47 Comments
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Bianca's avatar

My motto for 2024 was “it’s not that serious” 😂 Sometimes I struggle to remember it, but when I started this substack I knew I wanted it to be a place for all my thoughts, not just the bookish and writing ones. Niche down or die? Give me death then😂

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Brooke's avatar

I’m going to start saying “niche down or die, give me death then” that is amazing.

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lindsay lark's avatar

omg thank you for giving me a new life motto 😂

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Elizabeth Baral's avatar

I love this so much! I also have a number of different hobbies and interests and have also had multiple instagram accounts at different times (the bookstagram is the one that’s stuck though!) so can completely relate to this! I’m also trying out writing a variety of things because life is too short to only acknowledge certain aspects of your personality!

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Brooke's avatar

I looove your comment! Life IS too short to only acknowledge one part of your personality. Connection comes from knowing all the different parts, and I think that can make internet conversations/blog posts/art be more relatable and authentic.

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Elizabeth Baral's avatar

Exactly! And also more interesting!

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Jen's avatar

Omg I love this so much! I subscribed for the whiplash!! Hit with your wild and crazy bc I’M THE SAME and you’re making me feel normal!!! I’m so sick of being told to niche and I’m so sick of the panic anxiety what-do-I-let-go-of can’t-bear-to-stop-anything and actually here are a few more things I want to bombard people with lovingly 😂 I’m breathing a sigh of relief that mine isn’t the only Substack that has a bit of this, bit of that, can’t guarantee what’ll be in your inbox tomorrow but I do guarantee it’ll be sent with love. Here’s to all the things 🙌

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Brooke's avatar

You’re the absolute sweetest!!! Chaotic content sent with love is the best kind

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becca mae's avatar

People shouldn’t have to be niches! We’re all multifaceted and I personally love learning about everybody’s multiple interests 💙

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Brooke's avatar

Same here! ❤️

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The Rogue Crow's avatar

I literally just came on to Substack to post a question for my few followers about whether they would mind diversification of my tiny account. This post was top on my feed so I feel like it was fate! I am just like you with a million different hobbies that come into ascendency at different times. Thanks for giving me the push to not care about the old algorithm!

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Brooke's avatar

Oh my goodness this comment made my day, I’m glad this article could be here for you in the nick of time!

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Kiran J's avatar

As someone who also went down an anxiety spiral about their substack and trying to stay in one lane, I relate. I refer ton it as the “junk drawer” substack, you never know what you might find! I’m here for all the content whether it’s crochet possums or book related 😂

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Brooke's avatar

Junk drawer !!! I love that! And thank you who knows what I’ll post next (not me that’s for sure)!

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Melissa's avatar

I completely understand this and support it!

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dez's avatar

YES! I am also one of those people with a ridiculous amount of hobbies, who's made SO many instagrams, and who has often felt the pressure to "niche-down". I once heard someone say that the common thread in all your conent is you, and that's enough. I'm brand new to Substack , but that's the kind of energy I want to bring with me into this new adventure. I'm gonna write about whatever I want! I may have other internet spaces that are niche, but this one I want to keep for me as a whole person.

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Brooke's avatar

YES DEZ! I love the concept that “the common thread in all your content is you, and that’s enough”. Life is too short to not be our whole selves.

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Joe Douglas's avatar

I recently decided to ditch my Writergram because I simply can't be arsed maintaining more than one account. For similar reasons I've deleted my Facebook, Mastodon and Pixelfed accounts. It's just too much effort for too little reward. Now I just post everything to the one IG, Threads and here. I took love gushing about my hobbies. If people want to follow me, they'll get Me, not some curated version. Specifically to Substack though, I think the Sections function helps to divide things a bit without having to have more than one account.

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Brooke's avatar

Ooo I need to experiment with the sections feature. Fishing about hobbies is the best!

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Joe Douglas's avatar

If you take a look at my Sub you'll see I've a section called "Geekology." That's where I post the comics/ games/ collecting specific content. Everything else goes under the main header as it has to do with my writing.

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Cat Rogers's avatar

Hard relate! I’ve touched on this in my posts too and I’ve been very upfront on Substack about how this is gonna be used for me rambling and life journaling and art and poetry and all sorts. 😅 And I’m finding it so freeing!

I actually just uninstalled instagram yesterday cause the pressure was getting too much!

Glad to find you and here for all your multiple hobbies and endeavours x

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Brooke's avatar

Yess! We should all embrace all the different cool things about ourselves, one thing is so boring!

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biglittlemia's avatar

Love this! I also battled with this coming on Substack but I ultimately said f it and I'm gonna write whatever I want and whoever resonates with me just does. 🫣

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Brooke's avatar

YESSS! 🎉 welcome to not giving an f!

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Eve's avatar

As someone who also has multiple instagrams, a dead dad, and never knows how to stick to one lane... this post felt like it was written personally for me.

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Brooke's avatar

Are we the same person??

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Jess Barker's avatar

The sheer number of IG accounts!!! 😂 No such thing as too many, imo!

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Brooke's avatar

LOL! Don’t tell me that I’ll wind up making another one 😂

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K.M. Bennett's avatar

As a fellow person with loads of hobbies, hi!! I also have been struggling to "focus" my publication, but after reading your thoughts, maybe I will just embrace my multifacetedness as well. :)

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Brooke's avatar

Yessss! Let’s all embrace all the different things that we love!

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lindsay lark's avatar

hahaha Brooke! I also have multiple instagram accounts and feel crisis when my interest pivots elsewhere! I also made a Substack and am now a tiny bit paralyzed about what to share there and how to make it cohesive! I love that this doesn’t have a theme. I love crochet possums and now want to make one. and, by the way, I love how you write—your voice is so clear and funny, like I’m chatting with a friend. I’m here for the chaos. :)

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Brooke's avatar

Yesssss get into the crochet possum life! Also thank you so much! I try to make my essay writing be conversational so it means so much to know that it’s coming across that way!

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Susannah Violette's avatar

This is basically me 😂 I’m the violet tiger studio on instagram check me out for a million different things! I don’t see why we have to be consistent and samey but I do struggle with it and it just isn’t me! I find I cycle between my art my writing my making and back. A renaissance woman, if you will. 😊

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Brooke's avatar

I cycle too! I usually focus on one hobby for a while and then shift to a different one, and that’s okay!! We don’t need to only have one hobby! How can we be expected to when there are so many cool hobby options out there?

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Susannah Violette's avatar

Grab life by the horns I say!! Or as my mum would have said - do what makes your heart sing!

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