A Humble Request + Story Sommelier
I could use your help in accomplishing a big, slightly undefined goal for this year. Also, sharing my best Hamptons photography.
A Humble Request
Do you know how much I appreciate you reading Plot Twists? SO much.
And I’d love for more readers like you to discover and enjoy these stories. So here’s my humble request:
⚡ Would you please take a moment now to share Plot Twists with a friend of yours who loves to read? ⚡
I pour so much heart and creativity and silliness and hopefully cleverness and, frankly, time into these stories; I’d love to get Plot Twists in front of more people.
I’m hustling on my end to promote these stories and invite people into this community. I’ve not set an end-of-year subscriber goal. I like big goals, but I’m unsure what’s possible/reasonable here. Maybe something unreasonable will happen that will vault this forward!? That would be cool. We’re currently at 1,100 subscribers/followers. Where will we be by year-end?
Who do you know that loves reading, discovering new things or championing creatives? Would you please share Plot Twists with them, in any way you see fit?
Ways you can share Plot Twists:
Click this share button and see what happens
Forward this email with a little cover note
Go through past stories to find one you think your friend might like - send that link to them
Text the link to Plot Twists and encourage your friend to subscribe
Invite your book club to read some stories, either as the month’s selection, or a palate cleanser between books
Restack or like this post
Ask me to support whatever creative idea you have!
Enter your friends’ emails below (probably generally frowned upon but it feels like sneaky fun)
Thank you in advance! Thank you for joining me on this journey of chasing my dreams, getting published and providing for my daughter.
xx
Elisabeth
PS At the bottom of this post, you’ll find the super rambly stream-of-consciousness something that I wrote to find my way into this post. It offers a little glimpse into the writing process.
Story Sommelier
Calling all book clubs! I have an offer for you!
Would you consider reading a collection of Plot Twists stories as your selection for the month? I would be delighted to use your prompts to curate a number of stories for your book club to read, as would a sommelier summon the perfect wine to complement your meal.
You could say, “Elisabeth, our book club just finished this downer of a beautiful book, but now we need some sudsy, frothy, FUN reads to pluck us from our despairs and remind us there is good in the world - and specifically, LOVE. A trio of your stories could be just the thing.”
And I would sort through my 25 stories to find *just* the right pieces for you.
BUT THEN.
If you’re into this, I’m also willing to put some discussion questions together for your group. Or I could join your book club discussion for a little bit via Zoom! Who knows if people want that! I don’t know!
—
Or, if you’re not in a book club, and you’re like, “Damn, I want some curated stories. She keeps sending out stories and I got behind and now I don’t know where to start.” I’ve got you! I’m happy to help.
Book club or not, here’s one way to reach me for this:
Parting Shot
sharing some of my photography from over the years
The vibes that colored last week’s Hamptons-set story, Broke-Bitch Weekend, which I contend the story didn’t live up to the title.
Where This Post Started
WEDNESDAY, 9:28 PM. This email is due out in 9.5 hours. Baby Celine is down and back to sleeping through the night after a four-week break (🙏🏻). A pint of Ben & Jerry’s Strawberry Cheesecake is softening next to me. And it’s time to finally write this post I’ve contemplating for weeks.
I’ve been trying to identify the right angle, entry point, campaign, argument, motivator, engagement catalyst. But I keep coming up empty. Perhaps that’s because of the accumulated sleep deficit. Or because I keep thinking about a listener-supported radio station I tune into that is constantly running a fundraiser, and in the spirit of being kind, let’s just say it’s not my favorite. I don’t want to be gimmicky like that.
discover vein of graham cracker swirl in my ice cream and pause to mine that, put the ice cream back in the freezer because I have no self-control, text my brother, question my intro above and the meaning of life, change into pajamas to see if that helps, decide to forge ahead and see what happens with this post
10:02PM. I don’t know why this post is coming out all angsty. Maybe it’s not? Maybe the angst is just in my head. Maybe it feels angsty because I haven’t used any exclamation points yet, and I’m a big fan of those! We’re going to shift the tone!
By now, you’re probably asking yourself, “Where is she going with this?” You’re right, it’s time to get to the point!
I am LOVING writing for Plot Twists. I am pouring time and creativity into these stories, and I’m super proud that we’re 25 stories deep. Most of the writing is good! People have told me they find some funny or well-written or the end was frustrating! I love it all, it means it made you feel something!
I have ambitions of growing this community and getting these stories in front of more people. Currently, our crew is rolling 1,100 deep, which I’m psyched about. I’m so wildly grateful you’re here. And I want to find more readers like you. I considered naming a goal subscriber count, but the truth is, I don’t know—
try a different intro to this post, look through pictures of Celine to relive our magical little morning and because I’m a little obsessed - when she wakes up and starts crying, I watch her on the monitor and debate whether I should intercede
11:24PM. I’m back. I interceded with Celine. I think she got stuck on her stomach. Unclear, but I was able to calm her pretty quickly.
Walking away from my laptop for a moment gave me the space I needed to get perspective on this post. I don’t know what emotions I was working through in the above (probably fear), but I was burying the point. I wrote a new section and am now relegating this to a closer. Did you know my code name for this post was the Summer Share-a-thon? I would never actually use that title. Fun fact.
My goal was to be in bed by midnight, but I still have one more section to go. If I focus, I can get this done. But then we have to choose images and all bets are off. I don’t know why that takes soooooo damn long!! Yes I do. It’s because I have 64,570+ pictures/videos on my phone, and they are a bitch to sort through.
12:22AM. Welp, the email is done. Thank you for reading all of this. I have fun making it. And now, to bed.
Dang it, I still have to write the sub-headline…
🩵 If you enjoyed this post, please click the like button below.
That small action means a lot to me. It’s a reminder that you are who I’m writing for, and it helps me get these stories in front of new readers. Thank you for being part of this community!