Why I’m Starting Over

(And What’s Changing)

I’ve been writing here for a while now, but something’s felt off.

Not wrong, exactly. Just... unfocused. Like I was trying to be two things at once and doing neither particularly well.

I couldn’t quite name it until recently, but here’s what I’ve realised: I was caught between two identities. On one hand, I was sharing personal musings about my writing life, slow living in France, the books I was reading. On the other, I was promoting my business services—ghostwriting, coaching, and the W.R.I.T.E. Society.

Neither is bad. But together? They created a space that didn’t quite feel like mine. A space I wasn’t fully inhabiting and one that was confusing for readers.

So I’m refocusing.

Welcome to The Anti-Hustle Writers Lab

This is now a creative laboratory for writers who refuse to hustle.

If you’re tired of the noise—the productivity hacks, the “write every day or you’re not a real writer” mantras, the endless content treadmill that leaves you burned out and disconnected from why you started writing in the first place—this is for you.

I’m done with hustle culture. I’m done with performative productivity. And I’m done pretending that more, faster, louder is the only way to build something that matters. Tired of adapting my writing around what’s seen as the norm.

There’s another way. A slower way. A more intentional way. And that’s what we’re exploring here.

What This Lab Is (And Isn’t)

This is a space for experiments.

I’m going to share what I’m learning as I work on my own projects—including the Phoenix Draft, a revision approach I’m developing that’s about reimagining rather than just fixing. I’ll share behind-the-scenes insights into my creative process, myth-bust the “rules” that don’t serve us, and explore what it actually looks like to write with depth instead of speed.

But this is also a gathering place. A community for writers who value craft over content, intention over productivity, and the long game over quick wins. Somewhere to look beyond the act of writing.

It’s also a place of reflection and self-expression, where we explore conscious living and the deeper work of understanding ourselves, our stories, and the shared human experience.

Here you can show up as your authentic self. You can read, comment, and share, as and when it feels right for you. There’s no expectation.

This is not another productivity system.

Not a 30-day challenge. Not hustle culture dressed up as inspiration. Not a place where you’ll be told to “just push through” or “write every day no matter what.”

If that’s what you’re looking for, there are plenty of other newsletters out there that may suit you better. No hard feelings if this isn’t the right fit. I’ll still be cheering you on, you and your writing.

What’s Changing (And What’s Staying)

What’s changing:

• The focus here is now squarely on the anti-hustle writing life—slow craft, intentional revision, reclaiming our creative, energetic rhythm. This is my creative space.

• I’ll be keeping my Freshly Press business content separate (you might see the occasional P.S. or Substack-exclusive offer, but that’s it)

• The W.R.I.T.E. Society, my community for writers on Skool, will continue to be a hub where I support and connect writers, but it will stay separate from Substack in the same way as Freshly Press.

• The tone will be bolder, clearer, more myth-busting, and curious—I’m ready to stand for what I believe writing can also be.

What’s staying:

• My voice—grounded, honest, invitational

• Behind-the-scenes reflections on my own writing journey

• Book recommendations and curated ideas

• The belief that your best work comes from depth, not speed

What to Expect Going Forward

Starting now, you’ll get one substantial post per week—essays, experiments, craft deep-dives, myth-busting, behind-the-scenes reflections. Enough to give you something meaningful to think about, but not so much that it becomes distracting noise.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing:

• Why I quit hustling (and what I’m doing instead)

• An introduction to the Phoenix Draft and what I’m learning as I experiment with it

• Myth-busting posts that dismantle the “rules” we’ve been told we have to follow and what that means for my writing

• A look at what slow craft and slow living actually feel like in practice

And, I’ll be exploring a paid tier for those who want to go deeper in 2026 —with exclusive content, annotated manuscript pages, monthly live sessions, and early access to any courses or resources I develop. More on that in the coming weeks.

If You’re Still Here, Welcome

If this resonates - if you’re tired of the hustle side of creating and are ready to reclaim your creative rhythm - I’m so glad you’re here.

If it doesn’t, that’s okay too. No hard feelings, you can simply unsubscribe from this publication. I hope you find what you’re looking for.

But if you’re staying? Let’s build something different together.

This is the lab. Let’s see what we can create.

— Tracy

P.S. I’d love to hear from you in the comments or message me: What made you stay? What are you hoping to find here? Let’s start the conversation.