Sparkle on Substack

Thanks for joining me beauties.Next week’s free class - Stand in your Power on Substack - https://luma.com/iysfp1m0Early bird for Your Beautiful Digital Magazine on Substack - the live build closes in just two days. Here’s the link Thank you Michelle Dowd, Learn English With Jo, Rebecca J. Gomez, Francesca Mazzucato, Claire Machado, and many others for tuning into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparkleon.substack.com/subscribe

It was a delight to chat with Paul Black, my friend and Brand Partnerships Director at The Bright Agency last week. I hope you enjoy our insightful chat and tour back through some of his career highlights.You can subscribe to The Bright Agency Magazine here;and follow Pau’s instagram here. Ai Overview Thanks ClaudeIn this episode of Sparkle on Substack, Claire is joined by her friend Paul Black, Brand Partnerships Director at The Bright Agency - a 360-degree creative agency representing authors, illustrators and artists across publishing, licensing, film, TV and beyond. Paul lifts the lid on what agents actually do for artists: from the Bologna Children’s Book Fair to navigating the thorny world of AI in illustration, protecting original artwork archives, and why The Bright Agency launched its own Substack magazine. If you’ve ever wondered what happens to your artwork once it leaves your hands or what a licensing deal actually looks like this one is for you.Key QuotesOn what agents do for artists:“We find our job as agents to take what that person has and then just expand it — find those partners, find those creative people that will work with that artist.”On retaining rights:“We always try and retain the rights for licensing and for merchandising so that if something takes off from that book, we’re able to do it.”On artist-first values:“We don’t get paid unless the artist gets paid. That is our number one priority.”On AI and illustration:“Every time somebody tries to do it there is a backlash. Waterstones are not going to let an AI book on their shelves and every time it happens, people pick up on it, it’s a backlash, they get it out.”On protecting artists from AI:“In our contracts we have a clause that says your artwork cannot be AI generated. That’s a big part of our protection.”On the Bright Substack:“We’re trying to open the curtain a little bit — shed a bit of light on what an agency and an agent can do for you.”On original artwork archives:“Shirley Hughes gifted the original manuscript dummies artwork for Dogger, five or six of the Alfie series, and Lucy and Tom — her first book published in the 50s — to the Bodleian Library.” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparkleon.substack.com/subscribe

"I'm obsessed with the moment with when a writer surprises themselves on the page." LindsayA few months ago I sat down with Lindsey and Matt at London Writers' Salon and had the cosiest conversation. I find them both (and what they’ve created SO inspiring). I’m obsessed at the moment with this quote;“People don’t forget how you made them feel” …and as you’ll hear in the episode, when I guested for LWS (during my Substack book launch), I was overwhelmed with how LOVELY they’d made their online space. 💖It’s just the nicest place to hang out and write and there are so many opportunities to meet other writers and go deeper with your writing practice.Hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did recording it.Claire 💫P.S - If you are writing a book this year and want to write with me and the 12 Chapters gang live, you can join us twice a month - it’s free! Sign up here. "We just created a structure, a container that people can rely on — almost like treating it like a yoga class... you book in, you show up, you get your writing work done." MattAi summary thanks ClaudeIn this episode of Sparkle on Substack, host Claire Venus sits down with Matt and Lindsay, from London Writers’ Salon and its Substack publication, Writers’ Hour Magazine.Matt and Lindsay explain how the Salon grew from small in-person London gatherings in 2019 into a thriving global online community during the pandemic. At its heart is Writer’s Hour — daily, silent, hour-long writing sessions held four times a day, Monday to Friday, attended by up to 1,000 writers worldwide. Rather than relying on willpower alone, the sessions give writers a reliable structure — like booking a yoga class — so showing up becomes a habit.The conversation explores the profound sense of community and belonging the Salon fosters. Lindsay shares her own moving story of joining as a shy freelance copywriter and finding her place. The idea of “believing mirrors” — being witnessed in a usually solitary creative process — runs as a thread throughout.They also dig into Writers’ Hour Magazine on Substack, where a new 500-word creative writing prompt is published weekly, attracting 300–500 submissions, judged by guest writers and authors. The constraint of a short word count and surprise prompts is framed as a joyful creative permission slip.The discussion turns candid around monetisation, growth, and sustainability — how to balance creative expression with audience-building, how to avoid burnout, and how to stay clear on the intention behind a publication. Matt and Lindsay are also teasing a new Substack project that aims to bridge personal creative expression with community service.London Writers' Salon here on Substack ⤵️* 🌎 londonwriterssalon.com* LWS Membership — community.londonwriterssalon.com/membership* IG - https://www.instagram.com/londonwriterssalon/?hl=en This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparkleon.substack.com/subscribe

“We literally can’t consume anymore. We’ve consumed all of the internet, guys. We win. We win a medal. We know what to do on Substack Notes, we don’t have to over think it and we don’t have to share our breakfast.”Hi folks,Thanks for joining me for my impromptu live yesterday. I wanted to break down the importance of jumping on this WONDERFUL opportunity of scheduling your notes this month. Drop me an emoji in the comments if you’re going to try it out?I’ll pop back in on a live at the end of the month ahead of our Notes engagement thread. Ai Summary - thanks Claude. This is an impromptu live session hosted by Claire (of Sparkle on Substack), aimed at her community of Substack writers — particularly women who want to write and grow online without burning out. The session covers three main areas:1. Curating Substack Notes for Your Wellbeing Claire opens by urging viewers to aggressively mute and block content on Notes that feels overwhelming or news-heavy. She frames Notes as a space that should feel like a creative retreat, not a doom-scroll. She emphasises that the algorithm learns your preferences quickly, so liking and muting deliberately shapes what you see.2. Content Buckets & Ideal Reader Before diving into scheduling, Claire explains her approach to editorial planning. She uses 2–3 “content buckets” — broad theme categories that all her writing fits into (e.g. Self-Seed Your Business, Wholehearted Living). She ties every piece of content back to a clearly defined ideal reader: what they feel on the inside, what they think on the outside. The goal isn’t to force topics, but to develop an embodied sense of what that reader needs.3. Scheduling Notes (the Practical Demo) Claire walks through Substack’s new Notes scheduling feature, showing how to draft, save, and schedule notes in advance — useful for holidays, busy periods, or reaching audiences in different time zones. She advises putting links in the comments rather than the note itself (for better reach), tracking which notes convert to subscribers (not just likes), and not obsessing over vanity metrics. She plans to experiment with scheduling notes overnight to reach international audiences.“We don’t need to go viral. We need to be connecting with the one human — this person — who isn’t already subscribed to our work and would love to be.”Her Story Towards the end, Claire shares her personal origin story: she started her Substack in 2020 during postpartum, with three hours of childcare a week, while her husband was seriously ill. Writing was her lifeline, and she describes discovering a raw, poetic voice she didn’t know she had. Three people paid in her first week.Sparkle on Substack 💎Diamond membership tier is available with a £50 discount expiring April 3rd, and you are invited to our free book writing group, 12 Chapters Club!! Key Quotes“On Substack Notes, you need to be imagining that you are walking into a retreat that is gonna fuel your creativity — who’s there, what have they got to say, what’s on the wall, are there fresh flowers, is the coffee good... That is the best environment for our creative practice. Don’t consume stuff that is going to upset you.”“We don’t really need the vanity metrics. Like we don’t need the likes... The purpose really with notes is discoverability — for new people to find our work.”“I always connect everything I write back to the audience. And I hold the audience that I know in my head.”“It’s not about blueprints — it’s about what feels really good to you. That’s how we don’t burn out. It’s not a job, it’s a response to a calling guys!”“People are constantly making judgements and constantly deciding in their nervous systems whether you’re the right person for them.”“We can ditch all the social media stuff about hooks and grabbing attention and just know that the right people will seek us out. We just have to kind of fly our flag a little bit.”Top tipsIf you put a link in a note, it doesn’t do as well. Like it isn’t shown to as many people. So put the link in the comments below.✨Helpful screenshots on how to schedule Notes (desktop) ✨Join 💎Diamond Membership, get my eyes on your Substack for a whole year - payment plans available! * Work on your Substack goals and strategy with a wonderfully supportive community. Get accountability and eyes on your blind spots. * Align your Substack home with your business and content ecosystem across all platforms and your website! * Get Access to my updated Substack 0-$10k framework and run through it live with us in June! or jump into our telegram chat group NOW! * Live Monthly coaching and mentoring calls. (These are either 9.30am or 3pm UK time - I tend to alternate month on month). I hot seat your Substack so we can peer learn together! * Access to masterclass replays, guest teaching replays and advanced Substack tutorials to convert more free subs to paid subs and set up a home here you are SUPER proud of. * An annual Substack audit with me where a kind and supportive critical friend (that’s me) for your Substack and we work on new strategies and design to increase free and paid subs and align with your wider writing and visibility goals! Join us, comment below or dm me, email claire@creativelyconscious.co.uk with any questions. Hit reply if you have questions, I love hearing from you. Claire ✨ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparkleon.substack.com/subscribe

More here folks - This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparkleon.substack.com/subscribe

Thank you Christina Bieber Lake, RAJ KAUR, mary beth kaplan🪶, Jennifer Zarin, LCAT, Margaret Williams, MS, ACC, and many others for tuning into my live video with Emilia Ferreira! Join me for my next live video in the app.“Biohacking is the art of controlling your biology — and you are the mastermind. You can control your environment from inside and outside, but that needs to be an individual journey. We have so much more control than we think we have. Right now I am 41, about to be 42, and my biological age is 25. The reason why I say that is because I don’t do too much and that still has a huge impact.” - Emilia, on the power of simple, consistent biohacking This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparkleon.substack.com/subscribe

💎 My Diamond Member Portal for business owners who want to use Substack as a key part of of their online home is re-open for a limited time. This isn’t just Substack - this is audience development, platform congruence and business alchemy. If you have a business and need to get right to the heart of how to utilise this wonderful platform my annual audit and monthly hot seat mentoring calls will give you clarity, community and momentum as you build. If you have questions reply to this email or shoot me a dm here or on IG. Hi folks,How are you? It was fool’s Spring yesterday so that was nice. Our heating system also broke down so we got our log burning stove going. 🔥 I finished work late last night and I’m still working out how much energy I have to do that at 44! Transitioning from that into my daughter’s wild full moon energy at bedtime. I feel fragile today. As I emerged from the tussle at 9.15pm, my son guided me into the kitchen;You’ve got to see this mum! It was Venus - the planet - it’s our planet mum look at it, it’s incredible. (Yes Venus is our real name) And it was, really really incredible, twinkly in the centre of a jet black sky - it made me feel really small and really powerful all at the same time. You and the beautiful network of STARS around you… I dug this class out of the archive because it’s SO important for you all to watch if you are building here on Substack, you’re semi confused about how Substack can plug into other places (email lists, social media, search engines) and you want to get unstuck on all of that. How your business and other online spaces fit with Substack can feel like a tricky conundrum. A puzzle to solve. - Why would people pay for a newsletter you’ve been sending for free- How can you move your community over from socials- What about if you already have an email list?- Are we blogging too? Digging it out from the archives was inspired by this Substack Note about online ecosystems If you’re new to Substack this class is great for beginners but I also made you a Quick Start Guide. All members get access to my four week long drip fed beginners course too. Other bits and bobs to tell you* I’ve just wrapped up my live Audience Alchemy programme where we’ve spent 8 weeks streamlining out audience development ecosystem… It’s been THE most fun - I have loved spending time with the wonderful women in the course and leaning into hear more of their true voices and what they are here to do. Some of them met up in real life too! 🌟 * If you missed it, I went live with Veronica Llorca-Smith to chat more about how we use Substack with other platforms and we both got super transparent about the subscriber plateaus and member churn. Listen in your pod app or here.* I’m mid way through my experiment using IG and Substack Notes in tandem with specific outcomes. I’ll share more on IG as I go and ultimately write an article on it. Follow me over there? * Last call to write a piece for International Women’s Day this weekend and have us share it. All the details are here.* Members out ‘Get it Done Week’ is focussed on our welcomes to new subscribers - we will spend the week doing simple tasks like tidying up our welcome email, re-writing an impactful hero post, making a video to help folks understand Substack and drafting drip funnel emails. What’s your flow for this wonderful platform with other online spaces you have? How does it sit with other email newsletter platforms, social media, search engines? Need some help in the comments?I also made a written summary of class here so you can read over it if you don’t have time to watch today. Claire ✨P.S - I’m speaking at the Soulful Sales Summit next week - my session is around using audio here on Substack to grow your ‘know, like and trust’ factor with your audience and ultimately convert more readers to paid subs. I know audio isn’t for everyone but along with the other 47 speakers there’s a tonne of great stuff to lean into and choose from. It’s hosted by Ruth Poundwhite who I really respect. Grab your free ticket here. P.P.S - LAST chance to join my LIVE class teaching you how to set up your own affiliate links for places like bookshop.org and other products and services you love. It’s live next week and the replay and accountability month is included. Affiliate links brought over £3000 into my business last year and I started when I had a very small audience - it compounds over time with many links bringing recurring income. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparkleon.substack.com/subscribe

AI summary, thanks chat. Substack Live: External Links, Affiliate Income & Clean MonetisationIn this Substack Live, Claire explored the evolving question many writers and creators are asking:How should we monetise on Substack — and what actually feels aligned?She unpacked the rise of external links such as Buy Me a Coffee and Ko-fi, affiliate income, patron-style models, and paid subscriptions — not just from a tactical perspective, but from a values-led one.This wasn’t just about buttons and links.It was about power, positioning, nervous systems, and long-term sustainability.Key Themes Covered☕ Buy Me a Coffee & Donation LinksClaire discussed the growing popularity of “coffee economy” links and why, personally, she chooses not to use them.While acknowledging that these tools can feel like a softer step than paid subscriptions, she reflected on her own journey around being paid for creative work — and why she prefers cleaner, clearer value exchanges such as:* Paid subscriptions* Affiliate partnerships* Ebooks* Courses* Off-platform offersShe encouraged listeners to read Substack’s terms carefully and make informed, embodied decisions.🔗 Affiliate Income (Aligned & Strategic)Claire shared how she has used affiliate income for over five years — not through random low-value links, but through partnerships fully aligned with her business.She spoke about affiliate income as:* A background drip income stream* A strategic layer inside a wider ecosystem* A way to compound income over timeShe also introduced her class:Anyone Can Be An Affiliate(Currently half price until Saturday.)💛 Patron Models & Paid SubscriptionsThe conversation moved into the patron-style model — where readers choose to support work even if everything remains open.Claire highlighted:* Patron models can work beautifully at scale* Clear boundaries and business acumen become important* Not all value must sit behind a paywallShe also shared why she personally loves the intimacy of paid subscriptions on Substack — describing it as stabilising and supportive for both creator and reader.🧠 The Attention Economy & Nervous SystemsA powerful thread throughout the Live was the impact of the attention economy on our nervous systems.Claire explored:* Why headlines now require more curiosity and precision* Why open rates respond to intrigue* How trial reels are helping her refine messaging* The difference between Instagram as a “shop window” and Substack as an intimate spaceShe described building a paid Substack as “self-development times a thousand” — a process that reveals how we relate to money, visibility, authority, and safety.📈 Multiple Income Streams & Long-Term StabilityClaire reflected on why she believes multiple income streams are essential in today’s economic climate — particularly in the UK.Rather than relying on one offer, she spoke about:* Compounding skills over time* Building assets that run quietly in the background* Designing a business that feels steady and sovereignMentioned in This Live* Anyone Can Be An Affiliate (class) - https://www.creativelyconscious.co.uk/affiliate-income-for-writers-creatives-and-entrepreneurs * Membership (currently £20/month or £220/year — prices increasing at end of February)* Monetisation class inside membership* Substack calculator & quick start setup guide* Instagram: @creatively.consciousClosing ReflectionThis Live wasn’t about choosing the “right” monetisation model.It was about asking:* What feels clean?* What feels steady?* What feels respectful of your work?* What kind of ecosystem do you want to build long term? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparkleon.substack.com/subscribe

“The main work to do in life and in the online world is nervous system work.” Thank you Eva Lydon 🌿, RAJ KAUR, mary beth kaplan🪶, New Harmony Homeopath, Geetika, and many others for tuning into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app.Here are the resources and people I mentioned…thank you for coming to my impromptu Ted talk with over 850 PEOPLE - woah!! * Kendall Marie Platt 🌱 at The Seed * Keris Fox at The Ladybird Purse • Talk Money to Me * Amie McNee and The Pound Project - video here in my lives or listen in your podcast app. * Caro Giles at Open In The Middle * Audience Alchemy - my FREE audience development classes. * My wonderful mentor Leonie Dawson - sign up for her brilliant academy here.* Home page design video - AI Summary - thanks Claude. SummaryThis is a live session by Claire on her Substack Sparkle on Substack, covering joyful growth in 2026 — specifically how to grow a Substack publication in a way that feels sustainable, aligned, and community-rooted rather than hustle-driven.Core themes covered:Substack growth tools: Claire walks through the key in-platform tools for growth — the Recommendations feature (she credits it with 10,000+ subscribers), the welcome page with blurbs, and Substack Notes. She emphasises curating your Notes feed to protect your nervous system, using fresh (original) notes over restacking, and treating the whole thing like a networking event built on genuine reciprocity.Depth of connection: The central argument for 2026 is moving away from vanity metrics toward genuinely knowing your audience. She talks about the “magic trio” of likes, comments and shares for algorithmic reach; using the subscriber tab to send targeted emails; adding polls in posts; and understanding whether your readers engage passively or actively — and being okay with both.Audio and video: She cites a Substack stat that publications using audio grow 2.5x faster than those that don’t. Video, she says, is the “golden egg” — it breaks the parasocial wall instantly. She personally felt terrified of video for years and encourages self-compassion in learning it.Unsubscribes and churn: Handled with a healthy perspective — subscriptions are fluid, unsubscribes aren’t personal, and the pause button exists for a reason.Off-platform growth: For faster growth, especially toward Substack’s “Bestseller” tier (101 paid subscribers), you need to grow off-platform too — whether through Pinterest pins, SEO blog posts, or Meta ads (which she’s curious about but hasn’t used herself). Going viral is described as “a lottery.”Making time with a full life: For someone with a young child and full-time job, she recommends optimising your phone (delete other social apps, keep Substack and a notes app), capturing threads of ideas, and writing in small windows like nap times.Guest posts and collaboration: She did guest posts once a month to build confidence and visibility, and invited guests onto her Substack. She notes there are far fewer gatekeepers than people think.“Subscribing to someone’s life — it’s not natural to be subscribed to multiple people’s lives for the long term. We need to think about the power of REAL and power social relationships and the impact we want those to have on us and our work” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparkleon.substack.com/subscribe

Thank you to JP Watson at The Pound Project and to you all for coming along live to hear us chat. If you do have questions for the The Pound Project team, do post them in the comments and JP might get chance to answer a couple.Learn more - https://www.poundproject.co.uk/And MOST importantly - buy Amie McNee’s book for three weeks only!!LOOK at this beautiful graphic recording of our chat… thank you so so much Cara Holland ✨Ai Summary - thanks Claude… This is an interview between Claire Venus (engagement consultant and Substack expert) and JP, founder of Pound Project Publishing. JP shares the origin story and business model of his independent publishing house. Key Business Model:* Uses crowdfunding as the primary publishing mechanism* Creates affordable, small-format, beautifully designed books* Minimal upfront investment required from authors* Community-driven support systemOrigin Story: The Pound Project emerged from three motivations: disillusionment with traditional creative industries, the rise of crowdfunding as a viable business model, and a desire to create something sustainable and democratic. JP started by writing and self-publishing his own book, which became the template for the publishing house.Recent Development: JP discusses launching “Tear and Share” - a new initiative supporting artists through gift card-style prints, created in response to declining Instagram reach for visual artists.Key QuotesOn community support: “The creative community amongst writers and artists can be so supportive. If you’re willing to ask. And I think that intertwines with that point I’m saying about having a belief in yourself.”On business advice: “Make sure everything is really hot and professional and there’s a website and there’s a presence before you bring it to market.”On the payment model: “We’re giving 50% net profits on any sale post print to the person. So the person actually recoups what they’ve put in because they’re getting 50% of anything they sell.”On Instagram’s impact on artists: “I’m like apoplectic about what’s happened with social media reach and photography and illustration and art... I don’t think I can think of an example of a business biting the hand that has fed them more than what’s happened with Instagram.”On Amie McNee new book: “The first book is essentially a manifesto about believing in creativity... kicking off and railing about how we’ve all been brainwashed into believing that work is what it is. And then the second bit... is actually advice on how to have self-belief, how to build a sustainable community of people who want to support you.” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparkleon.substack.com/subscribe

AI Summary - thanks ClaudeThis is a live chat conversation between Claire Venus ✨ and Claire Powell as part of January Joy(ful) Growth Club with Russell and Claire The conversation focuses on finding joy online, particularly on Substack while streaming live, and discusses personal and professional growth.Key Topics Discussed:* Finding joy in January’s gray weather through connection and conversation* The pressure and expectations that come with January as a “clean slate”* Challenges of self-employment (tax returns, financial pressures)* Claire’s (guest) car breaking down on the way to the call* Substack growth strategies and engagement* Illustration work and collaboration opportunities* Anti-AI art sentiment and the value of hand-drawn work* Product ideas including notebooks with illustrationsNotable QuotesOn finding joy:* “My style of joy is almost turning things that in the moment don’t feel very joyful into we just need to laugh at this.”On January’s challenges:* “I think January can be a bit of a an isolating time because everyone’s trying to get back into the rhythm of things um intentions are high expectations are high we’re all trying to be better people”On connection:* “I think it makes it feel slightly less bleep even if you just call someone up and i’m like this is rough and they’re like yeah tell me about it i instantly feel not alone”On the car incident:* “as I was thinking this, steam started rising from the bonnet of my car” ... “All we can do is laugh about that, really.”On Substack vs Instagram:* “It’s not as saturated as Instagram... Like Instagram has become a bit of an echo chamber... you look at one picture of a chicken and then all of a sudden all you’re seeing is chickens”On illustration quality:* “there is a quality to hand-drawn, hand-painted work, especially work that is commissioned specifically for somebody’s words” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparkleon.substack.com/subscribe

“I am a person who believes really strongly that like there is no scarcity in creativity. The more I create the more I can create. The more I write the more I will write. So I’m not worried about like oh god I’m gonna run out of ideas. It’s never happened.” Alix Klingenberg Thank you Mary Beth Kaplan🪶, Laia Bové, Jazmon Bradley, Angela Limb, Nance Scott, and many others for tuning into my live video with Alix Klingenberg! Join me for my next live video in the app.Subscribe to Alix Klingenberg here…Buy her book - Quietly Wild - https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Quietly-Wild/Alix-Klingenberg/9798887621531Ai Summary - thanks Claude Summary: Community Conversation with Claire Venus and Alix KlingenbergThis conversation features Claire Venus, an engagement consultant and Substack expert, in discussion with Alix Klingenberg, a poet, spiritual director, and author, about community building on Substack.Key Points About Alix:Background & Work:* Spiritual director who helps people find meaning through earth-based, science-driven spiritual practice* Writes on Substack about connecting with the land and recognizing ourselves as part of nature* Author of four poetry collections: Secrets and Stars, Bread, Sex, Trees, Hermit Season, and Quietly Wild* Quietly Wild features her film photography alongside seasonal poetry, published by Mandala Earth* Started on Substack in March 2024Creative Philosophy:* Believes in connecting with inner rhythms and seasonal cadences* Her poems represent her “neurotic self talking to her more calm, centered higher self”* Finds spring and fall most creative; struggles in November* Emphasizes that scarcity doesn’t exist in creativity—the more you create, the more you can createSubstack Approach:* Writes weekly free newsletters with creative prompts* Offers monthly live writing calls for paid subscribers (unrecorded to create safe space)* Runs seasonal programs like “Secrets and Stars” with creative prompts and writing sessions* Values organic, non-viral growth and building authentic community* Appreciates how Substack allows email list ownershipCommunity Building:* Trained as a community facilitator* Focuses on helping people see their innate gifts and become unafraid of showing up* Creates spaces for people to write and share half-baked ideas safely* Has written 100+ articles through consistent practiceThe conversation emphasizes sustainable creative practice, honoring natural rhythms, and building genuine community through thoughtful engagement rather than chasing viral growth. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparkleon.substack.com/subscribe

“The Swedish term lagom (pronounced roughly as 'lah-gom') is a word and cultural concept that roughly translates to "just the right amount" or "not too much, not too little". It has no single direct English translation but encapsulates the Swedish principle of balance, moderation, and sufficiency in all aspects of life.” “Those I’ve followed for 10 years are those that allowed themselves to evolve and experiment. People follow the energy and excitement, not the sameness.” Subscribe to Elin here… Ai summary - thanks ClaudeJoyful Growth: A Conversation with ElinOverviewClaire and Elin discuss maintaining joy and authenticity as creators across a decade of building online businesses, part of the January Joy(ful) Growth Club with Russell and Claire Key ThemesThe Reality of Creative Work* Not always joyful: Elin emphasizes that building a creative business online hasn’t been joyful every single day* Cycles are natural: Both creators experience periods of high creative output followed by quieter, more difficult phases* Return to basics: When overwhelmed, the solution is always returning to the art itself—creating for the joy of itThe Journey* Elin started in 2016 on Instagram with hand embroidery, experiencing rapid viral growth* Built across multiple platforms gradually: Instagram first, then Pinterest, then YouTube* Started writing on Substack two years ago as a way to reconnect with creative joy* Has been running some form of subscription for eight yearsManaging Growth and Expectations* Cultural conditioning: Elin discusses Swedish “lagom” culture (don’t be too much, be steady) and how it influenced her approach* The hamster wheel trap: Easy to replicate the same patterns you’re trying to escape when monetizing passion* Outsourcing excellence: Never give control of your creative practice to external rules—whether business coaches, algorithms, or platform requirementsPivots and Transitions* Ellen launched a second Substack (art magazine) while guilt-ridden about leaving Instagram* Faced challenges when moving existing email subscribers to Substack* Currently in another transition phase, rebranding and moving away from subscriptions* Recognizes different business models serve different life seasonsKey InsightsOn Authenticity: “I deeply struggle with performance. The way I keep going is by committing to being transparent about it as a way to kill the shame.”On Starting: “Move your ass and your mind will follow” - you can’t think your way out of creative blocks; you must physically createOn Qualifications: “Nobody can target me for not being an expert at my own experience because literally that’s what I lived.”On Platform Relationships:* Think of platforms as marriages—there will be honeymoon periods and difficult seasons* Building on borrowed land has trade-offs, but can still be valuable* The key is maintaining your own creative center regardless of platform changesPractical Wisdom* Create one thing daily (stitch away keeps the doctor away)* Add platforms gradually, not all at once* Keep non-monetized creative practices alongside business* Self-care checklist: When wanting to quit, check—are you tired? Hungry? Need a walk?* Use triggers as mirrors: When feeling envious or frustrated online, examine what it reveals about your own needs* Create before you consume: Protect your creative energy from comparison and distraction* You only need one reason to start: “I want to” is enoughOn Subscriptions and Sustainability* Subscriptions can provide stability during intense life seasons (young children, house moves, life pivots)* They serve as an anchor to keep creating during difficult times* Different business models suit different life phases* It’s okay to pivot when something no longer serves youFinal Message* The only constant is change* Never outsource your excellence to external validation* Vulnerability is part of our humanity, not a weakness* Joy comes from the art itself, and growth follows as a byproduct* “Evolve or die”—not physical death, but the death of living asleep to your creative potential - Claire attributes to Ana Forest - her yoga teacher - the concept of evolving to stay awake. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparkleon.substack.com/subscribe