Your newsletter always privide information and inspiration. I always learn something and it definately expand my art and creative knowledege.
Like today. I never thought of newsletters other than in digital format and I am amazed that it first existed in analog form. I mean, reading it is kinda obvious that it existed in an analog way before but so far back ? It never crossed my mind.
I was just made aware of the concept on a commonplace book, a note book organized around themes. Seemed like a nice companion these days when much other is without constraints.
A beautiful essay, Anna, and a topic I think about a lot, as one of those creative types. (In my case I write narrative nonfiction books and my Substack helps others, in theory, write theirs, or at minimum improve their writing.) I love what I do but I'm lonely. I used to be an editor and writer at ESPN the Magazine. The espirit de corps there, when closing an issue, is something I ache for these days
I can't solve the loneliness thing—until and unless I hire people to help me do what I do. But I can address the issue you raise of scalability.
It's possible. I'm doing better today financially than I ever was as that high-ranking editor at ESPN.
HOWEVER, you have to iterate. You have to think to yourself, "What problem does my particular skillset solve in the marketplace."
I'll just cite my own life here as an example. I'd been fortunate enough to learn from giants in the magazine world and by the time I got laid off at ESPN, I knew I could pass along certain eternal tenets of storytelling to others. So i created a storytelling course. My books have had success critically and commercially so I then realized I could help others craft their own book proposals and manuscripts (some of whose resulting books have themselves become quite successful). With certain entrepreneurs, I carry out what I call Strategic Storytelling: Helping them craft the pitch deck that'll gain them VC funding; or editng the newsletter that'll go out to potential buyers of a product. You get the idea.
I'm still writing my own books and involved with their Hollywood adaptations, too. Which means I'm busy.
I'm not complaining. It's the life I've chosen. It's more creatively satisfying—and more remunerative—than my old days in corporate media. But what I want your readers to know is that it's possible for them to scale, too. It just may mean looking beyond trying to add more paid subscribers to their Substack.
THANK GOD on the Uncle Sam sign. Good riddance and it is way way way past time.
I know!!! Made my week.
Your newsletter always privide information and inspiration. I always learn something and it definately expand my art and creative knowledege.
Like today. I never thought of newsletters other than in digital format and I am amazed that it first existed in analog form. I mean, reading it is kinda obvious that it existed in an analog way before but so far back ? It never crossed my mind.
So thanks for sharing !
I was just made aware of the concept on a commonplace book, a note book organized around themes. Seemed like a nice companion these days when much other is without constraints.
What a thoughtful brilliant piece Anna ❤️🌹
Thank you Emma, that means a lot!
A beautiful essay, Anna, and a topic I think about a lot, as one of those creative types. (In my case I write narrative nonfiction books and my Substack helps others, in theory, write theirs, or at minimum improve their writing.) I love what I do but I'm lonely. I used to be an editor and writer at ESPN the Magazine. The espirit de corps there, when closing an issue, is something I ache for these days
I can't solve the loneliness thing—until and unless I hire people to help me do what I do. But I can address the issue you raise of scalability.
It's possible. I'm doing better today financially than I ever was as that high-ranking editor at ESPN.
HOWEVER, you have to iterate. You have to think to yourself, "What problem does my particular skillset solve in the marketplace."
I'll just cite my own life here as an example. I'd been fortunate enough to learn from giants in the magazine world and by the time I got laid off at ESPN, I knew I could pass along certain eternal tenets of storytelling to others. So i created a storytelling course. My books have had success critically and commercially so I then realized I could help others craft their own book proposals and manuscripts (some of whose resulting books have themselves become quite successful). With certain entrepreneurs, I carry out what I call Strategic Storytelling: Helping them craft the pitch deck that'll gain them VC funding; or editng the newsletter that'll go out to potential buyers of a product. You get the idea.
I'm still writing my own books and involved with their Hollywood adaptations, too. Which means I'm busy.
I'm not complaining. It's the life I've chosen. It's more creatively satisfying—and more remunerative—than my old days in corporate media. But what I want your readers to know is that it's possible for them to scale, too. It just may mean looking beyond trying to add more paid subscribers to their Substack.
I hope this helps.