dear readers, i need your help…
Dear friends,
Words can hardly capture how grateful I am for each of you. It’s been 4 months since I published my very first essay, and this one marks my 40th public post.
Writing is my way of making sense of the world, and sharing it here with you guys has been such a privilege. Every comment, every like, every read — I take them all to heart. It feels like having a conversation over a warm cup of tea with people I’ve never met but somehow know.
But I need to be vulnerable with you.
I’ve been between jobs for nearly a year now, and it hasn’t been easy. The job market in Melbourne is incredibly competitive right now, and with the current climate around immigration, the road feels even steeper than usual.
But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that rejection is redirection to better paths. Without this rough season, I don’t think I would’ve ever started this blog and found all of you. And that, to me, is proof that this journey matters. ❤
With that being said, I’ve been thinking about how to sustain this blog so I can keep showing up here more often, with more depth.
So I’m opening up a paid subscription on Substack!
Before you worry, most of my content will remain free for access. Here’s how it will work moving forward:
✨ Free readers
Nothing changes. You’ll still receive my regular essays, just as often and with the same quality and care as always.
✨ Paid subscribers (5 AUD/month or 50 AUD/year)
Closer letters: more personal reflections that I don’t always feel comfortable sharing publicly — like entries from my private journal.
Deep-dive essays: thoughtful, well-researched pieces where I connect big ideas from philosophy, psychology, and science with everyday life in a way that feels practical yet heartfelt.
Behind-the-scenes musings: glimpses into my creative process, the struggles and small wins of building a writing life, and the lessons I’m still learning along the way.
In short, if you enjoy what I already share, nothing will be taken away.
But if you’d like more (1-2 exclusive posts per week) and want to directly support my writing, the paid tier is where you’ll find it.
I never want to put up walls around my writing. I believe any form of knowledge should be accessible to everyone. But your girl is starving, and I can’t act cool and nonchalant anymore. 😢
If my writing has touched you in some way, becoming a paid subscriber is a way to support me in continuing this journey — and it would mean the world to me.
And if a subscription isn’t possible right now, you can always buy me a coffee and help your gal get enough caffeine in her system to produce more striking words. ❤
Otherwise, your likes and comments are always deeply appreciated. 💖
Thank you, truly, for walking this path with me. You are the reason I write every day.
With warmth and gratitude,
janelle