Tia! I can only speak for myself, but the main reason I read you, here, your books, or elsewhere is your authenticity.
Secondly, something in your words & your story resonates in me. Partly because parts of our origin stories align, but it’s not only that. It’s the convergence of your authenticity & your ability to convey your experiences in an honest, helpful, & thought-provoking way.
Whether you are Tia the writer or Tia the brand, makes no difference to me when the authenticity & resonance are there. (If you start slapping your name on buildings, steaks, & crypto coins, I’m sure we’ll be having another conversation, but your readers will hold you accountable before that happens. 😎)
“When drama comes, look up and check the strings.” Brilliant! I’m on my fourth or fifth rejiggering of my newsletter here too. And you’re right - we are here to create because we have to and the rest of it is not our business. Thank you for the work you do!
Thank you for this article. What I appreciate most about your writing is the way you compare high control religion to current events, and then articulate that examination in a thoughtful, understandable way. It is a gift.
Tia, re: "I hope it offers you insight, clarity, hope, and encouragement. I hope I bring growth, art, wonder, and an expansive mindset to the vulnerable territory known as life after religious trauma, and I don’t skip the scary parts"... fwiw, you are absolutely doing these things! You're one I always open (which is NOT true of very many these days, just from sheer busyness/glut).
Total sense. I will keep my title There’s Nothing Wrong With You (And There Never Was) as a still emerging author. I also use my name prominently in every post. I also am here to deconstruct high control religion, including the religions of our belief systems whatever they may be. Looking forward to no paywall and to your book! 💜
Your subtitle did make me giggle! Everyone offering paywalls... in *this* economy?! But yes, I know, it's such a fine balance - working for free isn't sustainable. Pivoting is indeed just a part of being your own boss, and I hope this pivot serves you well!
Thanks, Tia, for again telling it like it is. This is really helpful. P.S. I remember people's names over their titles, so that is useful when searching.
Tia, thank you for this substack and for your book. I work in a place where I engage with many people who are actively absorbed in high-control religion, and you have opened my eyes to a lot and have allowed me to understand better where they are coming from. (Also, your book helped me understand some odd reactions I had gotten from community members to what I thought were pretty innocuous statements, and that makes me giggle sometimes.) Mostly, they have helped me to have empathy and insight.
I totally love your linking preorder with gift subscriptions—and characterizing it as a COUNTER TITHE TO THE HUMANITIES! Using literary citizenship to counter the fundamentalist economy is fucking brilliant! Thank you, Tia Levings, Writer. Thank you.
Oops, I miss-characterized how you defined your “counter-tithe to the humanities.” Still, the exchange of preorder for gift subscription is also literary citizenship in action! LITERALLY!
Substack started as a tavern where writers poured wine for strangers. Now the barkeep keeps watering the drinks and charging more for the cup.
Writers think it’s their fault. So they rename, rebrand, rearrange the furniture while the floor itself is sinking.
But it’s not you, Tia. It’s the classic cycle. Platforms love you, then milk you, then eat you. Enshittification is just corporate communion.
Paywalls work until they don’t. Readers don’t want velvet ropes. They want a table, a voice, and something true.
Tia! I can only speak for myself, but the main reason I read you, here, your books, or elsewhere is your authenticity.
Secondly, something in your words & your story resonates in me. Partly because parts of our origin stories align, but it’s not only that. It’s the convergence of your authenticity & your ability to convey your experiences in an honest, helpful, & thought-provoking way.
Whether you are Tia the writer or Tia the brand, makes no difference to me when the authenticity & resonance are there. (If you start slapping your name on buildings, steaks, & crypto coins, I’m sure we’ll be having another conversation, but your readers will hold you accountable before that happens. 😎)
“When drama comes, look up and check the strings.” Brilliant! I’m on my fourth or fifth rejiggering of my newsletter here too. And you’re right - we are here to create because we have to and the rest of it is not our business. Thank you for the work you do!
"tax rates for single self-employed creatives who don’t spend on deductibles are abhorrent"
Amen, sister.
Thank you for this article. What I appreciate most about your writing is the way you compare high control religion to current events, and then articulate that examination in a thoughtful, understandable way. It is a gift.
This whole piece is exactly what I needed to read today.
Tia, re: "I hope it offers you insight, clarity, hope, and encouragement. I hope I bring growth, art, wonder, and an expansive mindset to the vulnerable territory known as life after religious trauma, and I don’t skip the scary parts"... fwiw, you are absolutely doing these things! You're one I always open (which is NOT true of very many these days, just from sheer busyness/glut).
Total sense. I will keep my title There’s Nothing Wrong With You (And There Never Was) as a still emerging author. I also use my name prominently in every post. I also am here to deconstruct high control religion, including the religions of our belief systems whatever they may be. Looking forward to no paywall and to your book! 💜
You have me thinking. Thank you Tia Levings, Writer!
Your subtitle did make me giggle! Everyone offering paywalls... in *this* economy?! But yes, I know, it's such a fine balance - working for free isn't sustainable. Pivoting is indeed just a part of being your own boss, and I hope this pivot serves you well!
Briliant, Tia, and generous.
Thanks, Tia, for again telling it like it is. This is really helpful. P.S. I remember people's names over their titles, so that is useful when searching.
Tia, thank you for this substack and for your book. I work in a place where I engage with many people who are actively absorbed in high-control religion, and you have opened my eyes to a lot and have allowed me to understand better where they are coming from. (Also, your book helped me understand some odd reactions I had gotten from community members to what I thought were pretty innocuous statements, and that makes me giggle sometimes.) Mostly, they have helped me to have empathy and insight.
I totally love your linking preorder with gift subscriptions—and characterizing it as a COUNTER TITHE TO THE HUMANITIES! Using literary citizenship to counter the fundamentalist economy is fucking brilliant! Thank you, Tia Levings, Writer. Thank you.
Oops, I miss-characterized how you defined your “counter-tithe to the humanities.” Still, the exchange of preorder for gift subscription is also literary citizenship in action! LITERALLY!
“Sometimes life gets complicated because someone wants it to be.”
YES!! 🙌🏽
Thank you Tia. Love your writing. I do hope substack figures their shit out! I'm the meantime, keep on. We're here for you. B