Oh my gosh, my heart actually hurts at the thought of you harbouring ANY DOUBTS WHATSOEVER about the success of Create Anyway. Thank you for every single word you have laboured over and published. Praying the voices of K will be louder than the voices of B. (I can think of a more appropriate B anyway. Bull💩.)
My daughters played “library” in the living room last night before bed.
A couple hours later your book was still sitting on our couch.
A friend came over who’s been having a rough time and we prayed together.
And there was your book. I opened it up “randomly” to the breadcrumb page. She’s not a mother yet but took a quick photo on her phone of that page.
Even a year later your book and the truth in it is passing through toddlers’ hands to struggling twenty somethings to thirsty thirty and forty year olds. Thank you.
Well Ashlee, just like Create Anyway has been a huge encouragement in my creative life, this particular substack about it, has me brainstorming ideas to write for the first time in MONTHS. Thank you for following your calling. ❤️
Love how you formatted this. Don't love the sleepless nights and tears you've shed over it. You're an inspiration to many -- myself included!! Keep writing, Ashlee!! xo
Our job is so brutal. You are so good. I had a friend whose agent just told her she needs to start writing *under a pen name* because of her sales record. My first children's book was released in MAY 2020 💀 and numerous outlets called my last one my "debut" and I had to embarrassingly inform them that it was actually my third, el oh el. We are a ragtag group in it together, friend! And if I had a book in Target I would pass out and die!!!
Oh Ashlee, I’m so sorry for the disappointment and grief and processing you’re having to go through with this! The incredibly well-executed creativity of this piece in response to that blindside alone demonstrates your craft as a writer. Your book has made a difference for so many moms, myself included. We’re still rooting for you! 💜
I’m a mom of 5 in my 50s (gasp!) I have homeschooled for 26 yrs. While my youngest are in their teens and I certainly don’t qualify as a new/young Mom target audience, these last 2 kids have severe special needs and the daily caregiving required is like having perpetual toddlers. I have known exhaustion beyond words, I still am up in the night as if I had an eternal newborn , and have struggled with depression. Your book Create Anyway was pivotal in pulling me back to my creative self again! A person I thought was smothered in decades of the daily grind. I literally couldn’t put your book down and after finishing it, I wished for more writing like it. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book that good! What you write matters more than metrics or sales will ever show! Stay the course ☺️
Ok so first, love the accuracy of this whole piece and thank you for the language you give it/us. Second, the Email. Bah. 💔🫶🏻 Third, Create Anyway is truly one of the most beautiful, encouraging books out there. Not only is it a staple on my coffee table but she is not just pretty — she’s important. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Here cheering for you and all the writers out there, published and non!
Ahhh, here’s that abecedarian essay you mentioned in Sonya’s class—absolutely perfect container for these thoughts. This essay is an example in itself of how you lead your tribe of creative women by example! Thank you for being faithful to your calling—you’re doing so well and you’re inspiring so many, business metrics be damned. I hope the sting of knowing the metrics fades and is replaced with a renewed sense of purpose—the Lord has a lot more for you to write 💚
I am so sorry for the doubt this has caused. Keep fighting the good fight friend. You were faithful and did what God wanted you to and the results are left to him. Don’t quit, remember your why, and honestly screw the nay sayers. You have thousands of fans and only One who really matters. Thank you for sharing this and for your continual honesty and vulnerability. Very creative and clever!! Hugs 🥰
Your photography caught my attention, but it’s always been your writing — and your honesty!!! — that brings me back for more and more and more.
What a powerful example you’re modeling for this community (not to mention your own kiddos!). Now that your first book is out of the way, I wonder if you can think about the next one? ✨
Your words are beautiful and thanks for your transparency. It's so easy to think once an author is published they're good to go, but truth is publishing journey is hard beyond!
Oh my gosh, my heart actually hurts at the thought of you harbouring ANY DOUBTS WHATSOEVER about the success of Create Anyway. Thank you for every single word you have laboured over and published. Praying the voices of K will be louder than the voices of B. (I can think of a more appropriate B anyway. Bull💩.)
This was the most perfect use of that emoji I have ever seen 😅 Adore you, Reb.
🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞
My daughters played “library” in the living room last night before bed.
A couple hours later your book was still sitting on our couch.
A friend came over who’s been having a rough time and we prayed together.
And there was your book. I opened it up “randomly” to the breadcrumb page. She’s not a mother yet but took a quick photo on her phone of that page.
Even a year later your book and the truth in it is passing through toddlers’ hands to struggling twenty somethings to thirsty thirty and forty year olds. Thank you.
Keep writing, Ashlee! I’m here to keep reading.
🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞
This means so much to me, Emily, thank you ❤️❤️❤️
Well Ashlee, just like Create Anyway has been a huge encouragement in my creative life, this particular substack about it, has me brainstorming ideas to write for the first time in MONTHS. Thank you for following your calling. ❤️
Can't wait to read what you write! Always. Thanks for being in my corner, friend!
Love how you formatted this. Don't love the sleepless nights and tears you've shed over it. You're an inspiration to many -- myself included!! Keep writing, Ashlee!! xo
Thanks, friend ✨
Our job is so brutal. You are so good. I had a friend whose agent just told her she needs to start writing *under a pen name* because of her sales record. My first children's book was released in MAY 2020 💀 and numerous outlets called my last one my "debut" and I had to embarrassingly inform them that it was actually my third, el oh el. We are a ragtag group in it together, friend! And if I had a book in Target I would pass out and die!!!
😅 Happy to be in this ragtag group with you!
Oh Ashlee, I’m so sorry for the disappointment and grief and processing you’re having to go through with this! The incredibly well-executed creativity of this piece in response to that blindside alone demonstrates your craft as a writer. Your book has made a difference for so many moms, myself included. We’re still rooting for you! 💜
Thank you, Kimmy ❤️
Forget Always Be Closing. Ashlee Be Creating! 👏🏻👏🏻 love this piece so much.
My favorite comment you've ever left on anything 🤣 Love you, LR.
Ashlee,
I’m a mom of 5 in my 50s (gasp!) I have homeschooled for 26 yrs. While my youngest are in their teens and I certainly don’t qualify as a new/young Mom target audience, these last 2 kids have severe special needs and the daily caregiving required is like having perpetual toddlers. I have known exhaustion beyond words, I still am up in the night as if I had an eternal newborn , and have struggled with depression. Your book Create Anyway was pivotal in pulling me back to my creative self again! A person I thought was smothered in decades of the daily grind. I literally couldn’t put your book down and after finishing it, I wished for more writing like it. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book that good! What you write matters more than metrics or sales will ever show! Stay the course ☺️
Kelly, wow. Thank you so much for taking the time to write! Truly, I am humbled by this comment. Thank you ❤️
Ok so first, love the accuracy of this whole piece and thank you for the language you give it/us. Second, the Email. Bah. 💔🫶🏻 Third, Create Anyway is truly one of the most beautiful, encouraging books out there. Not only is it a staple on my coffee table but she is not just pretty — she’s important. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Here cheering for you and all the writers out there, published and non!
Thanks, friend ❤️
Please tell me your book is not being considered a disappointment! It was in Target for goodness sakes. Cheering you on always!
❤️❤️❤️
Ahhh, here’s that abecedarian essay you mentioned in Sonya’s class—absolutely perfect container for these thoughts. This essay is an example in itself of how you lead your tribe of creative women by example! Thank you for being faithful to your calling—you’re doing so well and you’re inspiring so many, business metrics be damned. I hope the sting of knowing the metrics fades and is replaced with a renewed sense of purpose—the Lord has a lot more for you to write 💚
"the Lord has a lot more for you to write" ... may it be true for both of us ❤️
I adore you and I adore this post. Look at you taking disappointing things and creating something beautiful with it. Here’s to more creating anyway 🐞
❤️
I am so sorry for the doubt this has caused. Keep fighting the good fight friend. You were faithful and did what God wanted you to and the results are left to him. Don’t quit, remember your why, and honestly screw the nay sayers. You have thousands of fans and only One who really matters. Thank you for sharing this and for your continual honesty and vulnerability. Very creative and clever!! Hugs 🥰
Your photography caught my attention, but it’s always been your writing — and your honesty!!! — that brings me back for more and more and more.
What a powerful example you’re modeling for this community (not to mention your own kiddos!). Now that your first book is out of the way, I wonder if you can think about the next one? ✨
This is perfection.
Your words are beautiful and thanks for your transparency. It's so easy to think once an author is published they're good to go, but truth is publishing journey is hard beyond!