Why I Left Substack—and Why This Space Is Built With You in Mind

From Platform Pains to Purposeful Pivoting

If you’ve read my work before, chances are it wasn’t on Substack—it was on LinkedIn or Facebook, where I’ve shared dozens of posts amplifying stories from my world as a journalist, advocate, and storyteller. Over time, I asked myself :

“Where can I write more in one place?”

That’s why I decided to give Substack a try.

I was only three posts in—just beginning to build something new—when things fell apart.

The Substack Misstep That Shut Me Out

The problem wasn’t my content. It was a technical glitch that erased it all.

I had two Substack accounts—both tied to the same email. A chatbot suggested I delete the older one to avoid confusion. So I did what it said.

But it deleted the wrong account—the one where this very newsletter lived.

I was instantly locked out. No backup. No reset link. No way to get help.

Just a message similar to this:

“Due to a high volume of requests, it may be a while before someone responds.”

No one ever did.

What That Taught Me (and What Comes Next)

At first, I was angry. But then I paused. And I reminded myself: Sometimes a door closes so you’ll stop knocking and start building your own.

These days, I try not to mourn over hiccups along the path.

Because what if it wasn’t a misstep—but a redirect?

Pivoting is part of the creative journey.

And every time I do it, I come back stronger. More rooted. More intentional.

 What You’ll Get Here

This isn’t just a newsletter. It’s a space for real stories that matter—and strategies that help us move through the systems that try to silence us.

Here’s what you can expect:

• Powerful, real-life storytelling centered on Black and Brown experiences

• Behind-the-scenes audio + interviews from my YouTube series The Color Between the Lines

• Resources and perspective for advocates, parents, educators, and creatives

• An occasional dose of reflection—because healing is part of the story, too

  Let’s Keep Building Together

  1. Subscribe and stay awhile—I’ve got a powerful story coming next week about [insert teaser: e.g., “a mother who found her voice through policy advocacy”].

  2. Watch the full interviews and story extensions on YouTube

  3. Share this post with someone who needs a space like this. Just one forward can ripple.

  This isn’t just my journey—it’s ours.

  Because storytelling isn’t just what I do—it’s how I build trust, community, and momentum.

  Let’s move the world, one story and one line at a time.

——————

Coming Next: A Conversation on Grief, Race, and Resilience

— Featuring Dr. Robin L. Smith

Next week, I’ll share highlights from my interview with psychologist and author Dr. Robin L. Smith, co-author of The Invisible Ache with award-winning actor Courtney B. Vance. I asked her to reflect on the emotional aftermath of George Floyd’s death—and what she shared was both deeply personal and universally felt.

Dr. Smith also spoke candidly about the ongoing assault on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in America—and how we navigate this moment without losing ourselves.

Trust me—you do not want to miss this.

With deep gratitude,

Esther Dillard

Journalist. Storytelling Strategist.

The Color Between the Lines Newsbrief