Hello friends. I apologize for the long delay in posting. It’s been nearly a year since I launched this Substack with the hope that it would inspire me to write again. I set a specific focus — archiving the contents of an old trunk filled with old photos and journals — for this purpose. However, the trunk project proved more painful than I anticipated. Recently I’ve struggled with mental health, and there’s probably some wisdom in not dredging up the ghosts of one’s youth when the present is already so murky.
So I’ve decided to put the trunk project on a hiatus. I may continue to use it as inspiration for essays, but I’d like to broaden the scope of my newsletter. As one of my favorite writers put it, “I’ll write the essays I love to write.” There will be a hefty portion of outdoor adventure, travel, and fitness endeavors, but also current events, mid-life issues, reflections on an ever-changing sense of self, grief and loss, relationships, existential dread, and the search for meaning. I just want to write. I realize that walling myself in with a specific focus is not helping. Nor is clinging to a 17-year-old, bug-ridden blog.
If you’ve followed my writing at jilloutside.com, I plan to continue similar posts here. I will leave the old site up but will probably not update it regularly. The Substack platform allows both free and paid subscriptions. I intend to keep most of my essays open, but I also hope to delve into more difficult subjects that I may only post for the smaller (and thus safer) group of paid subscribers. By subscribing, you will receive all updates in your e-mail inbox without having to venture over here to see what that crazy biker chick from Alaska is up to now. (This is another fun feature of continuing to boost a 17-year-old blog. I still hear from readers who think I’m the same person I was in 2005.)
I updated this site’s “About” page to reflect the change. My next posts will be about a bikepacking trip through the Scottish Highlands earlier this month. I welcome commentary and feedback. Please keep in touch!
hey Jill, I'm so happy to (belatedly) discover your Substack; thanks for finding & recommending mine. I'll catch up on some of your recent posts and recommend yours too. We seem very similar in terms of having long-"running" blogs that grew buggy, and now using Substack as a fresh start. LMK if/when you're back in southwest CO and maybe we can meet up. Good luck with newsletter!
Writing heals. And boxing yourself to fit other’s expectations, doesn’t. Let the pen do the talking. Good luck