Literary Liberation is Six Months Old!
What I'm learning, how we're moving forward and what's on deck in 2025. Plus a few quick polls to participate in!
Heads up, this is a long post as I go through everything that is happening effective immediately at Lit Lib. Please make sure to save it so you can come back to it when needed. Let’s go!
I can’t believe we’ve already hit the 6-month mark! It’s the small steps that lead to the giant leaps, and I’m so grateful to have you here with me.
In our first 6 weeks, all workshop slots for 2024 were filled by incredible teaching artists. We have just 3 more workshops to close out 2024, and I’d love for them to sell out! Payment plans are available—just email me to set one up.
Our workshops are broad in scope and most significantly, center Black and Brown folks. Dreams coming true y’all. Admittedly, the learning curve for creating a thriving learning community has been steep. I’m very much in the early stages.
I’m learning that I need time to learn who you all are, what your interests are, and figure out how to meet those needs. I had a really great conversation the other day that helped shift how I’m viewing Lit Lib and its purpose in a way that’s more in tune to serve you best, or at least better.
So about this conversation…I am not here to reinvent the wheel. The thing with vision is when you step out on faith, sometimes that means you’re working solely from your own creativity. Alone. What we create is no longer ours once we let it out into the world. How you receive the message clues me in to how I’m sharing the message as opposed to what I think.
I spend a lot of time thinking about and building community. Doing this work isn’t the same as it was 15 years ago. There’s more competing for your energy and the last thing I ever want to do is add to that feeling of competition. So I’m stepping forward with even more intention. From now on, think of Literary Liberation as you would any other learning space, but with a slight twist: I want to drive home the point that Literary Liberation is restorative first. That means that I care about catering to our practical and inner needs.
CIRCLE LEADERS: In the new year, I want to be able to offer moments where the community can come together and rely on each other to show up and support one another. That can manifest in many ways: writing circles, art circles, conversation series. The sky is the limit. If you have ideas, feel free to pitch us.
I’m going to need your help, though. As we continue to build this learning community, I want to ensure it meets your needs. I am working on a survey that I will send out at a later date to gather as much info as possible.
Email frequency
I’ve been wondering how you feel about the amount of emails sent. I do not want to clutter any inboxes, and I know that it is a lot especially if you are also receiving posts from Raising Mothers and AHWM—and that’s just from me! No telling how many other newsletters wind up in your inbox.
It would be great if Substack automatically had an option to send a self generated weekly digest of everything you missed. Since they don’t, I’ve decided I will do that myself, weekly.
For all new subscribers at every tier, you are now automatically signed up for only two sections: everything published in Workshops & Events and select pieces from The Write Stuff. There is now a section in our navigation named Newsletters where you can pick and choose what parts of Literary Liberation you would like to have emailed. On that page you’ll find a link to your account settings where you make your decision.
I want to create good habits that are respectful of your time and space. I will give this a try for a few months and see how things work out before making new adjustments, but always with your feedback.
From now on you should end up with at maximum, 3 posts a week and at minimum, 1 post a week from Literary Liberation. Anytime a new class is announced, that will be sent directly to your email.
Reading content moving forward
Posts will continue to be published with either full or partial access. From now on, you’ll have 3 weeks to read them before they move behind a full or partial paywall.
The only exceptions are classes that haven’t started yet and any accompanying essays etc. Once the class/workshop begins, those posts also fall behind the paywall.
I’m doing this because the main idea is that Literary Liberation serves as a space for those who want to build community. Think of this like a yoga studio: this is a place where you are growing in your practice. You have to show up to do that.
Yesterday’s price is not today’s price (or Pricing changes in 2025)
As we grow and continue providing more resources, it's important that our pricing reflects the value and sustainability of the community. The upcoming rate changes will allow us to continue delivering top-tier content, support, and opportunities for all members. Come January 1, our new rates will be:
Free Tier: You will have access to new workshop and event announcements, our weekly round up post, introductions to new offerings, ability to join our monthly writing group, and occasional posts.
Monthly: Increasing from $12 to $15/month
Annual: Increasing from $120 to $150/year
Founding Members: Increasing from $165 to $200/year (with exclusive benefits remaining intact!) As an extra bonus, founding members at Lit Lib enjoy 3 months complimentary paid status at Raising Mothers if they are already a member.
Special Offer for Current Members: Lock in 2024 Pricing!
If you become a new member in 2024, your rates are set indefinitely.
Lock in your forever rate this year!
Many hands make light work
There are still ways to gain complimentary paid membership: become a member of our team! If you join as a columnist, community leader, or in editorial/admin capacities, you receive anywhere from 3-12 months complimentary paid access. I am definitely looking to grow a team, so if you’re interested, read more here:
I have a lot of plans for 2025, but everything depends on community. The idea is that we all learn to show up for one another. I want to get back to the heart of Lit Lib: a community that shows up and supports one another actively. Social media has made us entitled passive participants in life—we have to work to dismantle that. I do hope you’ll join us!