(Location: Los Angeles - Hotel Room - 1016)
Newsletter authors, creators, and curators are truly digital gods among the creator-sphere. Coming from an era of blogging and independent journalism, newsletters have stood their ground. With some being bought out for millions and platforms like Substack doubling down on their business model, “newslettering” isn’t going anywhere.
The dream for anyone getting into it at first, is to have 1,000 monthly subscribers paying $5 - $8 each. Add in ads, affiliates, brand placements, and private deals, and a creator can start closing in on substantial income. Would I quit my job for a $7,000 monthly salary? Yes. Especially to do something I’ve grown passionate about: selection—the act of selecting, curating, and sharing my own experiences.
Getting to this point was frustrating. I started as an artist, which led to an internal battle between my entrepreneurial and inventive sides. Like many others, my past self had only one goal: to put my name on the map as someone behind a specific project. I felt that curating, analyzing, and talking about other people’s projects was beneath me. I was a “creator,” not a talker (or writer). I couldn’t have been more wrong. Realizing way to late that any professional path and experience in the early years will lack the aura that it needs. Real-life experience takes years to process.
Side take on younger creators: there’s so much talent out there, just not ripe enough yet. Many young creators get pushed into going faster than they should, plucked before they are ready. I was young when I ventured into real situations and publications (BIG MISTAKE). The internet was starting to get really, really ($) interesting, and a new generation of consuming was being born (2004-2010). I was hooked as an artist looking to have a voice. Don’t get hooked. There will always be a new wave, every year.
Many years, social platforms (tumblr), and accounts passed through my grasp as potential tools to build the true audience everyone was looking for.
Finally, Instagram arrived.
My original Instagram posts are still there, a public diary of my growth (upsi). Sadly, as Instagram became one of the biggest social media players, the experience dampened, though it’s still a great app. Instagram wasn’t the first social digital directory we all hopped on, still it dominated. You can follow your favorite humans, shop and date (basics now). If it could deliver food, it would. Instagram is also great for DMing, period.
Me creator era at 15 was, what can I say: a memory now. I was 15, we all get a one pass.
Fifth teen years later, I have learned so much and humbled myself. The confidence I have now is only obtained through years of work, self respect, and non stop digital exploration (consumption). Hopefully, if you’re young, you’ll read this and embrace patience. If you’re not, well, what’s up buddy? You might also be like me: a crafter and master of digital creation, tools, internet, memes and culture. We’ve had time to train, what can we say.
I’m thirty now and couldn’t be happier about where I am. Of course, I am human and have needs, goals, and hard challenges every day. It’s a liberating win if you get an audience to follow your story, so I am excited to simply do what I have been doing my whole life. I have been publishing on sites for over 15 years, and now I can happily invite anyone who vibes with me, to follow office mess, while feeling great about paid content.
A lot of past successful users where at the right time, in the right place, when Instagram arrived. I feel that I get to experience a even bigger digital wave with Substack. Which is even better.
Substack has a great combination of factors from all the great apps. Sometimes I feel I won’t use X that much since Substack’s feed is way more inviting for light reading or hard reading. Side note on my youtube stance: YouTube will never go away for me; it’s amazing to follow so many creators, a classic.
I do see myself subscribing to Substacks and paying for it. I’m excited. My wallet isn’t.
This creates a double-edged sword for me in the best of ways, as I intend to have my own proposal feel robust for future subs (high standards all around). Substacking is not easy, but it’s also so flexible. If you’re just a consumer, it’s amazing. Myself, I can never feel like that. I was creating Office Mess faster than I could control. I already had the name ready as I was thinking of launching the build through X, but it was love at second sight with Substack for me. I was here two years ago; it wasn’t my time.
GTR take (Good, tasteful & real)
Today I feel GOOD:
On the scale of how good I have been feeling about creating content personally, 10/10. What publishing should make you feel.
I needed a new place to publish, for a passion I want to turn into my job. I feel good about Substack, what can I say.
TASTEFUL web design:
The site’s design is minimal, and the orange I can vibe with. It has a good back end, serving you with a robust settings menu for your publishing. I secured my usual tag and feel I have much to explore. Overall, it looks and feels great so far.
REAL:
Substack is a place for the real. It doesn’t push you to expose yourself visually, but it doesn’t block you. You can truly decide how you want to connect. For creators, writers, journalists, podcasters, designers, brands, and others, it will be a great place to create community while pushing reading. Always into that.
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Talk soon
LUi