Recently, I've received a few questions on the topic of starting a newsletter. Today, I thought it would be helpful to do a Q & A on this topic. If you aren't interested in starting a newsletter, that's okay! You'll find my list of good reads and listens at the end of this letter.
With that, let’s dive in!
Here’s the question:
“Tammy, I always wanted to start my own newsletter or blog, but I just never got around to put it down on paper. I want to write about health and personal finance because those things make me happy and I know there’s a lot of people that can benefit from what I’ve learned over the years about those subjects. Do you have any suggestions for me?”
— Jorge
Here’s my response:
Jorge,
I love that you want to start sharing your story with readers! As an avid reader, I enjoy reading newsletters and books because they don’t involve scrolling. Plus, this type of reading is usually distraction free and inspiring.
Below you'll find suggestions on how to start a newsletter. The suggestions are based on my experience. Feel free to follow my advice, discard it, or pick and choose the tips that work best for you.
With that, here are my suggestions …
— Getting started can be the hardest part of any writing project, so commit to doing it. Deadlines help me, so I e-mail my newsletter to subscribers every Friday. You can write more or less. It depends on how much time you want to commit to your newsletter. For example, some of my writer friends send a newsletter to readers a few times a week, twice a month, or once a month. Commit to your deadline, and if you need help sticking to it, find an accountability buddy.
— Make time to write your newsletter. For instance, I work on my newsletter every morning. Typically, I brainstorm newsletter topics on Monday, then I'll write a first draft. By Wednesday, I'm ready to revise and edit. I do the final edits and formatting on Thursday, that way the newsletter is ready to go out on Friday morning.
— Choose a company that allows you to publish a newsletter with ease, and make it simple for readers to subscribe. It’s important that the company you choose allows readers to opt in and opt out of your newsletter.
— Metrics like subscriber counts and open rates can be helpful, but don’t let them become the driving force behind any writing project. Each reader is more than a number. They are real life humans, just like writers. Plus, worrying about metrics can kill the joy of writing. Write your newsletter because you enjoy it! Readers will feel that authentic joy, and they will keep coming back for more stories and advice.
The Writing …
— Carry a journal, or use an app on your smart phone, to record your writing ideas.
— Experiment with the style of your newsletter. Try short or long form newsletters, or a list format (see Austin Kleon’s newsletter archive as an example).
— Write a shitty first draft, then worry about editing the content. The number of times you edit a draft will depend on your writing style and how picky you are. For example, I typically revise my newsletter 5 to 10 times.
— Before you hit sent, read your final draft aloud. I learned this trick when I was writing my first book. My literary agent recommended this tactic because it’s an easy way to catch errors and awkward phrasing.
— Take advantage of programs like the Hemingway Editor or Grammarly. You won’t catch every typo or grammar error, and that’s okay. You can also ask a friend or a loved one to proofread your newsletter. I’m lucky because my husband always reads my newsletter before I send it out. Inevitably, he finds typos that I missed.
And that's it! I hope my advice was helpful! Keep me posted on your progress.
***
Good Links
With that, here’s a list of what I enjoyed consuming this week:
+ So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo was an excellent read. The book offered actionable tips, reminded me to check my privilege (often), and that change can occur. But first, we have to have hard conversations.
+ Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens was a lyrical, surprising, and exciting novel. I read the book in less than a day!
+ I'm halfway through Figures in a Landscape: People & Places by Paul Theroux. It's a unique collection of essays, and I'm looking forward to finishing the book this weekend.
+ If you’d like to start journaling, read my e-book—Write to Flourish: A Beginner’s Guide to Journaling. You can buy a copy here.
+ Looking for more good reads? Check out my Bookshop page.
With gratitude,
Tammy