Sparkle on Substack

“If women remember that once upon a time we sang with the tongues of seals and flew with the wings of swans, that we forged our own paths through the dark forest while creating a community of its many inhabitants, then we will rise up rooted, like trees.”from IF WOMEN ROSE ROOTED, by Sharon Blackie (2016)Hi Folks,I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and today brings peace and relaxation. I am delighted to bring you a podcast episode with Dr Sharon Blackie.I met Sharon at Alnwick Story Fest (tickets for next year here) and it was a true delight to hear her speak on stage. Her work commands attention of women (and men) all over the world brings us home to story and the importance of archetypes in society.We talk about the writing life, Substack, Substack notes, managing a large community and boundaries. I hope you enjoy! “Stories are the stars we navigate by; their lessons are deep and rich. Anywhere, there may be a door to another world: learn to look for it. Always leave a trail of breadcrumbs to find your way out of the dark wood. Don’t maim yourself trying to fit into the glass slipper which was made for someone else. Gold is never a good goal. Never take your skin off and leave it unattended.”✨Dr. Sharon Blackie is an award-winning and internationally bestselling author, a former neuroscientist and a psychologist with a background in mythology and folklore. Her highly acclaimed books, lectures and teaching programs are focused on the mythic imagination, and the relevance of myth and folklore to the personal, spiritual, cultural and environmental issues we face today.Sharon is best known for her groundbreaking work in reimagining women’s stories. As well as writing seven books of fiction and nonfiction, including the bestselling classic If Women Rose Rooted, her writing has appeared in anthologies, collections and in several international media outlets – among them the Guardian, the Irish Times, the i and the Scotsman. Her books have been translated into several languages. She has featured in several programs from the BBC, US public radio and independent filmmakers. Her awards include the Society of Authors’ Roger Deakin Award and a Creative Scotland Writer’s Award. Her next book, Ripening: Why Women Need Fairy Tales Now, will be published by September at Duckworth Books in May 2026.Sharon’s books about women in British, Irish and European myth and folkloreIf Women Rose Rooted. September (2016)Foxfire, Wolfskin and other stories of shapeshifting women. September (2019)Hagitude: Reimagining the Second Half of Life. September (2022)Wise Women: Myths and Stories for Midlife and Beyond. Virago (2024)Ripening: Why Women Need Fairy Tales Now. Forthcoming from September/ Duckworth in May 2026.If you’re new to Sharon’s work - this is a great place to start…https://sharonblackie.substack.com/p/reclaiming-womens-stories Ai SummaryPodcast Summary: Sharon Blackie on Writing and SubstackThis is a conversation between Claire Venus (host of “Sparkle on Substack”) and Sharon Blackie, a psychologist and writer who specializes in mythology, folklore, and women’s stories.Key Points About Sharon’s WorkBackground & Writing Focus:* Psychologist with academic background in folklore and mythology* Published first novel in 2008; seventh book “Ripening: Why Women Need Fairy Tales Now” coming May 2026* Explores women’s stories from British and Irish traditions, showing how ancient tales help navigate modern challenges* First in her family to attend university, from working-class background in HartlepoolJourney to Writing:* Didn’t write her first novel until age 40* Transformative experience: learned to fly at late 30s to overcome fear, which gave her the story she needed to tell* Emphasizes writing must come from genuine necessity, not just wanting to be “a writer”Substack ExperiencePlatform Evolution (joined May 2022):* Migrated from blogging (which felt unrewarding) when Substack offered better discoverability* Brought 20,000-subscriber mailing list; now has 57,000+ free subscribers and 1,000+ paid* Initially loved Notes for connecting with other writers, but feels it’s become too social-media-like* Values Substack primarily as a showcase for quality writing rather than community-buildingApproach & Boundaries:* Writes weekly for paid subscribers (£70/year)* Runs monthly Zoom gatherings to discuss stories* Doesn’t use Chat feature—hasn’t worked for her community* Has friend handle simple admin queries for protection* Clear boundaries: engages fully when invited (comments, Zooms) but doesn’t respond to personal emails requesting adviceWriting Practice:* Wakes at 4:15 AM; only writes in mornings* Takes about a year to write a book, often cramming in final six months* Finds Substack articles easier than book-writing—2,000 coherent words vs. 80,000* Varies content: sometimes essays, sometimes just sharing thoughts and questionsAdvice for Writers* Build a body of work first before promoting heavily—have quality content ready when people discover you* Write from passion and necessity, not market trends* Listen to your body about boundaries—protect yourself from overwhelm* Focus on what you uniquely offer rather than finding completely new topics* Be proud of your background—Sharon now celebrates her working-class roots after years of masking themThe conversation emphasizes sustainable creative practice, the importance of boundaries, and writing from genuine passion rather than external pressure. 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

Welcome back to the podcast folks. I’ve got a new season of exciting episodes with wonderful guests to release next year but I thought I’d ping this one out in time for your ‘driving home for Christmas' listening. My goal was to hit 100k downloads this year on the podcast and I’m at 84k - I’m celebrating that and leaning into the reflections in my Goodbye 2025/ Hello 2026 journal from the wonderful Selina Barker I hope you have a GORGEOUS holiday whatever you are up to and there’s a pressie for you under the tree. Sending all sparkles.Claire ✨LinksJoin Sparkle on Substack on a 14day free trialAudience Alchemy - Join us - https://www.creativelyconscious.co.uk/audience-alchemy-the-live-courseDownload Invisible Trust - my new book - https://www.creativelyconscious.co.uk/invisible-trustJoin 12 Chapters Club and write your book with us for free in 2026 - https://www.creativelyconscious.co.uk/12-chapters-clubJoin my month long January Joyful Growth Challenge; co-hosted with Russell Nohelty - AI SummaryThis is Claire Venus’s end-of-year reflection on her Substack journey in 2025 and running an online business. Key themes:Nervous system and safety: Claire discusses how her entire career was built on trauma responses from working in the unstable cultural/festival sector. She realized she was constantly in fight-or-flight mode, which carried into her online work. This year focused on understanding when she feels safe versus when she’s pushing from fear.Stepping back from visibility: After launching her Substack book in summer 2024, Claire experienced negativity and didn’t feel safe showing up. She intentionally made herself “smaller” - focusing on depth of connection with existing members rather than growth and visibility. When others became prominent Substack educators, she chose to work quietly with her membership community.Letting go of growth pressure: When her subscriber numbers started declining, instead of pushing harder, she asked “what if I just didn’t do more?” This led to accepting she was enough without constant growth, posting less frequently (once weekly), and prioritizing genuine connection over metrics.Business maturation: She hit six figures, set up a proper limited company and business bank account, built a garden studio, and learned to hold larger amounts of money responsibly balancing business investments and ambition with passion for life.Future direction: 2026 will focus on collaboration and community. She’s launching “Audience Alchemy” (about repurposing long-form content and building legacy) and continuing her commitment to write a book annually for 10 years (now in year 6).Her core message: Know what you’re truly here to do before worrying about strategy, and build from a place of safety rather than fear. 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

Hi Sparklers!!This was such a fascinating chat. Amy went from LA based Yoga Teacher to a 7 Figure Founder / Writer with a journey of curiosity in-between. I asked her about her new book - Write for Money and Power and building a 6 figure Substack here on Substack. We dig into income streams and online happiness, diversity of work and fulfilling community work. Thank you Janine De Tillio Cammarata 🖊️, Thaddeus Howze, Katherine Baldwin, Louise Tilbrook and many others for tuning into my live video with Amy Suto! Amy’s online spaces…* https://www.amysuto.com/* https://www.instagram.com/sutoscience/* https://www.tiktok.com/@sutoscience?lang=en * https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-suto-46194842/* Pre-order Write for Money and Power worldwide - https://www.amysuto.com/write-for-money-and-power* If you’re in the UK, use this pre-order link Amy’s book - https://amzn.eu/d/eG26KV1 The transcript is included and I asked ai to summarise it for you…Podcast Summary: Amy Suto on Building a Seven-Figure Writing CareerIn this inspiring conversation, Claire Venus speaks with Amy Suto a seven-figure founder, bestselling author, and ghostwriter about building a sustainable creative career without chasing starving artist myths.Key Topics Covered:Building Multiple Income Streams Amy shares her philosophy of doing “epic things” then teaching others how to replicate that success. She runs multiple ventures including ghostwriting memoirs for high-paying clients, her Substack “Pseudoscience,” and Make Writing Your Job—a writing jobs board that added nearly $200,000 in annual recurring revenue in 12 months.Breaking the Starving Artist Myth Amy’s forthcoming book “Write for Money and Power” (January 2025) challenges the romanticized notion that writers must be broke. She outlines three essential income engines: self-publishing books, paid newsletters on Substack, and freelancing—all working together to create a sustainable creative career.Transparency and Community From her first $10,000 as a freelance writer to seven figures, Amy has openly shared her income journey, believing transparency helps others see what’s possible. She emphasizes returning to your “why” and building for community rather than getting caught in comparison traps.Practical Growth Strategies The conversation explores energy management over time management, setting boundaries with technology, and smart content distribution. Amy reveals that 30% of their paid traffic comes from LinkedIn and shares tactics for repurposing Substack content across platforms without triggering algorithm penalties.Protecting Creative Energy Both speakers discuss the importance of taking breaks, managing nervous system responses to online visibility, and creating systems that prevent burnout while maintaining profitable businesses.Other people we mention in the call.Katie Chappell at Illustrator Jobs Board.My Invite to you to join - 12 Chapters Club - join us! It’s my free book writing club for 2026 - we work on one chapter a month for 12 months - space holding, reminder emails and all the tea about my goal to write 10 books in 10 years.https://www.creativelyconscious.co.uk/12-chapters-club 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 Mary Beth Kaplan🪶, Julie Schmidt, Gabriela Blandy, Georgina Dean, Dianne, and many others for tuning into my live video with Jen Baxter ✒️! Join me for my next live video in the app.Jen supports authors to arrive to Substack and she’s BRILLIANT.Here’s the post I reference with my tips in there… 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 discussion dives into the challenges of subscription fatigue and the overwhelming expectations on both creators and subscribers. Java shares her bold choice to turn off paid subscriptions, emphasizing the need for personal permission in creating content. They explore the emotional toll of subscriber churn and the importance of fostering deeper connections over relentless growth. The conversation also touches on alternative revenue models like workshops and art sales that prioritize creator peace and well-being.

Thank you The Artist's Toolbox, Daria Diaz, Sarah Raad, Annelise Riles, Jo Thomas 🌿and many others for tuning into my live video! Add your favourite planners in the comments and I’ll do the same.Want to download the Substack Planner or other gifts - they are here. 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 annual gratitude sale is ON - you have until 1st December to check it out.If you missed my Soulful Sales Challenge you still have time…Check it out here…Thank you Jo Thomas 🌿, Amy I Beeson 🐝, Tom Wentworth, Georgina Dean, Liza Debevec, and many others for tuning into my live video to chat about coupons, discounts and holiday sales with Katie Chappell! Join me for my next live video in the app.You might have missed this wonderful post Katie wrote for us…it’s a great read on capping subs to enhance membership experience here. 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

Hi folks,I’m excited to bring you this conversation with Destini Copp. Hasn’t she got the most wonderful accent? Destini and I connected because she wrote a killer headline in her email newsletter. I reached out and asked if she fancied coming on my podcast. At the time of recording Destini was fairly new to Substack.She’s an expert in newsletters and runs the Newsletter Profit Club which I’ve been in for a while. In her own words… Hi, I’m Destini - a certified business growth coach, marketing professor, and host of the Creator’s MBA Podcast. I help digital product entrepreneurs go beyond funnels and build rinse-and-repeat growth flywheels (with a little AI magic) so sales feel consistent, not stressful.Over the years I’ve:* Taught 12,000+ students through online courses and programs* Built multiple digital product brands (including my B2C brand, HobbyScool)* Shared my expertise on 50+ top industry podcasts and eventsAt the heart of it all, my mission is simple: to help you scale a business that gives you freedom, flexibility, and predictable revenue — without burning out.Connect on LinkedIn ». https://www.destinicopp.com https://www.instagram.com/destinicopp/Podcast - The Creator’s MBA AI summaryClaire sits down with Destiny, an online educator and newsletter powerhouse who has just launched The $1 Million Hobby School Experiment — a bold public journey to grow and potentially sell her B2C brand, Hobby School, for £1M by 2027. Every twist and behind-the-scenes moment is being published inside her new paid Substack.Destiny brings serious depth to the conversation:* She’s taught marketing online since 2005.* She runs Creators MBA, helping thousands build and sell digital products.* Her B2C brand Hobby School has 40,000+ subscribers — grown almost entirely through collaborations, not social media.* She operates complex email systems, funnels, and a weekly newsletter outside of Substack.She joined Substack for two reasons: her audience kept asking, and she needed the perfect home to document this high-stakes, build-and-sell experiment. Substack’s long-form, story-driven nature made it the obvious choice.Claire lifts the curtain on how Substack really works — the mix of newsletters, social discovery, and Notes. Notes, she explains, rewards honesty, personality, and storytelling far more than promotional posts. The magic is that Notes activity naturally draws readers into the main publication, where the deeper connection happens.Claire offers Destiny practical, strategic pointers:* Use a clear publication name that situates the reader instantly.* Add pinned posts, helpful site navigation, and hero posts to welcome newcomers.* Keep everything under one publication for momentum and clarity.* Pair Substack with existing email systems — they strengthen each other.They dive into the power of discovery without traditional social media. Destiny has barely touched Instagram or TikTok, so Substack may become her first true social platform — one built for readers, community, and narrative rather than noise.Together they explore:* Storytelling as the engine of growth.* Why people connect more deeply to humans than faceless brands on Substack.* The pleasure of reading in the Substack app.* How Claire has grown her own thriving community through Notes, meetups, and thoughtful collaborations — not virality.* How even major brands are beginning to use Substack for storytelling.Claire finishes by screen-sharing Destiny’s Substack, offering branding tweaks, and planning a future check-in as the experiment unfolds. Destiny also invites Claire to teach inside Creators MBA. 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 wonderful to catch up with Selina Barker ahead of the arrival of my new journal which happened live on camera! Do connect in with her if you’d like to purchase them for you and/ or friends this winter.I have a list of freebies too including my Substack planner. You can download it here… 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 Milli Hill, Louise Tilbrook, Alyssa Polizzi, The Artist's Toolbox, Daria Diaz, and many others for tuning into my live video with Nirja Joshi! Here’s the very last call for the course and programme I run for business owners who use Substack! Join us for The Business of your Substack. If you want to head into 2026 feeling more savvy about how Substack fits with a sustainable eco-system, this is the course you need. I bring my three years of experience here (successes and mistakes) and we work on the strategy that works for you for Substack WITH your business. Doors close 13th November. 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