Top Ten
My favorite posts of 2024
This year saw a lot of firsts for me. Since I started my Substack journey two years ago, I never expected what would come. I wanted a place I could share my writing, not knowing it would become so much more. Since then, I’ve found a community, a place where people of all walks of life come together and spread their ideas, their hopes and dreams, and most of all, their stories.
In honor of that spirit, I thought I’d share my top ten favorite posts from this year (in no particular order). These are folks who not only have shown me much love and encouragement, but they also happen to be incredibly talented as well.
The first is actually part of why I joined Substack in the first place. I wanted to share my writing but I was also looking for a social media sight that didn't make me want to gouge my eyeballs out. The creativity and the humor in
’s Adventure Story was like finding a gem in a muddy river. A great escape if ever there was one.
The second, comes from a writer who has had nothing but honesty and candor, and a level of gumption to which I can only aspire. Her stories have shown such an incredible talent and passion (not to mention her publishing journey!) and determination. I found this one of
’s especially relatable and inspiring.
It's been a long time since I have been challenged about what I believe, and I can't remember the last time (before I encountered this writer) that I was given such thought provoking ideas. It's part of the reason I love reading so much, to challenge my brain, so to speak. This author's thoughts in particular really had me formulating. So much so, on a couple of occasions, I couldn’t even narrow down my responses any further than to do my own essay on the subject. For this, another spot in my top ten has to go to
and just one of their amazing essays.This next writer gave me the courage I needed to really use my writing to clean house, to dig deep into the mud of my past and confront those monsters in my closet. I never really understood how theraputic my writing could be until I tackled that story, something I may not have ever done had I not first encountered
post here:
When I read, what I'm looking for, first and foremost, is an adventure. A good book will make you feel like you've been on a vacation without ever leaving your home.
“The Province of Terrans" is that and so much more. Keeping me on the edge of my seat from week to week, and having real time involvement in how the story progressed was a new level of entertainment. The amount of world building any thought that he put into this and all of his stories is nothing short of remarkable.
Part of what makes human society so fascinating to me, is just how different we all are. Each one of us has unique experiences, and how we interpret those are equally as fascinating. For some, one experience can feel like a curse, while to others, just the opposite. Still, when those experiences define a part of you, it can be difficult to talk about with others, much less on social media. But for those that do, these stories can offer so much inspiration and open a door to so many who may think they're alone in their suffering. Something I think can be so incredibly essential.
is just such a case. Not only channeling his experiences through his writing, but also through his beautiful music. This is one he shared with me that I linked in one of my essays (which he bravely contributed to).
Which leads into my next entry. Someone who has gone through hardships I can not even imagine, and weathered them all with a grace unmatched. Words of wisdom from the mouth of wisdom herself,
.One of the things I really love about Substack, is how encouraging others are here. Pretty much my entire writing life has been long form. I don't do short stories for a reason, reason being I'm terrible at them. But, with a bit of encouragement from a master of micro fiction,
, I have dabbled a bit more into the monsterous challenge of short form. And, wow, what a challenge it is. I don't suppose I'll ever measure up, but even tapping the surface has changed the way I view my writing in general. I'm more careful with my words, discovering less can in fact be more. And it’s taught me more about seeing the story as a whole (a step closer to actually plotting perhaps?).
Working around death all the time, you learn rather quickly that having a great sense of humor can get you through the toughest of situations. It's a type of therapy only laughter can provide. And nothing conquers that mountain much like that of a good meme.
is here for it. The meme scrolls Demi provides are nothing short of hilarious, all too accurate at times, and just fun. Along with the positivity and joy she brings to it all, making Substack that much brighter.
Last but not least, aside from another great list of memes, there's a realism and honesty here you don't find in many places these days. These are the kind of voices that, through all the muck and the anger, encourage others to see their neighbor as the fellow human being they are. Something we all should keep in mind. Reminders from
keeping us grounded and spreading the word that, hey, maybe we have a lot more in common than we think.
So, there you have it, a list of ten of my favorite posts from this year. But, this list isn't exhaustive. There are far more out there to be found. Please, don't just let my words speak, visit their pages, see their amazing works for yourself, and become subscribers (you won't be sorry).
On a personal note:
This week has been rough. With Christmas approaching, which means lots of gifts to wrap and cookies to bake, on top of my annoyingly slow recovery from this assault on my immune system, I have decided to take a little break until after the new year. I’ll still try and stay on top of my daily Word of the Day notes, but I won’t be posting anything new. So, for now, enjoy the holiday with your family and friends, and remember, you’re never alone out here (even though it may seem like it sometimes). Merry Christmas everyone!
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Thank you for mentioning me, my friend. I wish you speedy recovery and a great Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Thank you for including me in this list. It's an honour to be included in the same breath as these amazing writers... Here's to an even better 2025....