"Someday, I'll Start My Own Substack"

Spoiler: Someday is Today!

I always hoped someday I’d have one of these. Thanks to my dear friend Deb, I do!

I’ve wanted to start my own Substack for a long time now, but I felt STUCK on finding a concept that inspired me, until one day when it just clicked. Like so many other things I felt stuck about getting done, or even getting started, writing a Substack got sorted into the “someday” category in my brain. But “someday” is now, right? I’m retired, so if I think I don’t have time to start, or to do, [whatever it is] now, what am I waiting for? Someday is TODAY! I’m retired, these are The Someday Times, so that’s the concept. I’m living in my someday and I finally have the time to write all about it.

If you’re not familiar with Substack, it’s kind of like the old Blogger, but updated. I think of it as a place where all the smart people gather on the internet. It’s definitely where all the writers are! It’s newsletter based, and as a writer who can sometimes be nerdy about it, I’ve always wanted to have a newsletter. But Substack is a lot more than that, and there’s something for everyone. I hope you’ll follow me there to see for yourself!

Writing about things from my Someday List is a focused way to get myself writing regularly, and moves me closer to getting the memoir writing, which looms large on my list, done. Having a regular check-in on Substack serves as a built in motivator, especially since here I am, declaring that I’ll publish consistently. I have to do it now.

What I’m really looking for here is connection and community, and I think the concept of “someday” leaves a lot of other people feeling stuck too. Everyone seems to have a Someday List that has too many things on it. Most don’t require retirement, or even a ton of time, but maybe a change in mindset or simply the motivation to get started. Based on what I have planned so far, I think you’ll find some posts more serious, some funny, some educational, but mostly I hope to motivate my readers. I’ll end every post with questions to get you thinking, or even better, moving in the direction of crossing some of your own “someday” items off the list.

The Someday Times will have an Early Edition and a Late Edition each month, so just two regular (free) posts, at least to start. I’ll also be posting smaller “Someday Wins” on Substack’s Notes app, which, for those who don’t know, is like good old literary Twitter back before it was ruined. When and if I get any paid subscribers, they will get at least one personal memoir post each month. I feel safer hiding my more personal writing behind a paywall and being able to see who is accessing it. These pieces will stem from things I’ve started writing over the years with the intent of revising and sharing “someday,” so still on theme!

For my writer friends out there, the paid posts will also include the prompt and the process behind these personal stories. I’ll honor and thank the teachers, workshops, or classes that got these pieces started and share a how-to along with my experience. As this community grows, I’ll share more on writing and offer my own workshops here.

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this.

Please let me know what you think in the comments. How long is your Someday List? What are you waiting for? What simple thing could you do today to lighten your list?

My sincere hope is that you will become a free subscriber to The Someday Times and support my writing. I honestly don’t care about getting paid, but I care very much about getting subscribers, so free is fantastic! If it’s not for you at all, please share it with someone else. I’d appreciate it!