I’m changing things up a bit…

Hello! How are you doing? It’s been aaaaaages hasn’t it, and apologies for that but there’s been good reason I promise!

As I mentioned in the last post, I’m on a self-imposed deadline with the book, because I’m heading into my 50th year, but I have some very good news on that, because I took my word of the year – diligence, and worked hard on submitting an application for the Arts Council, Developing Your Creative Practice funding which as someone who has a phobia of form-filling, was no mean feat!

And on the 11th of July, I found out I had been successful in receiving significant funding to work on the book – Creative by Nature!

Only 20% of eligible applicants receive this funding so I was over the moon to say the least! For all the details on that, click here

Which brings me to what else I’ve been up to….setting up a Substack account.

Why you may ask when I’ve got this Blog too? Well there are a few reasons, one of which is because I’ve been really enjoying the space over there as a reader, it felt like a very like-minded, lovely community of quality writers who are mainly writing for the pure joy of it.

Secondly, it has freed me up to write about whatever I want, rather than just the creative and wellbeing niche I’ve carved out here, which I’ve loved doing, but it’s now been over 4 and a half years, since I started this Blog! Time flies hey?

Thirdly, it’s very easy to get a post out quickly, and I’ve been using Suzy Walker’s writing hours, via her Substack Heart Leap (check it out), to write my Substack pieces and get them out into the world.

Fourthly, it opens up my writing to a new audience of readers, which will be important when launching my book.

And finally, you can actually get paid for your writing, by providing a paid subscription offer that is exclusive to those readers, which is exciting. I’m only at the very beginning of my journey with Substack, but it feels good to have that option easily available to offer to my readers when I’m ready.

So onto my actual Substack, which is called ‘Under the Trees’, and below is an excerpt from my launch piece, as to why I have called it this.

‘Curiosity is at the heart of everything I do, since being a young child, I spent my days in my local woods, exploring, creating stories and games, building, climbing, or getting soaked in the river, much to my Mum’s annoyance!

Which is why I also wanted this writing space to connect with my first love ‘nature’, hence the name ‘Under the Trees’, as this is where I find most peace and clarity in my day, usually on the dog walk, with my crazy cockapoo, Barley shouting at me for sticks!

Under the current green glowing canopy is where deep thoughts or ideas strike, or maybe it’s the process of osmosis, rising from the roots to the earth and reaching my pounding feet?

Either way it works as a re-set to my often-busy working and parenting life.

I am writing this intro post, alongside fellow writers, in a writing hour set up by Suzy, to encourage us to just take an hour out and write, it feels fitting that this should be the beginning, writing in connection with others to then connect with hopefully a new audience.

And so I hope you will join me to share in what I notice; as a human, passionate creative, artist, writer, photographer, and nature lover, I am a keen observer.

My children find it bizarre that on a drive I’ll spot a buzzard in the sky, a rabbit in a field, the magnolia tree’s first flower, and yet probably not notice that I’ve taken a wrong turn!

But I am also deeply interested in people, what makes them tick, why they  think / believe / behave in certain ways, what is their story, their character and what lessons can I take from their life experience?

I’ll do my best to paint these stories with words and images that transport you, make you think a little and feel something good.

If you’re as curious as me, then I hope to connect with you here…

Juliet x

Some of you may have read these pieces already if you have already subscribed to my Curious Creative Catch-up newsletter via here, and I hope you’ve enjoyed them if you have.

Also it’s not to say I won’t come back and write here, and fill you in on how working on the book is going, but if you want to know more regularly what’s going on, then I recommend you subscribe to my newsletter, and then if you enjoy reading more creative and thought pieces, head over to ‘Under the Trees‘ and subscribe there too.

I’m aware that is more in your inbox, so whatever is right for you, but also if you enjoy creative inspiration, these are good places to start, as well as of course the over 100 blogs I’ve written on here over the years! Also please search in the blog box ‘children’ if you are looking for creative things you can do with them over the holidays.

That’s it for now, a much needed restful holiday awaits, cannot wait to dig into Lisa Jewel’s new Summer read from my sunbed, and then from September, I’ll be on with my book project, as well as WOW Team of course (2 groups now!), Coaching, and Art markets coming up. Life is always busy, but it is never boring that’s for sure.

Thank you as always for being here, I always appreciate it, and have an amazing Summer,

Lots of Love,

Juliet, forever The Curious Creative x