sophie, sending love from across the pond. you owe your readers no explanation, but what you’ve built in such a short time is so beautiful and bubbling with the cinematic community at the center — cheers to rest and restoring.
Cheers to you as you rest. Thank you for so thoughtfully sharing your perspective, it's been really inspiring to me as I'm slowly gearing up to share via my own Substack. May I suggest Sing Sing as a direct response for your stray thought "is healing possible in systems built on institutional violence?" Spoiler alert - it's more the people inside of these institutions that can find a way out, in their own way, with their own choices after confronting the very worst of themselves. May your hiatus be exactly what your heart and soul need to thrive.
Dear Sophie, thank you for sharing so much of yourself, your mind, your experience. Reading your work is an absolute pleasure and I’m glad you’re take a step back to ensure creating your work is an absolute pleasure too! Your review of Hamnet is immaculate. I saw it at TIFF almost 2 months ago and I still haven’t stopped thinking (and intermittently crying) about it. Thank you again for all you do! We’re here whenever you’re ready to share :)
Thank you for sharing this. Learning to slow down and fill my cup was the best thing I ever did for myself. I commend you, it’s not easy. Enjoy this. Enjoy the time. We’ll all be here when you come back!
Feel better, Sophie. Grateful for all the wonderful writing you've given us this year. Taking a much-deserved break from this ever-churning digital salt mine sounds like a wise and humane move. Wishing you the very best.
Sophie: At its best, writing is invigorating; at its worse, debilitating. Either way, it's eventually wearying. And it's always done at the expense of a writer's life: a solitary practice that excludes all others while reaching out to a world of faceless readers. Taking time for yourself, allowing the cistern to refill, making room for friends and family, treating life like it matters-- that's something we all need to do, writers and non-writers alike. Go immerse yourself in whatever brings you joy, renews your spirit, relieves your anxiety, and rests your soul. We'll be here when you return-- just make sure that's not prematurely. If it takes a week, a month, a year-- the time it takes is the time it takes. Take it for yourself. You deserve it.
Dear Sophie -- For someone who feels like their work is hollowing, you sure write like a fucking dream. SUCH a great column! So meticulous in its every sprawlingly-itemized detail. And utterly overflowing with that great gnostic heart you now wisely defend.
When I started my own little Substack zone, the opening piece was called THOU SHALT NOT PHONE IT IN. It's a very good rule, and I'm overjoyed that you're granting yourself that requisite space. You can't drive on an empty tank, nor should you even want to. As you said, we don't come for a predictable fix. We come to have our minds blown by your loving excellence.
So -- far as I'm concerned -- take as much time as you want, and come back whenever you want. I'll show up every time, because that's how fucking phenomenal you are.
I think the world is reaching out for tangible experiences again. It's not just you. I recently deleted all socials outside of Substack. I've always been a luddite, but I got sucked into the internet scene so that I could 'keep in touch' with people when I moved abroad. Cut to present, I was simply inundated with reels and ads and the keeping in touch was hollow, consisting of a like here and a "HBD" from a select few each year. I now have an address book, with the contacts I hold dear. I go out often, meet strangers, interact in a way that feels far more real, urgent.
I'm happy to read that you're following what's feeling most urgent for you right now. The readers, we'll be here on the flip side. Writing is fickle and it isn't something many can harness on a schedule, well, least I know I never can. From one stranger to another, I hope your hiatus serves you some tranquility between the implosions.
Sophie, I’ve always looked forward to your posts and I always take something away from them, and even had the honor of helping inspire one… and you, in turn, helped inspire me to start my own Substack.
Thank you for everything you do. This break is well-earned, and I’m proud of you for protecting your own mental health. Wishing you the best, and patiently awaiting your return when you feel ready :)
sophie, sending love from across the pond. you owe your readers no explanation, but what you’ve built in such a short time is so beautiful and bubbling with the cinematic community at the center — cheers to rest and restoring.
Cheers to you as you rest. Thank you for so thoughtfully sharing your perspective, it's been really inspiring to me as I'm slowly gearing up to share via my own Substack. May I suggest Sing Sing as a direct response for your stray thought "is healing possible in systems built on institutional violence?" Spoiler alert - it's more the people inside of these institutions that can find a way out, in their own way, with their own choices after confronting the very worst of themselves. May your hiatus be exactly what your heart and soul need to thrive.
I'll wait!
Dear Sophie, thank you for sharing so much of yourself, your mind, your experience. Reading your work is an absolute pleasure and I’m glad you’re take a step back to ensure creating your work is an absolute pleasure too! Your review of Hamnet is immaculate. I saw it at TIFF almost 2 months ago and I still haven’t stopped thinking (and intermittently crying) about it. Thank you again for all you do! We’re here whenever you’re ready to share :)
Thank you for sharing this. Learning to slow down and fill my cup was the best thing I ever did for myself. I commend you, it’s not easy. Enjoy this. Enjoy the time. We’ll all be here when you come back!
Cool
I’ll travel with you anywhere you want to go, however you want to get there.
yes of course. take a break. take your time. fill the well slowly.
My brain and existence is better because of your writing. Thank you.
Came late to reading you Sophie, and will gladly stick around for how ever long it takes you to refill... Please remember there's time. You have time.
Thank you for loving films and writing about them in a way that is most authentic and engaging, it's a special gift!
Feel better, Sophie. Grateful for all the wonderful writing you've given us this year. Taking a much-deserved break from this ever-churning digital salt mine sounds like a wise and humane move. Wishing you the very best.
Sophie: At its best, writing is invigorating; at its worse, debilitating. Either way, it's eventually wearying. And it's always done at the expense of a writer's life: a solitary practice that excludes all others while reaching out to a world of faceless readers. Taking time for yourself, allowing the cistern to refill, making room for friends and family, treating life like it matters-- that's something we all need to do, writers and non-writers alike. Go immerse yourself in whatever brings you joy, renews your spirit, relieves your anxiety, and rests your soul. We'll be here when you return-- just make sure that's not prematurely. If it takes a week, a month, a year-- the time it takes is the time it takes. Take it for yourself. You deserve it.
Dear Sophie -- For someone who feels like their work is hollowing, you sure write like a fucking dream. SUCH a great column! So meticulous in its every sprawlingly-itemized detail. And utterly overflowing with that great gnostic heart you now wisely defend.
When I started my own little Substack zone, the opening piece was called THOU SHALT NOT PHONE IT IN. It's a very good rule, and I'm overjoyed that you're granting yourself that requisite space. You can't drive on an empty tank, nor should you even want to. As you said, we don't come for a predictable fix. We come to have our minds blown by your loving excellence.
So -- far as I'm concerned -- take as much time as you want, and come back whenever you want. I'll show up every time, because that's how fucking phenomenal you are.
Yer pal in the trenches,
Skipp
I think the world is reaching out for tangible experiences again. It's not just you. I recently deleted all socials outside of Substack. I've always been a luddite, but I got sucked into the internet scene so that I could 'keep in touch' with people when I moved abroad. Cut to present, I was simply inundated with reels and ads and the keeping in touch was hollow, consisting of a like here and a "HBD" from a select few each year. I now have an address book, with the contacts I hold dear. I go out often, meet strangers, interact in a way that feels far more real, urgent.
I'm happy to read that you're following what's feeling most urgent for you right now. The readers, we'll be here on the flip side. Writing is fickle and it isn't something many can harness on a schedule, well, least I know I never can. From one stranger to another, I hope your hiatus serves you some tranquility between the implosions.
Sophie, I’ve always looked forward to your posts and I always take something away from them, and even had the honor of helping inspire one… and you, in turn, helped inspire me to start my own Substack.
Thank you for everything you do. This break is well-earned, and I’m proud of you for protecting your own mental health. Wishing you the best, and patiently awaiting your return when you feel ready :)
Dear Sophie
Your writing helps me feel less alone. Thank you and please take all the time you need. I’ll be here when you get back. Sincerely Nick