Having a newsletter of one’s own means you can write about anything (if you feel free to do so). Your site; your interests; your perspectives.
In my view, that’s a blessing and a curse. Self-expression can be fulfilling. But if a site is largely about oneself – “I like this,” “I believe that,” “my opinions are better,” “I have so many followers” – then the author might seem self-centered or selfish.1
I want this newsletter to be about you, the readers, more than it is about me. I’m just one reader and writer like anyone else – no better or worse (I hope!).
The problem is the first word of the prior paragraph: I. I’m the one writing these posts. All newsletters are created by an “I” (or a “we”).2 But too much I might mean not enough you.
How do you deal with the “I” problem when you write and publish?
Do you essentially not worry about this? In other words, if people are interested in what you say, they’ll read it; if not, no big deal?
Or do you craft your writing, your topics, or something else with particular attention to perspectives of readers and potential readers?
I imagine this problem is faced by many who seek to express themselves to others. For example, Taylor Swift. You may recall her song “ME!” It’s one of my least favorite T-Swift songs. But what do I know? “ME!” was a #1 Billboard hit. And my perspective is changing: I like it more now…
This is better than the alternative of every newsletter being written by the Borg Collective from Star Trek. Those would be very boring, or frightening, newsletters.
This is an excellent, excellent question. I try to balance writing about myself (because it does help readers get to know you) with telling stories about others. Also, it’s easy to run out of stories about yourself 😀
It's to constantly remind myself that whatever my experiences are - I'm not the first person to have them. Countless others have walked that same path, and I need to seek them out to clarify our broader similarities and differences and gain the company of some of the greatest minds who ever lived.
This is particularly important because my project - https://soterion.substack.com/ - is intensely personal. It's about my journey from heroin addiction, the insane asylum and prison (not at the same time, thankfully) to turning my life around.
But I draw on the thoughts and experiences of others with direct or indirect experiences that are similar to expand and enrich the conversation to not be just about me. I'd like it to be about the human species conversation with itself about what it is, and what it could be.
This is an excellent, excellent question. I try to balance writing about myself (because it does help readers get to know you) with telling stories about others. Also, it’s easy to run out of stories about yourself 😀
It's to constantly remind myself that whatever my experiences are - I'm not the first person to have them. Countless others have walked that same path, and I need to seek them out to clarify our broader similarities and differences and gain the company of some of the greatest minds who ever lived.
This is particularly important because my project - https://soterion.substack.com/ - is intensely personal. It's about my journey from heroin addiction, the insane asylum and prison (not at the same time, thankfully) to turning my life around.
But I draw on the thoughts and experiences of others with direct or indirect experiences that are similar to expand and enrich the conversation to not be just about me. I'd like it to be about the human species conversation with itself about what it is, and what it could be.