18 Comments
User's avatar
Charlotte's avatar

Stacey, I don't know if you over-deliberate when writing (I'm sure we all do...maybe) but I must say, your writing is so natural. There's such a good cadence to it. I can't wait for the day your debut novel is unveiled and will happily take the place of that imaginary reader (and/or yourself). Thank you for sharing your thoughts and words!! Feeling very grateful I get to witness your writing.

Expand full comment
Stacey's avatar

Thank you so much Charlotte, what a thoughtful thing to say!! I’m grateful for readers like you.

Expand full comment
erin's avatar

i remember reading ferrante’s words for the first time and thinking how unbelievably cool it was to appreciate a distance between the writing and the audience!! i also love the idea that you, as the writer, are also a reader, and in experiencing your own words just as much as the audience does, you have the right to serve yourself through your art. this was fantastic <3

Expand full comment
Stacey's avatar

thank you for saying that, and for reading! i appreciate it

Expand full comment
Steph's avatar

I first followed you on TikTok and now that I’m here on Substack, I’m so happy to see a familiar face! Am always in awe of what you say and write. This was so beautiful and honest, thank you for sharing. Now, I’m slightly more scared to write but also feel more brave to post lol I’ll hold this essay close to my little writer heart. 💜

Expand full comment
Stacey's avatar

Thank you so much for being here, on both Tiktok and Substack! I’m so glad this resonated. Keep writing, no matter who it’s for!

Expand full comment
leah beth's avatar

this is such a wonderful, well-written piece! 🤍

Expand full comment
Stacey's avatar

thank you so much leah, that means a lot! <3

Expand full comment
Kait Lucas's avatar

I loved reading this so much, and I so ardently relate to these feelings you’ve described. It’s not just the audience, the amorphous set of human beings that choose to read my work. It’s Donna Tartt, Sally Rooney, Rachel Kushner or Ottessa Moshfegh looking over my shoulder. I not only want to please this variable demographic of humans, but also all of the writers I love, and that just isn’t possible. It’s comforting to know I’m not the only one who feels this way, though. It reveals so much about our desires for love and recognition—I think this humanizes and softens us to one another. Thank you for sharing. <3

Expand full comment
Stacey's avatar

how comforting to read your comment and know the feeling is shared <3 thank you very much for reading with such care!

Expand full comment
gannah's avatar

I think this song is gonna make its way into my regular playlist

Expand full comment
Stacey's avatar

it’s the perfect amount of melodrama

Expand full comment
Freya Graham's avatar

really enjoyed this! I think I tend more towards Condé -- there's a generosity to it which I like, and I think it's possible to write *for* an audience while still challenging them. looking forward to reading more of your substack(:

Expand full comment
Stacey's avatar

That’s a wonderful perspective. thank you so much for reading, it means a lot!

Expand full comment
Anne ✨'s avatar

I love that you’ve quoted some of your favorite authors, a beautiful tribute to kick off this substack :)

Expand full comment
Stacey's avatar

Thank you v much 💙

Expand full comment
M!'s avatar

brilliant..

Expand full comment
Stacey's avatar

thank you mil ❤️

Expand full comment