🧭 A (Re)introduction to The Navigation

A recap on the journey so far, and where we’re headed next.

Well hello there, and welcome (back) to The Navigation.

As always, a pleasure to have you reading, and hopefully you’ve got a cuppa to hand.

I’ve been writing here now for very nearly two and a half years, after first carving out my intentions to show up on a regular basis and, ahem, be a writer, back in February 2023.

I may not have made millions, or hit that NYT bestseller list (yet!), but with over 90 posts combining essays of the whimsical and the practical, arts and culture recommendations, inspiring interviews, and fun monthly round-ups on themes that seem to resonate, it feels safe(r) now to call myself a writer.

When I read back some of the very early posts, there is so much I’d do differently - not least adding a few more paragraph breaks! But from the off my writing here has been full of heart, intention, and a commitment to offer something meaningful as we look at navigate this modern life - as millennials or otherwise.

This community of readers - many of you fellow writers - continue to encourage and inspire me to ask for more from life, and be ready to receive it, as I explore what it means to live a good one.

And through the words I show up with here, I hope to bring that inspiration back to you too, in various ways across themes that touch us all as we navigate our own journeys - whether you’ve been reading for two years or two days.

I recently updated my About page to include some of the gorgeous responses readers have shared about my work.

Since it’s establishment, everything I’ve shared on The Navigation has been free for all to read, as I seek to spread these words far and wide in hope that they might land with whoever needs a bit of enjoyment from them.

That will continue to be the case for the regular fortnightly posts you know and love, including the feature essays sharing musings, meanderings and methods to offer helpful reflections for your navigation of life, as well as the monthly dive into my Little Black Book with mindful recommendations for how we spend our time and money.

The back catalogue of Cultural Compass round-ups and Career Compass interviews are still fully accessible too. And let’s not forget the podcasts!

If you’ve been here for a while, and find a worthiness in what you read (or listen to), I’d love to invite you to become a paid subscriber. For the cost of a coffee a month (or less if you choose the annual option) you will be supporting the sustainability of this publication, enabling me to bring you more of what you enjoy here.

You will also be championing the notion that creators, writers or otherwise, deserve to be paid for the words or art we share, especially where that offers value to others, and as we seek financial fulfilment outside of typical structures.

And with this invitation, for the first time, comes something more.

A further invitation to dive deeper with me on a new project - plus a treat from me to you.

Starting July 2025, paid subscribers of The Navigation will be welcome to join me in doing Julia Cameron’s infamous The Artist’s Way course. I’ll be sending you more details closer to the time, but here’s a preview of how it’ll work…

The course is 12 weeks, but I’m allowing 24, so that each set of activities is allocated double time given that I’ll be fitting this in to an already busy schedule. But I know it’s something I want to do; that I want to make time for this year.

And maybe you do too?

In the introduction to this course, laid out in a beautiful bound book, Cameron recommends allowing 7-10 hours a week, or an hour or so a day. I’m aiming to average 30 minutes or so a day across each two week period.

Extending the course in this way also means it’ll take us through several seasons, starting in summer, where the days are long and there is a brighter sense of optimism in the air, through into autumn, as we start to cosy in, and leading us into winter - but hopefully with a strong sense of creativity that we may not usually have by the time those dark December days hit.

Once a month I’ll be sharing with you updates and reflections on the previous two weeks worth of the course, any lightbulb moments, and updates on the creative project(s) I’ll be hoping to grow and develop while doing the course.

New to Julia Cameron and/or The Artist’s Way?

Crowned “The Queen of Change” in The New York Times, Cameron is a life-long creative (who, yes, was once married to Martin Scorsese) having written over 50 books, plus plays, songs, screenplays, and more. I’ve previously written of her memoir, Floor Sample, which charts the development of The Artist’s Way, starting as a bit of informal advice back in the early 90’s for a handful of people trying to access the will, inspiration and permission to create, and over the decades has grown into a global movement, with the book having sold over five million copies.

Many people say it changed their life. Many start - over and over - and never complete the full twelve weeks. Both of these are reasons why I want to do it, and want to share the experience with you here too.

I’ve thought long and hard about if/how I might share this journey on Substack, or whether to keep it just for me, and perhaps let any fruits of that creativity spill into what comes out here on The Navigation. But given that I’m not entirely sure what I’m letting myself in for with this course, that many notoriously never finish, I want to create this corner of accountability - for myself, and for you too, should you wish to follow along.

I’m hoping the cadence makes it more realistic for those of us who are working full time jobs and creating on the side, juggling the demands of childcare or adultcare, or are honestly just trying to keep up and power through the admin of modern life!

I’ve chosen to put this behind the paywall to add a safety blanket that I hope will allow myself - and you - to write as freely as possible about what comes up through the course, what feels like wins and failures, and for those of you who feel ready, helping us get to know ourselves and each other in new ways.

I’ve never been as online as I am here, on Substack, and while I’m getting used to that - and overwhelmed with joy at the fabulous connections I’ve made, and continue to make - there are some things that still need to feel like a more intimate chat with friends.

It would be lovely to have you be part of that.

Whether joining in with The Artist’s Way speaks to you or not - perhaps you’d just like to read along with my journey through it, and support the wider work you enjoy here - an extra treat for paid subscribers is now available in the form of a gift from my bookshelf to yours!

When you upgrade to an annual subscription, I’d love to send you a book of your choice from the options below - I’ll even cover the postage.

In the following list and images you’ll see what’s available in this diverse little collection that I’m ready to let go of to find new homes. I’ve recently done a bookshelf sort, but likely there’ll be more to come this year, so I’ll update you whenever new titles are available, should you wish to upgrade now but don’t fancy anything on offer here.

Already a paid subscriber? Of course these are on offer for you too! Just reply to this email or send me a message, and let me know which title you’d like.

New additions!

If the title has already been claimed, it’ll be crossed out below.

Non-fiction

Airhead, Emily Maitlis (paperback)

The Wrong Knickers: A Decade of Chaos, Bryony Gordon (paperback)

Why Poetry Matters, Jay Parini (paperback)

Sew and Save, Joanna Chase (hardback)

Terrorism: Inside a World Phenomenon, Barry Davies (paperback)

The Girls’ Book of Glamour, Sally Jeffrie (hardback)

And a new addition

Brilliant, Brilliant, Brilliant Brilliant Brilliant: Modern Life as Interpreted by Someone Who is Reasonably Bad at Living it, Joel Golby (paperback)

Fiction

If I Had Your Face, Frances Cha (paperback)

Sing, Unburied, Sing, Jesmyn Ward (paperback)

A Long Time Coming, Meghan Quinn (paperback)

Lullaby, Leila Slimani (paperback)

Frankisstein, Jeanette Winterson (hardback)

Where the Crawdads Sing, Delia Ownes (paperback)

Small Great Things, Jodi Picoult (paperback)

My Sister’s Keeper, Jodi Picoult (paperback)

The Lesser Bohemians, Eimear McBride (hardback)

Kissing in Manhattan, David Schickler (paperback)

He’s Just Not That Into You, Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo (paperback)

Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years, Sue Townsend (paperback)

Slumdog Millionaire: The Shooting Script, Screenplay by Simon Beaufoy (paperback)

Gold Boy, Emerald Girl, Yiyun Li (paperback)

Big Little Lies, Liane Moriarty (paperback)

The Power, Naomi Alderman (paperback)

The Forever Girl, Alexander McCall Smith (hardback)

Pigeon English, Stephen Kelman (paperback)

My Sister, The Serial Killer, Oyinkan Braithwaite (paperback)

Plus some new additions!

Red at the Bone, Jacqueline Woodson (hardback)

Exciting Times, Naoise Dolan (paperback)

Hard Copy, Fien Veldman (paperback)

Snowflake, Louise Nealon (paperback)

You’ll notice many of these are Bookshop.org affiliate links. Should you choose to purchase any titles yourself from The Navigation bookshop there, I may get a few pennies in return, while you support independent bookshops at the same time.

Questions about any of this? My emails and DMs are always open to you, dear reader.

Thank you for being here, and I look forward to sharing more of my words with you - hopefully for years to come!

As ever, happy navigating x

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Want to support The Navigation but without the commitment of a subscription? I understand, and a Ko-fi coffee is always warmly appreciated.☕