Hi everyone, I write The Shelfless Reader. I read a hundred-plus library books a year and am slowly building a shelf of my 5 star reads, purchased second hand and well loved. But you don't have to be a big reader to feel at home here. It's not reviews or star ratings, it's the rabbit holes, the feelings, and the way a single book can quietly rearrange you, whether you read one this year or fifty.
This week I'm sharing "When You Can't Finish a Book, It's Never Just About the Book." It started as a piece about a reading slump and turned into something more honest, that when I can't finish a book it's usually not the book, it's whatever's happening in my life that I haven't named yet. I think a lot of you may recognize the feeling: https://theshelflessreader.substack.com/p/reading-slump-life-slump-are-they-connected
Also, I was bummed to miss today's Zoom meetup, but I'm hoping to make the next one. Thank you for holding this kind of space for those of us just starting out and trying to grow. It genuinely means a lot.
Heading into the thread now to read a few of yours.
Hiiii all. Feeling sad that I'm so behind in getting to this thread, but I'm here now, and so! This week I wrote about the joy and grief of realizing I'd spent decades creating delight for others without ever knowing what it felt like to receive it.
I took on a project of walking 60 hikes between my 59th and 60th birthday. Had to shift the goal to my 60 1/2 birthday, but I did it. Spent the past three days writing a post about what I learned.
Hi everyone! I write about friendship, connection, and everyday life.
This week I wrote about the friendship advice that made me feel like a failure—and why I no longer believe there's one right way to build meaningful relationships.
Hi everyone! I write about the midlife transformation and how to navigate that messy middle of change.
This week I wrote about building community and connections in midlife, on the other side of people-pleasing. When you show up as you, even when it's scary and you don't know who disappears and who stays.
Hi all - late to the thread, but will be spending my Saturday morning reading your writing <3 Also melting in the UK, so this post is "The writing about nothing is still something"...which I've packaged as a tongue-in-cheek song without music I call The Freelancer Blues: https://substack.com/home/post/p-203523853
Hi, My name is Meris Walton and I am a recently retired holistic doctor and a lifelong poet. I write and post a daily poem to my Substack site, Daily Drops of Poetry, as a way of meeting what is here, what is most alive. This week, I have been writing poems and haikus for my dear friend who recently lost her young son in a tragic accident. So personal, so universal, so heart- breaking-open is this being present with loss. Here is tonight's poetry offering: https://meriswalton.substack.com/p/daily-drops-of-poetry-day-303?r=6eyl3i
This week I’m writing about the conversation between the brain, the nervous system, and the changing hormonal landscape of midlife.
What
The
Brain
Notices
First
It’s an essay about why everything can suddenly feel louder, more effortful, or unfamiliar—and why those experiences deserve curiosity rather than dismissal.
If you’ve ever felt your body knew something before you could explain it, this one is for you.
Hi! I am Barbara. I write about identity, grief, reinvention, and becoming in midlife. I also share my experience with empty nest, and maintaining wellness mentally and emotionally. I love to connect with other midlife women and I look forward to reading your work. This week my essay explores what happens when shame-based coaching meets a kid who needed respect more than pressure.
Thanks for the opportunity to share my first real essay post on Substack as I try to transition to this new platform. I am reading several newsletters from Substack and learning more about memoir writing and flash fiction and prose. Hope I've learned enough to share the link to my first and latest post here.
Dear Liz, I read your introduction and wanted to respond that I also write memoir essays and flash fiction, and then I read your Substack post... Now I want to say, you seem like an wise, strong, and resilient person who has endured such enormity of grief. Wishing you a little bit of peace every day, and a lot more writing, and healing from writing.
Not sure if that/this link is going to go anywhere? Rather have the Capybara with Side Eye show up above;) This latest note is How to Finish Your Novel or - How to Harness Feeling Delusional;) I'm starting a master's in publishing this fall (3rd career after practicing medicine and practicing writing;) and am exploring "community publishing" as opposed to traditional/conventional or independent/individual/self-publishing. And without the billibro platforms ideally.
Yay! It's Friday! This week, I wrote a post about remembering why I'm writing my current WIP. I conducted an interview with myself, asking questions about what inspired me to write this story, why I love it, etc. I succeeded in falling in love all over again with my novel. Maybe it will inspire you, too!
holy moly- i just started reading your essay and it's giving me happy goosebumps!! i couldn't even wait 'til the end to come back and tell you and everyone else here- read this essay!! it is so encouraging and nourishing and playful!! I'm TOTALLY going to do that myself. okay- back to reading your fabulous interview!!
Hi everyone, I write The Shelfless Reader. I read a hundred-plus library books a year and am slowly building a shelf of my 5 star reads, purchased second hand and well loved. But you don't have to be a big reader to feel at home here. It's not reviews or star ratings, it's the rabbit holes, the feelings, and the way a single book can quietly rearrange you, whether you read one this year or fifty.
This week I'm sharing "When You Can't Finish a Book, It's Never Just About the Book." It started as a piece about a reading slump and turned into something more honest, that when I can't finish a book it's usually not the book, it's whatever's happening in my life that I haven't named yet. I think a lot of you may recognize the feeling: https://theshelflessreader.substack.com/p/reading-slump-life-slump-are-they-connected
Also, I was bummed to miss today's Zoom meetup, but I'm hoping to make the next one. Thank you for holding this kind of space for those of us just starting out and trying to grow. It genuinely means a lot.
Heading into the thread now to read a few of yours.
Hiiii all. Feeling sad that I'm so behind in getting to this thread, but I'm here now, and so! This week I wrote about the joy and grief of realizing I'd spent decades creating delight for others without ever knowing what it felt like to receive it.
https://natashasteer.substack.com/p/learning-to-receive-delight
I took on a project of walking 60 hikes between my 59th and 60th birthday. Had to shift the goal to my 60 1/2 birthday, but I did it. Spent the past three days writing a post about what I learned.
https://ilenegoldman.substack.com/p/the-path-finds-you-lessons-from-60
Hi folks! I write about current technology through the eyes of history and memoir. This week, I wrote about being Fat, BMI, and my 50 year old beef with doctors. I got to work with an HUMAN artist @Casper who made a collage using some photos from my childhood archives. https://jbbooth.substack.com/p/27-june-2026?r=7fzm3&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
Hi everyone, I wrote about listening to your inner voice https://susantelford.substack.com/p/the-voice-you-slowly-recognise-as
Hi everyone! I write about friendship, connection, and everyday life.
This week I wrote about the friendship advice that made me feel like a failure—and why I no longer believe there's one right way to build meaningful relationships.
Here's my latest post: https://amydowningwrites.substack.com/p/the-friendship-advice-that-made-me?r=7c59c7&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Brilliant article Amy. Left a comment for you there and subscribed!
Hi everyone! I write about the midlife transformation and how to navigate that messy middle of change.
This week I wrote about building community and connections in midlife, on the other side of people-pleasing. When you show up as you, even when it's scary and you don't know who disappears and who stays.
Here is my post: https://midlifesparkles.substack.com/p/if-i-show-my-real-self-who-stays?r=8bkeym&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
Hi all - late to the thread, but will be spending my Saturday morning reading your writing <3 Also melting in the UK, so this post is "The writing about nothing is still something"...which I've packaged as a tongue-in-cheek song without music I call The Freelancer Blues: https://substack.com/home/post/p-203523853
Hi, My name is Meris Walton and I am a recently retired holistic doctor and a lifelong poet. I write and post a daily poem to my Substack site, Daily Drops of Poetry, as a way of meeting what is here, what is most alive. This week, I have been writing poems and haikus for my dear friend who recently lost her young son in a tragic accident. So personal, so universal, so heart- breaking-open is this being present with loss. Here is tonight's poetry offering: https://meriswalton.substack.com/p/daily-drops-of-poetry-day-303?r=6eyl3i
Beautiful poem Meris! The links to nature are so powerful - commented on your post with my favorite line...
Thank you, Anna. I appreciate it!
This week I’m writing about the conversation between the brain, the nervous system, and the changing hormonal landscape of midlife.
What
The
Brain
Notices
First
It’s an essay about why everything can suddenly feel louder, more effortful, or unfamiliar—and why those experiences deserve curiosity rather than dismissal.
If you’ve ever felt your body knew something before you could explain it, this one is for you.
The MoonPhase Letter
🔗 https://moonphasewellness.substack.com/p/the-brain-notices-first?r=8hrwez&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Hi! I am Barbara. I write about identity, grief, reinvention, and becoming in midlife. I also share my experience with empty nest, and maintaining wellness mentally and emotionally. I love to connect with other midlife women and I look forward to reading your work. This week my essay explores what happens when shame-based coaching meets a kid who needed respect more than pressure.
https://midlifebecoming.substack.com/p/the-myth-of-one-size-fits-all-coaching?r=84glrd&utm_medium=ios
Thanks for the opportunity to share my first real essay post on Substack as I try to transition to this new platform. I am reading several newsletters from Substack and learning more about memoir writing and flash fiction and prose. Hope I've learned enough to share the link to my first and latest post here.
https://elizabethsolazzo.substack.com/p/liz-says-9f3
Dear Liz, I read your introduction and wanted to respond that I also write memoir essays and flash fiction, and then I read your Substack post... Now I want to say, you seem like an wise, strong, and resilient person who has endured such enormity of grief. Wishing you a little bit of peace every day, and a lot more writing, and healing from writing.
Thanks Alla for your encouragement. I subscribed to your Substack and look forward to reading.
https://substack.com/@onthehumanspectrum/note/p-184653623?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=1m2wj9
Not sure if that/this link is going to go anywhere? Rather have the Capybara with Side Eye show up above;) This latest note is How to Finish Your Novel or - How to Harness Feeling Delusional;) I'm starting a master's in publishing this fall (3rd career after practicing medicine and practicing writing;) and am exploring "community publishing" as opposed to traditional/conventional or independent/individual/self-publishing. And without the billibro platforms ideally.
Yay! It's Friday! This week, I wrote a post about remembering why I'm writing my current WIP. I conducted an interview with myself, asking questions about what inspired me to write this story, why I love it, etc. I succeeded in falling in love all over again with my novel. Maybe it will inspire you, too!
https://melissaamateis.substack.com/p/remembering-why-we-write?r=hbcxt&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Love this idea and can't wait to read it.
Going to borrow this genius creative prompt for sure - thank you for sharing!
You’re so welcome!
holy moly- i just started reading your essay and it's giving me happy goosebumps!! i couldn't even wait 'til the end to come back and tell you and everyone else here- read this essay!! it is so encouraging and nourishing and playful!! I'm TOTALLY going to do that myself. okay- back to reading your fabulous interview!!
You’re so kind! Thank you!!!😊
just restacked:)
Hello and happy Friday. Thank you, Jesica! This week I wrote an article touching on reclaiming the word Reverence. I hope you'll give a peek(: Thanks
Here is the link
https://womenattheedgeofthewoods.substack.com/p/temerity-notes?r=403h20&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
I love the term reverence and resonated with your reflections on it. Thank you, Kyra, for this offering.
I appreciate you reading the piece and am so happy it resonates.
We are worthy✨
powerful piece- and I went on to read several more of your essays w/my head nodding, and and multiple inhaled "yes" (s)
Thank you so much. I appreciate the support and am happy you and my writing found each other✨
Hello! I wrote this week about how my family is combining public school, slow travel, and cultural immersion through a month-long worldschooling experience in Mexico. https://theteachingnomad.substack.com/p/testing-worldschooling-a-month-in