The world’s first self-help book club + Substack = big magic incoming ✨
An intro to our Club and a note on why we’re here (hint: Elizabeth Gilbert made me do it)
Hello everybody 👋,
It’s time for a new chapter for the Shelf Help Club.
Time to feel the fear and start building our wonderful Book Club and community here, on Substack.
Change is always unsettling but - as the sign says! ⬆️ - it’s inevitable. It’s the growth part that’s optional.
For those of you who’ve already supported me this far on our journey, I appreciate and love you SO MUCH, and I hope you know me well enough to know that everything I do is to support you to grow and create positive change, and that means creating the best reading and community experience possible.
And my ‘fear’ isn’t that this won’t work, because I know we will make something great.
But, being totally honest and transparent (as I ask you guys to do on a pretty much weekly basis!), my fear is that this move to a new platform might derail those of you ready to do The Work but nervous about new tech and different systems.
Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.
John C Maxwell
I know how easy it is NOT to do something when it starts to feel difficult. Or uncomfortable. But - gentle reminder - this is why we are here. Reading the books, having the conversations, unlearning all the bullshit and doing the hard things.
Because on the other side of that discomfort is a deeper understanding of ourselves, and the world, and what is possible for us in this one wild and precious life.
We haven’t come this far to only come this far, guys!
(Have I used enough self-help slogans yet btw?!)
And so this email is a gentle plea from me to stick with us (me!) for this next part of the ride, to encourage you get involved in our community here from the off by subscribing and supporting (because a book club is nothing without its clubbers, and we all know by now that self-help is better with friends) and to show you all the reasons I think Substack will be a brilliant new home for us.
(And I promise it’s actually beautifully simple to use and allows me to connect with you - and you with each other - much more personally).
But first… (because Substack is also a place for lovely long form content 🤗 ) a little story about big magic c/o Elizabeth Gilbert…
✨ LIZ GILBERT MADE ME DO IT
Author Elizabeth Gilbert is a big believer in weird and wonderful signs from the Universe.
A believer in following the clues that come from a spark of intuition or the crumbs of an idea, or even - in extreme circumstances - the voice of God in the bathroom in the middle of the night.
I know this because I have watched (and read) her best-selling memoir, Eat Pray Love, many, many times, and also because, when I saw her speak in London earlier this month, Liz shared more stories of times she’s received guidance from somewhere/something she couldn’t quite place.
In the past she’s called it: The Physics of the Quest (I’ve shared the full, wonderful quote further down this post, but to paraphrase; these are the ways that the Universe conspires to support us as we commit to our individual quests and open ourselves up to the possibilities of the unknown).
And so, who better than this walking, talking, glowing advert for the power of self-development to introduce me to a shiny new path of possibility for my beloved book club, as a way to support my quest: of creating a global network of readers celebrating self-help and supporting each other on our journeys of self-discovery.
Because at this talk at The Barbican on all things love, Liz also raved about how much she’s loving life on this new(ish) platform called Substack. A place she gets to share her words and love letters, as well as those of other writers and creatives she admires, and - crucially - to connect and cultivate a gorgeous, global community.
This was a sign. LIZ was a sign. The groups of happy, smiley ‘Lovelets’ community members sitting together in the audience and arranging meetups in the pub afterwards was a sign (I know about the meetups because I subscribed to her Love Letters Substack the second I boarded the train back to Norfolk and was able to see member meetups being planned all over the world via the community Chat).
Thanks, Universe! (and Liz). ✨
Because I’ve been looking for a new home for my own - slightly smaller - but still gorgeous and global community.
I LOVE running Shelf Help, and I feel lucky every day that I get to read and recommend and talk about books for my job.
But lately I’ve been feeling a little bit stuck. And a little bit uninspired. And a lot lonely.
I don’t like to admit it, but sometimes it’s lonesome running a community by yourself. (The irony!)
Especially when you know something needs to change, but you’re not quite sure what, and you’re the leader who’s created this space to bring these awesome humans together, and so are supposed to have all the answers.
But listening to Liz talk about the community she’s creating for and with her readers as well as for herself here on this lovely platform, I felt the warm glow of knowing. The deep in your bones and belly certainty that this is what the next chapter looks like.
(NB this sense of trust - in the world and myself - is a new feeling to me. But I like it. A lot! And it’s happening more and more since I a) read all this self-help and b) gave up the booze for 2024…. more on that to follow in future posts, no doubt).
And so here we are. Our existing book clubbers already settling in nicely (give us a 🙌 in the Comments my OGs) and here I am, explaining to you why I’m so excited to be here on Substack, and why I would love you to join us as a subscriber asap and help me co-create an online/offline community that can make a huge difference in your life, and - let’s not f@ck around here - the world.
✨ WHY I’M HERE
As a writer running a book club I love the appreciation of words and story and the possibilities for deeper conversation that Substack allows. And I’m excited to share more of my own writing - and personal story of healing and growth - with you.
As a community leader I love that it’s a positive and nurturing space full of cheerleaders and opportunities for collaboration and connection. I’m also excited to facilitate online AND offline friendships and support groups all over the world.
As a solopreneur who often feels like she’s doing everything on her own I love the idea of being part of a larger community and support network that can help me take the SHC to the next level.
And on a technical note, I love the simple format and community functions that will let me stay in touch with subscribers without overwhelming you with content.
✨ WHY YOU NEED TO BE HERE
Substack will now be the hub for all of our online activity.
This is where I’ll be hosting our author events and on-line Read-alongs, sharing lightbulb moments and personal stories and essays as well as self-development um…. developments!
It’s also where I’ll be sharing training materials for our Local Hosts, and creating private communities to support you on more specialist self-help subjects as we get to know each other, and I get to understand what you most need from this space.
FOR FREE SUBSCRIBERS:
Weekly Monday emails/posts featuring info on the best new self-help strategies and releases and our latest author interviews and events
A chance to connect with the community via comments and occasional threads
FOR PAID SUBSCRIBERS (where the magic happens):
Extended Monday emails/posts and OPs
Access to our weekly online events including 2 x author events and 2 x Book Club meetups every month
Book Club resources including: a Read-along schedule, weekly journalling prompts and Book Club discussion starters
Weekly subscriber-only threads
Access to our private community, including chats and subscriber-only comments
Opportunity to create/attend IRL self-help themed meetups where you live
Guidance and resources for Local Shelf Help Hosts
FOR FOUNDING MEMBERSHIP (limited numbers available):
All of the above plus:
First access to our IRL events
A 1-2-1 Bibliotherapy session with me
The warm glow of being part of the SHC inner circle and supporting us as we work out more ways to support the wider community
✨ HOW TO GET INVOLVED
If you’re already a subscriber - THANK YOU - now let us know in the Comments where in the world you’re from and/or head on over to this post to introduce yourself fully to the rest of your new Shelfie friends.
Not yet a subscriber? I’ll be sharing some lovely free content for you to try out over the next couple of weeks - and I’d love to start connecting with you in our Comments and Threads (but please note all of our author events and Book Club meetups will be behind the paywall from the beginning).
Good news: I’m running an intro offer price of £4.99/month (or £49.99/year) for the next month. This intro price is guaranteed for the lifetime of your subscription and gives you access to everything I’ll be sharing and creating (offer valid until May 18th).
“I've come to believe that there exists in the universe something I call "The Physics of The Quest" — a force of nature governed by laws as real as the laws of gravity or momentum. And the rule of Quest Physics maybe goes like this: "If you are brave enough to leave behind everything familiar and comforting (which can be anything from your house to your bitter old resentments) and set out on a truth-seeking journey (either externally or internally), and if you are truly willing to regard everything that happens to you on that journey as a clue, and if you accept everyone you meet along the way as a teacher, and if you are prepared – most of all – to face (and forgive) some very difficult realities about yourself... then truth will not be withheld from you." Or so I've come to believe.”
Elizabeth Gilbert
If you’re still reading, THANK YOU. And well done 😆 (you are 100% on our vibe).
I can't wait to welcome you to our Substack family and embark on this exciting journey together.
If you have any questions about ANYTHING please add a Comment or use the button below to message me directly and I’ll get back ASAP.
Big Love from SH HQ.
Toni 💛
This is absolutely the right place for you and the fabulous Shelf Help Club! I would love to have heard Elizabeth Gilbert speak, it sounds like it was an incredibly inspiring evening. Not sure what's taken me so long but I'm a paid subscriber now! x
🙌 Love that this change was inspired by Elizabeth Gilbert!