I'm doing this

I'm writing a newsletter

Hello. My name is Rebecca Harrington. Welcome to my newsletter!

I didn’t really know how to start this newsletter because what is a newsletter? But luckily, substack gives you this helpful prompt about what your first post should be about, like Chat GPT except you have to do work, so I am going to use that as my guide.

1. Why this, why now

Tell your readers why you are launching this space. Think of it as a mini personal manifesto.

I just feel like there are not enough places where fitfully employed millenials can indulge their favorite past-times, like fawning interviews with micro-celebrities, gross recipes where you re-do a classic dip by adding capers to it and pretending that you, yourself, invented post-structuralism by yourself today.

In all seriousness, all I know is that I am not going to do any of that, mostly because I don’t know any micro-celebrities and I wish I did. Plus, I missed you guys— readers of my articles and potential readers of my newsletter. How are you? I’m good. And to disproportionate number of Moldovans who purchased my novels—thank you, hello, I miss you.

2. What kind of community are you looking to build here

You are not just starting a newsletter when you start a Substack, you are starting a community. What kind of space will this be?

I just want to do random experiments, like try Ozempic! (Jk, I wish. Where is it?). Sometimes, I may recommend a movie. Occasionally, I will discuss a trend that I hate or love. I have some views on fashion, which is pretty laughable considering the waist-coat I wore the other day. But ultimately, I am beholden to viewers like you. What do you want to see? I’ll do it. I don’t give a shit.

3. Be specific

Readers love clarity. Be clear when you explain what they should expect: how often will you be posting?

Once a week, probably on thursday, which is a day I picked totally out of a hat. And nothing paid. That seems arrogant to me.

4. Use an image

A picture will look nicer when you share the post on your social media.

ok, I’ll do it.

Photo by Jess Bailey on Unsplash

5. Ignore our advice

There is no one true way to go about building a Substack. This is your playground, experiment with it. If you’re having fun, your readers will too.

I’m actually already having fun! This is already fun.

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