Hello dear women and welcome to these rooms again! I wonder what you are hoping to find here? Honestly, I will tell you I am not exactly sure what I want to provide, but then, I am not exactly sure about much these days. : )
What I do know is that it would be nourishing to be able to have a place to find each other if we are trying to do our work with simplicity and deep care for ourselves. I have made many shifts since we last gathered here in that spirit…I’ve let go of social media, I’ve left MailChimp and most other tools and companies outside my blogs and Etsy shop, I’ve created pared-down rhythms for my work and sharing.
But I’ve also lost my making mojo almost entirely…week after week I put off designing my 2022 Daybook line, creating stationery doesn’t really interest me, and I’ve pulled all my papery things out of my shop after a favorite paper was discontinued and my enthusiasm waned. Fortunately, my interest in Wisteria & Sunshine hasn’t waned, tho’ I am needing to find different ways to spread the word and allow the women who would love it to find it.
When we gathered here before, it soon became clear that most of us were struggling with our businesses in one way or another, but hadn’t really come to any decisions about what to do. Since then, a few that were here have given up their businesses. Others of us have spent these years refining, probably still seeking too much, making some good changes, but still figuring things out.
And in those intervening years, I’ve seen more and more people who write or have small, creative businesses trying to do things differently…find their own paths…turn away from what felt required…slowly, slowly craft a life where work and well-being and contentment weave together into something more pleasing than before. That is what I am intending for myself, too, even if I don’t know just what it will look like yet.
Why don’t we begin here by sharing in the comments what we are intending for ourselves around our work, what is working and what isn’t…basically your own version of what I just shared? And we can go on from there, step by step, until we know a little more clearly where we are going and what we would like this place to be.
I’m so pleased to be here with you.
xo Lesley
P.S. This post might be a practical, helpful one to visit next…
mel August 5, 2021 at 2:57 pm
Oh Lesley! I’m so glad I happened to be on my computer when your email invitation came through!
I’m sorry to hear that your interest in stationery has waned…but can absolutely understand. These things ebb and flow and perhaps you’re simply moving into a different iteration of your creative work.
It’s lovely to be back here again….and, hopefully, with a different perspective and more insights than the last go-around. Interestingly, looking back at my old journals, I see I’m struggling with much the same things — although, I’m happy to report that many of those struggles have found solutions…the struggle being more in the execution of those solutions. š
I’ve tried — repeatedly — to make friends with instagram and have finally, at long last (and with a scraped and bloody forehead :D), realized that it’s simply not for me and I won’t be participating any longer. I’ve kept my account because I do check in occasionally to visit with friends who I don’t have contact with elsewhere, and I belong to a group that has a bi-weekly ‘coffee chat’…but my days of contributing are over.
I’m happy to report that I’ve settled into a good rhythm with my writing — I’ve set aside the notion that I could be one of those 6-books-a-year indie authors and have adopted a slow and gentle pace…..one of fluid deadlines and plenty of planned rests. I’ve discovered that my small-but-dedicated readership is quite content to wait for my next release and knowing that I’m serving such a delightful group is what keeps me plodding onwards when I feel like throwing my computer out of the window.
I’m still shackled to Amazon, however — as without the wide reach of social media/advertising/shameless self-promotion — there’s really nowhere else for organic growth. I have a wonderful relationship with a shopkeeper in a nearby town who stocks my books and is so very supportive of local artists and creators and I hope that once the doom-cloud of The Virus recedes a bit, I can become more involved with that avenue of sales. Ultimately, I’d love to have my books printed locally, with earth-friendly paper etc but having costed that out initially, it’s just beyond my financial grasp at this point. I’ve compromised by having any print copies that I purchase/sell done through Ingram Spark, which isn’t Amazon. š
Right…don’t want to clutter up the comments…there’s so much I could say, so much that I’ve sifted through and let go, especially in the last year or so. I’m definitely transitioning into my rosehip-ness as I find my tolerance for hustle culture/capitalist/consumerist ideas and methods to be reduced to less-than-zero. š
I look forward to hearing/seeing what everyone is up to. I would definitely love to take part in co-working sessions. etc — I find that sort of thing very motivating. xo
dori August 5, 2021 at 7:43 pm
I am so happy to be back here, and am truly looking forward to writing in my journal again. There is something about writing down thoughts and goals, and sharing them safely with others, that can keep one a little more accountable. To write goals down is going to require some soul searching on my part, I fear.
I’m still struggling to transition Joyful Alchemy to a more seasonally focused and earth friendly endeavor. It’s taking longer than I had envisioned, in part because I have a terrible time saying “no” to long-time customers. I’ve got to get over that. I’ve made some progress in decreasing my stocked inventory of teas this year, not only the variety, but also the quantity. I must stay the course, because I’m desperate for more space and peace in my tiny studio. It’s a total jumble!
There are two things I so want to do next year. I want to write more in my blog. I have this burning desire to share my love for nature and what is around me in my part of the world with others. We desperately need people to fall in love with nature again, don’t you think? So, I want to write about what is growing/happening in my garden, fields and forest. I’d like to write posts about the herbs that I may be harvesting while they are in season, and give simple tips on use. Nothing deep or too scientific, just lovely, easy ways to weave such things into one’s life. There’s just so much beauty, and it is feeling so threatened!
And next year, I hope to finally fine-tune my teas, herbs, apothecary goods and anything else I may want to play with into small collections loosely based on the Celtic Wheel of the Year and the seasons. I want to follow my heart, do what brings me joy, produce a limited-quantity, make things only available for about an 8 week window. I already do this to some degree, but now Iām going to get quite disciplined about it.
Oh, I’ve got to put some effort into rebuilding my mailing list, and nudging my FB followers to my blog. I’m really quite peeved with FB. Not quite ready to cut ties with Instagram though.
Kandice August 6, 2021 at 11:03 am
Dori, the blog you describe writing is exactly the kind of thing I like to follow! And your Celtic tea series, that’s just up my alley. An herbalist I have worked with and am friendly with sends out thoughtful seasonal emails and I actually really look forward to reading them and always open them – as well she puts seasonal offerings in her shop and I love the in-the-moment/season spirit of this.
Going forward I’ll be interested in hearing more about building a mailing list. I’m feeling very allergic to social media lately.
Kandice August 6, 2021 at 5:50 pm
My boyfriend and are business partners and run Shoalwater Pottery, a full-time pottery business. We have one half-time employee. We do direct sales at weekend farmer’s markets and craft shows, wholesale through gift shops, and limited online sales through Etsy.
Hope to Doā¦kind of a lot right now. Thatās why Iām here though. Iām pretty burnt out so a lot of my issues stem around that at the moment. I would like to say though, that Iām really grateful to be doing what I do, I love my lifestyle, and feel that if I make some adjustments I can get a good balance going for us. Thanks ahead of time if you read all this and I totally welcome input. Also I look forward to seeing if any of us have crossover issues because Iād love to hear how youāre dealing with similar things.
1. Establish some presence for customers that is not fb or ig…is that even possible? It honestly may not be for me. I have literally been ignoring my social media except every couple weeks I force myself to handle whatever messages come in. Yeah, I know, very professional, but I just can’t bring myself to post anything. I’m naturally a very private person and I’ve been trying to play by all the rules to be successful in this day and age, but man, I hate sharing, managing comments, exhausting myself with everyone elseās feeds. Work isn’t so bad privacy-wise, but the thought of posting then having to reply to all the inevitable comments and single order requests…I just can’t even right now. It’s a dependable way for people to easily reach out and certainly folks these days expect it, we get a lot of local love this way. Maybe I should have my employee largely manage the business social medias? I just donāt know how to evaluate their value to know if itās even worth it.
2. The other thing I’m struggling with is more personal. I’m struggling with holding my space with my employee. Iām so accustomed to being in my studio zone with Aaron, Iām completely myself. But having a person aroundā¦I want to be her friend but as a sensitive person I find myself drowning in her emotional field. Weāve been friendly acquaintances for several years and I give her space after work and sometimes during to listen and advise regarding her journey & issues. I want to be a good friend but itās becoming exhausting for me and I donāt look forward to being in the studio. Maybe if I just listen and stop trying to advise? Also, I think I try to tone myself way down when Iām around her at work so then I get totally exhausted by my own self-conscious ācompany/onā behavior which at this point feels like itās all the time. I just began reading up on hsp and empaths and doing some work around that on my end.
3. Work Life Balance. 4 days of studio work with employee (plus onsite babysitter plus 4-8 kids depending on the sitter) and 2 days of constant interaction at shows. Iām grateful for our business growth but at this point Iām constantly exhausted. I donāt work out. I donāt meditate. I barely walk the dog, do personal projects, garden, cook, or have time to read, write, or think (read: live). Aaron and I arenāt managing much couple time together. Iām constantly tired. I do eat well and I do go for short walks in nature often. I feel like if I were just more organized with my time I could squeeze in more fulfilling moments but itās hard when Iām so tired all the time.
I’m also a Girl Scout leader! I spend way too much side time managing that whole situation, heheh. Right now the whole troop shows up here once a week and Iām running all the curriculum. Which is fineā¦but hoping my personal load will lessen a little as I move into the school year with two willing assistant-leaders by my side.
Kandice
Leanne August 12, 2021 at 6:24 pm
Itās been so rewarding reading these introductions as I relate to so much of what youāre all expressing. Burnout – tick, wanting more garden, forests and fields – tick, more writing time without the pressure of churning out words to a deadline – tick, struggling to do things differently and then losing interest – tick.
I operate a part-time psychology and art therapy practice from home – a lovely room with a separate entrance looking out over the front garden. My 20 years ago self would have been thrilled to know this is what I do now, but this current self feels so ungrateful – I no longer have to leave the house to get to work, I no longer have to share an office, I no longer work for someone else, I am in demand, I can take time off when I want – yet I am so burnt out and just over it all.
So I ventured into online work a while back, running a few courses and then setting up a membership site so we could have forums away from FB. But the time and energy it required of me to consistently respond to everyone felt like so much more burn out.
From very early in life I knew I was a writer and an artist and that has never changed, but for various reasons I followed the route of amplifying the voices of others at the expense of my own. I realise Iāve spent my life listening and supporting others to the point that my own tank is empty.
So three years ago I started formally studying art and writing my memoir. I am in the process of navigating the transition from therapist to creative but like Dori, itās so hard to say no to existing clients. So I am overwhelmed with both the new and the old right now with no clear path through the chaos.
Instagram seemed like a great place to express my creative self but I have vulnerability hangovers whenever I do and end up reverting to posting photos of my cats and garden instead. I have 13k followers on FB and 1500 on a mailing list, all of whom I mostly ignore.
Iāve had endless business coaching so itās not like I donāt know what to do but finding a way that feels authentic yet gentle and safe is a big challenge.
All this to say I am so happy to be here with you all and know that I am not alone in all this! Thank you Lesley for this space.
michelleswhite August 15, 2021 at 7:44 am
Hrm. Well, Iām a disabled writer with stories that need to find their audience (and by need I mean soul-level imperative, I canāt describe the push there, itās intense) who has done the search for literary agents for a few years before hitting a health wall (newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis) and hasnāt done anything since. I have a blog 2 people reliably read and am frustrated to the point of tears with Instagram (because no matter what I do or when I post, itās the algorithm that determines my reach, and Iām not able to play by its rules… whatever they are). My books are good, every literary agent who gave me feedback confirmed that much, at least. But unless traditional publishing has a radical change of heart (and lets me in), Iām not sure I can or want to do it. And unless I can self publish in a way that makes sense to me (not Amazon, not vanity publishing, not having 500 books sitting in my tiny flat waiting for an audience to show up), thatās not going to work either. But what I DO want is:
– a way to get my stories out to their audience that doesnāt bleed me dry* in the process (* that includes social media, book tours, stressful deadlines, using Amazon, etc). There has to be a way, even if I have to invent it.
– a way to build a community around my work. I have been thinking about Patreon, but without an audience, it seems pointlessly preemptive.
– a way to work that isnāt so hard and driven. I want time to really let these stories form. And I need rest. I only know how to work the societally acceptable way and that way makes me sick. And miserable. And whatās wrong with enjoying life while you do your soulās deepest work? Storytelling is my calling and I canāt and wonāt deny that any more.
I donāt even think this makes sense and Iām not sure how to do any of that. But just being around people working on this gentler level will help, Iām sure. So thank you Lesley, for letting me in this space.