I am writing today with a full heart and a tired body.
The LiveStack tour of spring 2025 is officially concluded. And rest.
In the last week and a half I’ve travelled 758 miles by road, taken 19 trains, met 24 Substack writers and countless more new friends at three events featured in the LiveStack directory, with a weekend conference and four days at home in between. I have loved it all, and I’m also ready to sleep for a month.
Before I tuck myself up into hibernation and writing mode, I wanted to bring you this little slice of joy. On Monday evening, I went along to the lovely
’s Writer’s Open Mic & Meet-up in Hammersmith, West London. Going to London feels like a Big Deal for a dyed in the wool northerner and introvert like me. There are a lot of people in London. But this, this was an evening of pure magic.
I met friends in person for the first time, including
, , , and Amy herself, all of whose work I’ve admired online for months now, as well as new friends whose beautiful words I’m now enjoying getting to discover - and who both read incredible pieces of writing that made us laugh and cry at the same time, and , , , , , and who were the kindest audience and the coolest crowd I’ve had the privilege of sharing a gorgeous spring evening with. And then… I had the absolute honour of meeting the incredible , whose book Breaking Waves is one of the most beautiful odes to love and loss and freedom that I’ve ever read.
Emma is a trailblazer of career transition and role model to any aspiring author, and I openly admit to going total fan-girl when she arrived. So hearing Emma read aloud the words that concluded the book I’ve devoured this spring - the book that I chose as my Mother’s Day treat this year, taking my family into the city (Nottingham, it’s much smaller than London!) to go into a real bricks-and-mortar bookshop and then to read in a sunny pub garden, drink in hand - was a bit of a dream come true. (A bit? Who am I kidding? It was amazing!) AND she has been kindly championing and recommending my work since then, and I’m still pinching myself to be quite honest! Emma - thank you, it’s been an absolute joy to meet and get to know you!
Reading my poem for this illustrious crowd was an experience I’ll treasure for a very long time. It was my first reading at an open mic (or any…) event. But the warm encouragement in that space was enough to banish any nerves, and I was able to be in the moment and I loved every second. Massive, massive thanks to Amy for organising and to everyone who was there. As I find my way in this writing world, I truly couldn’t ask for any more.
I’d absolutely recommend Amy’s events to everyone. Writers at all stages are welcomed and celebrated, so whether you just want to go along to enjoy the vivid storytelling or to read your own piece, it’s the people that make it so special. And if you do want to join the fun, the exciting news is that the summer event is going to be extra special - you can find out more from Amy below.
And so, what’s next for LiveStack? Well that’s over to you. The directory is dependent on event submissions. Please do keep sending them in here. Any live in person event, anywhere in the world, for creatives/writers/Substackers can be included. Examples so far include retreats, workshops, open mics, co-working, but your imagination is the only limit.
I’ll be sending out a short survey in the next few days to learn more about what you’d like to see here at LiveStack, so please keep an eye open for that, and then the directory for June onwards will be published in the last week of May.
Thanks so much for being here and for reading about my adventures. LiveStack was born from a craving for in person connection because I’d realised that the community here on Substack really is something special. Meeting so many of you over the last 10 or so days has only confirmed that for me. I can’t wait to get to know you all more and create magical events alongside the generous, talented humans I’ve been meeting along the way. But first, we rest…
See you soon,
The poem I read was one birthed around the virtual campfire of
’s Ink and Flame Class, and was titled Ink Immortalised. You can find the full text of it alongside an earlier home recording on my personal writing publication, Anatomy of a Decision.
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