As you know from my last post in 2024, a reader recently emailed to tell me she had just discovered the blog I’ve been writing since 2007 — not only that, but she had begun at the very beginning and had taken the time to let me know how much she enjoyed what she read and to send me comments on those 17-year-old posts.
Her words had a powerful effect, sending me back to read my own; those echoes of an earlier self were interesting reminders in and of themselves, but they also showed me the collective and even lasting value of what I write. A project begun to strengthen my personal writing voice (after years of writing academically in pursuit of my doctorate) continues to resonate. I felt enheartened, even validated. . .
In that space I wrote under a pseudonym, a name chosen with some awkward self-consciousness to signal the parts of my life that academe apparently deemed less worthy, the quotidian domestic (at that time, Materfamilias Writes, my blog’s current name, was already taken; I began as Materfamilias Knits).
I wanted to be able to write both, to reconcile my daily life in a seaside cottage on a small island, husband, grown children, cats and dog with that of the woman in a classroom across the water and up the hill. As much as the woman researching the next term’s syllabi, speaking from the lectern, facilitating discussions, marking the essays, I was also a mother (and, not so long after beginning Materfamilias Writes, a grandmother), a wife, a friend, a daughter, a sister, a neighbour; I baked bread, knit socks, loved shoes and leather jackets and favourite jeans.
Gradually, as I kept showing up (writing two or three posts a week in those early years), readers joined the conversation — from both of those worlds, I’m pleased to say, from a variety of workplaces and from kitchen counters. We talked regularly about books and about recipes and mending and travel and continue to do so. These days, many of us who meet here are retired, as I have been since 2015 (many blog posts covered my preparation, the event itself, the adjustments).
A few years ago, I switched blogging platforms — from free Blogger to hosted WordPress. I’ve been quite happy in my new blog home, but it’s increasingly evident that blogging has changed irretrievably over my 17 years writing, sharing, chatting in that medium. And over the last year or two, I’ve been considering other options. Considering . . . but always making excuses (and sometimes finding valid reasons) not to make a move.
But these last few weeks back home from four months’ travel, I’ve been challenging those excuses and reasons. I default to listening to them, but then that persistent inner voice pipes up. Lather, rinse, repeat, as we say. Until a constellation of small events and awarenesses reach a certain mass and propel me to this new screen, to this new set of platform challenges, an awareness of potential, new vulnerabilities.
The constellation includes: my recognition, while travelling, of so much stress and fear overcome, and of the rewards for pushing through; my fitness trainer making the leap, honouring a commitment to herself to start a Substack newsletter in 2025; that reader’s email, directing my eyes back to my earliest blogposts where I wrote about dipping my toes in the water vs. taking the plunge.
I was 54 then; I’m 71 now. And as a septuagenarian, I’m thinking it’s still a good idea to try new platforms, take on new challenges, plunge into new waters (after a careful exploratory dipping of the toes). I’m not sure that this newsletter format will suit me, and I’m not at all sure what I can or will do with that. But since that little voice won’t pipe down, I’m going to take a chance and see what happens. I hope you’ll come along for the ride.
I’m not sure whether I’ll be able to email directly to those of you who subscribe to the blog — if I manage that, you will likely get an extra email because I’ll be incorporating this newsletter directly into the blog for now. I apologize for clogging your emailbox and hope that’s only a temporary problem. If you’re not interested in receiving my Substack newsletters, you are free to unsubscribe, but my plan is to begin posting some content there that will not appear on the blog, so I hope you’ll stick around to see what happens (although when I do post that extra content there, I’ll be sure to give you an opportunity to subscribe at that time).
EDITED TO Add: Not sure my email subscription list will work, but you could pop over to Substack and subscribe there, if you’d like. Here’s the link to my first newsletter
And yes, I’m going to keep the blog going, for at least the next few months, quite likely for the foreseeable future.
Happy New Year!
And thank you for your continuing encouragement, support, and, I hope, patience with this new little venture.
xo,
f
Happy New Year, Frances. How exciting about the Substack newsletter! I will continue reading and commenting on whatever platform you use. I already subscribe to a couple of Substack newsletters. They seem to use fewer photos than blogposts and I don’t find them as easy to go back to for re-reading purposes. On the plus side they seem to encourage more “chat” amongst commenters, which has been interesting.
So much has changed for all of us in 17 years and I’ve been reading since 2010 I think. Initially, I was fascinated by your island life and the differences from my very urban existence. I enjoyed learning about your career and its challenges as well as your family life. Your transition to retirement was endlessly fascinating and wonderfully reassuring. I followed you into retirement about a year later. I loved my career. It was a big part of my identity and I was frightened of retirement. It was so helpful to read about your experiences, which soothed my doubts and smoothed my own transition. I love your authorial voice and your openness. You are a very accomplished person and I take pleasure in your writing, which highlights a broad range of the things that interest and nourish me as a woman. I’m off to subscribe now, x
Author
Thanks, Maria. I’m pleased to hear you say you’ve found the possibilities for conversation amoung commenters richer on Substack — that’s something I’ve always loved about hosting the blog. (I also wonder how well it will support my love of sharing photos and I think the blog might be better for finding old posts, as you suggest).
Youre always so encouraging — I really appreciate the time you take to comment.
I hope that you find the Substack newsletter a good format for your writing and interaction with your readers.
I look forward to reading your first newsletter.
Author
We shall see. . . fingers crossed, but I’ll still have the blog anyway. . .
I have very much enjoyed your blog posting and following your travels. Seems there are quite a few people moving to Substack these days. I will head over there and make sure I am on the list.
Author
Thanks, Juliann — yes, it does seem there’s a well-worn path. . . 😉
Did you ever post the patterns/instructions for knitting those wonderful animals that you knit for your grandchildren? I could search through 17 years but even then not find them…
If they are in a book please post a link so you get credit for the sale…
Next…headed for Substack…
Author
Hello Lauren, Yes I’ve posted a link to the designer’s Instagram account several times: her name is Cinthea Vallet, and if you have any problems with the link, you should be to find her via your browser (or searching on Ravelry). She does have a book out (Mouche and Friends), but several of the little animals I’ve knit were published separately (digital publications only as far as I know) before she published her book. And she’s currently added another separate pattern for a sweet little group of bunnies — The Nibbles Siblings! 😉
Subscribed! As always, I’m impressed, and hopefully influenced, with your ability to “feel the fear and do it anyway”.
I must confess , I’m not so good at feeling the fear & doing it anyway but I’ll give it a go . My techie skills are very limited & haven’t even heard of Substack . I shall just have to hang on to your shirttails…… Happy New Year
Happy New Year and I look forward to reding your posts in the new format. I have noticed as have others that a few of blogs that I enjoy are moving to this format. As another reader has commented there seem to be fewer photos on this platform. I do always enjoy the pictures, the OOTD and especially how you have a keen eye for the beauty which lies all around us.
Frankly,I’m not a fan of newsletters.But,long ago, when I’ve found your blog,it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship 😉 and a wonderful journey with you and your community. I’ve loved it,both IRL and here.
So,I’ve subscribed,naturally
Dottoressa
Imagine my smile. It warms my heart to think that such a simple note to reach out made such an impact.
And, FYI… I’m working my way through 2014 now.