same as it ever was
nervous wreckage turns 4 & paid subscriber updates
Well everyone, it’s that time of year again. Time to wish Nervous Wreckage a happy fourth birthday!
I’m so grateful to you all for your continued support and feedback over these past four years. A lot has changed, though arguably my anxiety has not. But I sincerely appreciate everyone who has come along for the ride. Some things are, in the words of the Talking Heads, “same as it ever was.” But plenty of things have evolved. Whether you read every email or just one on occasion when it sounds interesting, it truly does mean the world.
Since January, I’ve operated in “seasons” here, a move which has, at least on my end, allowed for a better, more thoughtful writing experience. And hopefully, for you, dear reader, higher-quality material you actually want to read. From tattoos to time-travel; from calf injuries to attending a concert alone, we’ve still covered a lot of ground together.
Plus I’d like to believe that the manner in which I write about anxiety, and the way we all engage with it, has expanded. And I hope to keep up this model for a long, long time to come.
Now comes the cringe-inducing part, where I remind you that paid subscribers help keep Nervous Wreckage going.
I’ve made the decision to lower the price on my paid subscriptions, in part because I am not publishing as regularly as I was when I started offering it, and in part because I want more people to access the content I currently keep behind a paywall. Paid annual subscriptions will now be $40/year. In other words, you save big if you go for the annual subscription.
But don’t worry: monthly subscriptions will remain $5/month for those of you who have opted for that (unfortunately Substack won’t let me lower it any further).
For those who don’t know, these mini-essays, as short as they are, still take a lot of time to brainstorm, write, revise, and edit. For all the essays I’ve published over the last four years, there’s a whole graveyard of drafts that never see the light of day because they aren’t up to my standards or whatever other reason. And that all takes time to work through, time I’m not compensated for at my full-time job and that takes me away from other, longer creative projects I’m working on.
That’s all to say: if these essays have meant something to you, your paid subscription goes a long way to helping offset the work and effort that goes in to making NW happen!
And if you can’t commit to that, or if you can’t afford it but you’d love to be able to access more essays: that’s a-ok. Sharing this newsletter on social media, commenting below, or forwarding an essay you loved does a lot to help me and my work. I love my free subscribers, you’ll always have access to at least half of the content I produce, and not everyone has to go paid! Really!
Ok, the awkward subscriber pitch is over. Phew.
So now it’s time to celebrate! Have a slice of cake or pie or whatever your favorite sweet treat is on behalf of my baby, Nervous Wreckage. She’s getting so big now!
And if you feel so inclined.
Also: if you’re an annual subscriber already and you’re still being charged the old annual subscription fee, please respond to this email and I’ll help you troubleshoot!