my favorite cafe is now serving kale (+ why this matters for your About page)

The absence of an old San Francisco cafe whispered something about making readers fall in love with your writing...

Last week, I found myself on the corner of Hayes and Franklin in San Francisco, staring at what used to be the Grove Cafe. (Now a vegan joint called The Rad Radish.)

The Grove had this way about it – worn wooden tables, posters of Patti Smith, Lou Reed, and Jefferson Starship at The Filmore.

There was usually a hum of conversation that put me right at ease.

I spent years of my life at those tables with my journal, my camera, close friends, and even awkward Tinder dates.

Exhibit A: salted caramel affogato on wooden table with photos

I used to sit at the same corner window table for hours. Just people-watching as the cars drove up Franklin Street while I savored my affogato – hot espresso poured over salted caramel ice cream.

It was my favorite ritual, that blend of hot and cold, while I thought about choices, next steps, and my current relationships.

So many hours spent second-guessing whether I was "making the right choices."

What if I work in tech and move to Mountain View?

Should I keep doing my photography on the side?

Can I really quit my job and travel? (Won’t there be consequences?)

Standing there last week, I realized something: we're all looking for someone to take us by the hand and say, "Start here. This is how the whole thing works."

Even now, there's still that young girl in me waiting for the perfect mentor to appear with a complete roadmap.

Life doesn't work that way, though…does it?

Instead, we get breadcrumbs.

Little signs.

Whispered opportunities that show up exactly when we need them.

That's what made me think about your writing.

It’s like that first reader who emails to say your words changed their perspective.

Or a comment that shows you exactly what a reader needs next.

The quiet realization that your unique way of seeing things is what makes your writing powerful.

Here’s what I've learned after years of helping authors find their voice…

Just like those breadcrumbs led me from tech jobs to photography to helping writers tell their stories, your readers are looking for their own trail of breadcrumbs through your work.

Exhibit B: Patti Smith poster, fireplace + happy couple

Think about when you discover a writer who makes you feel seen and understood.

…their About page isn't just a bio; it's an invitation into their world.

…their Start Here post isn't just a directory; it's like having a friend guide you through their favorite rooms of a home filled with art they collected on their travels.

…each piece has its own story, and they spark deeper, more meaningful conversations

You can do that with your Substack.

So, I created a live workshop to help you craft welcome pages that feel less like polished prose and more like opening your door to kindred spirits.

Because your readers aren't just looking for information – they're looking for recognition, for that moment of "yes, THIS" that makes them lean in closer to learn more.

That's what great writing does – it creates connection through our shared human experience.

Those moments when we dare to say, "This is who I am, this is where I've been, and this is what I've learned along the way."

Ready to turn those quiet reflections into words that connect?

Join me this Sunday, December 15th, for an intimate workshop where we'll explore how to weave your unique perspective into the most viewed welcome pages on your Substack.

Your About page and Start Here post.

You’ll understand how to pull readers in and keep them coming back for more meaningful and deeper conversations.

Keep writing,

P.S. You know how the Grove Cafe created space for me to ponder life's big questions? That's how you’ll feel in Sunday's About Page and Start Here Post workshop. You’ll understand how to resonate with your readers from the very first line.