Humpty, we ride at dawn ⚔️
Honey Stay Super is a pro-big-life-changes newsletter, even when things get messy. Especially then.
In the past ten years I’ve swung for the fences as often as I’ve been scraping along the ground, but at least I’m never bored. I’m a long-time creative director, a two-time published author, and an all-time silly goose.
I’m a woman over 50. A mother of young adults. An official ex-wife. Also: A dumb bitch. A relentless trying-to-be-better-er. A born-again slut. A life-long late bloomer. And you’ll rarely catch me doing what I should be doing at my age or stage, whatever the hell that means.
Cheryl Strayed said this on my newsletter about turning 54: “I just love your writing so much. And this one is especially spectacular.”
Why should you read Honey Stay Super?
Because you like me. Because you like my writing. Because you’ve worked with me and looked this Substack up and now regret it. Because you want to see what I’ll do next in the big life changes department, sort of like a cross between monitoring a science experiment and watching a car crash. Because you’re growing elderly waiting for me to write another (non-fiction memoir-ish) book and what can I say, that’s probably not changing any time soon.
Because this is the first — and for now only — place where I publish personal essays. My writing previously appeared in The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Washington Post, The Cut, and McSweeney’s, and more. Many things I’ve written have gone viral, been the Most Read on the publications above, landed me on best-of and end-of-year lists, and resulted in appearances on CNN and PBS Newshour. I’ve written two books, AMATEUR HOUR about motherhood and BUT YOU SEEMED SO HAPPY about marriage and my non-traditional separation. This next phase of my life is only being written about here.
Because you’re going through big life changes too and want to read something that speaks to that, and to you. Because your kids are growing up or grown, because you’re getting a divorce, because you feel like fucking around a wholeeee lotttttt, and/or because you feel like laughing about (some of) that. Because sometimes you just want a melancholy read along with some pretty pictures. Because you’re sick of feeling shame about wanting more — more independence, more sex, more money, more connection, more crying-in-public, more being-validated-the-living-shit-out-of, more outspokenness, more tenderness, and more pro-being-on-your-own narratives. These are all perfect reasons to be here.
Why should you pay for Honey Stay Super?
Look it’s not on you to singlehandedly make up for the collapse of legacy media and online outlets alike, although it probably feels that way. Paid subscriptions support my ability to do this work, simple as that. I paywall most of my content because it’s intimate and raw and personal, a paywall allows me to feel more protected from bad faith readers. Here are some suggestions if you just can’t swing a regular paid subscription right now:
• Subscribe for a month or two then cancel. You will not hurt my feelings (I don’t have any). Then rotate another newsletter in (or not). I get it, budgets are finite!
• Refer friends to Honey Stay Super and you can get a free subscription. Refer 5 readers, get 1 month free. Refer 10 readers, get 3 months free. And refer 15 readers and get 6 months free! Just go here:
• Sign up for a group subscription. I offer a 20% subscription discount when you and your group subscribe together! This is a perfect option for book clubs, discussion groups, events, and panels.
• Look for subscription sales and special offers. Substack offers lots of discounts and trials throughout the year. Usually once a year I offer a subscription sale. So be on the lookout.
• Like and share posts. I forget to do this one simple thing all the time, even with my favorite reads. Liking (so easy!) and sharing posts are a free way of helping support work that you value.
