Welcome to my little corner of the internet!

Life is messy, and words help. That’s really the whole point of So Many Somethings, so if you’re feeling a mess, great news! You’re not alone.

My name’s Joelle and I started this newsletter in fall 2020 (originally named "The Yay Club”). It was just a few months after I’d unexpectedly lost my mom to cancer (after a whirlwind diagnosis that aligned with the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic here in the U.S.), and if I’m being honest with you, I needed a distraction. So, this newsletter — emphasis on the letter part — was created mainly as a creative outlet and passion project.

Here you’ll find personal essays and top-of-mind rambles, more of a story-letter or virtual coffee chat meets pep talk than a standard newsletter. I try to share my experiences honestly and openly, in the hopes of normalizing grief and all the other sticky situations and weird feelings we can find ourselves grappling with. There’s a new post about once a week, usually on Fridays. If you subscribe (free!), it’ll drop directly into your inbox, and you can also always read it here online.

This newsletter is intended to be a shiny little part of the internet where you can go to hopefully feel less alone and be reminded that someone out there gets it too, and is cheering for you — no matter how thick of mud you may be standing in at the time. As my mom used to tell me, positive thoughts yield positive results. Sometimes we all need a little help remembering that.

P.S. if you too are a mega fan of the best movie ever, “You’ve Got Mail,” then the name of the newsletter will likely be familiar to you… and yes, I would love a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils, thank you. 🥰

About Joelle:

I’m a writer and editor in Southern California, and I’ve always been obsessed with exploring the messiness of life, from heartache to figuring out your place in this world, to the tiny victories that are often overlooked. Back in the early 2010s (the hey-day of healthy living blogs), I was a wellness blogger and posted almost daily on the (now shuttered) website On a Pink Typewriter. 10+ years later, and I still like to get my thoughts out on "paper;" I need somewhere to rant, to process, to share.

As a freelance writer, I've contributed to outlets like the Los Angeles Times, Runner’s World, SELF, Food52, Shape, Thrive Global and more, mainly covering health and culture (including grief). You can see my bylines here on my website.

In my day job, I work in editorial for a Fortune 100 company, which really means I spend 90% of my days reminding people what an em-dash is and saying things like, “Please use AP Style.”

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Talking feelings and culture, pep talks and grief, and everything in between.

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writer / editor / pancakes aficionado