Write how you want to write, make a video talking about your work, and more
And I talked to Claire Venus about finding your core people
Hello and Happy Friday, thanks for reading. Uncle Seth here to guide you through four things that may help you move your work forward.
// FOUR THINGS TO DO
1. WRITE YOUR WAY
“Once I started trying to anticipate what other people would want, I lost my point of view,” says menswear designer Aaron Levine.
Don’t get caught up in how a newsletter to your fans is supposed to look. Don’t assume your fans want something short and sweet, or long and drawn out. You don’t make your art thinking about the audience, so don’t write and share your art in a way that forces you into form that is not your own.
2. TELL YOUR STORY
We talked about this in yesterday’s Escape Pod Zoom call (next one is Sunday at 10am ET), about making videos to showcase our work.
This doesn’t have to mean making dance videos, or shouting directly into the camera, either. Check out the work of Noah Kalina, Taylor Pendleton, Softer Sounds, and ISETTA FILM, and see how they tell stories in their own unique way.
And when I say make a video, I don’t mean produce a fully-featured clip and upload it to YouTube. Set up your smart phone, or turn on your web cam, or make some voice notes talking the thing you do. Do this today. Tomorrow. This will help you when you get interviewed about your work, or someone asks you about your art at the local coffee shop.
Practice talking about your stuff.
3. USE A DIFFERENT FROM NAME
Is the FROM NAME that you use for your newsletter familiar for your readers? If not, people might not open it.
For example, here’s the FROM name from my Substack, which totally makes sense:
But on KIT (which I use to send out emails about Escape Pod calls), the FROM name was…. my name. While many of my readers know my name, maybe some don’t!
So if you’re sending emails for your band, it might make sense to use your band name, while if you’re an independent photographer, it might be best to use your name.
4. PUT DOWN THE PHONE
You can come back to this email later, but for now put down the phone, or close the laptop, get up from the computer, and do the work.
You know what needs to be done. You know the next step.
That email you have to send, the print you need to finish, the form you need to fill out. They’re all small tasks and I know they can feel super big, but I promise putting off the tiny things will only compound.
BTW: have you done virtual co-working? It’s where you hop on a Zoom call with other people looking to get some work done. For the first 10 minutes you discuss what you’re working on, then everyone goes on mute and works together in silence. Then in the last 10 or so minutes we get together and talk about how it went. I’m gonna be offering this in 2025.
// FOUR QUOTES TO PONDER
“Consistency is key. You can’t be in the right place at the right time without showing up consistently. You have to fail—and keep failing—until you succeed. People see Keep The Meter Running and SubwayTakes, but they don’t see the ten other failures that helped me get here.”
Kareem Rahma over at Feed Me.
quit Instagram.“But over time, Instagram became its own beast. It brought joy, connection, and incredible opportunities. It also exposed me to the darker sides of the internet. Chasing the algorithm and the constant buzz left me feeling burnt out. And as I grew personally and professionally, I realized it was no longer a fit for who I’d become.”
on Substack Notes.“One of my favorite things to do is to reach out to people in my network and acknowledge the cool things they’re doing. A quick message like this can be a mood booster for you both!”
“If I have to throw a pebble at your bedroom window every time I do something new, reminding you that I exist, then I’m not doing my best to even give you a reason to visit my website.”
True in 2018 when I wrote it, and still true six years later.
🚨 Ditch Gmail and switch to Fastmail (I’ve been a customer since 2014): get a free 30-day trial and 10% off your first year here (affiliate link).
// FOUR VIDEOS TO WATCH
Hey, it’s me! I had a great time chatting with
on Substack Live earlier this week, talking about finding your core people and tons more. Watch the full video here.
Don’t wait for the Substack Notes algorithm (or any algorithm) to show you the best things to read - seek them out instead!
Want to limit your time on social media sites? See how One Sec can help you do that.
// FOUR MORE THINGS
‘How to be a Successful Illustrator at 40’ by
‘The 15 best books I read in 2024,’ written by hand, from
.Need some background music while working? Or falling asleep? I released a new HUNTERTHEN album, and today is Bandcamp Friday so if you purchase the album today I get a bigger cut of the sale.
‘After The Creator Economy’ thanks
), which “is a publication that explores constructive alternatives for the ways we produce, distribute, and monetize creative work online.”
Have a good weekend (and maybe see you on Sunday’s Escape Pod call). Hit reply to this email and tell me what you’re working on.
// Seth
I love co-working sessions, but only the chatty ones. 😅 I suppose that's because I can draw while listening.
Loved the inspiration to continue focusing on the core, and not trying to anticipate what the audience wants!