Burning your words is a ritual, an act of magic. You were conjuring your truest, deepest self and my God, did she arrive 😍
I am so proud of your courage, your curiosity, your desire for something profound. You are a writer, Caroline. This is your calling and I’m ecstatic that you’ve heeded what was tugging on your highest self. “Write myself free” what a line! Burn it up baby! Your brightness is stunning and I can’t get enough 💥❤️🔥🔥
Chills, full body chills over here!! I do not take this lightly or for granted. It’s because of the Jenovias (though you are wholly original) of the world that I’m able to do this, that I have any courage. What a disaster that we lived so much before knowing one another!
You are indeed a writer! Reminiscent of Joan Didion's quote, “I write entirely to find out what I'm thinking, what I'm looking at, what I see and what it means. What I want and what I fear.” You are embracing that power and infusing it with your signature style.
I can’t believe how much time I wasted thinking “you have to be creative to write, and you’re not creative.” It’s nice to have good teachers like you and Joan 🤍
A reminder to us all Caroline, to consistently keep writing to overcome inner struggles, develop self-awareness, and find our voice. It is a pleasure to share your journey and keep that fire going for the next 12 months :-).
We're all used to reading these, and it's usually mostly about how someone gained X subscribers in 6 or 12 months. (Nothing wrong with this, of course). However, you, being wiser than most, has other things to discuss.
Thanks for your writing, Caroline. It's been a pleasure reading your thoughts.
I will say something I've already said: In it, you explore yourself, and you help us explore ourselves, too. You're an example of writing serving its purpose, which is to shed light on the nature of the human.
Thank you for this beautiful comment!! I easily get disheartened but the numbers and statistics…in one hand I want big success, in the other I want smallness. So I avoid that for now. I’m sure it’ll make its way out. I so appreciate your honest engagement and support. It’s a pleasure to read your pieces. They bring such insight!
They'll keep coming, I'm sure. There are a lot more people out there who want and can benefit from hearing this message. Numbers matter, after all, we do put in work in thinking and writing these things. Your growth is steady, while means the people on your list do want to stay, and I'm sure a lot more will be drawn to this message of realness and authenticity.
Beautiful tribute to writing as both a key to self-awareness and to community. One reinforces the other, and Substack may be unique in the way it creates a writers' community. And i'm grateful to be with you as part of that community.
ahhh yes and did you mention writers doing it as necessity? fire is an element i am intrigued with but you will surely be playing with it when the "stories" accumulate, take shape and your very fine writing enlisted daringly....to tell them 😯😚
Fabulous Caroline! I have a 120 page manuscript I want to burn and I can't do it in the sink! I've know for a while that burning it will release my fears of self publishing it. Thanks for sharing your experience and reminding me to find a place to fulfill this ritual of my own!
I love so much how you’ve always known that it was about more than just burning. I impulsively did it because I had a vague memory of someone praising the practice — and later felt the magnitude. You’ve helped guide me in many ways!
And I’ll always read, whether it’s self published or not 🤍
Here’s to burning brightly- unafraid of our own light. 🔥
I got all kinds of goosebumps reading this, Caroline. You captured so beautifully the transformative nature of writing as a tool to ripen and grow. I loved this essay and will return to it. Thanks for sharing your fire with us all.
Fuck yes! This!!! 💥💥💥
This gave me the zoomies. RIPPPING AND RUNNING!!!
Burning your words is a ritual, an act of magic. You were conjuring your truest, deepest self and my God, did she arrive 😍
I am so proud of your courage, your curiosity, your desire for something profound. You are a writer, Caroline. This is your calling and I’m ecstatic that you’ve heeded what was tugging on your highest self. “Write myself free” what a line! Burn it up baby! Your brightness is stunning and I can’t get enough 💥❤️🔥🔥
Chills, full body chills over here!! I do not take this lightly or for granted. It’s because of the Jenovias (though you are wholly original) of the world that I’m able to do this, that I have any courage. What a disaster that we lived so much before knowing one another!
But all is well now. And we’re BURNING IT UP!!!
🫂🥰🫂
Right?! Where have you been alll mah life?! 😂😍🫂 💥❤️🔥
We would have been too strong for society to handle!!
You are indeed a writer! Reminiscent of Joan Didion's quote, “I write entirely to find out what I'm thinking, what I'm looking at, what I see and what it means. What I want and what I fear.” You are embracing that power and infusing it with your signature style.
I can’t believe how much time I wasted thinking “you have to be creative to write, and you’re not creative.” It’s nice to have good teachers like you and Joan 🤍
I thought the same until I was 43 and stories started blasting out of my head. I think it finds you when you are ready :)
Yes! I wouldn’t have known what to do with this any earlier 🤣
A reminder to us all Caroline, to consistently keep writing to overcome inner struggles, develop self-awareness, and find our voice. It is a pleasure to share your journey and keep that fire going for the next 12 months :-).
Thank you so much!! I have truly enjoyed sharing this space with you. I’m grateful ☺️
We're all used to reading these, and it's usually mostly about how someone gained X subscribers in 6 or 12 months. (Nothing wrong with this, of course). However, you, being wiser than most, has other things to discuss.
Thanks for your writing, Caroline. It's been a pleasure reading your thoughts.
I will say something I've already said: In it, you explore yourself, and you help us explore ourselves, too. You're an example of writing serving its purpose, which is to shed light on the nature of the human.
Thank you for this beautiful comment!! I easily get disheartened but the numbers and statistics…in one hand I want big success, in the other I want smallness. So I avoid that for now. I’m sure it’ll make its way out. I so appreciate your honest engagement and support. It’s a pleasure to read your pieces. They bring such insight!
They'll keep coming, I'm sure. There are a lot more people out there who want and can benefit from hearing this message. Numbers matter, after all, we do put in work in thinking and writing these things. Your growth is steady, while means the people on your list do want to stay, and I'm sure a lot more will be drawn to this message of realness and authenticity.
It is steady. Which may not always be what I want, but it’s exactly what I need.
Beautiful tribute to writing as both a key to self-awareness and to community. One reinforces the other, and Substack may be unique in the way it creates a writers' community. And i'm grateful to be with you as part of that community.
This speaks to me with a very special though familiar tone.
I'm always honoured to be part of this journey. Thanks Caroline
I’m humbled! Thank you so 🤍
ahhh yes and did you mention writers doing it as necessity? fire is an element i am intrigued with but you will surely be playing with it when the "stories" accumulate, take shape and your very fine writing enlisted daringly....to tell them 😯😚
Flames flames everywhere!!!!
Always profound and insightful and moving. God bless you!
Thank you, my friend!
Wow! This is perfection on the page! Thank you for this beautifully written essay, Caroline.
Thank you so, thank you 😊
Fabulous Caroline! I have a 120 page manuscript I want to burn and I can't do it in the sink! I've know for a while that burning it will release my fears of self publishing it. Thanks for sharing your experience and reminding me to find a place to fulfill this ritual of my own!
I love so much how you’ve always known that it was about more than just burning. I impulsively did it because I had a vague memory of someone praising the practice — and later felt the magnitude. You’ve helped guide me in many ways!
And I’ll always read, whether it’s self published or not 🤍
I love that I now know the decor of your apartment and that it’s the perfect space to burn those words and feel that release. So in love with this.
Sobs!!! Because I truly think you’re the coolest 🔥
Love your writing. Reading something like this helps motivate me to write more. Very inspiring.
This is the best comment! Thank you! 😊
So glad you’re here!
Crossing paths with you has been such a gift!
Agreed!!
Keep going! Don't let the naysayers, especially those deep within, get you down! Been there.
Yes yes yes!! Thank you for the support. And I’m sending back to you 🤍
Omg i've never burned anything i've written! Should I try?
Yes!!!! So cathartic, especially for those prickly thoughts!
Here’s to burning brightly- unafraid of our own light. 🔥
I got all kinds of goosebumps reading this, Caroline. You captured so beautifully the transformative nature of writing as a tool to ripen and grow. I loved this essay and will return to it. Thanks for sharing your fire with us all.
What a gorgeous comment to wake up to!! Thank you so much for being here ❤️❤️