(Or how my conflicts with personal vocation, suffering, and the rising attention economy brought me to Substack–I hope you’ll join me!)
It is good to be tired and wearied by the futile search after the true good, that we may stretch out our arms to the Redeemer. —Blaise Pascal, Pensées
A Brief History
I began writing on the internet at Cloistered Away in 2007 with three children under the age of four. It was a creative venture, a family journal, a humble practice in photography and writing. Unbeknown to me, I was also on the cusp of a vocational pursuit in homeschooling, assuming the luminous work as both a mother and a teacher for my children. By the time my fourth child was born, I had already baby-stepped into formal studies at home with my eldest, and as it turns out, I would never look back.
Cloistered Away grew right alongside our family, as I fumbled and bumped through so many new endeavors as a young mother-teacher-writer. It was my own vocational Wild West, and I loved it. Also, some days felt impossible. I joined Instagram in early 2012, a means of collecting those lovely crumbs of our days that felt increasingly harder to gather into longer form. Unsurprisingly, so much was required in homeschooling four small children. Writing and reading steadily wedged itself into the marginal time in my day, a creative lifeline that also served my family.
In 2014, I began accepting brand sponsorships, monetizing both my Instagram account and the blog to earn a small income for my work. These sponsorships and affiliates also allowed both spaces to remain free and accessible to as many people as possible. What joy! This was a tremendous gift for my family and readership alike.
For several years, all of my vocational work as a mother-teacher-writer seemed in harmony, each role working with the other toward a common end both for myself, my family, and for you—my readers. My work was featured in several publications, and I began receiving invitations to speak at conferences and retreats. I also had the opportunity to partner with several incredible brands I love, but most of all, I was able to do what I loved at home and share it online with others who were trying to do the same. Yet in the last few years, with all of the digital movement toward baffling algorithms, AI, and increasingly shorter attention spans, I have felt more conflicted than ever with the diverging end goals of the mechanical world of tech and the humanizing work of motherhood and writing.
My efforts as a mother teacher were changing, as I attended to the deeper internal worlds of my adolescent children and they prepared to graduate. Time felt precious, and yet the digital world had simultaneously become more cacophonous and mysteriously demanding. The rise of the attention economy coupled with the looming launches of my children into their adulthoods seemed more at odds with one another than in harmony. A schism began to form in my soul, as I wondered about the motivation and purpose for my work online. Was I creating in a way that really supported and nourished the ones who read, or was I beginning to gravitate more toward the fast, entertaining content I knew would gather the most attention and keep enough engagement? Were the personal habits and screen time now required for this online work consistent with the habits I wanted for my young adult children?
I began retreating from the public square a bit, working on personal projects that felt more in line with my heart and what I wanted to share, rather than seeking engagement that might feed an algorithm or trend. I created a digital retreat for mothers, helping them to discover and focus on their most important work, which was such a delight. I began more intently reading old books again, feasting on ideas and stories that have lasted, and attending to beauty in quiet ways. I spent deeper time in the Scriptures and took to handwriting ideas in my notebook rather than typing them out publicly. I invested more deeply in the women of my own community.
When my father was diagnosed with terminal cancer last year, just a few months before we moved our second son across the country, the vocational struggle dissipated, as I dropped nearly all of my online efforts to attend to the needs in our family. This of course would have economic consequences for our home, but it would also eventually unveil a vocational path forward. As the writer of Ecclesiastes declared, “It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart.”1 Suffering and death have a way of clarifying what matters most; for all the pain incurred, they can help cut through the cultural noise and clutter in our soul to reveal wisdom. While none would intently seek it, our suffering welcomes God’s beauty and transforming presence into our life in a fresh way. The question that more clearly rose to the surface in my prayers and reflection with God the last year: Is it time to let Cloistered Away go? And more than once, I have sensed a firm no.
The Path Forward on Substack
I have always appreciated the metaphor a trail provides. Whether you are treading a path for the first time or hundredth, one never really knows what lies ahead. A nature trail is not a sterile, controlled environment; it is alive, inhabitable by more than just oneself. Even a well-tread path invites fresh wonder, attention, and even vigilance. So too I find myself figuratively entering a new path here at Substack.
Although the heart of Cloistered Away remains the same as ever—writing and resources to nourish our holy, ordinary work as women, mothers, and teachers—this new path on Substack opens up a forest of unknowns, too.
I am launching a new podcast in August, joined by my husband in the first season, who has been a quiet entity until now. The podcast will be hosted here.
I will be able to offer audio versions of my writing (like this one here), for those who find it easier to listen than read.
I will be able to offer video workshops for more concentrated attention on specific topics.
In addition to the familiar commenting sections, I will also have a chat feature for direct and group messaging and a notes section for more occasional, spontaneous bite-size content.
Mostly, I hope the simplicity of this iteration of Cloistered Away will remain a tremendous resource for you, a place that quiets your soul and nourishes you with truth, beauty, and goodness, without keeping you tethered to your device all the time. You can read more about the ethos of Cloistered Away here. Otherwise, welcome!
FAQs
What is Substack?
Substack is a platform for writers and podcasters that allows the option for paid subscriptions. I love that, in addition to directly connecting with my readers without the complicated algorithms, I can also host my podcast here and that I can share audio versions of my writings, like this one.
How do I sign up and receive newsletters from Cloistered Away?
You can sign up for a free or paid subscription by typing your email in the box below. If you have previously purchased anything from me or subscribed to my email list, you are automatically a free subscriber here, too.
Subscribed
How much is a paid membership?
A subscription is priced at $7 a month, but if you’re able to, signing up for an annual subscription will save you 17% at $70 (or $5.83/month). I should also note that subscriptions can be canceled easily at any time.
What do I receive with a paid subscription?
To start, I am utterly grateful for the support! In addition to my love and gratitude, subscribers will receive
Weekly newsletters delivered to your inbox on Friday mornings with the option for audio versions for those who prefer to listen instead of read.
Commenting privileges and access to the chat features and archives.
Access to additional subscriber-only podcasts and workshops.
A substantial discount on homeschool consultations with me.
What if I can’t pay to subscribe?
I understand! I have deliberated so much about creating a paid subscription for this very reason, but ultimately, I need a way to support my time and work here going forward. In addition to the free monthly newsletter and podcasts, here are a few ways you can earn a free subscription or deeper discount through Substack, too:
Referrals | For those of you like to share, I have created a referral system in Substack that allows you to earn free subscription simply by inviting your friends or family to subscribe (even with a free subscription). For example, 3 subscriptions equals one month free for you, 25 subscriptions equals a year free!
Bundling Subscriptions | Substack also offers the ability to bundle more than one subscription at the same time for a deeper discount.
Will I be able to listen to your podcast as a free subscriber?
Yes! Twice a month, I will release an episode that you will be able to listen to here or on other podcast apps. You will also have access to any show notes and links as a free subscriber.
Do I need the Substack app to read or listen to your posts?
No, all posts will be delivered directly to your inbox. That said, I highly recommend the Substack app. It’s free to download, and quite easy to navigate and receive the full benefits as a reader, whether a free or paid subscriber.
Will I have access to any of your newsletters as a free subscriber?
Yes! You will receive one monthly newsletter as a free subscriber with the included audio version.
Will you remain on Instagram?
For the time, yes.
Will your original blog remain online?
Yes, you will be able to access all 800 archived blog posts and links, although the bulk of my new writing will be here.
