It’s tough to find my “why,” but I think truly I just want to start sharing with the world. For so long I wrote for me and me alone, but now I’m to the point where my writing feels like an open hand to others. And I want to find readers (and other writers) who will grab hold of that open hand, and we can build a connection. The toughest thing is the self-doubt that whispers to me that my words aren’t good enough, that I should close my hands into a fist and shove them into my pockets… but I suppose these posts may help me push through that!
Why? A great question and thanks for helping me to reflect on the reasons! The first thing that comes to mind is the value of making and keeping connections. Newsletter writing has been most of my public writing for the last eight years so I know that it works and makes a difference. Maybe that is another reason: newsletters feel familiar and doable where finishing my novel feels daunting and experimental. I also want a space to write shorter pieces, and a space to promote my work when I have work to promote! Thanks for offering this class- I look forward to all you have to share!
I started my newsletter a year and a half ago to support an upcoming book launch, build my platform. Social media was in turmoil (when isn't it in turmoil???) and I wanted a more direct way to reach potential readers. The book contract fell through, but I kept at the newsletter. Later a publisher picked up my short story collection and I signed another book contract, so publicizing these is definitely a major motivation. But I discovered something else: I enjoy doing the newsletter. I write crime fiction and the blog makes me stretch different muscles. It's conversational and the interaction with the readers is great fun. It goes out every other Thursday rain or shine and the discipline does me a ton of good. I've now started doing writers interviews and people seem to enjoy them. I'll do 1 interview each quarter to vary pleasures. Here it is: The Roll Top Desk - https://meproctor.substack.com
2. Discovering more about who my ideal reader really is. I have about 100 followers to my substack but I haven't posted much of anything there. I'd like to engage those who have signed up by finding out more about their lifestyles, tastes, reading habits, and ways I can connect with them beyond promoting my very limited(at the moment) list.
Hi, Courtney! I started my newsletter a year ago, and I knew I had no idea how to answer the question “Why?”, as I didn’t even know what I was doing, what a “newsletter” was. But I spent a year writing essays and learning from the best essayists, memoirists and short story writers here. These days, I know the why: I want to establish myself as an essayist with a unique voice, who can tell unforgettable stories that affect hearts and minds. I also want to build an audience for my writing. I think of Practice Space not as an email newsletter, nor as a blog, but as an ongoing, living and breathing essay collection. One I want to keep building, and make the HQ of all my other writing projects.
I stumbled across this post and now I’m glad I did because I’ve been thinking about this for a few months now. For me, I’d like a place to put my thoughts on forgiveness and redemption. I am about to finish a PhD that focuses on “outsiders” in literature. I’m really interested in the outside/inside divide, how that plays out through incarceration, addiction, homelessness and mental illness. I’m interested in it because I’ve lived it. I’m a writer living with mental illness, living in recovery. I want folks to feel hope, to wake up and fight, as Woody Guthrie used to say.
I want to have a place to put my thoughts. I want a place that archives my thinking as I work on my novel. I would like to become a voice (hopefully among many) for folks living in recoveryI want a place that others like me can find and feel seen.
Hi Courtney, really pleased you're running this course & I'm just trying to catch up. I've read ahead & really appreciate the clarity of your information & the brain-kickstarter questions.
My ideas for a Substack newsletter are still quite muddled. What keeps coming up for me is: why would anyone want to subscribe to me? Everything I can think of doing is most likely being done better by dozens / hundreds of newsletters & writers more qualified and experienced than me.
I write poetry & fiction & in the last year have begun the journal-submitting thing. I now have around 15 pieces publshed or forthcoming. I have 5 years' experience as a freelance developmental fiction editor. I'm passionate about too many things & struggle to see how they might fit together: creative process, prose poetry, feminist reimaginings of myth & fairytale, writing craft, the lit journal submitting journey & what you learn along the way ... Am I an expert at any of that?Ummm ... no, not yet. Except perhaps editing for fiction - but I'm at a place where I can help beginners / intermediate writers with much of the above. I love encouraging & inspiring other writers to stretch themselves and learn new things. I do enjoy a "teaching" element to connecting with other writers (say through prompts or teaching a type of form poetry).
I write on Medium & feel quite confident there. When I'm writhing in self-doubt about lack of clarity on newsletter ideas, I try & remind myself I have nearly 50 subscribers & almost 2K followers. That's not nothing. I just started a publication (accepting other writers) on Medium dedicated to another passion: ekphrastic poetry & fiction. (the practice of creative writing inspired from visual arts) It's called ArtMusing. Tagline: The Ekphrasis Place. The vibe is all very Art Nouveau / Art Deco. No one else on Medium has a pub dedicated to ekphrasis, so I nailed a niche. The concept coalesced quite quickly.
All the above still doesn't help me get clear on what my Substack focus should be, though! (Except to eliminate ekphrasis) I'm hoping that will change as I progress through your course . And now I'll take a deep breath & work through your excellent "why questions". :)
I have a very simple newsletter with 27 subscribers... it's mainly meant as a way of telling people who aren't big into social media when I have a new story published. (I write flash fiction, and it appears all over the place.)
I work as a translator and have a background in archaeology, and while I could leverage those for content, it would have nothing at all to do with my writing. And I don't consider myself expert enough as a writer to be able to write a newsletter about writing.
I had an active newsletter for my yoga business for several years, but when the pandemic started, everything changed. I lost my energy for it, I lost my "why," and I couldn't shake the feeling that no matter how authentically I tried to share or how much good feedback I received from readers, at the end of the day it felt like marketing strategy and I just didn't want to do it anymore. At the same time, I felt exhausted by social media, so I found myself without an outlet or a point of consistent, meaningful connection.
Since then, I've been trying to figure out how to come back from that and where and how and what I want to be communicating. Last fall, I even got so far as to announce a personal Substack, but felt so much pressure from myself to make it something deeply relevant and meaningful that I never ended up getting it off the ground.
So I appreciate this chance to reflect on my "why." I've realized that I need a communication outlet where I can share things I care about with others. But I want to make something that I enjoy making, something that feels good to me, creative and not attached to an outcome or to an idea of value. That's what I think I need to do in order to start enjoying the process again.
Additionally, I do have an idea to start a Substack sharing my expertise on a topic I've taught for years— that one, I'd like to have as a more structured newsletter for paid subscribers, that would allow me to get back into disciplined writing, share opportunities to study with me, and create the body of a book. That's the goal, but I worry that if I dive right into that without first allowing myself the space to explore something that's just a fun, creative outlet for me, I might burn out again.
I signed up for this course to see what sparks my excitement and energy around creating a newsletter right now, and I'm very much looking forward to it!
Thanks so much for this, Courtney. I don't have a newsletter yet but I'm mulling over two different whys:
1. I am starting a company with a publishing platform. This will focus on tech, IT and business stuff. I'd want a newsletter to drive traffic to the site, and then would later monetise the newsletter. One of my main long term goals in starting the company is to give myself financial freedom, so that I can write fiction and journalism for the rest of my life without needing to worry about making (not very good) money from it.
2. I also like the idea of a newsletter to build an audience for my fiction. But I'm curious to know to what extent fiction writers actually put their fiction in their newsletters. It sounds like they generally find a niche in which to write non-fiction, then publish fiction elsewhere and promote it in the newsletter? I worked as a journalist, mostly covering human rights and development, for 10 years. So I have things I could say to a newsletter audience. But it doesn't feel like these are relevant to my fiction. I can't imagine an audience that started following me for my opinions on the failings of the humanitarian sector would be that interested if I started plugging a science fantasy adventure novelette. Would love to hear your thoughts.
As a new writer, my 'Why' for making a newsletter is to train myself to write on a tight schedule (Weekly or bi-weekly) and to improve my writing. It's a rather simple goal, yet I think the things I will learn during this course might become more important when I start a novel or find a different writing career.
I started my newsletter because I have so many thoughts about books - and because of my varied background, I wanted to share my thoughts/chaotic reads/connections between my books and my studies and my life. I am working to build a career as a writer and teacher so I hoped that the Substack would help me achieve those ends.
When I think about the why, it's partially self-serving and also partially for others: I want to have an outlet to share my ideas, but I also want to discuss books with folks and entertain them. I want them to learn something, especially because I read widely and make connections between different and seemingly unrelated texts. In some ways, making the wide world of literature more accessible for whoever reads my newsletter.
When I started my newsletter a few months ago, I had a few why's. I was six months out from graduating from college and without full-time employment. It's so hard for me to do nothing, and I missed the structure of constantly having opportunities to put down my thoughts and share them. My newsletter is basically a brain dump of everything swirling in my head. Also, I don't have a lot of publications, so I wanted some kind of archive to "prove" I write. I wanted a place to point people for examples of my work. The last point is that I want more of a community of writers.
My why is evolving and *in* evolution I struggle to know where I’m going or why I’m here anymore except to write, I started on substack as a place to share writing as a grieving process. It still operates as a processing place but it also is a discipline in showing up to write and see myself as a writer so my why is very selfish that way.
I want to write one day in the same capacity and self reflection as Liz Gilbert or Glennon Doyle I do not know why but that feels like truth to my inner being.
Idk if that’s enough for others. But it’s been enough for me to keep writing diligently for two years. I’ve seen more progress in “stats” in the last few months.
It’s tough to find my “why,” but I think truly I just want to start sharing with the world. For so long I wrote for me and me alone, but now I’m to the point where my writing feels like an open hand to others. And I want to find readers (and other writers) who will grab hold of that open hand, and we can build a connection. The toughest thing is the self-doubt that whispers to me that my words aren’t good enough, that I should close my hands into a fist and shove them into my pockets… but I suppose these posts may help me push through that!
Why? A great question and thanks for helping me to reflect on the reasons! The first thing that comes to mind is the value of making and keeping connections. Newsletter writing has been most of my public writing for the last eight years so I know that it works and makes a difference. Maybe that is another reason: newsletters feel familiar and doable where finishing my novel feels daunting and experimental. I also want a space to write shorter pieces, and a space to promote my work when I have work to promote! Thanks for offering this class- I look forward to all you have to share!
I started my newsletter a year and a half ago to support an upcoming book launch, build my platform. Social media was in turmoil (when isn't it in turmoil???) and I wanted a more direct way to reach potential readers. The book contract fell through, but I kept at the newsletter. Later a publisher picked up my short story collection and I signed another book contract, so publicizing these is definitely a major motivation. But I discovered something else: I enjoy doing the newsletter. I write crime fiction and the blog makes me stretch different muscles. It's conversational and the interaction with the readers is great fun. It goes out every other Thursday rain or shine and the discipline does me a ton of good. I've now started doing writers interviews and people seem to enjoy them. I'll do 1 interview each quarter to vary pleasures. Here it is: The Roll Top Desk - https://meproctor.substack.com
They Whys for my newsletter includes:
1. promoting my novel and also future work and
2. Discovering more about who my ideal reader really is. I have about 100 followers to my substack but I haven't posted much of anything there. I'd like to engage those who have signed up by finding out more about their lifestyles, tastes, reading habits, and ways I can connect with them beyond promoting my very limited(at the moment) list.
Hi, Courtney! I started my newsletter a year ago, and I knew I had no idea how to answer the question “Why?”, as I didn’t even know what I was doing, what a “newsletter” was. But I spent a year writing essays and learning from the best essayists, memoirists and short story writers here. These days, I know the why: I want to establish myself as an essayist with a unique voice, who can tell unforgettable stories that affect hearts and minds. I also want to build an audience for my writing. I think of Practice Space not as an email newsletter, nor as a blog, but as an ongoing, living and breathing essay collection. One I want to keep building, and make the HQ of all my other writing projects.
I stumbled across this post and now I’m glad I did because I’ve been thinking about this for a few months now. For me, I’d like a place to put my thoughts on forgiveness and redemption. I am about to finish a PhD that focuses on “outsiders” in literature. I’m really interested in the outside/inside divide, how that plays out through incarceration, addiction, homelessness and mental illness. I’m interested in it because I’ve lived it. I’m a writer living with mental illness, living in recovery. I want folks to feel hope, to wake up and fight, as Woody Guthrie used to say.
I want to have a place to put my thoughts. I want a place that archives my thinking as I work on my novel. I would like to become a voice (hopefully among many) for folks living in recoveryI want a place that others like me can find and feel seen.
Hi Courtney, really pleased you're running this course & I'm just trying to catch up. I've read ahead & really appreciate the clarity of your information & the brain-kickstarter questions.
My ideas for a Substack newsletter are still quite muddled. What keeps coming up for me is: why would anyone want to subscribe to me? Everything I can think of doing is most likely being done better by dozens / hundreds of newsletters & writers more qualified and experienced than me.
I write poetry & fiction & in the last year have begun the journal-submitting thing. I now have around 15 pieces publshed or forthcoming. I have 5 years' experience as a freelance developmental fiction editor. I'm passionate about too many things & struggle to see how they might fit together: creative process, prose poetry, feminist reimaginings of myth & fairytale, writing craft, the lit journal submitting journey & what you learn along the way ... Am I an expert at any of that?Ummm ... no, not yet. Except perhaps editing for fiction - but I'm at a place where I can help beginners / intermediate writers with much of the above. I love encouraging & inspiring other writers to stretch themselves and learn new things. I do enjoy a "teaching" element to connecting with other writers (say through prompts or teaching a type of form poetry).
I write on Medium & feel quite confident there. When I'm writhing in self-doubt about lack of clarity on newsletter ideas, I try & remind myself I have nearly 50 subscribers & almost 2K followers. That's not nothing. I just started a publication (accepting other writers) on Medium dedicated to another passion: ekphrastic poetry & fiction. (the practice of creative writing inspired from visual arts) It's called ArtMusing. Tagline: The Ekphrasis Place. The vibe is all very Art Nouveau / Art Deco. No one else on Medium has a pub dedicated to ekphrasis, so I nailed a niche. The concept coalesced quite quickly.
All the above still doesn't help me get clear on what my Substack focus should be, though! (Except to eliminate ekphrasis) I'm hoping that will change as I progress through your course . And now I'll take a deep breath & work through your excellent "why questions". :)
I have a very simple newsletter with 27 subscribers... it's mainly meant as a way of telling people who aren't big into social media when I have a new story published. (I write flash fiction, and it appears all over the place.)
I work as a translator and have a background in archaeology, and while I could leverage those for content, it would have nothing at all to do with my writing. And I don't consider myself expert enough as a writer to be able to write a newsletter about writing.
I had an active newsletter for my yoga business for several years, but when the pandemic started, everything changed. I lost my energy for it, I lost my "why," and I couldn't shake the feeling that no matter how authentically I tried to share or how much good feedback I received from readers, at the end of the day it felt like marketing strategy and I just didn't want to do it anymore. At the same time, I felt exhausted by social media, so I found myself without an outlet or a point of consistent, meaningful connection.
Since then, I've been trying to figure out how to come back from that and where and how and what I want to be communicating. Last fall, I even got so far as to announce a personal Substack, but felt so much pressure from myself to make it something deeply relevant and meaningful that I never ended up getting it off the ground.
So I appreciate this chance to reflect on my "why." I've realized that I need a communication outlet where I can share things I care about with others. But I want to make something that I enjoy making, something that feels good to me, creative and not attached to an outcome or to an idea of value. That's what I think I need to do in order to start enjoying the process again.
Additionally, I do have an idea to start a Substack sharing my expertise on a topic I've taught for years— that one, I'd like to have as a more structured newsletter for paid subscribers, that would allow me to get back into disciplined writing, share opportunities to study with me, and create the body of a book. That's the goal, but I worry that if I dive right into that without first allowing myself the space to explore something that's just a fun, creative outlet for me, I might burn out again.
I signed up for this course to see what sparks my excitement and energy around creating a newsletter right now, and I'm very much looking forward to it!
i work as a freelance teacher/tutor and it's been lonely! i want to build a community with teachers/students
i also want a space to just share thoughts about the education system here in singapore
i also want to do more creative writing so there's that too lol
Thanks so much for this, Courtney. I don't have a newsletter yet but I'm mulling over two different whys:
1. I am starting a company with a publishing platform. This will focus on tech, IT and business stuff. I'd want a newsletter to drive traffic to the site, and then would later monetise the newsletter. One of my main long term goals in starting the company is to give myself financial freedom, so that I can write fiction and journalism for the rest of my life without needing to worry about making (not very good) money from it.
2. I also like the idea of a newsletter to build an audience for my fiction. But I'm curious to know to what extent fiction writers actually put their fiction in their newsletters. It sounds like they generally find a niche in which to write non-fiction, then publish fiction elsewhere and promote it in the newsletter? I worked as a journalist, mostly covering human rights and development, for 10 years. So I have things I could say to a newsletter audience. But it doesn't feel like these are relevant to my fiction. I can't imagine an audience that started following me for my opinions on the failings of the humanitarian sector would be that interested if I started plugging a science fantasy adventure novelette. Would love to hear your thoughts.
As a new writer, my 'Why' for making a newsletter is to train myself to write on a tight schedule (Weekly or bi-weekly) and to improve my writing. It's a rather simple goal, yet I think the things I will learn during this course might become more important when I start a novel or find a different writing career.
I started my newsletter because I have so many thoughts about books - and because of my varied background, I wanted to share my thoughts/chaotic reads/connections between my books and my studies and my life. I am working to build a career as a writer and teacher so I hoped that the Substack would help me achieve those ends.
When I think about the why, it's partially self-serving and also partially for others: I want to have an outlet to share my ideas, but I also want to discuss books with folks and entertain them. I want them to learn something, especially because I read widely and make connections between different and seemingly unrelated texts. In some ways, making the wide world of literature more accessible for whoever reads my newsletter.
When I started my newsletter a few months ago, I had a few why's. I was six months out from graduating from college and without full-time employment. It's so hard for me to do nothing, and I missed the structure of constantly having opportunities to put down my thoughts and share them. My newsletter is basically a brain dump of everything swirling in my head. Also, I don't have a lot of publications, so I wanted some kind of archive to "prove" I write. I wanted a place to point people for examples of my work. The last point is that I want more of a community of writers.
My why is evolving and *in* evolution I struggle to know where I’m going or why I’m here anymore except to write, I started on substack as a place to share writing as a grieving process. It still operates as a processing place but it also is a discipline in showing up to write and see myself as a writer so my why is very selfish that way.
I want to write one day in the same capacity and self reflection as Liz Gilbert or Glennon Doyle I do not know why but that feels like truth to my inner being.
Idk if that’s enough for others. But it’s been enough for me to keep writing diligently for two years. I’ve seen more progress in “stats” in the last few months.
Thank you! Looking forward to the course.