17 Comments

Congrats on three years! You're making great progress and I firmly believe it's the inside work that is mostly invisible that matters, and eventually (slowly) translates to the outside life in abundance.

I really value what you are doing. One thing your newsletter has done for me is opened my eyes about how many of us writers are feeling and experiencing very similar things - and also, putting perhaps too much on that rescue fantasy of the massive book deal. (I needed to see just how many other people were planning to have a bestseller in lieu of a pension to see how that might not be the world's most practical option! 🤣)

And yet - we will still write wonderful books and be ambitious for them. But look after ourselves and our art at the same time so that we are not desperate, or terrified or compromised.

As a wise woman once told me, "trust in god but tie up your camel."

xxx

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Thank you! I love that quote! That’s what I’m focussing on now, I think 🐫

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‘That rescue fantasy of a massive book deal’ is SUCH a good way to describe it!

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Yep, it has helped me understand my mindset and change it. As with any 'Prince Charming' type situation, I think we need to want the thing because we deserve it and because it would be fun (but we'd be okay without it) not because we NEED it to save us! Hard to undo the internal wiring on this tho

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That makes sense 👍

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Congratulations on writing for three years. I really worry about my pension. I do have a small pension but feel like I need independent advice on topping It up. Where does one start with things like that?

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Thank you! I did this pension post a while ago. Might be a good place to start

https://open.substack.com/pub/theladybirdpurse/p/help-me?

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It can be really daunting to show behind the scenes, but I know it helps everyone so much. It makes us reflect on where we are at and where we went to be.

Overdraft was our friend for many years. It was huge huge accomplishment to close that chapter of our lives.

Here’s to many more years of writing! 🥂

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Thanks so much, Mika.

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Huge congratulations on your pension fund and your consistency with it 🥳🥳🥳

Anything extra to top up the state pension will be worth it (is my best reckon!).

Two things struck me after reading this. Firstly, you’re a gnat’s fart away from being in a good financial position (I wonder if it feels that way to you, though?) and also you seem to be doing really well in areas where you have a “set it and forget it” system in place.

But I could be utterly wrong about both observations!

Thanks for sharing this info so generously 🙂

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Thank you so much! I do feel like I’m close, while at the same time having a small voice in the back of my mind telling me I’ll cock it up like I always do. And also I can’t really imagine it? So that’s clearly something to work on.

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You probably will - but we all do - a lot sometimes! I cocked up my money in August for a few different reasons, so you are not alone in the cocking-up department (It’s a real place, in a building somewhere and they keep a list and my name is most definitely on it).

Overall, to an outsider it looks like you’re making progress. Looking forward to your updates in 2025!

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Thanks, Mel. Love the idea of an actual department 😂

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BRAVA!

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Thank you!

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Love this so much, Keris! Happy anniversary!!

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Thank you!

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