Installation #3: Postcard Secrets

"I never imagined I'd end up so completely alone." The final postcards I received in the Wild Confessions Project.

LAST FALL, I put out an open call for people to send me a wild secret on a postcard.

The secret could be a sentence, a drawing, a confession, a dream, a hope. These were to be mailed to me without name, return address, or any identifying evidence.

I posted the Wild Confessions in installments of ten.

Installment #1 can be found here.

Installment #2 is here.

Below you’ll find a gallery of the final postcards I received. The side with the message is first, followed by the postcard image. I have typed the handwritten messages.

(1)

My secret. I am afraid of the dark.

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(2)

I still love him.

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(3)

I never imagined I’d end up so completely alone.

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(4)

I used to yell at God and demand he come down and fight me—

Now I am finally a mom.

My deepest fear is that He knew I couldn’t handle it—or I’m not a good mom—

& now what have I done?

I love my daughter &

I’m ashamed & scared that I’ve written this down.

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(5)

I believe we have all been given an open invitation to the Second Coming by the Buddhist monks walking for peace.

Thank You

Many thanks to the people who took the time to send in a postcard. I am deeply grateful.

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Follow-ups

🦬 Copies of Acres USA Are Still Available—I’m mailing bundles of the magazine Acres USA, a fine publication about regenerative agriculture, to K.D. Morgan, Trillium Meeks, and Emmie Golding, who happens to work for The Conservation Fund's Farms Fund program. Did I miss anyone? If you’d like a few random ag magazines to read, let me know. The time has come to pass these on.

🦬 Craft & Current Is Mailed—I found a copy of Craft & Current: A Manual for Magical Writing mis-signed to “Vicki.” In a private message, Mike Strong of Colorado requested the book to surprise his cousin, Vicki, “who happens to love writing and would really appreciate the inspiration.” Then Vicki Williams of Virginia said she could use the book. Luckily, I had a second copy that had a paper fold on the frontispiece. Both books are on the way.

🦬 Where To See Longleaf Pine Forests—Thank you sincerely to all who made suggestions to the guide, “Where To See Longleaf Pine Forests.” I’ll be revising soon, and I will let you know when I pin the post to the top of the Trackless Wild page.

🦬 Tree Bill—On Earth Day, I posted a Tree Bill under the heading “Let’s Write Legislation Together.” When I get the bill revised, I’ll repost. Thanks to all who have offered ideas.

🦬 Consider Summer Memoir—If a desire to write your own story keeps you up at night, consider taking a memoir-writing course I’m offering this summer. We start in three weeks. I offer you solid creative and technical information, guidance, mindset assistance, accountability, and community. The basic sessions are one hour a week, Wednesdays, 1 pm Eastern. There are lots more opportunities to meet up and work, but the core sessions are an hour a week. Sessions recorded. Beginners encouraged. Tuition is $300.

🦬 Memoir Coupon Code for Funding Subscribers—If you wish to enroll in the memoir-writing course with me, I offer you a coupon for $55 off tuition. I can send it to you privately. I would love to work with you in Memoir Summer 2026.

🦬 Check Your Auto-Renew—Recently, I received this note: “Hi, Janisse. I just noticed a recurring credit card payment of $33 posted to my checking account on 4/29. I honestly don’t recall ordering or subscribing to anything. Any information or insight would be appreciated. Thanks, C.” Periodically, I remind you that one of Substack’s business practices is auto-renewals. A year ago, C. subscribed to Trackless Wild. If you subscribe to this newsletter at the $33/year level, Substack will renew you in a year. I am not a proponent of this system. I believe a person should decide each and every time if and how they wish to spend their money. You may want to check each of your Substack subscriptions. You are able to turn off auto-renew. Go into “Settings” and toggle it off. When I myself subscribe to a Substack, I often subscribe, pay my annual subscription, then immediately turn off auto-renew. I support some Substacks year after year, but always I want to decide.