Part 3: Inviting you to The Elements of Substack Style

I “Marie Kondo’d” my writing calendar and this is what surfaced

I’m currently navigating a change in my Writing Season with readers of The Editing Spectrum. Read in Part 1 about how I discovered that I was entering a new season with my writing. And in Part 2 I explore the implications around “community” when all focus is pulled toward craft—not running a newsletter. 

One of the most important things I have done during this transitional time with my writing is take inventory. I used my writing calendar to put shape to all that I was trying to share with The Editing Spectrum readers, and essentially I Marie Kondo’d my publishing queue. 

I picked up each individual essay and discussion thread concept, and I asked myself if that thing brings me joy and if it will serve me (and our readers here!) in this next season of writing.

Fortunately, I found that most of the things in my newsletter are still nourishing and helpful to me. There was one in particular that I knew wasn’t going to come with me into this new season—but since it still offered some nourishing qualities, I decided to reimagine into a slightly different offering. 

This post is all about what’s coming soon for you

For starters, I’ll be publishing monthly, informal “writing class” essays using The Elements of Style as our guide. Over the years, I’ve come to see this book as a sort of stalwart editorial code of conduct—it has traveled with me between different fields of work without causing many (if any!) editorial skirmishes. 

I’ve wanted to revisit it intentionally for years, and now I’m using this Season of Craft to walk through it with all my readers regardless of their writing experience. Repeat: You do not have to be familiar with The Elements of Style to get something out of these writing classes.

You can buy your copy here if you’re fancy and like to read ahead.

Each month I’ll choose a piece of writing advice from The Elements of Style and share it with some context and sample sentences to practice with. My goal here is to introduce as many writers as possible to the beautiful, empowering sanity that Mr. Strunk and Mr. White make available in this writing advice. Of course we’ll be doing more than just reading the advice and signing off: I’ll be filtering it through our writing on Substack and how I approach writing for online audiences as an autistic editor. 

The first writing class will be open to everyone

Keep your eyes peeled for the first writing class in May!* These classes might be ideal for you if you are looking for:

• A flexible, low-pressure way to improve your writing.

• A refresher on the elements of writing that matter — whether or not you’re writing here on Substack.

• Some ideas for how writing best practices might need to be tweaked for publishing in a newsletter setting.

*After that first writing class, they will be tucked behind the paywall going forward.

Moving craft-focused moments on Notes

While a hard-and-fast publishing schedule won’t be a productive commitment for me in this Season of Craft, I also know that I’m a rascally rabbit, connecting things in my mind all the time about writing, Substack and how life intertwines with both. This means we’ll have plenty of opportunities to keep one another company and you can expect to see more points of connection in behind-the-scenes videos or spontaneous Notes.

A recurring quarterly feature: Ask a Guest Editor

Last month we welcomed Mike Sowden as our first-ever Guest Editor, and this is something I’m excited to continue. Instead of twice-monthly, open-ended discussion threads for paid readers, once a quarter we’ll welcome an editor (or writer!) to share their insights in a cozy discussion-type setting. I have a few ideas for future guest editors I’d like to welcome in the future, but if you know of anyone who would be a great fit, feel free to tell me about them in the comments.

Cave of the Heart is now open to you to answer

Each week I’ll still be publishing interviews with writers and creatives in our Cave of the Heart series. So if you’re in a Season of Craft or maybe Rest or Musing, I can’t recommend dipping into the archives or signing up to get these interviews every Monday in your inbox. As I was reflecting on the gift that this series has been to me, I couldn’t help but also sense that publishing weekly means I’ll only get to hear from (at most) 52 people a year in the Cave of the Heart.

So my editor and I put our heads together and decided to invite all of you to explore these questions in your own way — whether in your journal or in a standalone post in your newsletters. This post will take you to a page with directions and the questions that writers like Michael Estrin, Jessica DeFino, Caroline Chambers, Beth Kempton and more have answered.

More from Amanda (Also) Writes

Much of my Season of Craft is being shaped by a sense that I need to tell stories in a few specific ways: the stories of beloved objects; singular, can’t-make-this-up moments that changed my heart and mind; and stories around what I’m calling the “inner alchemization” of life as an autistic person with dissociative identity disorder. Moving into a Season of Craft is a way to support and allow myself to tell these stories with the time, space and energy they require. I’m hopeful you’ll soon see more under the Amanda (Also) Writes subsection of this newsletter.

More Offline Work as an Editor

One of the final shifts I’m making as I move into my Season of Craft involves my offline work as an editor and strategist. This is the best way to connect in a nourishing one-on-one setting if you have questions about your writing or perhaps have been looking for an essay coach. As I shared in my interview with Dana Miranda, I have a robust and maybe even curious way of structuring my work, but one thing I didn’t mention is that I don’t work on more than 5 essays in a week. This helps me stay clear about the writing in front of me and supports the “shift” I need to move into my own writing.

Tell us where you’re at with your writing today!