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# Newsletters are getting personal
- URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/newsletters-are-getting-personal-2/
- Published: 2024-11-26T12:13:44.000Z
- Updated: 2024-11-26T12:13:44.000Z
- Author: CJ Chilvers
- Tags: newsletter-issues, creativity, courses

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2024/11/IMG_0566-1.jpeg)

Cold can be beautiful.

But this week we’re talking about warming things up. I wrote about the encouraging trend of [**newsletters getting more personal.**](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/newsletters-are-getting-personal/)I admit, I thought this would start happening a few years ago, but let’s just be glad it’s happening at all!

— CJ

**Elsewhere:**

- [Rick Beato backed me up.](https://youtu.be/xxR6Zi1euvc?si=VX0ijNb6Kc7n1e7P&ref=cjchilvers.com) He posted a video about [crystalized intelligence vs. fluid intelligence](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-cures-for-burnout/), but from a musician’s POV. He then got roasted for this take, which was entirely backed by science. We creators just don’t like getting older.
- [Why free newsletters beat paid newsletters](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoUWfupVsNQ&utm%5Fsource=substack&utm%5Fmedium=email)
- “The most popular software for writing fiction isn’t Word. It’s Excel.” — [Brian Alvey](https://x.com/brianalvey/status/83329648863350785?ref=cjchilvers.com)
- “Courses are a better business model than private equity.” — [Matt McGarry](https://x.com/jmatthewmcgarry/status/1860700252648435853?s=12&ref=cjchilvers.com) This has been the common thinking in the content creation business for a decade. However, a new report on ROI for nonfiction authors may change some minds. Author of the report, [Josh Bernoff](https://bernoff.com/blog/business-book-roi-fact-among-serious-authors-only-1-3-of-revenue-comes-directly-from-the-book?ref=cjchilvers.com), says that the majority of income these creators are seeing, outside of book sales, comes from speaking (34%) and consulting (31%), with courses way down on the list (11%).
- Jamie Thingelstad breaks down what he’s learned from [publishing 300 issues of his newsletter](https://www.thingelstad.com/2024/11/17/thoughts-after-writing.html?ref=cjchilvers.com). His process is fascinating. I love where how he uses properly-placed automations to support a more personal publication.
- I tell newsletter newbies to start on Substack because the discovery on that platform is currently the best in the business. I started a secret newsletter there a while ago and got 99 subscribers in a few weeks without even trying. However, I also tell those newbies to get out of Substack as soon as they hit a plateau, because Substack does not have your long-term interests in mind. Last week, [Anil Dash](https://www.anildash.com/2024/11/19/dont-call-it-a-substack/?ref=cjchilvers.com) made that point (although I disagree with some of what he said) and John Gruber [joined in](https://daringfireball.net/2024/11/regarding%5Fand%5Fwell%5Fagainst%5Fsubstack?ref=cjchilvers.com) with even better points. Gruber added, “My advice to any writer looking to start a new site based on the newsletter model would be to consider Substack *last*, not first…there are clearly better options, and the company’s long term goal is clearly platform lock-in.” I may have to re-think my recommendations to the newbies.
- Last week I emailed readers who bought my book through [Gumroad](https://cjchilverss.gumroad.com/l/newsletters?ref=cjchilvers.com) to get their opinions. The result: I have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Thank you for all kind words! But most didn’t know I also made [a print version over on Amazon](https://amzn.to/4eDq7aH?ref=cjchilvers.com). I’m not a fan of Amazon. But I get it. This is where people go for everything. Please leave a review [over there](https://amzn.to/4eDq7aH?ref=cjchilvers.com) if you haven’t yet already. And thanks again!