2. A humorous collection of Life Hacks, Reviews, Business Start-up Ideas, Observations and the occasional Rant, written by Kate Darracott, a midlife entrepreneurial empty-nester on a Gap Year.
The feedback you shared with me last week was invaluable Kate, such great advice.
Love today’s post and have to say I could totally relate to your comments about the centralisation of the logo 🤣 suffering with OCD anything that’s not perfectly centralised or straight puts the anxiety levels through the roof!
2. Wednesday's chronicle of my messy, rewarding shift from corporate life to a full-time Substack writing. I share reflections, interviews, and hard-won lessons on creativity, productivity and the mindset shifts needed to inspire your own transition. (A bit too long, I suppose)
3. Coffee pause before a big spring into action
4. 593 (it keeps crossing over and again dropping⬆️⬇️)
Your branding is beautiful, I love it! Thanks for sharing your branding 'journey' I need to update my welcome page & create an email header. The wordmark is extremely tedious! So to me...
1. THE ORKNEY OUTPOST
2. Ramblings of a midlifer living out my imperfect dream in Orkney, Scotland & dipping my toe into permaculture
2. Doing the brave things, working through the scary stuff, and taking the important steps to heal from the internet indoctrination, evolve into who YOU want to be, and make YOUR "hot dog cart" aspirations a reality.
2. Buhay Copywriter means "Copywriter Life" in Filipino. I write about life as an advertising copywriter in the Philippines, and my posts cover creativity tips, productivity tips, copywriting and content how-tos, and some essays touching on more personal experiences and advocacies.
2. I will regale you with thoughts on the good, the bad, the hilarious, and the sometimes humdrum existence of being recently retired, relocated, and reinvigorated. Currently writing semi weekly about taking off to drive the length of Route 66!
I just found you Kate! I was looking for a guideline on graphic sizes and your very helpful post popped up!! I took and used every one of your suggestions, so thank you - THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
I write about mental health with attention to the most important things in life I call soul. There are lots of stories and images here. My purpose is to help others while helping myself. The two go together. I always want to make you think, and I am a former teacher on the college level.
STORIES WITH SHELL (I hope I'm still considered a newbie b/c I love doing these challenges with you).
Narratives about the stories of our life & how they make us who we are. For people who feel lost or weak from the struggle of fighting all the "skeletons in the closet." For people searching for solid ground.
I still consider myself a Newbie, always learning, that's the beauty of digital, it's always a changing landscape, no one knows it all.
It's great that you're playing along with the branding exercise, I do like the use of the image in your roundell, full blown images rarely work, but because it's immediately recognisable as someone writing I think it does. 👏
Thank you. I was wondering about that. Do you think I need a wordmark as well, or just that as my logo works? I also did not put a color background on my Homepage when I added the “hero post” and updated the About page. I think it’s clean & clear?
I must admit I'm a little confused by the titling of your Substack, it looks like it has your name and the title 'Stories with Shell' round the wrong way. From my view it says 'Shell Norman by Stories with Shell', which seems wrong?
I would sort that out first, and then think about a wordmark, presumably for Stories with Shell.
I too am not a fan of a background colour on websites, it reminds me of those early 90's sites. Unless it's a very pale colour just to define the edges or contrast with the use of white. But that's just my personal opinion, a lot of people like them. 😊
2. Ripping the perfectionist curtain away to share the real experience of building big, creative projects after blowing up my life 4 years ago. Written by a multipassionate misfit and former art prof.
I am a perfectionist. I am always recovering. I need to check out your perspective. I have been a professor as well for a short while and a teacher for a long while.
Cheers to always recovering! It's a sticky one to know how things could be *even* better and to be able to make it so, but in the long run, if it gets in the way of what you actually want to be doing then it's more a hindrance than a help. Not an easy road to walk but easier when you know others are walking it too. 🙌🏻
Trying to live optimistically with yoga, two ponies I can't ride, a husband with cancer, a dog who won't walk, a cat who is dying of starving and some chickens. Did I mention the chickens?
Optimistic, vintage, ponies.
23 beautiful subscribers ( one might be the other Substack me but I'm not asking questions!)
It’s best not to ask questions! I also might subscribe to my Substack but who knows! Your publications sounds amazing, sorry about your husband I hope he’s getting good treatment
1. Off on a Tangent
2. A humorous collection of Life Hacks, Reviews, Business Start-up Ideas, Observations and the occasional Rant, written by Kate Darracott, a midlife entrepreneurial empty-nester on a Gap Year.
3. Beautifully Sidetrackable
4. Subscribers: 1,113
Love the new logo!
Thanks Shell! 😊
The feedback you shared with me last week was invaluable Kate, such great advice.
Love today’s post and have to say I could totally relate to your comments about the centralisation of the logo 🤣 suffering with OCD anything that’s not perfectly centralised or straight puts the anxiety levels through the roof!
Thanks for your feedback, I'm glad it was useful, and it's not just me who likes things pixel-perfect. 🤓
Look at those numbers surging! Thanks for your help, Kate.
1,142 now. 🎉
I can't wait to share my growth hack with you at the next Geek Out, so your numbers will start surging too! 🙌
1. COFFEE BREAK newsletter
2. Wednesday's chronicle of my messy, rewarding shift from corporate life to a full-time Substack writing. I share reflections, interviews, and hard-won lessons on creativity, productivity and the mindset shifts needed to inspire your own transition. (A bit too long, I suppose)
3. Coffee pause before a big spring into action
4. 593 (it keeps crossing over and again dropping⬆️⬇️)
I am convinced that strange things happen around the milestones. 😳
Strange things indeed. The biggest dip, I've updated my number 😊 Staying positive 🥹
Your logo is very cool
Thank you, Han❤️ That means a lot. I love yours! Green and orange, calm and actionable.
It's a hefty number though... impressive.
1. NUMBER 2 PENCIL
2. A teenager jotting down thoughts with a #2 pencil in an effort to figure out life. (And then, ya know, typing them out on a computer)
3. Calming, Clean, Fun
4. Subs: 158
Great to see you young folk still know what a pencil is! 😉 😂
Lovely clear branding. ✔️ 👏
😂 still use one every day!
Thank you!
Your pencil logo is fab & fits perfectly! Also love that your hitting things down with your pencil. I’m a straight to laptop kinda person!
Thank you so much!
There's definitely a convenience to all digital! Sometimes I feel like my thoughts flow differently when it's pen and pencil, though. 🤷♀️
Yes I know what you mean, I’d like to take more time to do that. I think you can ruminate more with a pencil & notebook
Your branding is beautiful, I love it! Thanks for sharing your branding 'journey' I need to update my welcome page & create an email header. The wordmark is extremely tedious! So to me...
1. THE ORKNEY OUTPOST
2. Ramblings of a midlifer living out my imperfect dream in Orkney, Scotland & dipping my toe into permaculture
3. Rustic & charming (like me 🤣)
4. Subscribers: 160
I love your new 'rustic and charming' branding, the workmark was worth the pain, it makes me smile every time. 😊
Thank you! Always pleased to make someone smile 😊
I really love it too. It warms my heart when I see it.
Oh wow thank you 🥰
Ooooh, love your branding!
Thanks so much Gloria 🧡
I recently added an email banner -- that was fun!
Well done, are you pleased with it?
Yes, very much so. It’s nice that it goes automatically to every email.
1. Therapreneur Diaries
2. A behind-the-scenes of an online therapist in private practice
3. Rollercoaster Pop
4. Subscribers: 23
I love the rollercoaster graphic, a great use of an illustration to get a feeling across. 👏
Thank you!! 😊😊
1. Write. Sizzle. Repeat.
2. A substack on the art and craft of writing smoking hot love scenes by an author who writes smoking hot love scenes.
3. Sexy but professional
4. 1 lonely little subscriber...me.
I presume your two Substacks are Recommending each other? 😉
No 2 different audiences. One is for readers of my books and the other is for authors.
1. MUSINGS FROM THE MIDSECTION
2. I write for and about GenXers. Then and now. Heavy on the nostalgia and humor.
3. Bright and nostalgic
4. 114 subscribers.
You had me at 'nostalgia and humor'! 👏
Gen X here.
1. THE HOT DOG CART
2. Doing the brave things, working through the scary stuff, and taking the important steps to heal from the internet indoctrination, evolve into who YOU want to be, and make YOUR "hot dog cart" aspirations a reality.
3. 91
Agreed, am loving your wordmark! 👏
I need a nice big one for the welcome page! Thanks for that tip. 🥳
That wordmark is pretty cool!
Awww, thanks!! 🌭
1. Sorcha's Penny Press
2. A spicy historical romance author's newsletter. Updates on books, the writing process, and my life.
3. Sensual. Historical.
4. 1,497
Well done, you have managed to squeeze three words into your logo and they're all legible!
It's a Christmas miracle! 👏 👏
1. BUHAY COPYWRITER
2. Buhay Copywriter means "Copywriter Life" in Filipino. I write about life as an advertising copywriter in the Philippines, and my posts cover creativity tips, productivity tips, copywriting and content how-tos, and some essays touching on more personal experiences and advocacies.
3. Minimalist, Copy-first
4. 237!
I do like the concept of a little seedling growing out of your keyboard. 👏
1. MOREOVER
2. I will regale you with thoughts on the good, the bad, the hilarious, and the sometimes humdrum existence of being recently retired, relocated, and reinvigorated. Currently writing semi weekly about taking off to drive the length of Route 66!
3. Fun. Friendly. Conversational
4. 31 Subscribers... Thirty WONDERFUL Subscribers!
I just found you Kate! I was looking for a guideline on graphic sizes and your very helpful post popped up!! I took and used every one of your suggestions, so thank you - THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
Thank you for the feedback Linda, it looks like you've implemented them well! 👏
I love your face illustration too. 😊
THE MIND SOUL SANCTUM
I write about mental health with attention to the most important things in life I call soul. There are lots of stories and images here. My purpose is to help others while helping myself. The two go together. I always want to make you think, and I am a former teacher on the college level.
Three words? This is hard.
Open-Minded Souls
77 subscribers
Thank you for allowing me to participate.
Agreed, the blue and yellow images work really well. 👏
Well thank you. I appreciate it.
Love the continuity of your thumbnails! Unique, yet united.
Thank you very much. I like blue and yellow. That is the limit of my brand knowledge so far, but I am ripe to learn.
STORIES WITH SHELL (I hope I'm still considered a newbie b/c I love doing these challenges with you).
Narratives about the stories of our life & how they make us who we are. For people who feel lost or weak from the struggle of fighting all the "skeletons in the closet." For people searching for solid ground.
Writing --need wordmark or logo?
113
I still consider myself a Newbie, always learning, that's the beauty of digital, it's always a changing landscape, no one knows it all.
It's great that you're playing along with the branding exercise, I do like the use of the image in your roundell, full blown images rarely work, but because it's immediately recognisable as someone writing I think it does. 👏
Thank you. I was wondering about that. Do you think I need a wordmark as well, or just that as my logo works? I also did not put a color background on my Homepage when I added the “hero post” and updated the About page. I think it’s clean & clear?
I must admit I'm a little confused by the titling of your Substack, it looks like it has your name and the title 'Stories with Shell' round the wrong way. From my view it says 'Shell Norman by Stories with Shell', which seems wrong?
I would sort that out first, and then think about a wordmark, presumably for Stories with Shell.
I too am not a fan of a background colour on websites, it reminds me of those early 90's sites. Unless it's a very pale colour just to define the edges or contrast with the use of white. But that's just my personal opinion, a lot of people like them. 😊
1. CREATIVE REBEL
2. Ripping the perfectionist curtain away to share the real experience of building big, creative projects after blowing up my life 4 years ago. Written by a multipassionate misfit and former art prof.
3. "Delightfully Unhinged"
4. Subscribers: 11 lovely humans ❤️
Loving the way your photo and logo are colour coordinated! Nice touch! 👏👏
Thank you for spotting those details 🙌🏻🤍
I am a perfectionist. I am always recovering. I need to check out your perspective. I have been a professor as well for a short while and a teacher for a long while.
Cheers to always recovering! It's a sticky one to know how things could be *even* better and to be able to make it so, but in the long run, if it gets in the way of what you actually want to be doing then it's more a hindrance than a help. Not an easy road to walk but easier when you know others are walking it too. 🙌🏻
Yes perfectionism makes us not want to try eventually. Or it has with me. Identifying it is so important.
1: THE STYLISH HOME by SONYA the HOME STYLIST
2: Sharing interior trends, inspiration, colour themes and styling tips. to transform your house into a serene, cosy home.
3: Clean, Modern, Minimalist
4: Subscribers: 198 (so close, yet so far to my next milestone)
So close Sonya, I'm sure you'll get there soon! 🤞
love the branding story.
PONY TALES
Trying to live optimistically with yoga, two ponies I can't ride, a husband with cancer, a dog who won't walk, a cat who is dying of starving and some chickens. Did I mention the chickens?
Optimistic, vintage, ponies.
23 beautiful subscribers ( one might be the other Substack me but I'm not asking questions!)
We all have a Ghost Substack subscriber... for testing purposes obviously. 😉
It’s best not to ask questions! I also might subscribe to my Substack but who knows! Your publications sounds amazing, sorry about your husband I hope he’s getting good treatment