Sparkle on Substack

“Everything difficult and everything beautiful all at once.” Amie McNee

It was an absolute highlight to speak with Amie McNee fresh from her book tour for We Need Your Art. This chat will stay with me forever, it was a real honour to connect with Amie and bring this conversation to you.

We touch on…

* resistence

* the creative process

* shifting platforms

* the perfect essay and the ‘messy’ creative process

* impact

* moving readers with our words

* feeling good in your creative p...

Where momentum meets magic.

The Embodied Spark is a weekly pep talk with me Claire Venus ✨ to explore a single idea than impacts our creative practise positively. These pep talks help us to make sense of where we might be holding ourselves back and need a further invitation to feel held and kindle our creative voice.

This is the last weekly pep-talk in front of the paywall - I’m going DEEP for my members - you are welcome to join us, unlock the archive, twice monthly live mentoring calls and a daily chat...

Thank you Jude Lally, Amy Brown, Alexander Verbeek, Mel Parks, Mary Beth Kaplan✨, and many others for tuning into my live video with Sarah Raad!

You can connect with Sarah Raad’s work right here on Substack. I’m lucky enough to call her a friend.

We met because she was my coach back in 2020/21. I recommend her mindset programmes to everyone especially woman who feel the call of something bigger and are struggling with the how and the why in their mindset.

I could never not be friends with Sarah, she knows too mu...

Thank you Clover Stroud, Laura Fenton, Alyssa Polizzi, Kristin Tweedale, Kristi Keller 🇨🇦, and many others for tuning into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app.

Members - If you’re already got my new mini course hosted over here - Joyful Growth to Bestseller Mini-Course - 1st - 5th May 2025 please feel free to come on over and introduce yourself in our welcome post?

If you’d like to join us - here’s the scoop on what’s included in the mini-course and challenge - I can’t WAIT to get star...

Hi Folks

Welcome back to another Embodied Spark pep talk and invitation for your creative practise.

Get these direct to your inbox each week… ✨

This week I’m inviting you into to consider what putting one foot in-front of the other means to you when you ‘have to’ show up for your creative practise and work.

I also wanted to link to 3 things I’m excited about…

* Next week’s retreat (Fri 9 May) with Tanya Lynch at Ease Retreats - last couple of spots - come! I’d love...

The word Intention in Latin means purpose.

WELCOME to another day in the Substack universe. I hope you had a nice weekend?

Thanks SO much for your warm reception on last week’s note. You are all so lush and I cannot believe of 1000 of you listened… it’s a joy to do this work…

This one ended a little abruptly as I could hear my daughter coming up the stairs to the studio…

So it’s about creative practise and making friends with ours.

It’s really comes d...

Eeeeeeek I made a NEW thing.

I hope you like it.

This first pep talk is free and inspired by two brilliant women and congruently authentic voices; Selina Barker who does a regular BRILLIANT pep talk for her members over at Another Way with Selina Barker and Caroline Donahue who drops into her membership this way and shares her truth.

This pep talk is free to all and the rest of these regular calls to action will be paywalled for members.

I’d love to know what it sparks for you as...

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparkleon.substack.com/subscribe

Connecting on on the display changes to our bios and what we should do about it. Thanks for coming along to my live. It was lovely to see some of you!!

Cx

Don’t forget Sparkle on Substack the membership is having a price rise to reflect the value of the archive and take into account new fees I have to pay. To get in at the current pricing and stay there for as long as you stay hit upgrade before 3rd April. Do it now if you’ve been thinking about it? I promise you will ADORE it here.

Hi Sparklers,

I wanted to record a little something to address two new Substack features that have been rolled out…

Enjoy my eight minute...

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparkleon.substack.com/subscribe

Thanks for joining us this morning. It was BEAUTIFUL to see you.

You can check and sign up for more calls here.

Reminder - Diamond Membership closes temporarily to new members TODAY! Here are your benefits…

Join me for my next live video in the app

"Your publication is its own beautiful little garden, a little terrarium that you can keep safe and you can nurture your audience and connect to your subscribers and readers."

Sparklers!

You can build and grow joyfully and sustainably without burn out here.

Fancy a little creative boost as to how you show up? Need some insight into how to refresh your joyful growth strategy for Substack and beyond?

Join us for my 7 Day Joyful Growth (on Substack) challenge next week!?

Subscribe here - (it’s a whole se...

WELCOME back to Sparkle on Substack, the podcast. You can listen to this wherever on Substack or wherever you get your podcasts.

My second guest for Season 3 is the wonderful Emma Simpson. We recorded this episode back in September and I can hardly believe it’s been four months.

I first met the delightful Emma Simpson at Alnwick Story Fest this time last year actually. Since then, we have stayed in touch, met in London and cheer-leaded each other’s work from a far.

If you want to join us for tea and cake...

Happy Friday all,

I was so excited to connect with fellow creative mum Charlie Swift who I met (I think) on instagram some years back…

This was an impromptu live as Charlie shared with me she’d like to try a Substack Live in our members call and her word/ phrase of the year is ‘Show Up’ so here we are… Beautiful things happen online every single day. Here’s you invite to see more of them and less of the things that fry your nervous system.

In our Substack live, Charlie shared more about h...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit sparkleon.substack.com

Sparklers!

S beautiful to spend some time with you all this morning.

When you have your goal/s for 2025 set, pop it in the comments?

Over 130 of you have downloaded the planner. Yay - let’s make plans (and magic)

If you missed it grab yours for free here.

See you all for visioning in next week!!

Claire

PS - I am looking forward to connecting with so...

"I'm going to stay plugged into the Internet at large for a longer time, then I am going to have to be mindful of when the Orcs want to pop up, when I can have a cup of tea with the Dwarves and when I can just sit and chill and watch Wicked with my little selection box."

Hi Sparklers,

I hope 2024 wrapped up beautifully for you and you have some notes next to your reflections and thoughts about your directions?

As we usher in 2025, I'm thrilled to share some reflections...

You are welcome to join us here at Sparkle on Substack on a 14 day free trial over the holidays. Expires 31st December.

Did you open your Christmas gift yet? There’s a FREE planner inside.

Take time to create a Substack Publication with Ease

I’m so excited to co host an IN PERSON this retreat with Tanya Lynch next year (2025) in Oxfordshire. There are still spots available but we do expect it to sell out.

It was lush to re-connect with Tanya on a Substack Live a co...

“I wanted to create a space that was there for people all year round. Substack gave me the platform for Soul Circle to land.” Beth Kempton

WELCOME back to the Sparkle on Substack podcast everyone. Thank you for being here.

This is the space for in depth conversation about how creatives are bringing themselves and their beautiful work to this platform. I am wrapping up the second season of this podcast which is sponsored by the first wave of my Diamond Members. Thank you to everyone who listens and comments. It means the worl...

Thank you Christopher Pepper, Allegra Chapman, Katie Andraski, Susan Kuenzi, Amber Horrox, and many others for tuning into my live video with Russell Nohelty! Join me for my next live video in the app.

If you have questions on anything we talk about in our publication celebration, drop them below and we’ll circle back after the holidays.

Claire and Russell

Well this was an ABSOLUTE treat. Seth and I have clocked each other’s Notes for a little while and I was delighted he was up for a chat about socials/ social media on Substack and all the rest.

My top tip for you is to understand what you do in service to your readers by emailing them from Substack. Then the rest of the strategy of ‘being online’ for growth, personal development and fun can follow.

Thank you Andy Adams, Jo Hutton, Diamond-Michael Scott, marine eyes, Cruda, and many others for tuning into my live v...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

Thank you Caroline Ferguson, Alexa Juanita Jordan, and many others for tuning into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app.

Here’s an example of what I mean where you have to select all emails filtered. Mine says 680 because I added everyone who is free and clicked more than one link in the last 30 days.

Thank you Jo Hutton, Robin Harford, cara alwill, Emma Simpson, Vicki Lesley, and many others for tuning into my live video with Caroline Donahue!

Join me for my next live video in the app next week.

It’s been a joy to support Caroline Donahue on her journey to Substack Bestseller.

✨

If you want my bespoke support, Diamond Membership opens to my paid members and customers this weekend for a limited number of people.

Here are the perks…

Let me know if you have questions,

Claire...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit sparkleon.substack.com

With a Sparkle on Substack membership you join a hub of over 400 people joyfully growing their Substack publication. You get two calls a month with me, weekly ask-me-anythings and competitions. When you join you get access to my four week course ‘Stay Creative on Substack’ to set your Substack up congruently embodying your own unique creative practise.

If you’re happy here as a reader or if you need a gift subscription here you are welcome to ask. If you...

Hi all,

This morning I popped LIVE on the Substack app to chat a little more about the current situ with Notes and how we’re all feeling.

Over on Notes, it’s less of a water cooler moment with our colleagues and more of noisy airport where most of the flights are delayed and everyone has their phone on LOUD these days…

This is my third Substack LIVE and the only one I felt happy to share…

Thank you Susannah Conway ,Jo Hutton, Ingrid Fernandez, and many others for tuning into my...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit sparkleon.substack.com

Hi all,

We’re meeting this morning! 9.30am (UK time) to discuss increasing your income on Substack through Founding Memberships.

Register here. Replay will be posted after the call.

In response to a reader question, I recorded you this video/ audio so you can better understand the strategy behind my recent decisions here at Sparkle on Substack.

Members - I’ll be away this w…

The Power of Community on Substack: "I had no idea that it was going to become this massive community that I was going to want to live in."

Lindsay Johnstone

From the archives and in celebration of Lindsay completing an incredible memoir serialisation project here on Substack, here is a wonderful episode on the POWER of audio on Substack. Lindsay is running a flash sale where you can access her serialised memoir ‘Held in Mind’ for the price of a hard back book. GO see!

Lindsay Johnstone has been here in my m...

Just a reminder, it’s the last month to jump in as a monthly paid member to Sparkle on Substack. It’s currently £11 a month or £95 for the year.

On 1st November, I am TAKING OUT the monthly option and the annual price will be £145. That’s a jump from USD $124 to $189 or you can lock in monthly at USD$14.

If your a current member your price will always stay the same.

✨

Help Lucy Werner meet her goal of reaching 500 paid members and upgrade to her membership with this special 30...

“One of the things that I like to do with my book is I try and take it everywhere. Because you never know who you're going to meet. And actually, that having a copy on me landed me my biggest ever podcast with the biggest ever, like somebody who had millions of followers on YouTube. I also quite like to stash them places."

The video version is here -

https://sparkleon.substack.com/p/subscriber-retention-on-substack

"Sometimes I would go into such a flow when I'm in conversation for the podcast that when I listen back, I'm like, wow, I can't believe that I'm that smart."

Hannah Harvey

Afternoon sparklers, how are you?

1001 ways you say - what a gift… let’s chat about the ways you could use audio in the comments!

BEFORE I get into it - I wanted to remind you that it’s the VERY last day to grab the early bird price on my NEW audio/ video podcasting course.

Perf...

Just to steal in quickly before the show and tell you my BRAND new podcasting course is on EARLY BIRD sale until Wednesday. Join in in Perfectly, Imperfect Podcasting and make your podcasting dreams come true! More here. It’s £220 right now or x2 payments of £110. (That’s USD $288 approx)

🎙️💫

"Just because I think it's so interesting through your life how your relationship to money changes and how your experience with money changes and how already there's been kind of patterns of women not being taken seriously around this topic."

Keris Fox

Perfectly Imperfect Podcasting on Substack

I have had SOOOO many questions about starting and committing to a podcast recently, I decided to make a month long LIVE course to support you. We start November 1st.

(If you’re in the membership here at Sparkle on Substack, you can access some light touch resources to help you use audio here on Substack, just head to the a-z and you’ll find everything there).

Podcasting starts with having something to say, something you care about…

And we don’t have to say it ‘...

"When I set up the Heiter Society, I wanted something for myself where I felt less alone, also in my business."

Kiki

"Yes, to some extent, Heiter is definitely slow living, but it is still beautiful."

Kiki

I’m thrilled to bring you another exciting episode of Sparkle on Substack the podcast.

Kiki and I dive deep into creative processes, the importance of branding, and all things related to building joyful, engaging communities online.

🎧 **Episode Highlights:**

1. **Mailing List Moves:** Claire Venus share...

"How Paywalls Protect Personal Stories: "People pay, not because it's clickbait, because that's just not for everybody. That part of what they're saying, they only want to share it intimately with people who are part of their inner circle and bought in."

Linda @ Substack

I was delighted to meet with Linda @ Substack this week to chat all things Substack.

Linda is a dedicated member of the writer partnerships team at Substack and has been on the staff team since 2021. Widely recognised for her active presence on Substack Notes, Linda's...

“Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome.”

Arthur Ashe

It was an absolute JOY to connect with David Speed for my podcast a couple of months back. David and I were at the podcast recording of Creative Coffee by Emma Gannon when she interviewed Farrah @Substack in London and I know both of them will be delighted we made this connection if they see this post.

Connection - now there’s a word I overuse but honestly it makes everything possible.

When...

“This idea that we are playing a game that we never really know the rules for, and I think that's a feeling that many people have, like thinking about the algorithm and how often should you post and should you do reels and should you do whatever. That feeling made me feel really bad, and I'm just happy that I don't have to deal with that anymore."— Astrid Bracke

This episode is supported by my Diamond Members here on Substack. You’ll find links to their publications at the end.

It’s the VERY las...

It was a JOY to meet my pal Suzy Walker for the Sparkle on Substack podcast.

Suzy talks to us about ‘starting from scratch’, making the most of our presence online and following your heart even when it tells you to leap!

Suzy is a coach (once named one of the top ten in the UK) and former Editor-in-Chief of Psychologies magazine.

She’s been privileged to have interviewed some of the best self-development greats in the world, from Oprah to Brené Brown, and loves finding tools, books, and experts that support us in maki...

Popping in to tell you more about the BRAND NEW course I’m SO excited to deliver!

This course combined two years of my creative expertise distilled down for you into a series of 10 minute tutorial drops.

Live calls optional, replays available. Let’s elevate our Substacks into BEAUTIFUL digital magazines we are proud of?

Join us?

Grab your early bird spot here.

Course replay will be available to 💎 Diamond Members after delivery. More on your exclusive invite to Diamond Membership here, don’t miss the chance to get strategic...

“I am earth meets sky... soul meets strategy.”

Lauren Barber

Hi all

Welcome back to another episode of Sparkle on Substack, the podcast!

It’s a delight to be here and to tell you my humble little podcast just hit 20k downloads here on Substack. They are an excellent host by the way!! 🎉

If you want to learn more simply head over to the search bar in my publication and type in ‘podcast’ and you’ll find some related articles.

In this episode, I chat with Lauren mai...

"I like to have a plan, but remaining flexible to respond to what my audience is enjoying,"— Molly Ella

Earlier this year I caught up with the wonderful Molly Ella over at Slow Scottish Stories. I connected with Molly early on my Substack journey and have read her pieces almost every week. She has a weekly posting schedule where she explores themes of slow, frugal living, Scottish highland life and reading for pleasure. She has a wonderful tone of invitation to her readers and it’s been a joy to watch her stick to her boun...