Live with Emily McDowell
+ ICYMI
Hello, friends!
Our first event of the project is coming up in a few days—I’m excited to have writer, illustrator, and “recovering company founder” Emily McDowell join me for a Substack Live (like an Instagram Live, but here on Substack) on Wednesday, January 28.
As many of us start thinking about what we want to do for the next round of our projects, I know it can feel surprisingly hard to pick one thing. (You don’t actually have to, by the way.) There’s something a little unnatural—especially when it comes to creativity—about being asked to define ourselves in narrow constructs like “I do X for Y.”
Emily’s work resists neat labels, which is one of the things I appreciate most about it. As she writes,
I don’t have a lane, meaning I can’t easily summarize the content of this newsletter in 50 words or less. Part of me wishes I could say something like “weeknight salads for the apocalypse!” or “a safe space for cat lovers!” or “viable side hustles for people who would prefer to be reclining in a meadow!,” because we’ve all been told niche down is how to successfully brand something (including yourself). But after naming a stationery brand after myself in 2012, and spending 11 years creating products for it based on my thoughts and personality, I am retiring from describing my work in seven words.
Same, Em.
Join us and we’ll talk about:
Her experience doing The 100 Day Project
Why personal projects matter, especially as a professional creative
What she noticed when she held a small accountability and support container during the project
Creativity, entrepreneurship, and not picking a lane
What she’s excited about lately
I hope you’ll join us! If you have questions for Emily, drop them in the comments or reply to this email.
WHEN: January 28, 2026 at 12 p.m. Pacific
WHERE: Here!
XO,
Lindsay
P.S. ICYMI:
About The 100 Day Project
The next round of the project starts February 22, 2026
Tips for doing the project from Annie Wong
