journaling through november

30 november themed journal prompts, my book club, and some exciting updates <3

i’m at a bit of a loss for words right now. i promise, the journal prompts are here, but i want to talk for a minute about how important people’s princess is to me, so to keep with the theme of journaling, i’m going to insert something i wrote in my journal.

i created people’s princess in 2022, it was dormant until i posted 2 essays in 2023, and after posting a couple of essays here and there january-march of 2024, i decided to commit to this writing thing. i had no plan, almost no confidence, and no subscribers (sans my mom, sister, and 10 of my closest friends.) things changed incredibly quickly for me, i started to build an audience and each day, i woke up shocked to see the numbers multiplying so quickly. and even thought the numbers were an easy metric to measure “success” or whatever, i was more moved by the comments, the words people said when they shared pieces of my writing, the connection between us—complete strangers who came together because of what i wrote.

if you’ve been here for a while, you know that i’ve had a really hard time wrapping my head around how well-received my writing has been on here. i’m not someone who usually feels confident sharing the deeply personal parts of me, and over the last few months, specifically after i’ve written about depression and my creative struggles, i’ve received so many messages, incredible comments, and support after posting some of my most intimate essays yet.

there are nearly 5,000 people who subscribe to people’s princess, a number that the sarah who started this publication would never be able to wrap her head around. i went back and looked at some older journal entries and found one from june, where i wrote:

“substack has changed my life, i never thought my writing would resonate with anyone, let alone a thousand people. i don’t want to play a numbers game on there, it’s a space for me first and i want to be true to myself. my mom and i were talking the other day and she asked me what number meant i was ‘famous.’ i laughed at that because i don’t think people are famous from substack, but i told her that the number i’m keeping close to my heart, the one that once i reach i’ll know i’ve hit a milestone that means everything to me and kind of represents the success i never thought i would have is 5,000.”

to be there now is mindblowing. i’m still constantly in awe— i think i always will be. the amount of gratitude and love i have in my heart for all of the people who have come across my writing and chose to believe in me and click that subscribe button is enormous. so i guess here’s to the next 5,000.

okay i’m back after sappy reflection time, but i seriously mean every word of that.

very important updates for very cool people

i’ve been doing some thinking about paid subscriptions— for the past 2 months, i’ve been posting an additional essay (usually with a media guide or some kind of other bonus content) and truth be told, i’m proud of the additional paid subscriber essays but they don’t feel any different from the content i already post. this process is one of trial and error. it’s finding a niche that works and feels comfortable for me to ask payment for, and after a lot of thought over the last few weeks, i wanted to update you on what a paid subscription vs. a free subscription will include.

for paid subscribers, i’m going to post what i’ve been lovingly referring to as my gossip column. it’s a weekly recap of my favorite/the craziest things going on in the world and in pop culture (for example, tom brady’s insane instagram story). it’s a space for me to share links to articles and tweets i’ve been loving, i’ll share my favorite text message i sent that week, links to items i think are cool. it will include what i’ve read, watched, and obsessed over, and my favorite recipe of the week. it’s like a mini-newsletter inside of this larger newsletter. i’m super excited to start doing this, and the first one will be posted on saturday!

paid subscribers also have access to my discord channel (linked at the bottom of this post), where i will post the daily writing/journal prompt and we can discuss how the writing experience went. the discord is also a place for community building, there’s a space for pop culture and media chats, hot gossip, discussions about writing, and a space for you guys to promote your own work/projects! i’m thinking of it like a giant group chat! you do so much for me, just reading my work and talking to me about it has changed my life in such a profound way, so i want to have this space for you!

i’m also starting a book club! each month i’ll be sharing a book that i’m going to read and at the end of the month, i’ll review it on my instagram, (@peoplessprincess) write a piece dedicated to it, and have a discussion in the chat. all subscribers have access to the book club, and i encourage everyone to participate! i’ll be updating my progress for the book on my goodreads, instagram story, and in the “book talk” discord channel! paid subscribers have a bonus perk: a channel in my discord that is constantly open for discussion, and i'm considering hosting a zoom call or something along those lines for paid subscribers to discuss the book.

for november, we will be reading salt slow by julia armfield!!!! i am so excited!

yeah i made a graphic :) make sure to follow along via instagram <3

i’m also continuing my monthly writing challenge (via discord) for paid subscribers, detailed in the next segment in the screenshot from my October post.

free subscribers will ALWAYS!!!!! have access to the weekly essay i post, the piece i spend the most time on, and typically is some kind of amalgamation of a personal essay/discussion of culture. that’s always going to be my priority, it’s where my passion lies and it’s what i love to write about and want to do forever.

in honor of 5,000 subscribers, i’m going to be giving away 15 one-year comped paid subscriptions! i’ll be putting the names of all people who like this post into a random generator like i did in my last giveaway!

obviously, not everyone is financially able to upgrade, but i do hope to make the $6 a month worth it. i thought about the kind of content i (an incredibly broke 23-year-old) would want to pay for and worked my way around that, so i do hope that you consider upgrading 💌

the main event: monthly journal prompts and my writing challenge!

the journal challenge is meant to encourage daily writing and create a community of writers who support and empower each other, and want to challenge themselves creatively! you can participate in this without joining the discord, and just challenge yourself, but i find community participation to be one of the greatest motivators, so each day, i post the prompt of the day in the discord, where you all can discuss the prompt and how the challenge as a whole is working for you!

i’m hopeful that these prompts will inspire your writing, even if you choose to use them without participating in the challenge. i aim for them to make you have conversations with yourself, and by the end of the month feel stronger, more confident, and excited about your writing. see you next month!!