Valuing your creativity

Audiobook giveaway + an announcement for subscribers

Image: Monique Mulligan

Dear Creative Soul,

Many years ago I read The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman, which explores how different people with different personalities give and receive love in different ways: words of affirmation, quality time, gifts, acts of service and physical touch. It came as no surprise to discover that my top love language was words of affirmation.

As a child, I learned that words had value and power, and that I was (mostly) good at using them. As a writer, words are what I offer to readers, both in a fictional form through novels and short stories, and in a personal way, through observations of fleeting moments (of wonder, joy, life) and reflections of how they touched my heart. Or through the wonderings and ramblings that rise with the awakening (and reawakening) of creativity.

When I started La Muse on Substack, I was working through a period of creative disconnection, from a starting point of wondering whether my words had value. I shared that journey in La Muse and, over the past nine months, I’ve rediscovered my Creative Self in new exciting ways: I’ve discovered a love for capturing life’s precious moments on a daily basis, and I’ve reconnected both with creative living and a creative community.

I want to explore new directions in writing: essays, short memoir pieces, a new novel genre. I want to write posts that creative souls and seekers can read in a curious, relaxed manner - I want this to be my focus, rather than posts on social media that can be liked or scrolled past without taking anything in. I want to spend more time on what I love for those who genuinely want to engage, rather than waste time creating content and algorithms. I don’t to be an influencer, but to inspire in my unique Monique way.

Rediscovering my muse hasn’t been easy.

I have journeyed through periods of doubt and of fear. I have had to remind myself through daily words of affirmation that I am an artist and my creativity is worth nurturing. That my creativity is a gift to be explored and shared and experienced.

Because I believe that my words have value, that my creativity is worth something, I am now offering subscribers the opportunity to upgrade to a paid subscription. This will include:

• Weekly Friday Bouquet newsletter (five daily moments of joy/thoughts/reflections, ranging from whimsical to thoughtful)

• Weekly writing prompt

• Behind-the-scenes insights about my writing journey, research for my novel, personal essays, things I love, writers I follow, books I’m reading, and more.

I will continue to offer a free subscription with:

• occasional (at least monthly) newsletters/personal essays exploring creative connection, wonder, and joy + book news

I would love for you to join me as La Muse goes deeper - your support of my words means a great deal. (You won’t be locked into a contract and you can cancel at any time.)

PS: Wildflower is now available on audiobook - you can download it wherever you get your audiobooks (or ask your library to order it in). I have one free code for free access to give away to a subscriber - all you have to do is comment below if you’d like to be in the running.

X Monique