Happy Six Month Anniversary to Us
Forty five thousand words, two new podcasts, the beginnings of a memoir, a decolonial little library, and a few laughs. It feels like I'm right where I should be.
Forty-five thousand words published—thirty thousand words in drafts—happy anniversary/birthday to us.
I won’t lie to you, good folks; I wasn’t sure this Substack would last as long as it has. But my goodness, am I ever grateful for this space and all of you readers.
In the past six months, I’ve shared some memoir-ish reflections, there’s been some funny shit written here, a few short stories, the beginnings of a massive new project I’m dreaming into a graphic novel and film adaptation, I’ve launched two new podcasts, and we’ve built our decolonial little library at our house. A good start, I think!
While I’m wildly short of my overall goals, I think we are headed in the right direction. What a relief.
How I Plan, Write, Record, Live
I wake up every day-ish at 5 AM-ish, make coffee, let the dog out for a pee, and sit and write until Madeline and Sam wake up around 7:30 AM. This is my creative Substack time and space.
As of this week, I’m transitioning back into full-time stay-at-home dad mode; Madeline has started an exciting new chapter in her career, so I’m holding down the fort at home. My time, energy, and focus are shifting as my daily duties with Sam take prominence over my days. It’s an exciting time of change of here at Shaw McMahon First Nation.
Substack continues to be my creative outlet outside of the book I’m co-authoring (and others I’m developing), unscripted and scripted projects I’m creating, and podcasts I’m currently making!
I’m mainly writing this on Substack without a plan. You’re getting my words, ideas, life updates and ponderings as they come, when they come. I suppose I'd have an editorial schedule if I were bright and more on top of things. I’m neither bright nor really in a place where I feel on top of things, so you’re getting whatever I can bang out on any given day.
Thanks for being patient with me here.
It won’t always be this way, but it is for now, so thanks.
A Peak At The Numbers
I started this Substack with 1187 emails I imported from my days on Tiny Letter and MailChimp. At the peak of this newsletter, I had 1311 members. Today I have 1231 members, 28 of them paid members. My open rate has dipped below 40% this week for the first time. I’m averaging roughly 5000 post views per month.
I won’t parse these numbers out too much, and I don’t spend too much time considering them. Of course, I’d like more eyeballs and more shares on the posts and more subscribers engaging with the work; it’ll come in time if it does at all. I’m not here for clicks or virality’s sake. I’m here to write and grow and make things I’m proud of, and that’s hard to do when you’re focused on tracking unsubscribes and post-engagement.
I’m enjoying writing here.
This space is important to me.
You’re here. You’re reading.
That’s what matters.
Publishing Work I’m Proud Of
Looking back at the work here, I’m proud of my published work here on Substack. When I started, I didn’t know what I’d write and share. As I opened up my mind to “being more writer-lee” and just fucking writing and taking a few risks and sharing writing that is in various stages of done-ness, I became more comfortable with the words I published here.
Looking back on the work, here are the five most-read pieces I’ve published in the first six months here on Substack.
New Goals, New Content Offerings, And The Transition To Paid
When I started writing here, I mentioned that this Substack would remain free as I played with structure, content, mediums, and form.
I understand what’s working here and what’s not, so now is the time to tuck some of this work behind the paywall.
Parts of this Substack will remain free, always.
The new offerings on the Substack will go behind the paywall, including a short daily podcast offering, video content, and in the future, a video podcast.
TODAY
I have 28 paid subscribers, and I’m grateful to each of you.
THANK YOU LIVESTREAM
In the coming days, you will receive a link to a LIVE Zoom hangout I’m hosting on Thursday, July 27, 2023, at 9 PM EDT.
SEPTEMBER 1st GOAL
I need to get to 100 paid members on my Substack by September 1st to keep this project moving in the right direction.
My creative time is harder to come by these days due to the life changes in our household; setting and reaching this goal will mean I can afford childcare, work more freely, and hire an editor. It’ll make a big difference.
There are 1231 of you on this Substack, and about 850 read this work consistently. I’d be thrilled if those of you that find the value in this work would consider joining my membership program.
To reach my September 1st goal, I’m offering 20% yearly subscriptions until September 1st, 2023.
I’m committed to finishing the year here on Substack and have a strong vision for the next six months. I need more paid members in order to carve out the time to get to where I’d like to go with the project.
When I Reach The Subscription Goal
Getting to one hundred paid members on Substack will be an important step forward on the platform. Right now, I can give this space a couple of hours per week; more paid members means I get more time here.
This is what the plan is should I reach the goal:
I’ll produce a daily morning podcast for paid members. It’s called JOKE TALK YELL WRITE PODCAST TODAY. It’ll be news-ee, timely, and relevant; I’ll drop my morning takes on the world around us and include a behind-the-scenes look at some of the work we’re planning at JOKE TALK YELL WRITE.
I’ll record every morning at 5 AM, and it’ll be in your podcast feeds by 7 AM. It’s ambitious, but so am I. Promising this to my paid members is my way of doubling down on Substack and expressing my commitment to the platform and my members.
I’m getting an editor. This Substack is mainly written when I’m half asleep; I need another set of eyes here to ensure my writing is decent enough for you all to read and strong enough for me to convert and create adaptations of the work into other mediums.
Interviews with leading Indigenous thinkers, artists, and community leaders about the state of our communities, hopes, and dreams.
Establishing my Youtube channel and including videos in the content offerings here on Substack. Video will be paywalled, and private Youtube links will be shared with paid members!
I’m going to consider video podcasting. Nothing is set in stone yet, but I’m in the early days of looking at gear and rigs that’d get our home office (our cozy little den) shaped up for this purpose.
Once I reach 500 paid members per month, I’ll be comfortable enough to work on the Substack full-time without needing to find work elsewhere. This is my goal.
In The Coming Weeks
I’m hosting a LIVE ZOOM HANGOUT next week (Thursday, July 27, 2023, at 9 PM EDT) to thank paid members here. The Zoom link will be sent out to paid members here on Substack. Watch for that link soon!
I have a few surprises planned for the show, and I won’t give them away, but it will be a lot of fun. If you become a paid member before Thursday, you’ll be able to join us for some laughs.
I’m going to start playing with the daily podcast idea soon. I’m sorting out work flow planning, content structure, and strategy, but paid members will be privy to the experiment, the tweaks, and the growth of the daily podcast in real-time. I’m excited for this.
I’m on the hunt for an editor. If you know anyone or if you are an editor looking to take on a new project, don’t hesitate to reach out.
And finally, I’m starting to plan for a LIVE RECORDING for the pilot of a new series I’m building called BEST F’KN STORY, EVER. It’s a live storytelling show, and there is interest from a number of theatres and festivals to program it. I need to get it up in front of people to see how this show works before we dream up a tour, but watch this space for more details!
Thanks for being here. Your readership and support make this project worth doing. I hope you’re as excited about the next six months as I am.
Happy Six Month anniversary birthday thing to us.