted by the kind of language and ideology in question, I pointed out a way you're perpetuating harm and asked you to take it into account. "I'm not perfect and can't please everyone, here's a link to a piece about cancel culture" is a pretty defensive (non)response. Whether you take up my initial comment or this feedback is obviously up to you, but both things felt worth saying because I think you have good intentions. Have a good one.

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If you experienced my reply as flippant and defensive, I don't think we're going to achieve much in this interaction. So best to leave it and move on with our days.

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