36 Comments
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Nicole Lamont's avatar

Kelly!!! Hearing that you’re writing a novel is SO EXCITING and I truly CANNOT wait to read it once it’s published. While your brain might feel like spaghetti soup, you are slaying this thing called the creative life!

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kelly johnson's avatar

Thank you Nicole!!!!!! 🥰

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Hannah Kornfeld's avatar

Kelly!!!!! A novel!!!!!! I absolutely cannot wait. You are incredible and talented and you will find your way sooner than you know. You have accomplished so much and this newsletter has brought me way more than you know. You make AN IMPACT. I know the negativity can be overwhelming and hard to look past but the people here absolutely adore you and the wisdom you bring to us. Take your time to work on that incredible novel (I will preorder as soon as I can because I again cannot wait) and to sip on that soup and slurp up your spaghetti girl. Sometimes it's better to savor :)

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kelly johnson's avatar

Hannah this is so nice! THANK YOU!!! 🥰

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Kristin's avatar

Congratulations on the book! There really is something special about finding something to just truly put all of your creative energy into. It just feels so good in the moment! Enjoy your break and your writing... your very engaged readers will be here eagerly awaiting your Tortured Poets hot takes!

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kelly johnson's avatar

Thank you Kristin!! You know I can't contain my hot takes when Taylor releases a new album...

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Rad's avatar

kelly! i really enjoy your newsletter and i hope you'll take this as helpful constructive feedback in the spirit of this issue - for me, i really like your ideas and the way you present them, but sometimes it can come across as a stream of consciousness, unedited "wall of text" that's a little cumbersome to read. it might be counterintuitive bc part of what i really like about your work is how honest it is!! maybe a bit more editing/crispness while still retaining your trademark candor would help? sorry if this made no sense!!

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kelly johnson's avatar

Thanks for the feedback, Rad!

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Joan's avatar

Good for you. Write that novel. Enjoy the ride!!

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Courtney Bowers's avatar

Sounds like some exciting stuff coming up for you after what's seemed like a very up-and-down past year or so! So cool to see, and happy for you to have a break and pursue what you're most excited about.

While you're on your break and thinking about what direction to take the newsletter in, I'll echo some of the other comments. I really appreciate your thoughts and the way you present things, which is what draws me back week after week. Speaking so openly about doing things differently with your wedding, deciding to be childfree, issues with friendships, second-guessing your career etc. really resonate with me and the stage of life I'm at right now too, so you hit the mark on connecting through writing.

I will say, I really miss when you would do your "______ of the week" recs at the bottom - they were always SO interesting to me and something I looked forward to. Totally understand if you're not interested in pursuing them anymore, but just my two cents in case it's helpful feedback while you regroup.

Hope you have a nice break 🫶

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kelly johnson's avatar

Thank you Courtney! Super helpful!!

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Ashley's avatar

So excited to hear you are writing a book, can't wait!

Out of curiosity, what would say your top 5 favorite fiction novels are? (Besides FW and IF obviously, because they are the best!)

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kelly johnson's avatar

Oh wow WHAT A HARD QUESTION TO ANSWER, like favorite ALL TIME wowowowow okay let me take a shot at it:

1. Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

2. The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne

3. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

4. The Fifth Season (the entire trilogy TBH) by N.K. Jemisin

5. The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov

But there's so many more missing from this list it's DISTRESSING, these are all just books that I'm like "10/10, this is why I love reading"

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janet's avatar

Thanks for explaining your thought process as always and rooting for you and your book!

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Emma Gray's avatar

thank you for your kind words, Kelly! Really been loving your writing!

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Ryan Wallace's avatar

Kelly!!!! I’m so excited to hear you’re writing a novel!!!!! That’s so incredible! Take the time you need; we’ll still be here. Anxiously awaiting your take on Tortured Poets, in the meantime. ☺️

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kelly johnson's avatar

THANK YOU RYAN!!

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Stella Davis's avatar

Ah, good luck with your novel!! I love your newsletter and can't wait for you to get back but I totally get needing a break. Enjoy it!

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kelly johnson's avatar

Thanks Stella!!

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Lauren's avatar

A novel!!! So exciting!!! Also, a question that popped into my head as I was reading - what did you decide on last name? Sticking with Johnson?

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kelly johnson's avatar

Yes! I’m keeping my last name :)

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Leslie Stephens's avatar

Can't wait to read it!! It sounds fantastic!

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kelly johnson's avatar

I am so excited for June!!!!! Can’t wait to see You’re Safe Here absolutely everywhere 🤩

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Leah C's avatar

Enjoy this creative time with your writing Kelly! Looking forward to reading your thoughts come April 20th 🤭

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Jade's avatar

i was hoping you would say you were writing a novel. i always found your voice on c and c so compelling (and i think your taste in books is excellent), so im excited for you and looking forward to preordering when the time comes. i haven’t been a paid subscriber because i think initially that was for wedding stuff (and tbh i don’t plan on having one with my partner) but excited for this change and becoming a paid subscriber. good luck with the untangling!

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kelly johnson's avatar

Thank you Jade!!! 🥹

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Jessica C.'s avatar

Enjoy your writing and will be looking forward to what you do in the future! Congrats on the book!! So exciting!

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