I absolutely love the “build a longer table” line--such a beautiful way to put it and describes your own unfailing generosity in these respects so well!
A few months ago a friend and I were on a long hike up a mountain pass and she was asking me about my writing, and eventually I got around to the “people asking me how you make it” line, to which my response for some years has been: You don’t. Nobody ever “makes it” because we all die in the end. Which sounds so bleak to many but she understood because she said, “That sounds really freeing.” Which is exactly it. You can do the work and help lift up others and ask for help when you need to and try harder at things that matter. There is no end until *the* end, so what matters is how you do it.
Thanks for this, Mike--I’ve seen a lot of “how to start a newsletter” posts, and yours is uniquely thoughtful. But more importantly, I thank you for introducing me to the phrase “clown omelet,” which is about to become a part of my everyday vocabulary.
I don't always agree with you, but I have to applaud you for your statement to, "unleash your reckless idiot. Break a few rules." Bravo!
I have spent much of my professional life writing technical stuff for government contractors. It was always very structured and point 1, point 2, point 3. In the last 10 years I have been pushing more and more to "tell the story". Break the model and build a story around points 1, 2, and 3 instead. Challenging for very technical stuff, but it can be done. And I've been teaching my people to do the same to great success.
That now seems to be a trend in my field with many others picking that up. Hmmm... I guess I'll have to find a new rule to break. Check out "The Art of Unintended Consequences" to see how I wrap stories around the facts of true events.
Oh how I love this! I keep trying to come up with another word instead of "newsletter" and I've taken to calling them "photo essays" - but I really like this expanded creativity! I am going to come up with a better word! And change my (paltry little) website (which only exists to direct people to the letter or social media anyway) accordingly.f
This is fantastic advice - and really made me feel a little more alive just now too. It's FUN and I really want to live in more FUN. Thank you.
I love this--generosity in advice as well as in lifting others. It's a great model to set and follow, and really appreciate that you frame your writing with that intention. Thanks so much for the thoughts and advice and humor!
Took a screenshot of the bit about not writing about the news. Every morning when I blog about smoke alarm beeping or the mysteries of people who choose Botox I think about all of the things that I “should” be writing about. Yet people seem to want to read about the little stuff also. Thank you!
This is so helpful. I love your description of baseball and can see it's a shame we Americans don't build in space for a nap in the stands. That's not the reason this is helpful. No, I've been trying to figure out how to structure what I might be able to contribute to the human conversation and I find this encouraging. I don't have a teapot collection, but the thought reminds me of a particular teacup, sugary hot tea on arrival home from school on a winter afternoon. Now, to boldly go...
I absolutely love the “build a longer table” line--such a beautiful way to put it and describes your own unfailing generosity in these respects so well!
A few months ago a friend and I were on a long hike up a mountain pass and she was asking me about my writing, and eventually I got around to the “people asking me how you make it” line, to which my response for some years has been: You don’t. Nobody ever “makes it” because we all die in the end. Which sounds so bleak to many but she understood because she said, “That sounds really freeing.” Which is exactly it. You can do the work and help lift up others and ask for help when you need to and try harder at things that matter. There is no end until *the* end, so what matters is how you do it.
I may now start a cuppaletter about my teapot collection. Brilliant post. Loved it and made me chortle.
Thanks for this, Mike--I’ve seen a lot of “how to start a newsletter” posts, and yours is uniquely thoughtful. But more importantly, I thank you for introducing me to the phrase “clown omelet,” which is about to become a part of my everyday vocabulary.
I love this a whole lot, Mike. You're a joy to read!
I don't always agree with you, but I have to applaud you for your statement to, "unleash your reckless idiot. Break a few rules." Bravo!
I have spent much of my professional life writing technical stuff for government contractors. It was always very structured and point 1, point 2, point 3. In the last 10 years I have been pushing more and more to "tell the story". Break the model and build a story around points 1, 2, and 3 instead. Challenging for very technical stuff, but it can be done. And I've been teaching my people to do the same to great success.
That now seems to be a trend in my field with many others picking that up. Hmmm... I guess I'll have to find a new rule to break. Check out "The Art of Unintended Consequences" to see how I wrap stories around the facts of true events.
Love this!
I need time to absorb this but it feels right and I trust you to give us all good info. Cheers.
Oh how I love this! I keep trying to come up with another word instead of "newsletter" and I've taken to calling them "photo essays" - but I really like this expanded creativity! I am going to come up with a better word! And change my (paltry little) website (which only exists to direct people to the letter or social media anyway) accordingly.f
This is fantastic advice - and really made me feel a little more alive just now too. It's FUN and I really want to live in more FUN. Thank you.
Lots of great advice here. I love the idea of a "hopeletter." I think I might borrow that phrase. :)
I love this--generosity in advice as well as in lifting others. It's a great model to set and follow, and really appreciate that you frame your writing with that intention. Thanks so much for the thoughts and advice and humor!
This is full of such good advice. And I loved the description of baseball/cricket!
Came here via your Note linking it earlier today. Excellent advice. Love the framing of a Nerdletter. My substack is definitely a bit of a Nerdletter.
"However, if you don’t want to write about 'the news', you’re allowed to not write about it without feeling bad about it."
I know this but I needed to hear it again anyway <3
This was so delightful. Thank you! Loved the audio. That’s my next Substack step.
Took a screenshot of the bit about not writing about the news. Every morning when I blog about smoke alarm beeping or the mysteries of people who choose Botox I think about all of the things that I “should” be writing about. Yet people seem to want to read about the little stuff also. Thank you!
This is so helpful. I love your description of baseball and can see it's a shame we Americans don't build in space for a nap in the stands. That's not the reason this is helpful. No, I've been trying to figure out how to structure what I might be able to contribute to the human conversation and I find this encouraging. I don't have a teapot collection, but the thought reminds me of a particular teacup, sugary hot tea on arrival home from school on a winter afternoon. Now, to boldly go...