If ChatGPT could write it, start over

You can do better than a dumb computer

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A decent ChatGPT prompt could write you some copy for a new product, an upcoming tour, or a fancy new thing. Sure.

“Hey, new podcast episode!”

It just lays out the facts. The dates. The logistics.

But friends, there’s enough safe, dull, dry text out there, and we don’t need more.

Your work comes to life from your magic.

Don’t stop using your magic when talking about your work.

As Courtney Romano wrote recently:

“If you’re not creating an experience (aka something that has ups and downs and richness and depth and confusion and friction and tension and delight), then no one will pay attention. There are just too many other things to do.”

I hate to say you’re competing with other artists, authors, musicians, photographers… but… the people you’re trying to reach are busy watching Netflix, going to shows, walking around bookstores, going to exciting restaurants, swimming, kissing!

You don’t need to buy billboards or hire an agency to get the word out. You don’t need to make “video assets” or use trending audio.

But you must do better than “new thing!”

Paul Rudd doesn’t go on late-night TV shows, say, “Hello, my new movie comes out this Friday,” and walk off set.

He tells stories that aren’t even related to the movie. This comes easy for him because he’s been making movies since the early 90s, but still - HE IS USING HIS MAGIC.

In fact, he started a running gag with Conan O’Brien by not showing a clip from the movies he’s promoting. Instead, he’d show a clip of 1998’s ‘Mac and Me’ over and over again, for many years.

Only Paul Rudd could do that Mac and Me thing because he’s Paul Rudd. No computer - no other human - could provide the magic he brings.

You don’t need to perform outlandish stunts and hacks to promote your finished work, but you can do better than a dumb computer.

As an artist, you’ve got the same spark, the same magic inside you, just waiting to be set free. It probably won’t look like what other people are doing, but it can still resonate with the people you’re trying to reach because it’s 1000% you.

:: Further reading ::

When I tell people you can build a following without social media, I usually send them this piece I wrote back in April:

➡️ “We can honor our past without being tethered to it,” writes

Katharina

. “So, while I might hesitate before hitting the unfollow button, I remind myself that letting go of these digital connections doesn't erase my experiences. It simply means I’m making space for new ones.”

➡️ Caroline Chambers is doing a Q&A in her comments about growing a newsletter and getting paid for her work. This comment has a pretty good “Instagram hack” to get people to sign up for your newsletter.

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I’m Seth Werkheiser, and I love talking to creative people about newsletters (I also do email marketing operations for Grammy Award-winning MNRK Heavy). Check out my About page to see how I can help.