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Dr Karen Shue's avatar

"A recurring column on a subject you love." This is me, writing about how I want people to understand brains - their own, others', "group-brains.... Much of the content reflects what I'm also writing about in my book-in-progress.

I also have another newsletter on using Tarot or other "divination" tools as means for exploring what one's brain has to offer on an issue.

They are both new and I write irregularly, being torn between book-writing and "platform-building" (aka finding my People).

I get some lovely comments when I do post, but I recognize I need to write more regularly. I think I also need more of a "trajectory" for my readers, but thinking I need to write content in a specific order also tends to stall my posting. Always has. But step 1: Build momentum, I guess. 🤓

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Jeffrey Streeter's avatar

"If your newsletter is just personal essays, it’s worth asking: Is my writing guiding readers toward something, or is it just self-expression? Personal essays are powerful, but if they don’t invite your audience into a larger conversation, they can feel like individual puzzle pieces without a bigger picture." This is powerful and already has me thinking about whether I am just throwing out individual pieces of a puzzle that is missing the original picture and the box and most of the other pieces too.. A great, challenging post, Amanda.

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Donna McArthur's avatar

I think I offer my readers hope for meaningful change (which includes personal exploration) along with the tools to make this happen. However, your suggestion that the best newsletters give their readers a reason to return hit the mark for me. I think the reason readers return to my work is because they like me and the way I write and, while this is good, it isn't going to cut it in the world of thousands of excellent newsletters. I need to dig deeper to gain more clarity. Thank you Amanda.

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Lauren Powell's avatar

I have a set of 3 recurring 'themes' I base my essays around which match the tagline of my publication, The Navigation, but appreciated the food for thought here as improving the quality of writing in my essays is something I want to focus on this year - but tieing to what readers need adds that extra layer.

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Maria Hanley's avatar

I write biweekly essays. I feel like I get okay engagement, more on some than others. I feel like I stick to the topics I use to describe my newsletter, but I'm trying to gain a deeper understanding of what resonates with my readers and why.

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Sudha Nandagopal's avatar

I’ve been flipping between essays of personal memoir with “lessons” in them or more teach through my story essay where the take away for the reader is technically clearer. But i think this nudge to get even clearer is a great one.

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Lauren Powell's avatar

I am in a very similar position! :)

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Jen Zug's avatar

Thank you for this. I’ve been feeling the pressure to post something meaty every week, which is not sustainable. I know you’ve been saying this over and over again, but I think it finally landed with me this time. 🥴

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Kim Van Bruggen's avatar

I mostly write personal essays, although I used to have a schedule much like what you describe. I fell off of it when I started to second guess myself and why I was writing. I recently did a pivot back to what resonated more with me, changed my newsletter name and will look at getting back to a more purposeful editorial 'schedule.' My experiences lately seem to be mirroring your editorial topics! How timely and perfect. Thanks Amanda.

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Gabriel Grove's avatar

Thank you for this! My newsletters are both a series of personal reflections on love and loss and connecting with others who are grieving so their stories can be reflected as well. 💐

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Claire Amritavani Brown's avatar

If I'm honest I haven't got a clue what I'm doing but when I try i get super engagement. Would love to understand more.

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