I’m probably not even in the same solar system follower-wise, but your words landed hard and true for me. That tug between reach and revenue, between honesty and strategy—I feel it every time I hit "publish." Like you, I’ve chosen to keep moving forward with raw, imperfect honesty. I don’t want to be lassoed into feeling small just because I’m not blowing up.
Clumsy Courage lives in that space between doubt and doing. It’s messy. It’s quiet most days. But it’s real. And reading this reminded me that the work we’re doing—the vulnerable, uncertain, keep-going-anyway work—does matter.
I’m grateful for voices like yours lighting the path, not with polish, but with guts.
This is perhaps the best essay in response to GlennonGate I’ve read yet. Anna! I forgot how compelling a writer you are. Remember about a decade ago when we wrote APM gratitude lists??
I have no clue who Glennon Doyle is. I do not know if that helps your argument, hurts your argument, just showcases my own ignorance, reflects something about society at large... Or doesn't say or mean anything at all.
I’m actually kind of annoyed by all these people writing about the curious case of Glennon Doyle, like let’s not put even more light on celebrities here please, but I must say I really enjoyed reading this, and I clicked only because I wanted to see why you cancelled paid!
Everyone’s going to feel how they’re going to feel about GD, but the term “quickly amassed” is irking me because it’s wholly inaccurate. She built a following over the course of perhaps close to two decades of time, and, wisely, collected their email addresses along the way.
Then, she imported that list here, and, to protect herself from the previous social media bullying she experienced, added a paywall for the conversations to be more meaningful and from non-haters.
This is the reality, despite how many who don’t like her want to perceive it.
These are facts of the matter.
Perhaps feelings may shift when more deeply considering, though this is of course always subjective as well, that this is a woman who bravely dragged her own pain into the light for us to witness for that much time, and has benefitted financially & fame-wise from that.
But, perhaps the jealousy will remain either way.
If she were a man, we’d not be having this conversation and that internalized misogyny is upsetting to witness.
Love this Anna, and subscribed to you! Your essay makes me think we love Glennon because she’s brave, and also envy her because she’s brave. We love her lightness and also despise the flip side, the shadow. She shows us both sides of herself and that is to be feared and also embraced. She’s ambitious and vulnerable. It’s the balance we crave and want to emulate. Or I do anyhow! I found myself easily swayed by both versions of the story. I too am both jealous that she beat me to the punch of telling my story, but also enthusiastic about learning from the way she continues to move through the world. I’m sure the weight of eyeballs on her is scary. I wrote a play about myself and got hate letters mailed to me from one person for two years. I can’t imagine that times a gagillion 😱.
You know, my issue with her has always been that she plays the whiny poor me card all the time. Even uses the Fundy Baby Voice. That is an old, tired patriarchal trope that I believe completely defeats the point of the work she’s trying to do, and it undermines everyone else who’s doing it.
Ah yes, being triggered is always about ourselves and not the other person. Takes a lifetime and a lot of therapy to learn to get past that. Same with jealousy.
Nowadays I'm curious when I'm triggered or jealous and explore what's creating it. I've also stopped readinge the Doyles and Forleos of this world. At some point it just seemed the same message all over again.
Glennon Doyle is probably a very good person. She lives in a $6.5 million dollar house. I live in a $750,000 dollar house and am sometimes embarrassed. I can’t relate to $6.5 million.
I think we see this space as a place for regular folks who have an opportunity to introduce people to their work and if they so choose to get paid for their work. Glennon Doyle doesn’t need this Substack community. She has already made it and so it’s easy to become jealous when you’ve spent months or maybe years working on amassing your audience, and someone comes in and does so in mere minutes.
That being said, the treatment of that woman was uncalled for. She didn’t force anyone to subscribe. She simply wanted to jump onto a platform that has gotten a lot of traction and is growing by leaps and bounds.
I haven’t read any of her work, but based on your article it sounds like she’s being honest and realistic. Money and fame isn’t a cure all. Some of the struggles you have before fame and money still exist after. What changes is your back account.
I do applaud you for admitting how you feel and wanting to work on it. That is what we all aught to do.
I agree 1000% with you - and so delighted that you were brave enough to write this. The path on substack has to be about something else, not numbers of followers, not paid subscribers but being valued regardless of the numbers. Thank you for this writing!
Anna—thank you for this.
I’m probably not even in the same solar system follower-wise, but your words landed hard and true for me. That tug between reach and revenue, between honesty and strategy—I feel it every time I hit "publish." Like you, I’ve chosen to keep moving forward with raw, imperfect honesty. I don’t want to be lassoed into feeling small just because I’m not blowing up.
Clumsy Courage lives in that space between doubt and doing. It’s messy. It’s quiet most days. But it’s real. And reading this reminded me that the work we’re doing—the vulnerable, uncertain, keep-going-anyway work—does matter.
I’m grateful for voices like yours lighting the path, not with polish, but with guts.
I so appreciate this. And I love the turn of phrase "that tug between reach and revenue" - sounds like a book title!
and just subscribed!
Loved the phrase "clumsy courage," and as a name.
I loved Clumsy Courage too!
This is perhaps the best essay in response to GlennonGate I’ve read yet. Anna! I forgot how compelling a writer you are. Remember about a decade ago when we wrote APM gratitude lists??
aw that is so kind, Laura. An oh yes #APM30days!!!
I have no clue who Glennon Doyle is. I do not know if that helps your argument, hurts your argument, just showcases my own ignorance, reflects something about society at large... Or doesn't say or mean anything at all.
i don't know either but I like knowing it. My boyfriend kept thinking I was talking about two people: "Glen" and "Doyle" when I mentioned her.
I’m actually kind of annoyed by all these people writing about the curious case of Glennon Doyle, like let’s not put even more light on celebrities here please, but I must say I really enjoyed reading this, and I clicked only because I wanted to see why you cancelled paid!
Same, Nina!
Everyone’s going to feel how they’re going to feel about GD, but the term “quickly amassed” is irking me because it’s wholly inaccurate. She built a following over the course of perhaps close to two decades of time, and, wisely, collected their email addresses along the way.
Then, she imported that list here, and, to protect herself from the previous social media bullying she experienced, added a paywall for the conversations to be more meaningful and from non-haters.
This is the reality, despite how many who don’t like her want to perceive it.
These are facts of the matter.
Perhaps feelings may shift when more deeply considering, though this is of course always subjective as well, that this is a woman who bravely dragged her own pain into the light for us to witness for that much time, and has benefitted financially & fame-wise from that.
But, perhaps the jealousy will remain either way.
If she were a man, we’d not be having this conversation and that internalized misogyny is upsetting to witness.
Love this Anna, and subscribed to you! Your essay makes me think we love Glennon because she’s brave, and also envy her because she’s brave. We love her lightness and also despise the flip side, the shadow. She shows us both sides of herself and that is to be feared and also embraced. She’s ambitious and vulnerable. It’s the balance we crave and want to emulate. Or I do anyhow! I found myself easily swayed by both versions of the story. I too am both jealous that she beat me to the punch of telling my story, but also enthusiastic about learning from the way she continues to move through the world. I’m sure the weight of eyeballs on her is scary. I wrote a play about myself and got hate letters mailed to me from one person for two years. I can’t imagine that times a gagillion 😱.
“I am basic, hear me roar” needs to be on Tshirts, mostly for people like me 🤣
SAME. Let's make them!
You know, my issue with her has always been that she plays the whiny poor me card all the time. Even uses the Fundy Baby Voice. That is an old, tired patriarchal trope that I believe completely defeats the point of the work she’s trying to do, and it undermines everyone else who’s doing it.
I actually have never taken in her voice but I believe you!
As always, I appreciate how open you are about your approach to putting yourself and your work out there. Thank you.
Aw, thanks Mark!
I canceled paid subscriptions, too. But it was an easy decision because nobody ever signed up 😆
Ah yes, being triggered is always about ourselves and not the other person. Takes a lifetime and a lot of therapy to learn to get past that. Same with jealousy.
Nowadays I'm curious when I'm triggered or jealous and explore what's creating it. I've also stopped readinge the Doyles and Forleos of this world. At some point it just seemed the same message all over again.
😘
Glennon Doyle is probably a very good person. She lives in a $6.5 million dollar house. I live in a $750,000 dollar house and am sometimes embarrassed. I can’t relate to $6.5 million.
Best to her
and you of course !
I absolutely love this post. Thank you for saying what so many people have been thinking!
I think we see this space as a place for regular folks who have an opportunity to introduce people to their work and if they so choose to get paid for their work. Glennon Doyle doesn’t need this Substack community. She has already made it and so it’s easy to become jealous when you’ve spent months or maybe years working on amassing your audience, and someone comes in and does so in mere minutes.
That being said, the treatment of that woman was uncalled for. She didn’t force anyone to subscribe. She simply wanted to jump onto a platform that has gotten a lot of traction and is growing by leaps and bounds.
I haven’t read any of her work, but based on your article it sounds like she’s being honest and realistic. Money and fame isn’t a cure all. Some of the struggles you have before fame and money still exist after. What changes is your back account.
I do applaud you for admitting how you feel and wanting to work on it. That is what we all aught to do.
I agree 1000% with you - and so delighted that you were brave enough to write this. The path on substack has to be about something else, not numbers of followers, not paid subscribers but being valued regardless of the numbers. Thank you for this writing!
We can totally do THE HARDEST things.
And when I look for evidence of this… I find it.
💓🙌🏽💓💓
Wholehearted Appreciation
Thanks for your post and inquiry.
💝