Happy Friday all, I was so excited to connect with fellow creative mum Charlie Swift who I met (I think) on instagram some years back… This was an impromptu live as Charlie shared with me she’d like to try a Substack Live in our members call and her word/ phrase of the year is ‘Show Up’ so here we are… Beautiful things happen online every single day. Here’s you invite to see more of them and less of the things that fry your nervous system. In our Substack live, Charlie shared more about her creative process, her work, self expression, expression. We also delve into her ‘viral moment’ on IG and our relationships with platforms (IG and Substack plus the others that ‘work’ for us). We go deep into online literacy including ‘being’ online, present, authentic, editing or curating ourselves and leaning into our feelings on that. We also share more on how we make our unique creative and business eco systems work. You might like to connect and listen to Charlie’s podcast over here too;Other things/ links/ classes we mentioned;* Abstain or Moderate? with Gretchen Reuben * Substack with Ease retreat* Laura Pashby and her retreat here* Your Creative and Content Eco-System class - it’s free join us live or catch the replay in a couple of weeks. * Write your Book with us this year in 12 Chapters Club* The reel with the hair. * Sign up for visioning class next week (Sparkle members) - * Charlie’s website to book mentoring with her. We’d love to continue this conversation in the comments if you fancy it over the weekend and into next week,Claire and Charlie ✨ 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 going to stay plugged into the Internet at large for a longer time, then I am going to have to be mindful of when the Orcs want to pop up, when I can have a cup of tea with the Dwarves and when I can just sit and chill and watch Wicked with my little selection box."Hi Sparklers,I hope 2024 wrapped up beautifully for you and you have some notes next to your reflections and thoughts about your directions? As we usher in 2025, I'm thrilled to share some reflections, exciting plans, and a sprinkle of gratitude with you. Reflecting on a Transformative 20242024 was a year packed with expansion, turbulence, and profound lessons. I felt like I was living in dual realities at times. Whether it was supporting our vibrant Substack community, receiving heartwarming feedback, or navigating the nuances of online presence, the year was richly complex.One invaluable lesson from 2024 for us all is the importance of protecting our peace amidst the fast-paced digital world. Let's carry this wisdom forward, ensuring our creative journeys are both fulfilling and balanced? What's Sparkling for members in 2025?✨ Goal Setting Session:Members - we're kickstarting the year with our goal-setting session on Monday at 9:30 AM UK time. If you haven't yet downloaded the free Substack Planner here you go.Print it out and bring it along—or simply grab some big pieces of paper. Excited to dive into my brilliant systems with you!✨ Five-Year Visioning Plan:Also in January - we'll embark on crafting our five-year vision, with Substack being a key component for many of us. Whether your Substack is a major part of your plan or a smaller element, all are welcome. Let's dream big together? ✨ Practical Workshops:In February, we'll focus on deepening connections with our readers and building a robust community around our publication. We also have the brilliant Amanda B. Hinton popping in to talk with Diamond Members on data and how to use it to help inform our curation. ✨ Personalised Guidance:The window is open in chat to submit your specific tutorial requests! Substack can change quickly, and I aim to stay responsive to your needs throughout the year.✨ Community Hot Seats:We'll be integrating more hot seat sessions during our calls, giving you the stage and fostering collaboration among our Sparklers. The Friday Writers’ Room on Slack will continue to be your imaginative sanctuary and space to chat about lunch. 🤣FOR EVERYONE… ✨ Upcoming Events:Mark your calendars! I'll be speaking at Alnwick Story Fest on March 3rd and the Writer MBA Conference in New Orleans later in March. In May I have a day long creative retreat in partnership with Tanya Lynch at Ease Retreats. Shoutouts and GratitudeA big thank you to Russell Nohelty for our incredible collaboration on "How to Build a World Class Substack" and to Beth Kempton for her inspiring mentorship. And, of course, endless gratitude to my husband for being my constant source of support—and tea. ☕️To our wonderful Sparkle on Substack community, thank you for your unwavering enthusiasm and dedication. You are the heartbeat of this journey.So, let’s step gently onto the Yellow Brick Road of 2025 with a heart full of dreams, a vision clear and expansive, and a community ready to sparkle brighter than ever.📅 Event Recap:Online* Goal Setting Session:Monday, 9:30 AM UK time* Five-Year Visioning Plan:In Person events this year… Alnwick Story Fest , Northumberland, UK:* Sunday 3rd March Tickets - https://alnwickstoryfest.com/. You can also catch Emma Simpson and Juliet Thomas there. Should I organise an official Substack meet up again or does someone else want to? You get a mention from Substack if you do! Writer MBA Conference, New Orleans, USA:* 19-22 March. Tickets here. https://writermba.com/Substack with EASE Retreat * Friday 9 MayMore here https://www.easeretreats.com/retreats Download the digital Sparkle on Substack Planner here and print your copy. Here's to a year of joyful, sustainable growth and creativity. Let’s make 2025 our most magical year yet!With love and sparkles,Claire P.S. - There’ll be less threads this year but feel free to reach out in the Substack chat with any questions, requests, or just to say hello. We're all here for 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

You are welcome to join us here at Sparkle on Substack on a 14 day free trial over the holidays. Expires 31st December. Did you open your Christmas gift yet? There’s a FREE planner inside.Take time to create a Substack Publication with EaseI’m so excited to co host an IN PERSON this retreat with Tanya Lynch next year (2025) in Oxfordshire. There are still spots available but we do expect it to sell out.It was lush to re-connect with Tanya on a Substack Live a couple of weeks back. I’m sharing the recording for those of you who missed it. We chatted about mini writers retreats in our homes and the Substack rollercoaster, the importance of connection with like minded people and taking the time to power down to power back up. Come retreat with us, connect to your creative essence, re-centre your goals for Substack for the year and paint the picture of your vision.Vouchers are available for loved ones AND you have the opportunity to snag early bird pricing until 31st December. Payments Plans available too. More details - https://www.easeretreats.com/retreats🐥 EARLY BIRD price until 31st December 2024. The wonderful Tanya’s Substack publication and community where you can get more intel about her author/ creativity retreats then meet other’s who search for ease and become entwined with it too;Listen to Tanya Lynch and Toni Jones podcast - these ladies met here at Sparkle on Substack which blows my mind and fills me with gratitude for their beautiful work.https://shelfhelpclub.substack.com/podcast ✨Members - you can pop the 2025 dates in your calendar and the LUMA links are live for our January goal setting and visioning classes. Here’s everything you need to SPARKLE on Substack in 2025 Right back to beach walks and box sets. Go well this season and see you all soon,Claire ✨PS - there won’t be a January sale here but I am re-opening the monthly payment subscription option for 3 days starting tomorrow. Access the A-Z library of tutorials, join our January goal setting classes and join our members chat. PPS - The Business of your Substack - my 3 month long mastermind is open for enrolments. If you have a creative business and love Substack it’s for 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

“I wanted to create a space that was there for people all year round. Substack gave me the platform for Soul Circle to land.” Beth Kempton WELCOME back to the Sparkle on Substack podcast everyone. Thank you for being here.This is the space for in depth conversation about how creatives are bringing themselves and their beautiful work to this platform. I am wrapping up the second season of this podcast which is sponsored by the first wave of my Diamond Members. Thank you to everyone who listens and comments. It means the world to me to know these stories are reaching you across the globe. ⭐️ If you are able to leave me a 5 star rating and review, I’d be OVER the moon. This simple act of a few clicks will help more people find my work and make space for me to commit time to make more podcasts. ✨Today’s guest is the wonderful Beth Kempton who is a best selling author and fellow Substack writer. Beth’s work has been instrumental to my journey of self and creative expression as you’ll hear. I’m delighted to share these words with you. "I'm going to write essays about things I want to write and to people who want to read them, and I'm not going to charge for them because as soon as I charge, I will feel I have a commitment to writing an essay however many times a month." Beth Kempton ✨Beth Kempton is the bestselling author of six non-fiction books including Wabi Sabi, The Way of the Fearless Writer and Kokoro. Her books have been recommended by the likes of TIME Magazine, Psychologies and Vogue, and translated into nearly 30 languages. Beth is one of the most popular British authors on Substack, where she has more than 30,000 subscribers and hosts a beautiful community of writers from around the world, called SoulCircle.https://bethkempton.com/📖 Buy Beth’s books. Connect on Instagram Beth’s courses over at Do what you Love 🌀Timestamped overview (ai) 00:00 Entrepreneurial mother inspired by her two daughters.08:52 Grief and solace through a comforting book.13:46 Sharing stories helps others feel less alone.16:30 Proud of impactful art, mixed reception, self-acceptance.23:31 Creating a supportive, judgment-free writing community.26:15 Magical decision-making, writing, and community on Substack.32:31 Soul Circle: Private writing community on Substack.37:19 Clarifying resources and support for overwhelmed newcomers.47:55 Struggling to promote Substack due to Instagram blocks.51:22 Invest early in professional design for branding materials.57:53 Christmas: Magic, overwhelm, exhaustion, financial frustration, opportunity.01:01:48 Excited about managing multiple Substack energies properly.01:04:07 Annual preparation, separate free substack, potential fundraising.🎥 Watch our chat on YouTube… Other mentions* The essay I wrote about Lee’s passing, we reference;* Laura Pashby’s book - Chasing Fog. * Calm Christmas 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 Christopher Pepper, Allegra Chapman, Katie Andraski, Susan Kuenzi, Amber Horrox, and many others for tuning into my live video with Russell Nohelty! Join me for my next live video in the app.If you have questions on anything we talk about in our publication celebration, drop them below and we’ll circle back after the holidays.Claire and Russell 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

Well this was an ABSOLUTE treat. Seth and I have clocked each other’s Notes for a little while and I was delighted he was up for a chat about socials/ social media on Substack and all the rest.My top tip for you is to understand what you do in service to your readers by emailing them from Substack. Then the rest of the strategy of ‘being online’ for growth, personal development and fun can follow. Thank you Andy Adams, Jo Hutton, Diamond-Michael Scott, marine eyes, Cruda, and many others for tuning into my live video with Seth Werkheiser! Join me for my next live video in the app.If this video sparks anything for you then we’d love to hear from you in the comments.Let’s Sparkle on Substack! Claire and Seth ✨PS - Members, we met this morning and spent an hour looking at deepening connection with your readers through Substack Chat - here’s your replay and the post is open for further creative thought and chat. 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

HAPPY THANKSGIVING.Thank you Caroline Ferguson, Alexa Juanita Jordan, and many others for tuning into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app.Here’s an example of what I mean where you have to select all emails filtered. Mine says 680 because I added everyone who is free and clicked more than one link in the last 30 days. 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 Jo Hutton, Robin Harford, cara alwill, Emma Simpson, Vicki Lesley, and many others for tuning into my live video with Caroline Donahue! Join me for my next live video in the app next week.It’s been a joy to support Caroline Donahue on her journey to Substack Bestseller.✨If you want my bespoke support, Diamond Membership opens to my paid members and customers this weekend for a limited number of people. Here are the perks… Let me know if you have questions,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

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit sparkleon.substack.comWith a Sparkle on Substack membership you join a hub of over 400 people joyfully growing their Substack publication. You get two calls a month with me, weekly ask-me-anythings and competitions. When you join you get access to my four week course ‘Stay Creative on Substack’ to set your Substack up congruently embodying your own unique creative practise.If you’re happy here as a reader or if you need a gift subscription here you are welcome to ask. If you’d like to recommend Sparkle on Substack to your friends and help teach the Substack algorithm what you like, you can do that here. 💝 Sparklers! It was a joy to participate in this workshop and I know you’ll all adore it. It’s a welcome break from the drama on Substack Notes and a refocus into what we’re here to do. 🙏Thank you for your beautiful ideas and sharing parts of what make you tick, your why for Substack and your storytelling ideas…I’m so honoured to share this space with you.There are two other workshops from Aimée which are so soulful and special. * Your big, bold vision for Substack - writing your stand out ‘about’ page. * Soulful micro copy - for your Substack bio, publication explainer and IG bioMembers, for more guest expert workshops to help grow your Substack soulfully, joyfully and sustainably, head here; https://sparkleon.substack.com/t/guest-expert-workshops If you missed out and want to buy the workshops separately without joining the Sparkle on Substack membership, you can here.

Hi all,This morning I popped LIVE on the Substack app to chat a little more about the current situ with Notes and how we’re all feeling. Over on Notes, it’s less of a water cooler moment with our colleagues and more of noisy airport where most of the flights are delayed and everyone has their phone on LOUD these days… This is my third Substack LIVE and the only one I felt happy to share… Thank you Susannah Conway ,Jo Hutton, Ingrid Fernandez, and many others for tuning into my live video! Substack are quite keen on us testing lives and I think we all know that it will make this space busier and noisier. That being said, I felt I had something of comfort and value to say in the here and now and this was how I chose to share it…We always have a choice… ✨Here are my points summarised for you. I’d love to invite more comments and questions. It’s a fascinating topic… You can join my private chat space to share or if you’re not a member or leave a comment below… 1. Purpose of Substack Notes: I reflected on how Substack Notes has shifted from a cosy, conversation-based space to feeling more like traditional social media. This change has impacted how we experience it, often pulling us into comparison and distraction.2. Coping with Overwhelm: I shared strategies to help avoid the overwhelm of the Notes feed. For example, I suggested setting the Substack app to open on the newsletter "inbox" rather than Notes so that we're not bombarded with content that might disrupt our calm and pull us out of being creative. 3. Intentional Content Consumption: I talked about how important it is to consume content mindfully. Personally, I only follow people whose content aligns with my interests, like travel and self-care, to create a calmer online experience and steer clear of stressful topics.4. Engagement Alternatives: Instead of relying heavily on Notes, I suggested engaging through thoughtful comments on articles/ posts and using recommendations to build connections and grow on Substack—these feel more intentional and less overwhelming. There’s MORE reciprocity and a deeper human-human connection. 5. Organic Growth Tips: A lot of my growth on Substack has come from organic ‘recommendations’, and I really encourage others to leverage this too. Collaborating with other writers you connect with is also a great way to reach new and ‘good fit’ audiences.6. Depth over Virality: I value “depth of connection” over trying to go viral. While virality can bring a quick influx of subscribers, it’s not as meaningful to me as creating joy and building real connections with my community. I’ve never gone viral anywhere online although I have supported clients to. When we see a feed full of viral notes it’s just what Substack has chosen to show us not what is ‘actually’ happening… 7. Empathy and User Experience: I encouraged everyone to take a mindful approach when using Notes. We can all adjust our engagement based on personal boundaries and content preferences, making our Substack experience more fulfilling and positive. For more joyful growth join our community and connect to like minded folks who share your passion for creativity and a life without burn out. Thanks for tuning in and let me know if you’d like me to do more lives nature!Any questions? Thoughts, comments on Notes and how you using showing up to connect without feeling flat? Claire ✨PS - Here’s some more on recommendations and how to use them here on Substack… ✨ 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