23 Comments
User's avatar
Jana's avatar

Good on you, Amanda. This must have been a hard decision! Being on Sustack is squiggly, and most of us tend to test out the waters and see what fits and what does not. I applaud you for making this tough choice and listening to your readers, and I look forward to what you will share. ❤️

Expand full comment
Amanda Saint's avatar

Thanks Jana. I really appreciate your kind words and your support 💙

Expand full comment
Elizabeth Barnesco's avatar

I love this. But there is nothing wrong with paid courses, sharing occasional links or info about your courses, on Substack, especially when you have no paywall. They have great value, and I think the free sharing does not erode that - it enhances it, because the quality of instruction, the ‘fit’ is known, and I’m more likely to funnel some of my tight and tiny budget to a teacher I know is a good fit, if that makes sense.

Expand full comment
Amanda Saint's avatar

Hi Elizabeth, I'm glad you loved this post. I will still share info about the different courses I run but I’m just not going to run them on here anymore as a paid subscription. I started this for different reasons and I need to keep to that path to keep the joy in it for me and to connect with people in the way I always intended through here. The courses will still run but not as part of what I’m doing here 😊

Expand full comment
Elizabeth Barnesco's avatar

Now I realize I expressed myself so badly! Argh. I did get that. I guess I meant “ glad you removed the paywall but make sure to advertise courses here”. Sigh. Total clarity failure! But this is why I keep working to improve 🤪

Expand full comment
Hal Grotevant's avatar

I really appreciate your willingness to step back, transparently evaluate your current situation with Substack, and chart a new path forward. It’s your reflections on the writing process that drew me to your site, and I look forward to more. Sites like yours have encouraged my own writing process, as I started writing here myself a few months ago. I’m at halgrotevant.Substack.com. Thank you!

Expand full comment
Amanda Saint's avatar

Hi Hal, thanks for your message. There will be plenty more reflections on writing to come! I’m glad you enjoy them. And best of luck with your own substack. We’re all on a journey of discovery here!

Expand full comment
Kirsty's avatar

Fabulous, well done for stepping out of your comfort! I love your posts / mindful essays :-)

Expand full comment
Amanda Saint's avatar

Thanks Kirsty 😊

Expand full comment
Fran's avatar

Hands palm to palm to you, Amanda. The courageous steps you take.

Expand full comment
Amanda Saint's avatar

Thanks Fran. Got to keep following my heart 💙

Expand full comment
Cathy R. Payne's avatar

This sounds lovely! I'm looking forward to it.

Expand full comment
Amanda Saint's avatar

Thanks Cathy 😊

Expand full comment
Diamond-Michael Scott's avatar

Love the pivot. You’ll rediscover your rhythm in no time.

Expand full comment
Amanda Saint's avatar

I will. Getting back to what I came here for!

Expand full comment
Rebecca L. Fearnley's avatar

I love this, and I have so much respect for your decision. I know the money fear and the fear of being self employed and it’s so hard. I completely get it. But what you do here has value beyond money, it creates community, it inspires, it adds joy and enrichment to people’s lives. I’m a writer, too, and always looking to improve my craft so I’ll be checking out some of your courses when I’m a bit more solvent!

Expand full comment
Amanda Saint's avatar

Thank you so much for this reply, Rebecca. I appreciate your kind words and hope to work with you whenever the time is right 🙏💙

Expand full comment
Matthew Long's avatar

Amanda, thanks for sharing this with us and also for taking the time to do the hard work of self-reflection. I have had to step back and ask myself what I am doing here a couple of times. It isn't always easy but it has always proven beneficial. Best of luck and I look forward to what you have in store for us.

Expand full comment
Amanda Saint's avatar

Thanks Matthew. It feels like the right decision despite the loss of paid subscriptions. I’m taking a few days now to think about what to do next.

Expand full comment
Casandra's avatar

Congratulations on finding your truth for this moment. It feels like a good choice!

Expand full comment
Amanda Saint's avatar

Thanks Casandra. It does!

Expand full comment
Anna Mahoney's avatar

Good on you for following your heart Amanda. Can’t wait to see your plane unfold.

Expand full comment
Amanda Saint's avatar

Thanks Anna 💙

Expand full comment