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Amélie Padfield's avatar

This sounds so interesting, fascinating and inspiring. Good luck with it :)

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Jessy Easton's avatar

Thank you! Appreciate you, Amélie.

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Sophie's avatar

“This pursuit has given me so much even if it wasn’t the thing I was after.” THIS. This is what I’ve been thinking about and talking to other creatives about. The creating is ALWAYS worth it, even if our work doesn’t go where we’d dreamed of it going. So many beautiful thoughts in this. I love that you’re releasing your words into the world as a way of letting go of your project and moving on. I unfortunately can’t afford more substack subscriptions at this time, but I am wishing you well on this next phase of your journey, and that the people meant for it will find you.

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Jessy Easton's avatar

Exactly, Sophie! Thank you for being here. Appreciate you. It's really not about the outcome, ya know? It's about the process and dedication to our art and our story—to ourselves. It's a devotion. That's the most important (and rewarding) part.

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Joel Wisniewski's avatar

Jessy,

Isn't it funny how we let others pull our strings, like we are a marionette doll? Publishers, editors, agents all wanting a piece of our pie, so to speak. Our writing is worth more than a spin on the proverbial wheel of fortune. The fact is, our insights matter, our words matter, and most of all, our writing matters. Not having a "traditional book deal" does not lessen the importance of our words and what we say to the world. I, for one, am looking forward to reading the memoir.

Joel

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Jessy Easton's avatar

Yes—exactly this. It’s wild how we’re conditioned to believe our words only matter if they pass through the “right” hands first. But the truth is, the value of our stories isn’t determined by gatekeepers—it’s in the telling, in the connection, in the way they resonate with others. And honestly, taking control of my own work has been the most freeing thing I’ve ever done.

Thank you for this reminder, and for your support. It truly means the world. Can’t wait to share the memoir with you.

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Ginjure's avatar

Wonderful!!! The world needs to read this!

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Jessy Easton's avatar

Aw thank you! I really do believe it will resonate with so many especially anyone coming from a family fractured by addiction.

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Ros Barber's avatar

It’s so great you have found the joy of healing through writing, Jessy. And what grit you’ve shown in coming through all that rejection! I applaud you.

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Jessy Easton's avatar

Thank you so much! Writing has been both a refuge and a reckoning, and I’m grateful every day that I get to do this. The rejections were tough, but they also led me to this moment—to telling my story on my own terms. I appreciate your support more than you know!

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Ava Robinson's avatar

I can't wait and I feel this so much xx

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Jessy Easton's avatar

Oohhh so there’s doing to be another edition?

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Ava Robinson's avatar

Of my memoir (or My Me ) because both/and lol

I’m going to restructure my memoir, and I might retitle it as well. Once I get there I’ll decide whether or not I want to go through the proposal/pitch process or if I just want to serialize on food//and

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Jessy Easton's avatar

If ya ever need a reader, I’d love to read it!

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Ava Robinson's avatar

You know I will xx

Thank you.

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Jessy Easton's avatar

It’s funny because when I set out to write the book it was never about publication. It was only about the writing—telling the story. But then I started sharing about what I was working on on social media and people started asking where they could read it and then publishing became the whole goal. Oof. What an exhausting process but I’m grateful for it because I’ve connected with so many incredible agents and writers and people in the industry that have inspired me in my craft.

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Ava Robinson's avatar

Yep. Same story to a T. Before My Me I also considered serializing and I still might at some point but I essentially want to redo/reformat and I’m not doing that today lol

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Nancy Muldoon's avatar

I am happy that you stayed the course. Best of luck to you Jesse. I look forward to reading it.

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Jessy Easton's avatar

Thank you so much, Nancy. Sharing my book here on Substack has been such a powerful experience. What’s become so clear to me through this process is that yes, this is my story, but it’s also a mirror for so many others. The pain, the love, the longing—it resonates. And that’s what makes it matter. Because when we see ourselves and our families reflected in someone else’s words, it becomes a way back home to ourselves.

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Nancy Muldoon's avatar

I agree and your story resonates with me because I grew up working class and around addiction in my formative years. what I have noticed is that white working class or white poor stories are largely ignored. I was shocked when JD Vance's book became a movie because our demographic is usually dismissed as hyperbolic.

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Jessy Easton's avatar

I believe there’s a season and a timing for everything. For a long time, I thought my story wasn’t wanted. But what I’m learning is that just because it wasn’t received then doesn’t mean it won’t be received now—or later. Sometimes the world has to catch up. Sometimes we have to grow into the kind of storyteller who can tell it the way it wants to be told. Either way, the story still matters. It’s not being ignored by the people who need it most. They’re out there and they’re listening.

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Sarina Zoe's avatar

Wow Jessy I have so much admiration for your devotion to your art. And the realisation that the art was the point, not the validation of publishing is just so damn bang on. We ‘know’ this, but it’s a different thing to arrive at the embodiment through this lived experience of not giving up on your art, but pivoting, re-creating 👏🏽

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Jessy Easton's avatar

Beautifully said. Thank you so much. It really is one thing to *know* it and another to *live* it—to feel the shift, to understand that the art itself is the reward. The rejection, the pivot, the recreating—it’s all part of the process, part of the devotion. And honestly, I wouldn’t trade it. Grateful to be here, creating, connecting, and sharing alongside people who get it.

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Sarina Zoe's avatar

Wonderful to hear 💜

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Audrey Anderson 🏳️‍🌈🍉's avatar

I love the moxie! I’m right there with you. It’s beautiful to be devoted to something so intensely.

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Jessy Easton's avatar

Thank you! There’s something really powerful about throwing yourself fully into something that matters to you. It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it.

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Avigayil's avatar

Your writing is raw, real, and GRIPPING. I say that as someone who *wants* to like most of what I see on Substack—but just can't get into it. This hits different.

As someone who serialized her own memoir here on Substack, it's one of the best most vulnerable things I've ever done. It didn't make a lot of money but it gave me the freedom to be myself. And that, is priceless.

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Jessy Easton's avatar

Wow, this means so much—thank you. Truly. It’s reassuring to hear from someone who’s been through it too. The money would be nice, sure, but the real gift is getting to tell the story exactly how I want to tell it. Grateful to have you here. What’s your memoir about?

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Jennifer Ward Dudley's avatar

Jessy. I do believe you’ve captured my imagination, attention and interest. Will be waiting.

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Jessy Easton's avatar

Thank you! Knowing that my words have captured your imagination is the best kind of encouragement. Can’t wait to share more with you.

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James  Gibson's avatar

Really feeling your story, your life experience and I appreciate your prose. It's got the kind of rhythm and cadence that shows you've honed your craft.

I find myself completely absorbed in your sentences, in the narrative.

Keep on keeping on, I'll be back for more.

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Jessy Easton's avatar

Thank you so much, James. That truly means a lot to me. I still don’t think I know all that much about writing, but committing to the practice has helped me find my voice—and I think that’s the most important thing. Hearing that the rhythm and cadence of my words resonate with you def counts for something. I read all my work out loud and I think that makes all the difference. Thank you. How’s your writing going? What are you working on?

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Holly Starley's avatar

Congratulations on your decision to serialize! The memoir sounds fantastic. And how exciting to be working on something new. ♥️

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Jessy Easton's avatar

Thank you so much! It’s been such a journey getting to this point, and I’m really excited (and honestly a little nervous) to finally put it out into the world this way. And yes—starting something new has been its own kind of healing. It’s reminded me why I love writing in the first place. Are you working on anything right now? Would love to hear about it!

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Holly Starley's avatar

Besides posts here, two somethings new have been filling all my extra time lately. Pieces to submit to lit mags and contests is the first. The second is a memoir that I started and put aside a couple of years back. It feels really good and energizing to have fresh projects on the desktop. Thanks for asking.

Yay for all new kinds of healing.

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Jessy Easton's avatar

I love that you’re submitting to lit mags and revisiting your memoir—it all sounds like exactly the kind of healing and momentum that fuels the work. Wishing you so much luck (and joy) in the process! Have you been published in any lit mags before?

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Nicole Meier's avatar

Hi Jessy - You came across my feed and I loved this post. What you're doing is authentic and brave. As a published author, I can tell you that the grass isn't necessarily greener on the other side. Publishing can be brutal and impersonal at times. What you're doing is keeping true to the story you want to tell and also keeping creative control...and who knows where that might lead you! I will happily subscribe to read your chapters. Cheers.

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Jessy Easton's avatar

Thank you so much for this—your words mean a lot. It’s so encouraging to hear this perspective from someone who’s been through the publishing process. I imagine it comes with its own challenges, just different ones. I’d love to hear more about your experience—what’s something you wish you had known before publishing? And what’s been the most rewarding part for you? Appreciate you being here and subscribing!

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Vince Roman's avatar

Can’t n Gratz to you

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Jessy Easton's avatar

Cheers! Appreciate you.

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Vince Roman's avatar

Oh ugh my autocorrect and then it hit the button too soon

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Stafford Hartman's avatar

Love this. So glad the algorithm pushed this post because it gave me a lot of clear language about my own “figuring it out” process. I’m at the very beginning. (No manuscript, just a bunch of essays in various degrees of completion) This is an inspiring and new way to tell a story and chart your own path. Thanks for sharing it with us!!

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Jessy Easton's avatar

I love hearing this! The beginning can feel messy and uncertain, but that’s part of the process—following the threads, writing your way toward clarity. Those essays, even in their unfinished state, are the foundation of something meaningful. Keep going. Trust that the story will reveal itself as you write. I’m so glad this resonated with you!

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