Hour 3 of the Write for Money and Power 12 hour book launch livestream felt like a collective exhale.
I went live with Claire Venus ✨ — creator of Sparkle on Substack — and the conversation moved away from tactics-for-tactics’ sake and into something much more lasting:
What does creative power actually look like when you’re practicing it in real life?
Not as a brand.
Not as a growth hack.
But as a way of working — and living — that doesn’t burn you out.
Here are a few ideas from the hour that stayed with me:
You Don’t Need Permission Anymore
Claire named what so many creators are quietly realizing:
We’ve exited the era of waiting.
Waiting to be “ready.”
Waiting to be chosen.
Waiting for gatekeepers to validate the work.
You can publish.
You can host.
You can write the book.
The internet doesn’t require permission — only participation.
Sustainable Growth Starts With Self-Trust
One of the most resonant threads was this reminder:
Substack is built on forever — and that can feel scary.
But sustainable growth doesn’t come from having everything figured out.
It comes from asking one honest question, over and over again:
What do I actually want to do right now?
Not what the algorithm wants.
Not what looks impressive.
What feels true.
Depth Beats Numbers (Every Time)
Claire spoke beautifully about choosing depth of connection over scale for scale’s sake.
Big numbers can be intoxicating.
They can also be hollow.
Real power comes from:
• Being known by your readers
• Building trust over time
• Creating work that people feel seen by
Growth that’s rooted in connection lasts longer — and feels better.
The Dashboard Is Not a Moral Scorecard
Stats rise. Stats fall. Platforms change.
One of the healthiest reframes from the conversation:
External metrics can’t be your internal measure of success.
Returning to the creative process — the part you control — is what steadies the nervous system and restores momentum.
Write Letters, Not Diaries
A practical gem that bears repeating:
Think of your writing as a letter to a reader, not a diary entry for yourself.
That shift alone changes how your work lands — and how deeply it resonates.
Consistency Isn’t About Hustle
Consistency isn’t posting every day forever.
It’s designing a creative rhythm you can live with.
One that accounts for rest, quiet seasons, and real life.
Burnout isn’t a badge of honor.
It’s usually a sign you’re doing things you don’t actually want to be doing.
If Claire’s perspective resonated with you, I highly recommend spending time in her work:
And if this conversation mirrors the questions you’re asking about ownership, sustainability, and creative agency — the full framework lives inside the book:
The ebook is $0.99 so that everyone can change their writing life this year.
Not a launch gimmick. A values decision.
I’m diving back into the livestream shortly — more conversations, more nuance, more reminders that creative power doesn’t have to be loud to be real.
See you there.
Thank you Mary Beth Kaplan🪶, Betina Cunado, Laura Michelle Wolff MEd, Casey O'Connell, Amy Benavides, and many others for tuning into my live video with Claire Venus ✨!
-Amy
