How to Survive Substack | Part Two

The nitty-gritty of being a Creative Person Online

Welcome to Resurface, with me, Tamzin Merivale.

I’m an intuitive artist, writer and mentor, and this space is for creating deeper connections not only to others, but to parts of ourselves that have been forgotten, neglected, or are waiting to be discovered. If you’ve ever felt stuck, blocked, unseen/unheard or like you don’t belong, then you’ve come to the right place.

My mission is to provide tools and insights for you to live a life that feels expansive and free, and to show you just how much you light up the world around you, simply by existing. I’m here to accompany you on the journey of shedding the stories and patterns that weigh you down, so you can float up to the light and Resurface.

You can learn more about some of the work I do here.

Last week, I wrote a Substack Survival Guide — my tips for overcoming overwhelm and comparison-itis on this platform. But it doesn’t apply only to Substack. It applies to anyone showing up online, especially in the creative sphere. There will always be grisly days, so what can we do about them?

In Part Two, we’re digging deeper into the Highs and Lows of being a Creative Person on the Internet, and how you can give yourself the best chance of weathering the storms.

Last week, I mentioned that I’m launching a small container to counter all of the feelings laid out in these posts. I designed this course based on the challenges I’ve witnessed my mentoring clients struggle most with, and on what I also had to overcome to get to where I am today.

Thank you so much to everyone who has already joined the waitlist, it has filled up faster than I expected! If you’d like to be the first to get the details, then you can sign up here.

How to Survive Substack (and The Internet overall)

1. Get Lucky

You know those moments when you log-in and find someone who seems, by your estimation, to be less talented than you but far more “successful”? And that seed of judgement and envy flickers deep inside you: “I could’ve written that in my sleep,” about best-seller books, or “What an obvious idea,” about art that goes viral. But the harsh truth is: you didn’t, they did.

When I was little, I discovered many a designer I fell head-over-heels into visual love with. Exquisite designs which sat in galleries and museums always ignited my curiosity — I envied the minds that created them, and I envied the ease and creative freedom that came with that level of success.

The stories of the designers were often similar: for a long time, nobody understood their vision, and it took one person giving them a chance to turn that around. This always struck me: they had a lucky break.

What if, I wondered, I work really hard my whole life, and no luck comes my way? What if I try and try, but I just don’t have the talent?

Most creative people will have these thoughts at one point or another, and many will stumble right here — at the first hurdle. The question is too daunting to answer, so it’s easier to not bother trying.

Others might have an unshakeable belief that All Will Work Out, but even that mentality doesn’t always pay off — they can get a rude awakening when they realise just how damn hard it is. They grow resentful and bitter, and stumble instead at this hurdle.

A few will stick out the years of rejections and disappointments, which are par for the course, and get through to the Other Side (a mythical place).

My way of battling through is simple: I choose to get lucky. I take my own steps towards it, I trust in it, and I don’t wait for someone else to hand it to me. Many of those steps were awkward and uncomfortable at first, followed by a desire to hide, but that’s all part of the process.

Luck isn’t going to shine on you if you don’t have skin in the game. But if you roll up your sleeves and jump in, well then, you’re increasing your chances by 100%.

Here’s what happens if you choose luck:

• You continue to create things, rather than give up entirely when it’s not easy.

• You continue to improve and to learn, because you know that if you’re going to get lucky, you have to do the best work you can do.

• You keep showing your work to the world, even when it feels sticky and disheartening.

• You’re okay with being a beginner and creating things that aren’t up to your standards, because you know it’s a step forwards.

• You learn to let go of what’s not working, you pivot and try new things.

• You trust that if something you do ‘fails’, your magical brain will simply provide you with something else to try. You’re not reliant on one thing working out, and your self-worth isn’t tied to it’s success.

Like I said in my last post, don’t do creative work with the solitary goal or expectation in mind of “success” — this absolutely won’t work. Instead, pursue the sparks and glimmers that light you up. Believing that you too can get lucky is just a quiet, gentle motivator in the backseat. It’s not your driving force, but it is a friend, along for the ride.

2. Peaks and troughs

In January, I had a very distracting month. On a catch-up call with one of my Substack buddies,

Lindsay Johnstone

, I told her that I had no time or energy to write, all I could do was essential client work, and it was frustrating. She, on the other hand, was riding on a high — she had sold out her course on Memoir, had been very productive, and had an influx of new subscribers.

Once upon a time, this might have upset me. While I was always happy for successful friends, I also had that nasty habit of turning it against myself: What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I do it too?

Experience and time has, thankfully, got me well and truly past that stage. I now know that this is how it goes for every single one of us — peaks and troughs, floods and drought.

When you feel as though you’re trapped in a barren desert where none of your seeds will grow, it’s easy to look next door, to those who seem to have mastered the rain and are reaping the rewards.

But tides go out because they must — maybe you need a rest, maybe life happens — but it doesn’t mean that the tide won’t come back in.

When you least expect it, a wave will drift onto your beach, bringing you fresh ideas, renewed energy, and the excitement you need to keep going.

3. Take Breaks

The algorithm gurus teach us that the one way to guarantee success in the online world is to be consistent and keep showing up.

SCREW THAT. It’s exhausting. It’s a pain. It’s not feasible for the majority of us.

I am incapable of being consistent, and blissfully so, though it took me a while to embrace. I took six weeks entirely offline in December/January, and my career didn’t implode. In fact, my Substack is growing faster now than ever before. Why? Because I needed that break, and I came back with more energy and new ideas than I would have if I’d powered through.

I frequently take breaks — my creativity relies on them, and frankly, my survival as a human does too.

• Tune into yourself if you’re struggling with inspiration or energy — do you need a break? A rest? Can you get offline, get outside, and do something else for a while?

You know what happens beyond our screens? Real life. The 3-D world — full of humans, pets, smiles, purrs, floors to be swept, wind in the trees, rain pattering down, waves of emotion, cups of tea and a bit of laughter, if we’re lucky.

When we lay down our phones and spend more time in that world, comparison-itis fades away, along with the craving for external validation. Instead, the importance of what truly matters comes to surface — and that’s what stimulates our creativity. That’s where we find the kindling to light our creative fires.

4. Make friends

Having people in your circle who understand, who “get it” and who are going through the highs and lows alongside you is a game-changer. You are not in this alone, we’re never actually in anything alone.

• Reach out to people on Substack — this is an incredibly friendly community. If you really love someone’s posts, let them know! This platform is amazing for cultivating deeper friendships.

• Last night, I hosted the first of a series of Substack Gatherings. There’s been a lot of demand for more, so I’ve decided to keep them going. “Connect and Create”, where we’ll come together for support, accountability, a chance to be heard and to network with others on a similar path. I’ll choose a theme for each gathering to guide the discussion. Keep an eye out, I’ll announce more soon.

5. Finally: Ignore the metrics

I know, I know, impossible, right?

Give yourself a hug for showing up, for overcoming those stumbling blocks and continuing to create. That, in itself, is hard. Every time you get caught up in likes, comments or subscriber numbers, remind yourself to detach a little. You never know who is watching, reading, and appreciating what you’re doing.

I know people with 20k subscribers who get no comments or likes on their posts, but they have plenty of loyal readers. I know people who grew so fast on Substack that they totally lost their way and now are stuck on how to move forward — so slow growth is not only okay, it can actually be beneficial. Give yourself permission and time. Have patience, and gently persevere (as

Mariah Friend

said recently).

Play, experiment, have fun. If you ever need some guidance or support, then you know where I am.

Tamzin xx

P.S.

If you want to really detach from the overwhelm, comparison, “should”s and learn how to get yourself through those disheartening moments, sign up HERE.