I did not expect to write this.

I couldn't think of what to write this week, so I decided to be radically honest instead. Plus, a reader survey for you - I need your feedback!

When I sat down to write this newsletter, I struggled to think of what to say. This has been happening with alarming frequency in the last few months. I spend the week brainstorming ideas, but when I’m at the keyboard, I’m at a loss for words and inspiration. In full transparency, for the last year or so, my readership here has been on a steady (and, at times, rapid) decline, for reasons I can’t quite pinpoint. To say this has been discouraging to me as a writer and creator would be a huge understatement. Yes, I make a very modest income from this newsletter and it’s always hard to lose money that my family counts on to pay our bills, but even moreso, my dwindling subscriber base has taken its toll on me, emotionally.

I’ve always aspired to spread science-backed nutrition information, recipes and inspiration for living a more natural, simple life through my Substack and work in general. Yet, when readership consistently drops and engagement is low (despite my increased efforts to provide more quality content at a very reasonable price), it leaves me feeling depleted and frustrated, like I am swimming against a rising tide. I don’t have a solution to what’s happening because I don’t know the cause, which makes it all the more exasperating.

I certainly don’t want to hit “publish” each week just to tick off a box on my to-do list, or out of fear of losing more subscribers. That doesn’t help anybody. I know my best work happens when I start cooking or writing because I’m brimming with inspiration. But, it’s hard to feel energized and excited to create when my newsletter metrics paint a more depressing picture.

Real life, lol.

So, all that said, I am nearing a crossroads here on Substack. I’ve debated a million times whether or not to admit this publicly, for fear of causing yet another precipitous drop in readership or - God forbid - sounding whiney, but I think admitting my struggles here is the only way to find a clear path forward. I do not want to “fold up shop” since I still have hope that my work here can reach more people and leave me feeling creatively satisfied. But, I need your help. Your feedback is the only way that I can fine tune this newsletter to meet the needs of my readers! I am attaching a brief survey that should only take a few minutes of your time - I would be so appreciative if you could fill it out and give me your honest thoughts!

For those of you who have been here since the beginning, and for all of my loyal readers who comment, “like” and share my posts - I see you and appreciate you, and hope to be able to find a way to continue to provide great content to you :)

Thank you, thank you!

XO

Lauren