Hi, it’s me.
Welcome to my newsletter, Pretend You’re Good At It: personal stories about fear, flailing, and figuring it out, sent weekly on Wednesdays.
I love stories that resonate.
A lyric, phrase, or feeling…a nugget of truth that prompts a slow nod of recognition…these resonant moments are how I make sense of the world and find my way through. If you feel at home in my words, let’s try to make sense of the world together.
I believe life is messy, but we can still laugh.
You won’t find any toxic positivity here, but I need laughter to live. We can laugh, cry, rage, and be silly together, even when we can’t see the bright side.
I promise to show up as myself.
Look, I can’t handle the pressure of delivering a polished essay every Wednesday, but I do look forward to our weekly connection. So I’ll be here with whatever mood or thought is hitting me at the moment, and it would be great if you stopped by to say hello. I’ll save you a seat.
Pretend You’re Good At It is free to read and free to comment. A paid option exists for you to say, “Hey, I love your voice and I want more of it. Here’s a couple bucks. Keep going.” If you subscribe, my emails will show up automagically in your inbox:
Nice Things Readers have said about me:
“A warm, wonderful celebration of the messy reality of life in all its contradictions, agonies and joys.” - Avivah Wittenberg-Cox from Elderberries
“Jen, this post is amazing….Why? Because like a lot of the countless other posts I’ve read from you, it makes me feel seen.” - Beth Lisogorsky, Beth’s Exceptional Video Playlist
“How you articulated this crazy beautiful mess is so thoughtful, thank you for trusting this space for your authentic self.” - Pam
“You are such a gifted writer. I mean I was laughing and crying at the same time.” - Silke
“I don't know Jen in real life. But I feel like I know Jen in real life. Do you know what I mean? Jen writes about real life. The good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful. And everything in between. Jen's a storyteller with a humongous heart, a wicked sense of humor and wisdom in spades.” - Steve Goldberg, Earworms and Song Loops
Who the Heck Is Jen Zug?
Hi, it’s me, and this is my garden. I remember capturing this selfie because it was a good hair day, and I only now noticed the smudge of dirt on my forehead from doing my gardening chores. I’ve been using this garden-smudged image as my headshot for a few years now, which actually checks out because I’m all about Keeping It Real. Another thing I noticed just now is how much I loved this exact hairstyle when I was 22. There’s something to unpack there.
I’m a writer living in Seattle with very few credentials to prove this claim (PRETENDER!). In some respects, it doesn’t matter – I write because I love writing. But at some point I have to get over my fear and procrastination and earn my spot in the WRITER category of the World Manual of Belonging. Like the REAL stamp on dairy products you buy at the store. Please accept me as your squishy ball of mozzarella.
Other things about me: I’m 53 years old, married 24 years to a man who still makes me laugh, and mother to young adults aged 22 and 20 who are pretty great humans. I work in the nonprofit sector as a communicator and fundraiser, telling stories that humanize people who are experiencing homelessness, addiction, mental health struggles, and more.
All opinions I express on Substack are my own and do not represent my employer.
Substack Is Awesome.
Grateful for this tool and community that makes it easy for me to put my writing in front of your eyeballs. To find out more about the company that provides the tech for this newsletter, visit Substack.com.
