001. new beginnings
a new book, a new platform, a new state!
oh, hi. a new medium, for the first time in a decade. in some ways, things are very much the same as where we left off: i’m still waking up at 4:30am local to pursue whatever project is on my mind. but in many ways, things are very different: those projects aren’t as glitzy. i’m more focused on finishing a book than i am a triathlon. i’m building a new home in a new place that offers me much more peace of mind and stability to pursue my writing, but it isn’t as flashy as my old home of new york.
despite where i found myself over the last fourteen years, i’ve always craved a slower pace to ensure sustainability for the long haul—for my brain, body, and soul. endurance is something i’m good at, but i do realize life is long, so sustaining is key. close to the end of my time in new york, i could feel myself burning out, and this change in location, a luxury, came at the right time. i’ve been able to write consistently for the past 14 years across various platforms, so i’m very much looking forward to continuing that momentum here, at a slower pace.
that said, it’s nice to see you here. i started this newsletter as a way to keep in better touch about my upcoming books, and as a place to offer a more routine update to my life. i plan to keep updates minimal for the sake of already overflowing inboxes, but do let me know what you’d like to read more about.
with that & why you’re all here…
i’m almost finished writing my second book: i know what you’re thinking, “but what about your first book?!” after my first book was bought, i was ready to begin again. i felt like i had so much more to give, so i started over. while my first book is in the hands of my publisher, my second book is about halfway complete and i’m aiming to finish it by august. more soon on where that lands, and as i have more details about my first book, Love, Loss and Everything In Between, i’ll share that here.
i’m trying to find my writing community: i have a fairly strong online writing network, but i wouldn’t say i’m in a community. a friend recently told me a quote she heard and i felt it in my bones: “i know a lot of people, but i have no one to walk my dog.” writing is a solo activity, but that doesn’t preclude me from wanting to hear what others are doing, seeing, and finding inspiration in. candidly, i think i started this newsletter because i do want to hear from the writers here—new, old, and aspiring writers, as well as the writers who won’t call themselves writers.
i’m figuring out what else i can and should be doing: cue exhausted eye roll. no, seriously. i feel very out of practice when it comes to self promotion, and especially promotion of an art, and i simply refuse to do anything that doesn’t feel core to who i am. alas, a work in progress.
a few words
soft and subtle maybe that’s who i’m meant to be running in circles chaotic energy not who i thought i was but maybe that’s okay the truth is i’ll live to see another day
see you next month,
nicole
Welcome to the Substack fam!