Happy Substack Anniversary to Me!

It's been two years and what have I learned?

Well, my Substack anniversary came and went on March 2nd, and I haven’t done that “anniversary post”.

Should it feel obligatory to announce my anniversary? Maybe for myself, but it feels like pulling teeth. I am working on feeling proud of myself. It is OK to be proud of myself. The more I tell myself that, the more I will believe it.

So, what is my writing about?

My publication was originally supposed to be about menopause and midlife transitions. Is it still? Sort of. As I began to write more, I found myself pivoting to other subjects. I came to realize that I had to discover more about myself, and that included what I was writing about.

I have discovered my own self, written about pets, being self-employed, self-esteem, religion, fitness, fiction, poetry, and body image issue and more within the 460 posts I published here.

What have I accomplished in writing since I started on Substack?

I became a first-time published author last year at 56!

I have published five books since I started here on Substack! My first book I published was a psychological thriller called “The Scripted Stalker”. I started writing my book in August of 2024. To keep myself accountable, I started posting a chapter or two of my second draft weekly here on Substack. I still have a few remaining chapters available here but have taken a few down to protect my work even though it is copyrighted and published.

Here is a link to the first two chapters of my book. (Second draft).

The Scripted Stalker - Chapters 1 & 2

The books which got their start on Substack that I published

My other books are poetry that are from poems I originally published here on my posts.

One is a short, illustrated book for tweens based on my poem “If I Were Pretty.” It explored the judgement and bias that many of us can face.

I also published “I Can’t be a Rock Today”. This was also from a poem I posted here on Substack about the overwhelm we can face in life. This book contains my own photography and my husband Mike’s aka Deegs, as well.

I also published a book in October 2025 titled “Dark, Darker and Darkest Poetry.” It is just that. I needed a place, for the dark poetry I posted here and decided to publish it in form of a book. Photography in this book was produced by Mike and I.

My husband Deegs (who is also on Substack), and I also collaborated again, writing and publishing a poetry book, “A Love Journey Through Time” in February. It’s about love through time and the ups and downs a relationship can have. Most of our poems here have been showcased here on Substack on both of our pages.

Substack catapulted me “write” again.

Substack has been a wonderful platform for my writing. When I started here it was the first time I wrote in over 20 years, other than journaling.

I started creative writing almost 50 years ago. Wow! That makes me realize how old I am and that life is short. It also makes me wonder where all of those years have gone, especially when I still feel like that little girl inside.

I am thankful most of all for the other writers and creators here. There is so much talent. Although this is online, I feel like I have met “my people”, if only virtually.

Here is some of my writing about this:

Coffee and Words - (unexpected grief)

https://janedeegan.substack.com/p/coffee-and-words

Facing Grief When Time is a Thief - poetry

What now?

I am spending less time here on Substack and all social media. I realized it does contribute to doom scrolling as in any platform and I am avoiding it. There are so many things in my own life and with others close to me that I don’t want to miss out on.

However, I still need this space, for now anyway.

Thank you for being here!

Question:

What brought you here to Substack? I honestly would love to hear about it!