Yes! Do. Three of us started tennis lessons a couple of years ago. We are still terrible (just do it once a week), but I’d love a book that reflected us. We have 13 kids between us. We laugh at what our young 24-year old coach must think of our conversations. We all have issues- with our families, our kids, friends, the school, the political system, etc. - that we work through each week.
Amelia, not only am I desperate to read “Obsessed with IKEA,” I found so much of this to be deeply resonant. I can't tell you how many times I reimagined my old blog, tried new approaches that never seemed to stick, and how many themed Instagram accounts I started before remembering that I...hate Instagram?! This was *so* relatable—and FWIW, I'm pretty sure all of us would remain cheerleaders for your future efforts, no matter how they panned out.
Thank you! Sadly Obsessed with IKEA is dead and gone - I'd kinda like to check it out again too for a good laugh - I definitely wrote a whole post about how much I liked their plastic straws...🙃🙃🤣🤣
Aw, Amelia! I really love this post--so honest and encouraging. I swim in an ocean of rejections and they continuosly suck- it helps us all when people talk frankly about them--and I love your list of abandoned projects. The wedding planning mom who hates the groom made me laugh out.
And you're a published author! Which just goes to show that the trying and failing never ends, which is helpful for me to know and anticipate. I kinda love that crazy wedding planning mom too - maybe that's the project I should prioritize to revisit! She also plays tennis 😉😉
I love How I Built This, too and what's interesting with these hugely successful entrepreneurs is that they all have failures in their story. Sometimes huge failures - the kind that would certainly make me give up and go get a corporate job. And maybe that's why they're anomalous, because most of us would quit and get a job, but somehow they have the tenacity to try again. I agree, the failures are my favorite bit because we all have them and it's just so inspiring when failure isn't the end.
It's the really huge failures in their stories that keep me going - my failures aren't big in comparison - some of these people lose marriages and all their savings while building their businesses - which makes me think I probably also need to take bigger risks... 🤓
The Icing on the Cake sounds good! Maybe the middle aged tennis ladies all get their own hot summer wedding romance. It is the summer of the divorced woman after all!
I absolutely loved reading this and learning about everything you've tried! It was so vulnerable and I admire you sharing. Plus - it's really encouraging because it just goes to show eventually you'll land on something you love that other people do too (aka this newsletter)! Hadn't heard of Eric but totally gonna try it out!
Thanks Amy! I have a feeling there's a lot more trying and failing in my future! I really do love writing the newsletter and am so glad it doesn't feel like a fail! ❤️
Amelia, your newsletter has become one of my favorites—you’re such a thoughtful writer, and I LOVE your links! I always enjoy seeing a new post from you (and can SO relate on the “stop and start” nature of creativity).
I'd love to know what you think of Eric - and I'm looking forward to watching more. Shows set in 80s NYC really get me! And thank you for the vote of confidence on the novels - to get those finished, I need to ruthlessly manage my time...
I totally understand the time management part of it - I have a manuscript that needs a third (and fourth and maybe fifth) draft that I've been avoiding for months and another work in progress that is not coming as easily as I'd hoped and while I know I should just be diligent about carving out time, I somehow find a million other things to do instead...
I love finding out more about your Substack and writing projects. I loved Alperton Angels and her other books! Her storytelling is so clever. Looking over your garden of abandoned projects, these might be the seeds of something great. I just finished No One Needs to Know by Lindsay Cameron. I think you'll like it. Can't wait to keep reading along and find out what happens in Happy Scribbles world.
thank you so much for reading, and for your kind comments! there's definitely a "middle-aged lady" theme going on! and an extra thank you for the book rec - I can never get enough ideas to add to my list!
They say, "Write what you know". I also think there is a big market for middle-aged lady fiction. You still have plenty of time to write and get published. Bonnie Garmus was 66 when she published her first novel, Lessons in Chemistry. Don't give up!
thank you for the encouragement! I would love to read novels that are essentially like Nancy Meyers movies - that's the vibe I'll be going for if I ever finish these! 😉
I loved that breakdown of all your projects!!!! Also, Eric sounds great. Need a new show. (“Need”. Ha. Dying for a one hour drama to gently argue with my husband about if it’s too late to start an episode (9:20 on a weeknight).)
I hope you like Eric - another option: my husband and I binge-watched Colin From Accounts this week - it's an adorable Aussie romcom with 30 minute episodes!
This newsletter is fantastic and that writing class teacher was so wrong to say that. I think everyone’s own “failures” appear larger in their own minds than they are to actual reality. Failures are usually linked to just normal successful taking of risks.
From what I know of middle age tennis ladies - that is a very very rich subject. I’d buy it on the title alone.
LOL - sounds like I may go back and finish that particular book! 🎾
Yes! Do. Three of us started tennis lessons a couple of years ago. We are still terrible (just do it once a week), but I’d love a book that reflected us. We have 13 kids between us. We laugh at what our young 24-year old coach must think of our conversations. We all have issues- with our families, our kids, friends, the school, the political system, etc. - that we work through each week.
Amelia, not only am I desperate to read “Obsessed with IKEA,” I found so much of this to be deeply resonant. I can't tell you how many times I reimagined my old blog, tried new approaches that never seemed to stick, and how many themed Instagram accounts I started before remembering that I...hate Instagram?! This was *so* relatable—and FWIW, I'm pretty sure all of us would remain cheerleaders for your future efforts, no matter how they panned out.
Thank you! Sadly Obsessed with IKEA is dead and gone - I'd kinda like to check it out again too for a good laugh - I definitely wrote a whole post about how much I liked their plastic straws...🙃🙃🤣🤣
This is the content we NEED
🤣
Keep at it; I'm enjoying your journey
Thank you so much! Really appreciate the warm encouragement from readers like you! ❤️
Aw, Amelia! I really love this post--so honest and encouraging. I swim in an ocean of rejections and they continuosly suck- it helps us all when people talk frankly about them--and I love your list of abandoned projects. The wedding planning mom who hates the groom made me laugh out.
And you're a published author! Which just goes to show that the trying and failing never ends, which is helpful for me to know and anticipate. I kinda love that crazy wedding planning mom too - maybe that's the project I should prioritize to revisit! She also plays tennis 😉😉
yes, totally merge the tennis lady drama & the wedding planner—you’re going to have fun!
tennis x weddings = a match made in country club heaven 😂
I love How I Built This, too and what's interesting with these hugely successful entrepreneurs is that they all have failures in their story. Sometimes huge failures - the kind that would certainly make me give up and go get a corporate job. And maybe that's why they're anomalous, because most of us would quit and get a job, but somehow they have the tenacity to try again. I agree, the failures are my favorite bit because we all have them and it's just so inspiring when failure isn't the end.
It's the really huge failures in their stories that keep me going - my failures aren't big in comparison - some of these people lose marriages and all their savings while building their businesses - which makes me think I probably also need to take bigger risks... 🤓
looking forward to watching “eric”. thanks
Interested to hear what you think!
The Icing on the Cake sounds good! Maybe the middle aged tennis ladies all get their own hot summer wedding romance. It is the summer of the divorced woman after all!
Oh yes - middle aged tennis ladies going to weddings and having flings - ideally in Italy or the South of France 🥂🥂🎾🎾
I absolutely loved reading this and learning about everything you've tried! It was so vulnerable and I admire you sharing. Plus - it's really encouraging because it just goes to show eventually you'll land on something you love that other people do too (aka this newsletter)! Hadn't heard of Eric but totally gonna try it out!
Thanks Amy! I have a feeling there's a lot more trying and failing in my future! I really do love writing the newsletter and am so glad it doesn't feel like a fail! ❤️
Love this post 💞 You go girl!!
Thank you! Why not put it all out there and have some fun with the failure?!
Amelia, your newsletter has become one of my favorites—you’re such a thoughtful writer, and I LOVE your links! I always enjoy seeing a new post from you (and can SO relate on the “stop and start” nature of creativity).
oh, thank you so much, Amy, I love hearing this! I really do enjoy writing it so much - especially if it's making other people happy!
Just here to say that I would read both of those novels!
And I've been eyeing "Eric" as I search for something new to watch - maybe I'll give it a try this weekend!
I'd love to know what you think of Eric - and I'm looking forward to watching more. Shows set in 80s NYC really get me! And thank you for the vote of confidence on the novels - to get those finished, I need to ruthlessly manage my time...
I totally understand the time management part of it - I have a manuscript that needs a third (and fourth and maybe fifth) draft that I've been avoiding for months and another work in progress that is not coming as easily as I'd hoped and while I know I should just be diligent about carving out time, I somehow find a million other things to do instead...
Keep at them! Find the time! Be like the How I Built This peeps! 💪💪
I love finding out more about your Substack and writing projects. I loved Alperton Angels and her other books! Her storytelling is so clever. Looking over your garden of abandoned projects, these might be the seeds of something great. I just finished No One Needs to Know by Lindsay Cameron. I think you'll like it. Can't wait to keep reading along and find out what happens in Happy Scribbles world.
thank you so much for reading, and for your kind comments! there's definitely a "middle-aged lady" theme going on! and an extra thank you for the book rec - I can never get enough ideas to add to my list!
They say, "Write what you know". I also think there is a big market for middle-aged lady fiction. You still have plenty of time to write and get published. Bonnie Garmus was 66 when she published her first novel, Lessons in Chemistry. Don't give up!
thank you for the encouragement! I would love to read novels that are essentially like Nancy Meyers movies - that's the vibe I'll be going for if I ever finish these! 😉
I might try Eric! I just googled to see if it is based on Etan Patz case…
oh interesting - is it?!
I loved that breakdown of all your projects!!!! Also, Eric sounds great. Need a new show. (“Need”. Ha. Dying for a one hour drama to gently argue with my husband about if it’s too late to start an episode (9:20 on a weeknight).)
I hope you like Eric - another option: my husband and I binge-watched Colin From Accounts this week - it's an adorable Aussie romcom with 30 minute episodes!
This newsletter is fantastic and that writing class teacher was so wrong to say that. I think everyone’s own “failures” appear larger in their own minds than they are to actual reality. Failures are usually linked to just normal successful taking of risks.
thank you for saying that - the trick is to not let the "failures" stop you (I mean, me) from trying and taking risks!
Totally - I read this list and was like “Wow! She’s so prolific and accomplished!”
aw, thank you!
I love this Newsletter and I enjoy your testing with the formats and the weekly takes. Please don't stop!!
thank YOU for reading!