We need to keep saying this: "I think my main mistake, in Substack and perhaps in life, was in thinking that showing up as anything other than my truest self might work. I appreciate those who offer guidance in this space (when it comes from a genuine desire to help, and not in a 'Pay Me and I’ll Reveal Little Known Secrets' kind of way) and I also think there’s much to be said for showing up as authentically as one can; even, and perhaps especially, if one’s authentic self doesn’t fit whatever mould happens to popular on any given day."
My authentic self is sometimes grumpy, sometimes fraught with whatever baggage I'm carrying, but I try to make sense of something every week, and many readers have been willing to go along for the ride. The few times I've tried to be a shinier happier person, it hasn't worked. So we do need to lean on authenticity even if it does not trend. I think about the obsession with growth as not much different from the popularity contests in high school. So many people who are really good at pulling those levers were already cool cats (female influencers largely hew to stereotypes, and it's always the lithe quarterback, not the hairy lineman, who is pulling down the big NIL deals). Some of us never were, will never be cool in that callow sense. So why keep chasing it at age 40, 50, or beyond?
Joshua, yes. Hard agree. I, too, am horrifically grumpy, I'm also impatient and can easily lean towards being melancholy if I don't keep an eye on it. I also think that culture is riddled with people only willing to reveal very limited parts of themselves for fear of rejection, cancellation, mockery etc. but I believe that that's left a serious deficit of examples of whole, complex and imperfect beings, which is both problematic and, frankly, boring!
I do think there's a natural thirst for authenticity. And I think there are few things cooler than someone with enough self-awareness to know that, fundamentally, everyone is a mess.
"I’ve also learned to treasure the way I see the world, rather than be troubled by it." I think, Chloe, that's the effect your writing has on others. Certainly on me, anyway. You unwrap the nanoseconds that we give to things and turn them into seconds, then minutes... Well, you get the idea. You have an extraordinary gift of slowing down time and enhancing our perception of the world through the calm delivery of simple and beautiful worlds. Thank you! And thank you, Eleanor, for giving us this chance to get to know Chloe and Death & Birds a little better.
Thank you Eleanor for luring Chloe to answer your question and thank you Chloe for luring us all, your devoted readers, to Death and Birds - it was that hauntingly beautiful name that caught my eye from the very start, I'm delighted it stays! You are both, with your uniquely creative voices, admired and adored.
Ah! I have been much looking forward this moment, I’d guessed it might be in the works. Thank you Chloe and Eleanor. Your writings are a big part of why I am here and how I found the courage to start writing and sharing what were previously quiet, private thoughts. You are way makers, leading into the woods of sharing depths with integrity on the internet. Life is definitely better for it.
Julia!! What a gift you are. And hurrah for you sharing your previously quiet thoughts aloud! The world needs for many, many more quiet voices to be heard.
Sometimes, when I’m reading D&B, I think, where does this incredible human find the words. Crossing moment to moment , everyday life with the extraordinary. She takes us to an open window ,thinly veiled. While birds take flight, weaving in and out of the story. Then I read;
‘“…baring one’s soul on the internet is obviously insane, so that’s probably a mistake, too. But it’s apparently one I’m willing to make.”
Maybe this is what I’ve been missing, words born from her soul. Now that explains everything. A grateful
All our lives are more beautiful because of death and birds and Death & Birds. And I couldn’t fathom a more radiant soul to deliver the message. (And yes, still waiting for you to start the Church of Chloe someday.)
I already tried this once, but the idea of gathering of a Death & Birds readership would be everything. For now, I'll just take pleasure in knowing such wonderful folx are peppered around the planet. 🫶🏼
I love Chloe’s writing, it always seems to resonate with whatever issue that’s needling me at the time. And the idea of being your most authentic self on Substack is so true. Writing on this platform is uniquely creative, connective and exposing, and all the better for it.
Thank you Eleanor and Chloe for this. Death & Birds is a favourite; each post is exquisite. Substack seems to do something to fierce introverts, or perhaps it is the act of writing itself?
It's really lovely to hear you step back and speak about your time on Substack.
Some of my favourite things here: "My groove is a wily and elusive mistress. She lures me into thinking that I’ve come to know her, before quickly turning on her heel and sashaying off into the distant future." -- #relate 😂
"I fundamentally believe that writers should be paid for their work, and yet my troublesome psyche struggles to extend that belief to include myself." -- double relate.
You know, I didn't realise until recently that you had paid switched on. My bad for not knowing and not yet paying for a sub, but I will be rectifying that soon. x
Nathan, love, you're too kind. If I ever turned on a paywall you'd obviously be comped. And yes, the groove...perhaps we'll become friends in another life 🤷🏻♀️
I love especially your answer, Chloe, to a commentator who tells you what you 'must change in order to fit in with their world and please them'... 🤔💭 Some substack readers obviously haven't got that Jedi skill yet. (I wish I'd read your answer to No. 6 when some odd attacks landed in my substack) Thank you Eleanor and Chloe for leading the way with your Force Powers.
Big fan of both of yours. You each swing hard in your own wonderful and unique way. It's a boon to know you each (via this odd mall of humanity) and i will spend the rest of my day figuring out how i can use the word "fortnightly."
“Even if I start writing exclusively about birth and cats.” I mean, to be fair, Death and Birds would still be a pretty perfect title.
Haha, just when I thought I couldn’t, this interview makes me love you even more, Chloe.
Thank you, Eleanor and Chloe. You are two of my faves here. 🐈🍼
As usual, Holly said it best. I concur on all counts.
Your emojis are cracking me up, Holly. Thank you so much for reading, love ❤️
We need to keep saying this: "I think my main mistake, in Substack and perhaps in life, was in thinking that showing up as anything other than my truest self might work. I appreciate those who offer guidance in this space (when it comes from a genuine desire to help, and not in a 'Pay Me and I’ll Reveal Little Known Secrets' kind of way) and I also think there’s much to be said for showing up as authentically as one can; even, and perhaps especially, if one’s authentic self doesn’t fit whatever mould happens to popular on any given day."
My authentic self is sometimes grumpy, sometimes fraught with whatever baggage I'm carrying, but I try to make sense of something every week, and many readers have been willing to go along for the ride. The few times I've tried to be a shinier happier person, it hasn't worked. So we do need to lean on authenticity even if it does not trend. I think about the obsession with growth as not much different from the popularity contests in high school. So many people who are really good at pulling those levers were already cool cats (female influencers largely hew to stereotypes, and it's always the lithe quarterback, not the hairy lineman, who is pulling down the big NIL deals). Some of us never were, will never be cool in that callow sense. So why keep chasing it at age 40, 50, or beyond?
Joshua, yes. Hard agree. I, too, am horrifically grumpy, I'm also impatient and can easily lean towards being melancholy if I don't keep an eye on it. I also think that culture is riddled with people only willing to reveal very limited parts of themselves for fear of rejection, cancellation, mockery etc. but I believe that that's left a serious deficit of examples of whole, complex and imperfect beings, which is both problematic and, frankly, boring!
I do think there's a natural thirst for authenticity. And I think there are few things cooler than someone with enough self-awareness to know that, fundamentally, everyone is a mess.
"I’ve also learned to treasure the way I see the world, rather than be troubled by it." I think, Chloe, that's the effect your writing has on others. Certainly on me, anyway. You unwrap the nanoseconds that we give to things and turn them into seconds, then minutes... Well, you get the idea. You have an extraordinary gift of slowing down time and enhancing our perception of the world through the calm delivery of simple and beautiful worlds. Thank you! And thank you, Eleanor, for giving us this chance to get to know Chloe and Death & Birds a little better.
Jeffrey, you are beyond kind. It's magical to know that it feels that way. You're a gem.
Thank you Eleanor for luring Chloe to answer your question and thank you Chloe for luring us all, your devoted readers, to Death and Birds - it was that hauntingly beautiful name that caught my eye from the very start, I'm delighted it stays! You are both, with your uniquely creative voices, admired and adored.
❤️❤️❤️
Susie ❤️ thank you, thank you. D&B4Ever ❤️
I love this so very much Eleanor and Chloe. More than words. I’m in danger of fangirling. 💛
💃🏻
Emily 💛 love you so very much
Ah! I have been much looking forward this moment, I’d guessed it might be in the works. Thank you Chloe and Eleanor. Your writings are a big part of why I am here and how I found the courage to start writing and sharing what were previously quiet, private thoughts. You are way makers, leading into the woods of sharing depths with integrity on the internet. Life is definitely better for it.
Julia!! What a gift you are. And hurrah for you sharing your previously quiet thoughts aloud! The world needs for many, many more quiet voices to be heard.
Too true! (the part about quiet voices) Thanks for wrapping us all in your dear words, I blush.
Sometimes, when I’m reading D&B, I think, where does this incredible human find the words. Crossing moment to moment , everyday life with the extraordinary. She takes us to an open window ,thinly veiled. While birds take flight, weaving in and out of the story. Then I read;
‘“…baring one’s soul on the internet is obviously insane, so that’s probably a mistake, too. But it’s apparently one I’m willing to make.”
Maybe this is what I’ve been missing, words born from her soul. Now that explains everything. A grateful
thank you Eleanor,
and Chloe {😘♥️}
A Wonderful 8!
Oh, you ♥️
All our lives are more beautiful because of death and birds and Death & Birds. And I couldn’t fathom a more radiant soul to deliver the message. (And yes, still waiting for you to start the Church of Chloe someday.)
You are very lovely. And there's millions of Churches of Chloe already, just look up! 💜🪶
Of course! And oh how they sing!
I already tried this once, but the idea of gathering of a Death & Birds readership would be everything. For now, I'll just take pleasure in knowing such wonderful folx are peppered around the planet. 🫶🏼
I love Chloe’s writing, it always seems to resonate with whatever issue that’s needling me at the time. And the idea of being your most authentic self on Substack is so true. Writing on this platform is uniquely creative, connective and exposing, and all the better for it.
Amen to that, Rebecca. You're doing an effin' marvellous job at showing up as your authentic self, and the platform is indeed better for it.
Aww, thanks Chloe 🥰
Thank you Eleanor and Chloe for this. Death & Birds is a favourite; each post is exquisite. Substack seems to do something to fierce introverts, or perhaps it is the act of writing itself?
Lovely Michela, thank you. And it's interesting, isn't it? I think it must be a bit of both...
It's the even-if-I-turn-to "birth and cats" spirit of your gifted writerly interviewee that consistently blows me away. What a mind and voice.
She's an obstinate being, Kenneth. Thank you for reading and being lovely.
Wonderful, Chloe.
It's really lovely to hear you step back and speak about your time on Substack.
Some of my favourite things here: "My groove is a wily and elusive mistress. She lures me into thinking that I’ve come to know her, before quickly turning on her heel and sashaying off into the distant future." -- #relate 😂
"I fundamentally believe that writers should be paid for their work, and yet my troublesome psyche struggles to extend that belief to include myself." -- double relate.
You know, I didn't realise until recently that you had paid switched on. My bad for not knowing and not yet paying for a sub, but I will be rectifying that soon. x
Nathan, love, you're too kind. If I ever turned on a paywall you'd obviously be comped. And yes, the groove...perhaps we'll become friends in another life 🤷🏻♀️
Aw, thank you Chloe. 🤗
Thank you both for a wonderful interview 💕🙏 🪶
I love especially your answer, Chloe, to a commentator who tells you what you 'must change in order to fit in with their world and please them'... 🤔💭 Some substack readers obviously haven't got that Jedi skill yet. (I wish I'd read your answer to No. 6 when some odd attacks landed in my substack) Thank you Eleanor and Chloe for leading the way with your Force Powers.
Big fan of both of yours. You each swing hard in your own wonderful and unique way. It's a boon to know you each (via this odd mall of humanity) and i will spend the rest of my day figuring out how i can use the word "fortnightly."
The fanning is very much reciprocal, Tommy. How did you get on with "fortnightly"..? ❤️
😂🙌🏻❤️
“… even if I one day start writing exclusively about birth and cats.”
I hadn’t previously wondered if there was an antithesis to Death & Birds, but if it’s birth & cats, then I’ll sign up for that, too.