Welcome to Tomatokind ~ Start Here!
This corner of the internet is designed to help you spark creative joy in your life without the pressure of starting over.
đđ»ââïž So, youâre new to the community (or, maybe youâve been around for a while and need a little tour) â start here!
Below, youâll find 1) a brief orientation to the main features of our publication, 2) some starter resources, and 3) where to find the rest!
#1 For Inspiration
For inspiration, check out our Facet and Amid columns! â
A peek inside Facet:
Inside the Brilliant Mind of Anna Sale: The Fearless Voice Behind âDeath, Sex & Money Interview with Anna Sale - Host of Death, Sex, & Money and Author of âLetâs Talk About Hard Thingsâ
How Two Friends Crafted a Community Living Room in Berkeley Interview with Elena Fong & Naomi Phan-Quang, Co-owners of IMASALA Collective
Alchemizing Corporate Burn-Out Into Art, Comics, & Humorous Storytelling Interview with artist Alice Yang , & a mini showcase of her works
Unscripted: This Filmmaker Lets People Tell Their Own Truth Interview with Stebs Schinnerer, Documentary Filmmaker & Co-Founder of Crews for a Cause
He Built a Community-Centered Gym So Adored that Members Throw Birthday Workouts There Interview with Ian Birnam, Owner and Coach at IBX Fitness
A peek inside Amid:
Why I Started this Publication & how I alchemized my parentsâ worst fear
Music Was My Crutch, Until It Wasnât On the classical music community that changed my life
Hosting This Event Changed Everything (But I Almost Called It Quits) 3 Takeaways From Launching My 2nd Live Workshop Of 2025
An Ode to Creative Rest A Poem & a Birthday Wish
Letâs Get Shallow: 20 Questions with Vanessa Li Letting Creativity Breathe, & Getting to Know Me...on a Surface-Level
#2 For Community
To immerse into our creative community, join the subscriber-only chat! â
How it works: Every week, Iâll post prompts and topics for the community to explore, and youâll be invited to jump into the discussion! Think of it as a friendly group chat (or a private subreddit) to hang out and converse about all things worth dreaming about. Paid subscribers get to start new threads!
Every month-ish, join us for Community Coffee Chats! These are informal Substack Live conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, storytellers, and small-business owners in the Tomatokind community. Theyâre not interviews, but rather an open dialogue about whatâs on our minds this season/ month/ day of our creative journeys. Think of it as a virtual water cooler: weâll yap about topics that are relevant and resonant, and come out feeling a little more seen and supported.
#3 For Practical Tools
For tools, tips, and tiny experiments, check out our Spark column!
A peek inside Spark:
Acts of Self-Love for Every Creative On biomimicry, procrastination, the 100-Day Project, & more
The Art and Power of Remembering 5 Ideas for Deeper Remembering and Celebration in a Digital Age
The Myth of the Perfect Creative Space Redefining creativity beyond aesthetics & mood lighting
10 Lessons from Spending the Weekend with 500+ Women Entrepreneurs Experimentation, making a âdo-not-do list,â and not staying quiet
âWhat star is that?â An amateur stargazerâs epiphany on a dream life 5 things that stargazing can teach you about creating a dream life
While this is not everything (for example, we have a podcast launch scheduled for Summer 2026, as well as an occasional travel column filled with lots of juicy hot takes), itâs a great place to start!
I am so happy youâre here. đ±
With zeal and gratitude for this creative life,
Vanessa
