Sorry. Not sorry.

Be careful what you wish for

My writing process goes like this, I read something, or I’m procrastinating on the PhD when I have a cracking idea for the blog.

Those ideas and thoughts make their way to the notes app on my phone, or if I’ve got a very clear idea it goes into my Trello board so I don’t forget to actually write the thing and post it.

My blogs go through various phases of procrastination, research, avoidance, and editing before some of the words make it into an article.

Not because I’m overly thoughtful or especially interested in getting things grammatically correct (I can’t spell or do my nine year olds English homework).

But, because Substack didn’t let me.

Until now.

Substack is now letting me post an article from the app! whilst sat on the sofa watching Glastonbury with a dozy dog asleep on my knee.

There are real upsides to just writing and posting, no polish, no second-guessing. My voice could come through more clearly, because I haven’t had time to water it down.

It’s also a great way to clear the head. Sometimes getting it out is the point. And there’s that small but mighty dopamine hit from pressing publish that builds momentum.

But. (And there is always a but.)

Psychologically speaking, I might wake up the tomorrow with a vulnerability hangover, wondering why I told the (small Substack corner) internet my conscious stream of thoughts.

And if you’re already a bit sensitive to feedback (or the total lack of it), hitting publish too fast can feel more exposing than empowering.

P.s Social identity theory would say I’m not just sharing thoughts, I’m showing you who I am, or at least who I’m trying to be today. Maybe by posting straight from the sofa, half-distracted by Glastonbury and the weight of a snoring dog, I’m quietly saying: I’m a person who thinks out loud.