# CJ Chilvers > 25 years of resources for lifelong creatives and independent publishers. Public Ghost content for AI and LLM tooling. This file includes a bounded export of public pages first, then recent public posts. Append `.md` to any post or page URL to get the content in Markdown (for example, `/example-post.md`). ## Pages ### Hey there! URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/home/ Last updated: 2026-07-28T13:06:53.000Z I’m CJ. [Join](https://www.cjchilvers.com/#/portal/signup) the thousands of **smart**, **kind**, and **devastatingly** **gorgeous** readers who subscribe to my no-nonsense newsletter about creativity and technology. ### index URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/index/ Last updated: 2022-04-11T14:52:42.000Z _No content available._ ### About URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/about/ Last updated: 2026-07-17T19:38:53.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/02/IMG_4535.jpeg) Hey there! I’m CJ. For over 25 years, I’ve been writing honest and useful books, essays, and newsletters at the intersection of science, creativity, and marketing. [My personal newsletter](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe/) serves as an oasis of sanity in the creator/AI economy — a bullshit-free zone where evidence matters. I also coach businesses on how to build long-term, profitable content strategies, so they can stop chasing algorithms. Book a call with me [here](https://calendly.com/cjchilvers/60min?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### The Music Press Report URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/the-music-press-report/ Last updated: 2022-04-11T14:52:41.000Z ## The Music Press Report From 1999 to 2009, I published a music journalism news and editorial site. It became popular and eventually took up so much of my time and energy that I needed to decide if it was worth being the priority in my professional life. In short, it wasn't. A search went on for an editor to take over the site. Three candidates were scared away by the size of the project and so I decided to shutter the site entirely. Maybe the web just isn't ready to support a fully featured music journalism news site and make it worth an editor's time. Maybe in a few years. It's ultimately a good thing, as the web needs to [shed its skin](http://garrettdimon.com/archives/2009/4/13/the%5Fdownside%5Fof%5Fpermanent/?ref=cjchilvers.com) every once in a while and grow. If you stil have a need for a music journalism fix, however, you can roll your own MPR, by visiting the following sites: ### **Sources for Music Journalism and Photojournalism News:** [ArtsJournal Music](http://www.artsjournal.com/music.shtml?ref=cjchilvers.com) Good for the occasional classical and jazz press news [Biilboard](http://www.billboard.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) Good for big announcements (books, etc.) [Day in Rock](http://www.antimusic.com/dayinrock/?ref=cjchilvers.com) Often features news on rock publishing items [The Guardian](http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog?ref=cjchilvers.com) Besides the occasional item, they have a monthly column on UK music magazines [Mr. Magazine](http://static1.squarespace.com/static/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/5fbd5509668cd8544ec030fc/5fbd55ea668cd8544ec04cc2/1606243818976/?format=original&ref=cjchilvers.com) Keeps track of magazine starts and closings [Poynter Online](http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=45&ref=cjchilvers.com) Lots of hidden gems here, a site that collects journalism news in general [Rockcritics.com](http://rockcritics.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) Always a source of great original articles on rock critics [State of the Art](http://stateoftheart.popphoto.com/blog/?ref=cjchilvers.com) Features a music photo link or two on rare occasions [NME News](http://www.nme.com/news?ref=cjchilvers.com) Sometimes features a music press news item that Billboard misses [Hypebot](http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/?ref=cjchilvers.com) Good source of links the traditional press misses [The Idolator](http://idolator.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) Sometimes features gossip on what's happening at music magazines [I Want Media](http://www.iwantmedia.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) Great place for media industry news [Barbara Flaska](http://flaskaland.blogspot.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) Great writer with a finger on the pulse of the music press community ### **Mailing Lists:** [The Music Writer's List](http://groups.yahoo.com/group/musicwriters/?ref=cjchilvers.com) and[ The Music Photographer's List](http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/musicphotographer/?ref=cjchilvers.com) ### **Sources for Job Listings:** [Indeed.com](http://www.indeed.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) [JournalismJobs.com](http://www.journalismjobs.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) [Mediabistro](http://www.mediabistro.com/joblistings/?ref=cjchilvers.com) [Poynter.org Careers](http://careers.poynter.org/search/results/?ref=cjchilvers.com) [Emap Jobs](http://www.emap.com/jobs?ref=cjchilvers.com) [Future Publishing Jobs](http://www.futurenet.com/jobs/stdTemplate.aspx/Jobs%5FIn%5FPublishing/?ref=cjchilvers.com) [Media Job Market](http://www.mediajobmarket.com/jobs/index.jsp?ref=cjchilvers.com) [I Want Media Jobs](http://www.iwantmedia.com/jobs/index.html?ref=cjchilvers.com) [MTV Jobs](https://jobhuntweb.viacom.com/jobhunt/main/jobhome.asp?ref=cjchilvers.com) [Time Warner Jobs](https://careers.timewarner.com/1033/asp/tg/cim%5Fhome.asp?partnerid=391&siteid=36&ref=cjchilvers.com) [Village Voice Media Jobs](https://villagevoicemedia.tms.hrdepartment.com/cgi-bin/a/searchjobs%5Fquick.cgi?ref=cjchilvers.com) ### **Contest Listings:** [Art Deadlines List](http://artdeadlineslist.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) [FreelanceWriting.com Contest](http://www.freelancewriting.com/writing-contests.php?ref=cjchilvers.com) [Pop Photo Contests](http://www.popphoto.com/Contests-Events?ref=cjchilvers.com) ### The Van Halen Encyclopedia URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/the-van-halen-encyclopedia/ Last updated: 2022-04-11T15:35:07.000Z ![Van Halen Encyclopedia Cover 1.jpeg](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/04/Van-Halen-Encyclopedia-Cover-1.jpg) ## History The year was 1997 and Van Halen was the only iconic rock band I could imagine that never had a detailed history published in some kind of book. It was bewildering. So, with the help of around 200 like-minded fans, The Van Halen Encyclopedia was born. It took two years of research, writing and editing, but in 1999 the VHE finally debuted. It had no photos, a simple, black cloth cover and densely packed hundreds of facts into every turn of its 320 pages. Book store managers scratched their heads, but Van Halen fans loved it. Since then, several books, articles, broadcasts and web sites have had their factual foundations in the VHE. In 2009, the book (and it's second edition paperback) were officially retired from print. A Kindle version of the 2001 edition is still available at [Amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A4153EI/ref=as%5Fli%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00A4153EI&linkCode=as2&tag=cjchilvers-20&linkId=5T3FMYYQWQY3ZGJO&ref=cjchilvers.com). In 2014, the Van Halen Encyclopedia was shared with the [Van Halen News Desk](http://vhnd.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) and continues to be used in their articles. It was a labor of love for all involved and a great chapter in my life. Thanks to everyone who bought and added to the VHE! ## Reviews “An extraordinary exploration of the band and its components, this is perfect light reading for all Eddie wannabes while they're waiting for that first batch of finger blisters to heal.” – **Blender Magazine**. “A must have for all fans! Author C.J. Chilvers has compiled what is easily the most comprehensive gathering of Van Halen-related material since the band's inception, leaving no guitar, unreleased track or significant date unturned.” – **The Inside Magazine**. “Impeccably researched, The Van Halen Encyclopedia is a true labor of love and is an invaluable reference for the VH fan.” – **Ken Sharp, The Rock Report**. “I use it non-stop on the air. It is filled with tons of interesting tid-bits that I, being a huge fan myself, enjoy sharing.” - **Eddie Webb, WLUP-FM, Chicago, IL**. “It is a perfect book to curl up with your favorite songs and relax.” – **Gene Kelly, The Phoenix, Loyola University**. “For the die-hard fan, this book is as essential as owning all the albums.” - **Grant Fischer, The Van Halen News Desk**. ### The Music Press Directories URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/the-music-press-directories/ Last updated: 2022-04-11T14:52:41.000Z # The Music Press Directory ![directory2009sm.jpg](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/500f4cd3e4b006cb9ec17b24/1343180555617-CIVTP2DD1YQEGGPFK9GG/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kKg4QFQib1v5Jex3Qr1FqhNZw-zPPgdn4jUwVcJE1ZvWhcwhEtWJXoshNdA9f1qD7Xj1nVWs2aaTtWBneO2WM-vIIJYwOtQlcbrgwHr_COQJKoOzUrdcQJaArBlCMGDK_A/image-asset.jpeg) ![directory2009sm.jpg](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/500f4cd3e4b006cb9ec17b24/1343180555617-CIVTP2DD1YQEGGPFK9GG/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kKg4QFQib1v5Jex3Qr1FqhNZw-zPPgdn4jUwVcJE1ZvWhcwhEtWJXoshNdA9f1qD7Xj1nVWs2aaTtWBneO2WM-vIIJYwOtQlcbrgwHr_COQJKoOzUrdcQJaArBlCMGDK_A/image-asset.jpeg) From 1999-2009, music journalists and photographers have been sharing contact information at Music Press Report. This directory was the first attempt to present that information in one cohesive book. Typical press contact lists have never provided enough information to target the right publications or members of the press, resulting in mass, blind emailing (spam). The goal of the directory was to provide in-depth information on hundreds of music writers, photographers, print publications and web publications. Getting to know the music press in a more in-depth way helps everyone save time and money. > “That’s a superb piece of work. Quite comprehensive, but in particular, the statements explaining each one is a great idea. Really helpful for targeted communication. Brilliant. I’ll be recommending this.” - Andrew Dubber, [NewMusicStrategies.com](http://www.newmusicstrategies.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) > “I must tell you that as a PR pro one of the most frustrating endeavors when you work with multiple industries is trying to find updated, relevant media lists–along with notes for how people want to be pitched. In addition, I nearly fell of my chair at the reasonable price!” - Rebekah Iliff, [Smart Girls Consulting](http://www.smartgirlsconsulting.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) ### Chicago URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/photography-chicago/ Last updated: 2022-04-11T14:52:38.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/static/500f4cd3e4b006cb9ec17b24/500f4f0ae4b08b809edd540c/500f4f0ae4b08b809edd540d/1252896699853/img.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/static/500f4cd3e4b006cb9ec17b24/500f4f0ae4b08b809edd540c/500f4f0ae4b08b809edd540e/1252896706413/img.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/static/500f4cd3e4b006cb9ec17b24/500f4f0ae4b08b809edd540c/500f4f0ae4b08b809edd540f/1252896707653/img.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/static/500f4cd3e4b006cb9ec17b24/500f4f0ae4b08b809edd540c/500f4f0ae4b08b809edd5410/1252896704007/img.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/static/500f4cd3e4b006cb9ec17b24/500f4f0ae4b08b809edd540c/500f4f0ae4b08b809edd5411/1252896705127/img.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/static/500f4cd3e4b006cb9ec17b24/500f4f0ae4b08b809edd540c/500f4f0ae4b08b809edd5412/1252896702977/img.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/static/500f4cd3e4b006cb9ec17b24/500f4f0ae4b08b809edd540c/500f4f0ae4b08b809edd5413/1252896702067/img.jpg) ### Northern Illinois Landscapes URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/photography-northern-illinois-landscapes/ Last updated: 2022-04-11T14:52:37.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/static/500f4cd3e4b006cb9ec17b24/500f4f0ae4b08b809edd5414/500f4f0ae4b08b809edd5415/1237127354153/img.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/static/500f4cd3e4b006cb9ec17b24/500f4f0ae4b08b809edd5414/500f4f0ae4b08b809edd5416/1237127084683/img.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/static/500f4cd3e4b006cb9ec17b24/500f4f0ae4b08b809edd5414/500f4f0ae4b08b809edd5417/1237127354018/img.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/static/500f4cd3e4b006cb9ec17b24/500f4f0ae4b08b809edd5414/500f4f0ae4b08b809edd5418/1237127111024/img.jpg) ### Subscribe URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe/ Last updated: 2024-01-22T17:52:06.000Z Get honest commentary and useful links, delivered direct to you from the intersection of creativity and sanity — an oasis in the creator economy. Your email address Subscribe Please check your inbox and click the link to confirm your subscription. Please enter a valid email address! An error occurred, please try again later. --- ## What subscribers are saying... > “CJ brings a refreshing honesty to the subject that applies to more than just photography. It’s been one of my favorites for a long time.” — [Patrick Rhone](http://minimalmac.com/post/39380829469/shining-a-light?ref=cjchilvers.com) > “One of my favorites — definitely sign up.” — [Jason Rodriguez](https://twitter.com/RodriguezCommaJ/status/832985476416012288?ref=cjchilvers.com), author of *Professional Email Design and Modern HTML Email* > “His newsletter always brings a little bits of truth to photography. You won’t find gear recommendations or reviews. You won’t find out the best ways to shoot things. There are plenty of people doing that. CJ provides a deeper look at photography. He’s a breath of fresh air in the world of photography.” — [Carl T. Holscher](http://peroty.com/blog/wrote-about/newsletters-i-enjoy/?ref=cjchilvers.com) > “Coming from a person who generally doesn’t subscribe for these type of things, I received the first issue in my inbox yesterday and I can’t encourage you enough to sign up now.” — [Jorge Quinteros](https://www.jorgeq.com/blog?ref=cjchilvers.com) > “The depth that C.J. packs into the simplest of concepts boggles the mind. I can’t say in pages what he manages to accomplish in a sentence. In addition to being one of my favorite verbal sparring partners (I love arguing with people who are smarter than I am), I’m continually in awe of what the man makes.” — Michael Schechter ### Articles URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/articles/ Last updated: 2022-04-11T14:52:37.000Z _No content available._ ### Ask A Question URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/ask-a-question/ Last updated: 2022-04-11T14:52:37.000Z Name \* Name First Name Last Name Email Address \* Question \* Do not reveal my name when posted. Thank you! ### Books URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/books/ Last updated: 2024-01-24T18:35:08.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2024/01/cover-square-1.png) ## Principles for Newsletters These are the lessons I've learned from 37 years of publishing newsletters. It's the clear, simple guide you need to start and maintain a lifelong readership. [Get your copy.](https://cjchilverss.gumroad.com/l/newsletters?ref=cjchilvers.com) --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/02/IMG_1873.jpeg) ## A Lesser Photographer Tear down the myths you’ve been taught about creativity and embrace the habits that will set your photography apart. **Create better photographs with less.** Less gear. Less anxiety. Less stress. Less fear. [Get Your Copy](https://amzn.to/2OBO3SJ?ref=cjchilvers.com) --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/02/IMG_2720.JPG) ## The Van Halen Encyclopedia In the 90s, 200 Van Halen fans on the new-fangled "Internet" produced the first-ever detailed book about the band. It took two years to produce. The second edition (2001) took another two years to update. After more than 20 years, a third edition is finally in the works – with updates being posted to [Substack](https://vanhalen.substack.com/). [Get Your Copy](http://amzn.to/1mDy988?ref=cjchilvers.com) --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/10/2008-11-01-music-press-directory-cover-2009.jpg) #### The Music Press Directory In a previous era, I had the website of record for music journalism (for a decade?!). Every year I'd produce directories to keep track of contacts throughout the music press. They are no longer available, but I have fond memories, and I hope someone found them useful. SOLD OUT ### A Lesser Photographer URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/a-lesser-photographer/ Last updated: 2022-06-12T15:23:36.000Z ![It's about the gear between your ears.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609688957481-V601PB4CDQZAE9GJSDSY/alesserphotographer_notext.jpg) **Create better photographs with less. Less gear. Less anxiety. Less stress. Less fear.** A Lesser Photographer is an exploration into the only gear that really matters: the gear between your ears. In under an hour, you’ll be able to identify the myths you’ve been taught about photography and embrace useful creative habits that will set you apart. [Get Your Copy](https://amzn.to/2OBO3SJ?ref=cjchilvers.com) ![Thank you for making A Lesser Photographer a bestseller at Amazon for an entire year!! Please leave a review if the book made an impact for you!](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/04/A-Lesser-Photographer-bestseller-pro-photo.png) **Thank you for making A Lesser Photographer a bestseller at Amazon for an entire year!! Please** [**leave a review**](https://amzn.to/2OBO3SJ?ref=cjchilvers.com) **if the book made an impact for you!** ## Reviews “For something beautiful and well-said, check out A Lesser Photographer.” — David duChemin “Amazing read…I really recommend everyone get a copy.” — Chris Marquardt “CJ Chilvers reevaluates what it means to be a photographer in this manifesto. Most of the points apply to virtually any creative endeavor or obsession. ‘The real show is outside the viewfinder.’” — Jim Coudal “I have to say, CJ has a great attitude. If you care at all about photography, he’s a must read.” — Patrick Rhone “Every photographer should follow CJ Chilvers.” — Eric Kim ## Chapters [Introduction](https://www.cjchilvers.com/a-lesser-photographer-introduction/) 1. [How to Make Perfect Photos](https://www.cjchilvers.com/how-to-make-perfect-photos/) 2. [How to Create Fine Art](https://www.cjchilvers.com/how-to-create-fine-art/) 3. [The New Rules of Photography](https://www.cjchilvers.com/the-new-rules-of-photography/) 4. [Unlearn Photography](https://www.cjchilvers.com/unlearn-photography-2/) 5. [The Snapshot is King](https://www.cjchilvers.com/the-snapshot-is-king-2/) 6. [Your Parents’ Photos Are Better Than Yours](https://www.cjchilvers.com/your-parents-photos-are-better-than-yours-2/) 7. [We Need New Specs](https://www.cjchilvers.com/we-need-new-specs-2/) 8. [Declare Independence](https://www.cjchilvers.com/declare-independence/) 9. [Tips](https://www.cjchilvers.com/tips/) 10. [Photography ‘Education’](https://www.cjchilvers.com/photography-education/) 11. [Pass It Along](https://www.cjchilvers.com/pass-it-along-2/) 12. [Roll Your Own](https://www.cjchilvers.com/roll-your-own/) 13. [Should You Have a Portfolio?](https://www.cjchilvers.com/should-you-have-a-portfolio-2/) 14. [You Have a Reputation](https://www.cjchilvers.com/you-have-a-reputation/) 15. [Artists Thrive on Constraints](https://www.cjchilvers.com/artists-thrive-on-constraints/) 16. [Should You Pay for Constraints?](https://www.cjchilvers.com/should-you-pay-for-constraints/) 17. [Find Your Balance](https://www.cjchilvers.com/find-your-balance/) 18. [Go Amateur](https://www.cjchilvers.com/go-amateur/) 19. [The Pros Agree](https://www.cjchilvers.com/the-pros-agree/) 20. [How to Make Money with Your Photography](https://www.cjchilvers.com/how-to-make-money-with-your-photography-2/) 21. [Spend on Images, Not Gear](https://www.cjchilvers.com/spend-on-images-not-gear/) 22. [The Perfect Camera for You](https://www.cjchilvers.com/the-perfect-camera-for-you/) 23. [Is Total Automation the Future of Photography?](https://www.cjchilvers.com/is-total-automation-the-future-of-photography/) 24. [Tell a Story](https://www.cjchilvers.com/tell-a-story-2/) 25. [Stop Making Photos for Photographers](https://www.cjchilvers.com/stop-making-photos-for-photographers-2/) 26. [Be Honest, Not Truthful](https://www.cjchilvers.com/be-honest-not-truthful/) 27. [Honesty Is Your Competitive Advantage](https://www.cjchilvers.com/honesty-is-your-competitive-advantage/) 28. [Honesty Is More Interesting Than Truth](https://www.cjchilvers.com/honesty-is-more-interesting-than-truth/) 29. [Don’t Improve on Perfection](https://www.cjchilvers.com/dont-improve-on-perfection/) 30. [You Already Know What to Photograph](https://www.cjchilvers.com/you-already-know-what-to-photograph/) 31. [The Most Important Tool](https://www.cjchilvers.com/the-most-important-tool-2/) 32. [Inspiration Is Scheduled](https://www.cjchilvers.com/inspiration-is-scheduled/) 33. [Inspiring Photographs…](https://www.cjchilvers.com/inspiring-photographs-2/) 34. [You Are a Real Photographer](https://www.cjchilvers.com/you-are-a-real-photographer/) 35. [Longevity](https://www.cjchilvers.com/longevity/) 36. [A Gift Guide for Photographers](https://www.cjchilvers.com/a-gift-guide-for-photographers/) 37. [Photography as Fashion](https://www.cjchilvers.com/photography-as-fashion/) 38. [The ‘Self-Taught’ Lie](https://www.cjchilvers.com/the-self-taught-lie/) 39. [Proper Maintenance of Your Gear](https://www.cjchilvers.com/proper-maintenance-of-your-gear/) 40. [The Best Photos of the Year](https://www.cjchilvers.com/the-best-photos-of-the-year/) 41. [There’s Nothing New Under the Strobe](https://www.cjchilvers.com/theres-nothing-new-under-the-strobe-2/) 42. [Live First](https://www.cjchilvers.com/live-first-2/) 43. [What Photography Really Produces](https://www.cjchilvers.com/what-photography-really-produces/) 44. [Take It Slow](https://www.cjchilvers.com/take-it-slow/) 45. [What Are You Willing to Give Up?](https://www.cjchilvers.com/what-are-you-willing-to-give-up/) 46. [Work Alone](https://www.cjchilvers.com/work-alone/) 47. [Support Your Local Photographer](https://www.cjchilvers.com/support-your-local-photographer-2/) 48. [How to be Critiqued](https://www.cjchilvers.com/how-to-be-critiqued/) 49. [Comparisons](https://www.cjchilvers.com/comparisons-2/) 50. [Stolen Ideas](https://www.cjchilvers.com/stolen-ideas-2/) 51. [All You Need Is 1](https://www.cjchilvers.com/all-you-need-is-1-2/) 52. [Reshoot Your Archives](https://www.cjchilvers.com/reshoot-your-archives-2/) 53. [The Stakes Couldn’t Be Lower](https://www.cjchilvers.com/the-stakes-couldnt-be-lower-2/) 54. [Every Day…](https://www.cjchilvers.com/every-day-2/) 55. [Be Grateful](https://www.cjchilvers.com/be-grateful/) ### New Gallery URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/new-gallery/ Last updated: 2022-04-11T14:52:37.000Z _No content available._ ### What I’m up to now URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/now/ Last updated: 2025-10-26T01:32:15.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2025/10/IMG_2855.jpeg) - We're making the best home possible for our new puppy, a 4-pound Yorkie who thinks she's the size of a grizzly. - I'm working daily on AI-related content strategy for clients. This is where I spend 90% of my non-puppy time. - I pop up from time to time on podcasts for fun. I have two new ones on the schedule for the next month. This is a [now page](https://nownownow.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com). Updated: 10-25-2025 ### Introduction to A Lesser Photographer URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/a-lesser-photographer-introduction/ Last updated: 2022-04-11T14:52:37.000Z # Introduction *This is a chapter from the book* [*A Lesser Photographer*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/a-lesser-photographer)*.* Since the age of twelve, I’ve been obsessed with photography. I built a little darkroom and took class after class to learn as much as I could. I studied the zone system for years until it became so ingrained that I saw the entire world in zones of light. My library of photo books and magazines could rival a university. By any measure, this is a passion. Much like a car mechanic would remember the years by the cars he owned, I remember 1994 as the year of my Minolta X-700 or 1996 as the year I stepped up to a Fuji GS645\. With every issue of Shutterbug, I scanned the ads in the back pages, lusting after the latest gear I couldn’t afford. The digital age only reinforced my desire to own ever more capable equipment as brands consolidated. Are you a Canon or a Nikon? If so, how high do you rank in that world? I put that question to rest for myself when I was hiking through Starved Rock State Park in Illinois with my friend Tom Polous. Tom and I have been best friends since we were nine years old and been enablers of each other’s photographic obsessions since the 1990s. On this hike through Starved Rock, Tom had the latest, greatest Canon DSLR around his neck, and I had a lesser model. After a few minutes on the trail, we encountered two locals, both with Canon DSLRs. For ten minutes, we discussed our love for the lenses in our bags, and that’s when it hit me. This was ridiculous. Four photographers, in the most beautiful of settings, had chosen to discuss gear instead of taking a single photo. Our love of gear had superseded our love of the image. I slowly backed away from the conversation and began shooting what turned out to be some of my favorite images of that decade. The questions had been building for years. Just how much did equipment matter, and why? What if I threw it all away and restarted with the minimum amount of equipment? Would my creativity be enough to capture the images I wanted? I sold my 4x5 view camera, my medium format cameras and my DSLR. I bought an inexpensive compact camera and became determined to put my theories to the test. Over the next several years, I blogged about my experiences and collected the wisdom of like-minded photographers. I titled the blog A Lesser Photographer, partly to refer to the looks other photographers gave me when I showed up to a shoot with my compact camera. This book collects my favorite essays from the blog in one place. All the essays have been re-edited, remixed, and condensed, and in some cases, new essays were written to better express an idea. You’ll notice there are no photos inside this book, for the same reason there were very few photos on the blog. I want you to consider *your* photographs while reading, not mine. Some of the chapters are about the kind of photography the public will see, and some are about the everyday photos that no one outside our friends and family will see. These two sides of amateur photography have principles that can be directly in conflict. I’ll leave it to you to consider your own goals with your photographs in these chapters. I hope these little essays to myself help you in your path as a photographer. Feel free to drop by cjchilvers.com and let me know about your own lessons learned. ### How to Create Fine Art URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/how-to-create-fine-art/ Last updated: 2022-04-11T14:52:37.000Z *This is a chapter from the book* [*A Lesser Photographer*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/a-lesser-photographer)*.* > “Art is anything we do, after the chores are done.” — Teller There’s been a lot of handwringing among the art crowd to explain away the democratization of photography. To differentiate between what qualifies as “fine art” and what is the work of a hobbyist, the art crowd likes to make excuses about how hard it is to create a great photo. Some variation of “snapshots are easy, great photography is near impossible” or “it takes years of hard work” are repeated endlessly to justify entire careers, or just a large purchase. One is led to believe that great photographers are scarce and fine-art photography may be dying out. We’re not watching the dying of photography as a fine art. What we’re really watching is the dying of a concept, the concept that good ideas in photography, ideas worthy of the gallery, are scarce. They’re not. They’ve never been. Connections in the fine-art market are scarce. No one gets to tell you what qualifies as “fine” art. Nor could they. ### The New Rules of Photography URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/the-new-rules-of-photography/ Last updated: 2022-04-11T14:52:37.000Z *This is a chapter from the book* [*A Lesser Photographer*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/a-lesser-photographer)*.* > “I am not interested in rules or conventions. Photography is not a sport.” — Bill Brandt The “rules” of photography you’ll find in most textbooks are based on economics. These techniques work for pros trying to sell something, but have nothing to do with the photographs we (the 99.9% of photographers who are not pros) consider important. Technique is overrated. It’s nice to have, but many of what we would consider humanity’s most important photos of all time aren’t even in focus. They break just about every rule you’ll find in a textbook. Those textbook rules, by the way, almost always originate with what a client wanted at some point. There’s only one rule that matters: tell a story with a compelling subject—for you. Think of it as a Maslow’s Hierarchy of Photographic Needs. Every decent photo needs to tell a story. Telling a story with a compelling subject can make a photo historic. But a step above even those photos is a photo with a subject that is compelling to you, specifically. ### Unlearn Photography URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/unlearn-photography-2/ Last updated: 2022-04-11T16:18:27.000Z *This is a chapter from the book* [*A Lesser Photographer*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/a-lesser-photographer)*.* > “Great photography is about depth of feeling, not depth of field.” — Peter Adams How much about what you’ve learned as a photographer could you let go of today? How many of the lessons have never really applied? And how many have applied, but never really mattered? The more you let go of, the more creative freedom you’ll rescue and the more time you’ll have to photograph. Unlearning photography may be just as rewarding as learning photography. ### The Snapshot Is King URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/the-snapshot-is-king-2/ Last updated: 2022-04-11T16:47:17.000Z *This is a chapter from the book* [*A Lesser Photographer*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/a-lesser-photographer)*.* > “Inherently, we all know that an image isn’t measured by its resolution, dynamic range, or anything technical. It’s measured by the simple—sometimes profound, other times absurd or humorous or whimsical—effect that it can have upon us.” — Chase Jarvis It seems there’s no more damning critique of a photograph than, “It’s a snapshot.” This makes no sense. Snapshots are usually reserved for family, friends, and events, where we’d rather be enjoying ourselves than setting up a tripod. Snapshots discard the old rules of photography and aim for pure emotion. What could be more artistic? The snapshot gives voice to three-year-olds, the poor and many other groups often considered unworthy of the “art” world. The truth is the vast majority of photographers take snapshots. The best-selling cameras in the world are optimized for snapshots. The snapshot is the medium for some of the most important pictures in history. It’s time for the snapshot to get some respect. Because of the joy a snapshot usually brings to my life, I care for it far more than anything hanging in a gallery. My inbox is filled with emails that include some variation on the phrase “I only really shoot family photos.” I can’t imagine a more important subject. ## Posts ### The Audience Neglect Era URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-audience-neglect-era/ Last updated: 2026-08-20T15:32:07.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2026/08/IMG_1286.jpeg) Sometimes it's hard to let go of the good stuff, like a beautiful summer...and the old web. I don’t think we talk enough about how much online publishing has shifted over the years. At a very high level, the biggest shifts I’ve seen went something like this: **The Audience Deficiency Era** People weren’t online enough. It was the mid-90s — a fun period of design exploration, long- and short-form content creation, and community-building through the greatest invention of my lifetime: the hyperlink. The email newsletter was born, but rarely considered its own form of media. Creators started dreaming of making a living online, but not much happened until after the dot-com bubble. Then, the biggest bloggers finally started making a full-time income from content alone. **The Audience Abundance Era** People started showing up in larger numbers. This was the golden age of the blog and the beginning of podcasting. The link played a major role in trustworthiness. RSS made reading and listening to content easier, with an experience every reader could customize to their liking. No need for algorithms. No need for notifications. Creators upped their game from the previous era with captivating essays, intriguing points of view, innovative designs, and hyper-focused communities. Email newsletters became popular and highly effective. **The Audience Capture Era** People became too online. The world woke up to the value of creator-built communities, and non-creators saw the potential for profit in distribution and administration. The loudest people in every community began to dictate the preferred subject matter, formatting, and platforms used. The majority of creators complied. Social media took over. RSS was largely forgotten by non-nerds. Algorithms took over. Video became popular after years of trying. The link became restricted technology for average users. Burnout became a common trait among creators. The ad model dominated for revenue, but not necessarily for profit. Influencers discovered what grocery stores knew in the 1960s: white-label products work when backed by established communities. Email newsletters remained popular and highly effective. **The Audience Neglect Era** AI companies scraped decades of creators’ work. Some companies received a slap on the wrist. Most didn’t. Big tech joined in, often forcing creators to use the tools that were built on the creator’s content. Courts ruled that stealing isn’t OK, but presenting the stolen material in a chatbot makes it all cool again. Creators started becoming invisible to the world, unless they submitted to the preferences of AI models, which often conflict with their audience’s preferences. Subject matter, formatting, and length are dictated by what AI thinks it needs this month. The link is now subversive technology. The open web is increasingly perceived as dangerous and antiquated by governments and social media addicts. Audiences are further driven to social media to discover new creators, who become discoverable by providing the appropriate content for AI models. Content that is no longer useful to AI is no longer visible in searches, unless it can be presented outside the creator’s domain and interrupted with ads. **We’ve come a long way.** Instead of focusing on how far astray we’ve gone, I’ve found comfort in focusing on what has remained the same. 1. Creating is a practice. If you’re not in it for the love of the game, you’ll end up broke, hospitalized, or both. Compete with yourself. Stay independent. Stay honest. 2. The best way to make interesting content is to live an interesting life while documenting it. I learned this rule from National Geographic photographers in the 90s. They were the most respected creatives in their field, at the height of their importance in our culture. None of them sweated strategy. They put their bodies in places where very interesting things were happening and captured that energy as best they could. That’s the pinnacle of content creation. Successful YouTubers have caught on to this in a big way the last five years or so. 3. Consistency is the foundation for everything that matters to your audience. Don’t worry about changes in technology or audience trends. If you suck at something, but keep practicing it consistently, you will climb to the top 1% quicker than you realize. 4. There will always be another bubble. There will always be a new trend. Prepare by not taking part. My favorite blogs (some that I’ve been reading for over two decades) would make a Content Strategist cringe. They don’t follow any of the new rules. There’s no way they will ever be popular again, and their creators are fine with that. There’s a certain freedom they seem to enjoy when they get to make things every day, without being under a microscope. 5. It’s never worth sacrificing your health over any of this. If done right, a daily creation practice will improve your health. 6. Connect with people, and the bots will take care of themselves. Or, maybe they won’t. But who cares? You still get to connect with people. Maybe that’s the real miracle of the last 30+ years. Connecting with real people has never been this easy or this valuable. — [CJ](https://cjchilvers.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) [Upgrade to VIP](#/portal/signup) **Elsewhere** - “Just become a writer like all the great underemployed humans in history have done” — [Paul Millerd](https://x.com/p%5Fmillerd/status/2074474094465294839?s=12&ref=cjchilvers.com) - Dan Oshinsky launched a free newsletter course, [5 Days to Fix Your Newsletter](https://inboxcollective.com/fix-your-newsletter-course/?ref=cjchilvers.com), and a new [invite-only event series for media enthusiasts](https://mediaenthusiast.com/ideas-exchange/data-revenue-september-2026?ref=cjchilvers.com). - “A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between work and play; labor and leisure; mind and body; education and recreation. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing, and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing. To himself, he always appears to be doing both.” — Lawrence Pearsall Jacks in Education Through Recreation (1932) via [James Clear](https://jamesclear.com/3-2-1/june-25-2026?ref=cjchilvers.com) - It’s easy for writers to get caught up in the strategy behind what format of book yields maximum profit. What if you approached it like a craftsman or hobbyist instead? [This is the first](https://youtu.be/%5FVdXpecZf2o?si=cIngoaVBrEu%5F9%5FTl&ref=cjchilvers.com) in a series of videos from a bookbinding artist, going to extremes to make the ultimate versions of his favorite books. He starts from an ordinary hardcover edition and shows you the materials, tools, and time needed. What would a one-of-a-kind, work-of-art edition of your favorite book be worth to you? - [Perfectionism has been increasing in college students since before smartphones](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42207657/?ref=cjchilvers.com) and may have more to do with economic factors. - Several more back issues of this newsletter were updated and added to archive in the [VIP Lounge](https://www.cjchilvers.com/vip). Thanks to all the VIPs who help support this newsletter! ### Why the future belongs to independents URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/why-the-future-belongs-to-independents/ Last updated: 2026-07-17T16:01:31.000Z It was an honor to be back on [Media & the Machine](https://mediaandthemachine.transistor.fm/episodes/an-ex-agency-pro-warns-90-marketing-cuts-then-an-ai-bailout?ref=cjchilvers.com), which has grown to be an un-skippable podcast — usually with guests who are much smarter than me. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2026/07/Screenshot-2026-07-17-at-10.54.45---AM.png) Check it out over on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/robkelly%5Faibailout-ailayoffs-artificialintelligence-ugcPost-7483534185228333056-FUOH/?ref=cjchilvers.com) too. Rob Kelly puts a lot of work into these episodes – more than any other podcast I’ve been on (even on the big networks). For this first half hour, we get into why: - Marketing teams are being slashed and we’re being lied to about the reasons. - The future belongs to the independents, who can publish opinions with a voice that AI can replicate, but large companies are too afraid to post. - Marketing shouldn't be folded into sales. It’s the marketing-down companies that are winning right now…and forever. - AI companies will continue to beg for (and eventually get) bail outs, in some form. Governments are the only entities with enough money to keep every promise that AI has made to us. - There are reasons to be optimistic. AI has genuinely made certain industries much more productive and efficient. It’s the overall economics of AI that don’t make sense. Subscribe to Media & the Machine [here](https://mediaandthemachine.transistor.fm/?ref=cjchilvers.com) and give Rob a follow on [Substack](https://mediaandthemachine.substack.com/) as well. ### Do experts keep cleaning you? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/do-experts-keep-cleaning-you/ Last updated: 2026-07-07T09:30:35.000Z Have you ever been mysteriously unsubscribed from an email newsletter? It happens to me all the time. But I expect it. In fact, it’s how I can tell which “experts” are really beginners. I subscribe to a lot of newsletters and I use RSS to read long-form newsletters, which can look confusing in a creator’s analytics. Most newsletter audits and how-to’s tell creators to “clean” their lists as step one in a long plan to improve their content strategy. My confusing analytics often earns me a top spot on the list of readers to be “cleaned.” ## **Engagement analytics lie all the time.** No one really knows your open rate or click-through rate. The best you can get is a general idea. There are all kinds of reasons someone disengages that have nothing to do with your content: - People leave jobs (and email addresses) behind. - People get too busy to read their email…for long periods of time. - People use RSS. - People die. You don’t know if you don’t check. A better way to measure engagement is to get to know the people on your list. ## **“Clean your list” is a project, not an action.** Your experience determines the size and scope of the project. - **Beginner:** Delete anyone who hasn’t opened or clicked on anything in (random number) months. - **Intermediate:** Segment inactive readers. Run a re-engagement sequence. Keep or cut based on…whatever. - **Expert:** Know your readers. “Know your readers” may include (but is not limited to): - Segmenting the *seemingly* inactive. - Using AI (and sometimes common sense) to learn who they are, where they found you, and whether what drew them in fits what you publish now. - Running that re-engagement sequence, if it makes sense. - For readers worth keeping, connecting in whatever format they prefer. Sometimes email just isn’t their thing. It doesn’t automatically mean they should be excluded. - Asking them what’s up. - Cutting anyone who no longer fits your direction or your reputation with email providers. - Keeping a record of anyone cut above, before they come off the books of your service provider. You’d be amazed at how many clients I meet who joined one of my lists years ago for an entirely different topic. Digging up that old info comes in handy. All of that is one, tiny project at the start of your regularly-scheduled list maintenance. In big businesses, it goes way deeper. This is why humans are still needed in the AI era: connecting is the job and the goal of a good newsletter. — [CJ](https://cjchilvers.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) P.S. Need help with your newsletter strategy? Book a one-hour strategy session with me [here](https://calendly.com/cjchilvers/60min?ref=cjchilvers.com). P.P.S. I added a few more cleaned-up back issues to the newsletter archive this week for [VIP supporters](https://cjchilvers.com/vip/?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### CJ’s Newsletter: 200 Abnormally Useful Ideas URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/cjs-newsletter-200-abnormally-useful-ideas/ Last updated: 2026-06-19T13:36:45.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2026/06/My-Book-200-Abnormally-Useful-Ideas-Generic.jpg) Over in the [VIP Lounge](https://www.cjchilvers.com/vip), I published a small ebook of readers’ favorite quotes from 20+ years of publishing. I started it last month because I thought it would be the easiest project ever — a nice extra for paid members, filtering my collection of \~2,000 quotes down to the 200 most highlighted. It was not easy. Check out the intro to find out why. Now, to create a “gardened” archive, I’ve started going back as far as 1987 to try to dig up my first issue of my first newsletter. I just really want to know how many of these things I’ve sent out and how many are should be shown in public…or burned in a giant fire. Either way, it should be fun. Thanks for reading! — [CJ](https://www.cjchilvers.com/) **Fender is destroying a billion-dollar brand in record time.** Fender f@cked up. Bad. After sending out an over-the-top cease-and-desist letter to rival guitar companies that was ill-conceived and ill-timed (call it “ill communication”), Fender is facing a massive boycott from artists, influencers, and customers. How many times do we have to say this? **People trust people more than companies.** Customers got their news on the scandal from influencers they know and trust, like YouTubers [Phil McKnight](https://www.youtube.com/live/pTJHhAJLi3E?si=iokvA3tlD5McruA6&t=135&ref=cjchilvers.com) and [Blues Lawyer Matt Esq.](https://youtu.be/vUIRZz5BbUY?si=s2v16w9ohXJduHvx&ref=cjchilvers.com), who clarified why Fender is in the wrong. Lifestyle brands cost billions to build, but can be brought to their knees overnight by a trusted creator. That’s real power. Until brands realize this, the marketing arbitrage of a lifetime will continue. **Did AI overviews kill nonfiction books?** Nonfiction authors already have several trends working against them right now. People are reading fewer books. Younger people are less capable of reading books. This past week, [Tim Ferris](https://tim.blog/2026/06/12/has-ai-already-killed-nonfiction/?ref=cjchilvers.com) and Seth Godin (in the comments of the post), confirmed their book sales are plummeting fast, probably due to Google AI overviews. I’d add that YouTube is also playing a big role. Tim says he’s committed to long-form writing no matter what. Seth says that [certain kinds of nonfiction books are forever](https://seths.blog/2026/06/promotion-activation-conversation/?ref=cjchilvers.com). The truth is, nonfiction books never make much money for 99.99% of authors. They’re branding tools. The good news: I bet it’s much easier to become a bestseller now. **A lot of us have made a career of number 3.** “I still care about my craft, my output, and my reputation, and find that it’s hard to be that kind of person today.” — [Jason Rodriguez](https://arborescens.eocampaign1.com/web-version?ep=2&lc=ce5a568a-e9ba-11f0-a812-ed5d3ce01d58&p=c5daaf38-5eb2-11f1-8dbd-2703b9a79d08&pt=campaign&t=1780491805&s=fee4e406c5d426e017bda71fd235131a827262c20ed651b02a041a54cdf42b43&ref=cjchilvers.com) “There are three ways to make a living: 1\. Lie to people who want to be lied to, and you’ll get rich. 2\. Tell the truth to those who want the truth, and you’ll make a living. 3\. Tell the truth to those who want to be lied to, and you’ll go broke.” — [Jason Zweig](https://jasonzweig.com/three-ways-to-get-paid/?ref=cjchilvers.com) via [Daring Fireball](https://daringfireball.net/linked/2026/06/02/zweig-three-ways-to-get-paid?ref=cjchilvers.com) **The best takedown of Substack that I didn’t write.** I’m always asked about the pros and cons of Substack, so I recognize a good, concise explanation when I see it. This one from [Tyler Denk](https://mail.bigdeskenergy.com/p/creator-first?ref=cjchilvers.com) has been saved as my new reply: “Email is the most powerful distribution channel on the internet because it’s one of the only channels where creators actually own the relationship with their audience. And the distribution happens without intermediaries — that’s the beauty of an open protocol. Meanwhile, Substack is an intermediary. When you upload *your* list to their platform, that becomes *their* user, not your reader. They take over the audience relationship and send them emails on your behalf to subscribe to other creators and to download their app (both of which are KPIs that benefit *their* business, not yours). And once your subscribers download their app it’s game over. You’ve handed your audience over to them. They control the distribution now.” ### SeO what? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/seo-what/ Last updated: 2026-05-11T15:37:43.000Z A new algo dropped from Google and it appears to have the world of SEO in a tizzy. So what? If you’re like me, you’ve learned to recoil at the thought of playing by the rules of someone else’s game instead of serving your readers. And besides, isn’t AI taking over from search? Well, kinda… There are a few notable new challenges that have arisen with this update, in combination with industry deals, that should have bloggers and newsletter publishers more concerned than usual. 1. Google will be the foundational AI tool for iOS starting this year. Search and AI will be dominated by two companies that do not rely solely on AI for revenue. The majority of readers will consume according to their rules. 2. The new updates do a lot of good, clearing out AI slop from search results. However, that slop was trained on your original work. The lines are starting to blur. If you look in Google Search Console, you may be surprised to find how many of your pages have been de-indexed. 3. FAQs are out as a landing page tactic that worked for customers and Google alike. Google’s models have learned all they need from these, I guess. 4. Posting a newsletter that links to your own posts is more likely to be flagged as duplicate content and de-indexed as well. This is alarming if it means Google has adapted to Substack-style gated content as the standard. 5. Link posts (the original form of blogging from the mid-90s that’s still popular with many writers in tech) are now de-indexed to the point that it has become, in my experience, a near ban. My biggest concern is not that these individual pages are de-indexed. That’s a minor problem for SEO troubleshooters and there’s a lot of nuance around why a page is de-indexed. My biggest concern for publishers is the overall outcome of these changes when taken together. The value of your site is being diminished in the eyes of the dominant search and AI companies, making it difficult to reach new readers. When models crave a very specific kind of training, it can be tempting for Google to take the easiest path and exclude content that isn’t an exact match for its AI needs — regardless of what it means for the reader. They can no longer claim trust is a meaningful signal. That can’t end well. What can we do? I don’t know your individual situation or audience, but I think we can turn all of this into a positive. Link posts are out? Fine, put them in your newsletter. The world needs more editors in the era of AI blandness and link-posting bloggers are those editors. Don’t give up on this format, but make sure it isn’t used against you. Publicly posting all your newsletters (that link to pages on your site) is out? Fine, make your newsletter archives a more meaningful destination for subscribers only, with deeper archives than what’s publicly available, easy search, downloadable ebooks based on topic round-ups, forums for Q&A, and AI chatbots trained on all the content you’ve created. Keep making your site more valuable for your subscribers, and let Google de-value what it wants in the name of AI. We’ll see which strategy survives in the long run. ### AI can replace your job. Here’s what it can’t replace. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/ai-can-replace-your-job-heres-what-it-cant-replace/ Last updated: 2026-04-27T11:20:21.000Z ## AI’s weakness lies in technology that predates the web. AI is now [the single most-cited reason](https://www.challengergray.com/blog/challenger-report-march-cuts-rise-25-from-february-ai-leads-reasons/?ref=cjchilvers.com) for job cuts in the U.S. [CFOs expect](https://fortune.com/2026/03/24/cfo-survey-ai-job-cuts-productivity-paradox-2026/?ref=cjchilvers.com) AI-driven cuts to be 9x higher this year, with 44% of all CFOs saying they’re planning layoffs. 9-to-5 jobs haven’t been safe for a while and people are finally noticing. **Independence is no longer a nice-to-have. It’s about survival.** For most of my career, the argument for going independent sounded like a lifestyle pitch. Start your LLC. Work from anywhere. Over-deliver for your clients. Walk your kid to school. This is all true. But it treats independence as a lifestyle upgrade. It’s more than that. In the AI era, it’s foundational. Independence can be the best [financial](https://www.shopify.com/news/future-proof-job?ref=cjchilvers.com) and [health](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0883902617304494?ref=cjchilvers.com) decision a worker can make. It’s time to realize that your greatest advantage right now is **you**. It’s your personality, your experience, and your ability to establish trust as an individual. ## **People will always trust and buy from people before faceless corporate brands.** Without real names, content is less trustworthy. Even [the biggest content brands](https://x.com/mollyhc/status/2046945690421485589?s=12&ref=cjchilvers.com) know this now. If you aren’t independent, the trust you’ve built in your name is not under your control. This is destructive to your future earning potential and quality of life. ## Media created by trusted personalities is the most effective way to market. Before influencers, there were bloggers. Before bloggers, there were TV stars, rock stars, and movie stars. Call them whatever you want, but individuals have always been the drivers of engagement and trust. AI isn’t going to help a corporation become as “authentic” as an actual person. It’s more likely to limit their differentiation and provide gaps for competitors to exploit. Their best hope is to become collections of influencers and try to retain the best. But successful influencers have every incentive to go independent and make more money. So, corporate brands may end up becoming collections of the least influential personalities in every industry. Good luck with that. ## The technology that empowers independence is a form of media that AI-driven companies are ill-equipped to battle: the email newsletter. There’s a reason email has had the greatest ROI in online marketing for over 20 years. It’s at the nexus of trust. - It’s an open format that predates the web by almost two decades. - It’s the only ubiquitous and consistent means of communication online. - It reveals AI as the ultimate compromise engine – predicting the average of every next word in a safe, bland mush. Big companies love safe content. Readers don’t. Companies like Substack (and many others before them) have tried to wrap the email newsletter experience in a corporate brand experience, but this always fails in the long-term and traps their creators. This is already happening at Substack [as they add more obstacles every year for creators](https://x.com/JohnONolan/status/2047026495412187512?ref=cjchilvers.com) who want to improve the reader experience and own their own list. [They push the narrative](https://x.com/Substack/status/2046670801433465062?ref=cjchilvers.com) that the future of email newsletters doesn’t include email — but does include their app. *That’s convenient.* I think independence has to include the rejection of disingenuous aggregators, ownership of your list, and ownership of the readers’ experience. Readers have trusted you with their email addresses. Don’t hand over their entire experience to an untrustworthy third party. ## The market has never been this ready to reward trust and independence. The content that AI produces most efficiently is also the content that requires the most human-to-human trust to be effective. For the foreseeable future, this paradox will be the greatest weakness for cost-cutting organizations and the greatest strength for individuals. Declare independence now. The market is likely to support you more than ever. Do it with an email newsletter, and the trust of a persistent audience will be the wind at your back for the rest of your career (and life). — [CJ](https://www.notion.so/3497360130cd8050bcf6e01ec8555dc6?pvs=21&ref=cjchilvers.com) P.S. I highly recommend attending the annual [Newsletter Conference](https://thenewsletterconference.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) in a few weeks. I’m not paid by them or an affiliate, but as a past attendee, I can guarantee you will learn career-altering lessons here from the smartest newsletter operators in the business. ### Issue 283: The $200 plastic box opportunity URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/issue-283-the-200-plastic-box-opportunity/ Last updated: 2026-07-19T18:03:47.000Z _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The $200 plastic box opportunity URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-200-plastic-box-opportunity/ Last updated: 2026-03-08T14:50:40.000Z If you ever needed an example of the increasing importance of personal brands in the AI era, I’ve got a whopper. Over the past few months, I’ve noticed something that construction professionals and jewelry makers on Etsy have in common: they’re always looking out for better ways to sort and store their small parts. This seems to be a universal struggle for anyone who makes or repairs things — whether it’s their job or hobby. You would think this is a solved problem by now. It’s just a plastic box with plastic boxes inside of it. You can go into a big box store and find small parts organizers for as low as $5 on sale. If you want one that’s made from materials that won’t eat away at your parts over time, you may pay around $20\. If you want one that will survive years of working under harsh conditions at outdoor job sites, you’ll pay $50 to $70. But if you want the [Adam Savage signature model](https://adamsavage.com/products/savage-industries-sortimo-t-boxx?ref=cjchilvers.com) box, it’ll cost you $120 plus shipping — **if** it’s in stock. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2026/03/maxresdefault.jpg) Often, it’s out of stock and eBay sellers list it for around $200\. It sells out fast at both prices. This is why you are limited to 10 boxes when ordering at Adam’s website. He’s trying to discourage resellers. Adam has spent decades cultivating an audience. These days [he makes YouTube videos](https://youtu.be/nNHDs3qlYIg?si=LbQhxbuQQBCVBrM%5F&ref=cjchilvers.com) in his personal workshop, where he makes stuff — anything he feels like at the moment. His videos are not flashy. He speaks openly and honestly about life, career, hobbies, failures, successes, and parenting. This has built so much trust with his audience over the years, that he can command up to $200 for a plastic box. This is extraordinary when you consider the needs of 90% of his audience could likely be met by a $5-$20 box from a big corporate brand, without limitations on order size and without added shipping charges. This is why personal brands are not only a real thing, they are the realest thing right now. People pay for a narrative. People pay based on trust and relationships. The biggest companies on Earth are trying desperately to automate this kind of trust into existence right now, under faceless brands. How do you think that’s going to turn out? ### Why it’s 1995 again URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/why-its-1995-again/ Last updated: 2026-02-14T14:41:50.000Z Rob Kelly was nice enough to have me on his new podcast, [Media and the Machine](https://mediaandthemachine.transistor.fm/episodes/draft-of-cj-chilvers?ref=cjchilvers.com). Unlike most of the podcasts I’ve been on recently, this one goes deep into my actual job: content strategy for tech companies. Here’s a summary of what’s covered: > Why small creators may move faster than big companies in the AI shift > Why this moment feels like the early internet — and why curation wins > Why email still drives the highest ROI in media and B2B > Why many big companies are using AI to cut costs, not grow revenue > Why ads are likely coming to AI tools — and one way they might not > How CJ would launch a content business today > Why human trust still closes deals, not AI > Why humanized content beats automated personalization > Why you don’t need 1,000 true fans — you may only need one > Why trusted editors matter more as AI floods the web Give him a subscribe. He put so much work into the editing of this episode, he managed to make me sound *way* smarter than I actually am. I can only imagine the amount of “ums” he left on the cutting room floor. ### Fix your roof when it’s raining. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/fix-your-roof-when-its-raining/ Last updated: 2026-01-01T18:09:17.000Z Tis the season for overwhelm. Often, in times like these and when being pushed to their limits, creatives will seek help and hear this age-old advice about when to adjust their processes, “Fix your roof when it’s sunny.” This is not helpful. Here’s the problem: Roofs don’t leak when it’s sunny. Roofs leak when they feel like it. Maybe a tornado of obligations just ripped your roof off. No matter how prepared you think you are, life will have other plans. The human brain simply isn’t made to deal with the amount of information we’re shoveling into it. Yes, try to fix your roof when it’s sunny. But if a storm occurs and your roof starts leaking, you should probably know how to fix it then as well. If you’re not in a position to re-align expectations — to drop, delegate, or delete responsibilities — you may need to evaluate something less comfortable. That could mean your process (influencers hate when you do this) or your tools (minimalists hate when you do this). Here’s where the real hack is revealed: Other people’s rain isn’t your rain. Their roof isn’t your roof. When you accept that fact, you can apply an appropriate fix. Don’t worry if it takes a while. Some live to be 90 without ever confronting their brain. Ask for help. Ask a peer. Ask AI. Ask me. The response will usually include a certain amount of, “let go of...” Soon it will be the new year and everyone will want you to remake your life. That’s a predictable part of the content cycle. But it’s far more pleasurable, meaningful, and effective to break up with the things that aren’t working, rather than adding new obligations as fixes — under pressure and without introspection. Tis the season for a break, I say. Yes, take a break from work, but also break up with what isn’t working. Maybe the roof didn’t need fixing after all. — [CJ](https://cjchilvers.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) P.S. [AI search favors blog posts above all other forms of content.](https://x.com/neilpatel/status/1941104715808330074?s=12&ref=cjchilvers.com) [Newsletters are driving the most income for content creators.](https://www.creatorspotlight.com/p/monetization-report-2025?ref=cjchilvers.com) So, why do companies consider their blog and email channels to be [the least important methods of posting content?](https://x.com/neilpatel/status/1994405930277257430?s=12&ref=cjchilvers.com) 🤷 Hint: Managers value their tracking data more than ROI. Much more. P.P.S. Big thanks to Kyle Porter for the shout out in his [Normal Sport](https://www.normalsport.com/newsletter/12-things-i-m-thankful-for?ref=cjchilvers.com) newsletter: > *“The best short book I’ve read recently is CJ Chilvers’ 72-page book,* [*Principles for Newsletters*](https://cjchilverss.gumroad.com/l/newsletters?utm%5Fsource=subscribe.normalsport.com&utm%5Fmedium=newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=12-things-i-m-thankful-for)*. I realize this title sounds almost stunningly boring. But I can guarantee you that anyone who is a content creator can take away something that will change the trajectory of their professional work life.”* P.P.P.S. And big thanks to guitar god [John 5](https://john-5.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) for signing the very first copy of my 1999 book, *The Van Halen Encyclopedia*. To my knowledge, it was the first time his name was ever printed in a book. Little did we know he’d go on from being David Lee Roth’s guitar player to become a star in his right, performing in Motley Crue, Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, Salt ’n Peppa (really?), and countless others. His reaction to seeing his name in the old book? He smiled from ear to ear and said, “Wow, I’m famous!” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2025/12/IMG_0343-2.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2025/12/IMG_0396-2-2.jpeg) ### I was wrong about AI URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/i-was-wrong-about-ai/ Last updated: 2025-11-11T20:01:35.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2025/11/IMG_0244.jpeg) It’s Door Henge: For one week a year, the light hits the trees just right above my office. Then, poof, gone. Welcome to winter! I updated my [principles for creating with AI](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/principles-for-creating-with-ai-update/) to find out if anything’s changed since I wrote it in 2023\. I got pretty angry about a prediction I got totally wrong — never make predictions within a principle — lesson learned. I go in-depth about it all in an upcoming episode of [a new podcast](https://mediaandthemachine.substack.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) you should definitely check out. A [new survey of professional writers](https://gothamghostwriters.com/ai-writer/?ref=cjchilvers.com) shows the most advanced AI users have 64% higher incomes than nonusers. This is what surveys have been showing across all industries. It’s consistent. Those who learn to use AI tools are empowered by them. Speaking of principles, someone put together [this great list of (named) principles and laws for hackers](https://hacker-laws.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com). I’m not a hacker, but this is a great list for anyone in the business of creation. I guess I should have named more of mine. It takes a lot to surprise me these days when it comes to enshitification. I just assume it’s overtaking everything. The natural response is a flight to quality, like choosing physical media over streaming. So I was genuinely surprised to see that enshitification has managed to creep into physical media…and in [the most diabolical way](https://youtu.be/Hzz%5Fd9Y44ZE?si=CrsmIul8qKQqPpeb&t=169&ref=cjchilvers.com). “Most inventors and engineers I’ve met are like me — they’re shy and they live in their heads. They’re almost like artists. In fact, the very best of them are artists. And artists work best alone—best outside of corporate environments, best where they can control an invention’s design without a lot of other people designing it for marketing or some other committee. I don’t believe anything really revolutionary has ever been invented by committee. Because the committee would never agree on it!” — [Steve Wozniak](https://x.com/shaneparrish/status/1987518537439821827?s=20&ref=cjchilvers.com) If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to make a fancy hardcover book, [Paul Millerd reveals everything about the making of his new hardcover for *The Pathless Path*](https://newsletter.pathlesspath.com/p/how-to-make-a-book?ref=cjchilvers.com). — [CJ](https://cjchilvers.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) ### Principles for Creating with AI (update) URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/principles-for-creating-with-ai-update/ Last updated: 2025-11-11T13:37:14.000Z Back in April 2023, I posted a list of [principles for creating with AI](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/principles-for-creating-with-ai/), attempting to separate fact from fiction and find some universal truths about working with AI. How did it hold up? For the most part, I think it stood up well. But there’s one thing I got very wrong and I’m *furious* about it. I had the opportunity to talk about it all on the Media and the Machine podcast (subscribe [here](https://mediaandthemachine.substack.com/) to get it when it drops). To prep for the podcast, I revisited those principles and added a few notes: > *1\. AI tools will continue to improve.* > *2\. The rate of improvement will continue to increase.* Still true. If you think the rate increase isn’t happening, you’re probably only looking at generative AI (and only from U.S. corporations) — and even then it’s debatable. > *3\. Because of 1 and 2, never say, “AI can’t…”* People should know this by now. Extend the timeline out 10, 100, or 200 years. What can you confidently say AI will not be able to do? > *4\. If everyone has access to the tool, the tool is not a competitive advantage.* I’m surprised by businesses that still don’t understand this point. Using AI isn’t enough. That’s table stakes now. What else are you bringing? > *5\. AI seems to have a bias towards abundance. It seems to abhor scarcity (the driver of value) and constraints (the driver of creativity). Use this.* Generative AI’s bias towards abundance is probably the catalyst of most hallucinations. A confident, wrong response or action will keep subscribers longer than a thoughtful, “I don’t know.” No one in charge of an AI company can afford to understand the value of scarcity or constraints right now. > *6\. AI will be incorporated in all your work tools. It will be expected as a part of your process, even if it isn’t. To be competitive for clients, you should master the tools more than the next person.* This may have been the most demonstrably accurate of the bunch. > *7\. AI companies are still hiring writers, content strategists, and designers for a reason.* Some of the higher-paying content positions I’ve seen lately come from industries that have the highest levels of AI adoption. I guess they learned #4 pretty quick. > *8\. Who did you turn to for trusted info on AI? Not AI.* “Trusted” does a lot of work in this one. > *9\. AI will take jobs quickly, but probably not careers — as long as relationship-building remains the focus of the career. Stick to your principles. Principles are useful constraints, not likely to be shared by AI anytime soon.* AI will take it all — at short-sighted companies. AI is already a net killer of jobs on a grand scale. But see #4 and #7 above. After we go through these hard times, if there’s a re-hiring frenzy, it may be met with yawns from empowered free agents. Forcing out employees with a deep knowledge of your industry, and access to the same AI tools used to replace them, is a recipe for creating thousands of competitors — competitors who can complete projects faster and cheaper while earning more. Companies really aren’t thinking this through. > *10\. Process pays no mind to AI. Your process is guided by the constraints that work for your brain, without regard for whether AI can help. Maybe it can. Most likely it will also remove vital constraints if you’re not careful. But, see number 3\. Never say never. Experiment.* True, but too nuanced. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to build models designed for your specific brain…yet. So, don’t assume any kind of automation makes sense for you without experimenting. > *11\. AI is an executive function aid. It will be embraced for accessibility purposes, and put to use in K-12.* I was dead wrong about this and I’m *furious* this isn’t happening. Rather than embracing the positives of AI as a learning tool, schools have made it a bogeyman. They are failing to prepare our kids for real life. On top of that, they’ve conditioned students to accept extreme amounts of surveillance in their daily lives — tracking every keystroke (and sometimes much more) to ensure AI wasn’t used. I’d rather our schools graduated individuals capable of independent, critical thought — with experience in using whatever tools help them succeed in the real world. Which leads me to the next principle. > 12\. *AI does nothing to solve the hardest part of creating (for yourself or for clients): having the courage to express an opinion in public. “Voice” is not opinion.* This is so true that it has a name now: slop. There’s a huge opportunity for realness out there. > 13\. *People still prefer to buy from people, even if they also buy from AI. Adding real people to the mix will drive more value over time.* > *14\. In B2B, AI can open conversations and create interest. Closing still happens between humans — sometimes entire committees. The companies who are fastest in getting a human involved with the customer are likely be more competitive. Use AI to quickly get that human in front of that client.* This is another set of principles that’s so true, it led (at least in part) to a new business term: [the obelisk structure](https://hbr.org/2025/09/ai-is-changing-the-structure-of-consulting-firms?ref=cjchilvers.com). I think that will eventually fall away, though. With this new structure, we’re admitting now that *some* people are indispensable *for now*. We’ve got a long way to go before businesses just say, “people are indispensable.” > *15\. With so much new content about to be added to everyone’s information diet, trusted editors will rule for the foreseeable future.* Cutting through AI slop will become a job in media with openings for every niche topic of interest. > 16\. *True curation requires trust and opinion. This is a weakness for AI and an opportunity for creators. Invest in curation. Email newsletters still return the best ROI for curated content.* No changes since 2023\. Actually, no changes since the 1990s on this one. > *17\. Humanization of content beats personalization and automation.* Never truer. Never more ignored. > *18\. Most businesses have short-term biases. Cost-cutting with AI will come before revenue-boosting.* We are deep within this moment now. I wish I hadn’t been right about this one. > *19\. It was *Content* Strategy. It’s now Content *Strategy*. Even the greatest AI-wielding creatives have terrible implementations. Again, editing will be a more desired skill. Strategy is the competitive advantage.* I think this is now widely understood. It’s just not widely implemented. That’s this era of AI in a nutshell: we understand more, but we’re not acting like it. ### Personal brands to the rescue URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/personal-brands-to-the-rescue/ Last updated: 2025-09-05T17:49:55.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2025/09/IMG_2937.jpeg) Let’s close out summer on a high note — a business doing it right. My wife signed us up for this summer camp-themed dinner at a local restaurant. We were greeted with Old Fashioneds, served with the chefs’ high-end interpretation of camp food, and read a ghost story from the stage above. To remember the experience, we were all given souvenir vinyl records with the menu on the back and the autographs of the chefs who made it all happen. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2025/09/IMG_2958-copy.jpeg) There are no hidden lessons here. They simply over-delivered to the point where we had to sign up for their next few themed dinners. Well done. I don’t think they’ll have any issues with branding but over 80% of businesses will, so I wrote this week about [why personal brands are coming to the rescue](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/can-personal-brands-save-big-business/). Thanks for reading and welcome to the one true season. — [CJ](https://cjchilvers.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) ## Elsewhere: - “I’m not afraid of artificial intelligence, I’m afraid of natural stupidity.” — [Guillermo del Toro](https://x.com/variety/status/1961770749519126841?s=12&ref=cjchilvers.com) - “Nobody ever figures out what life is all about, and it doesn’t matter. Nearly everything is really interesting if you go into it deeply enough.” — Richard P. Feynman - Rob Hope is currently working on a second edition of his [landing page ebook,](https://landingpagehottips.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) which I’ve found over the years to be the closest anyone’s ever gotten to explaining how landing pages work in the real world with real clients. I can’t wait for the updated version. - Victoria Song explains why [AI doesn’t belong in journaling](https://www.theverge.com/analysis/764519/ai-gemini-pixel-journal-app?ref=cjchilvers.com). I don’t agree entirely. I believe constraints breed creativity. However, what defines a constraint varies wildly by person. For many, having AI give you a head start may be the difference between journaling every day and forgetting you even have a journal. - I’m so glad someone compiled this list of [Substack’s broken promises](https://molodtsov.me/2025/08/broken-substack/?ref=cjchilvers.com). I knew, after they took on their first big-time investors, that their promises made no sense for their business model. I stated it in this newsletter many times. Still, it’s pretty shocking to see it all laid out in plain text. ### Can personal brands save big business? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/can-personal-brands-save-big-business/ Last updated: 2025-09-01T19:33:03.000Z [NP Digital](https://x.com/neilpatel/status/1956324997108052293/photo/1?ref=cjchilvers.com) asked 200 companies about their employees’ personal brands. If you’re guessing that most companies said, “Huh? what?” you’re probably right. Over 80% of the companies didn’t support their employees’ personal brands. Only 18 of the companies reported that they both supported employees with personal brands, and those employees were willing to promote the company. 13 of those 18 companies said those personal brands drove sales. That’s a 72% success rate. That’s a crazy high number for any sales or marketing strategy — especially one so simple and inexpensive. It’s just another reminder that humans are more likely to trust (and buy from) other humans rather than companies. This is why [VCs are launching their own newsletters](https://blog.beehiiv.com/p/why-vcs-are-launching-newsletters-to-build-deal-flow-and-personal-brands-68a5?ref=cjchilvers.com). This is why The Wall Street Journal is hiring a “[Talent Coach](https://wsj.jobs/new-york-ny/talent-coach/96B44D04546940D0B266E6819C871849/job/?ref=cjchilvers.com)” for their writers’ personal brands: *“The Talent Coach will equip our journalists with the skills and strategies needed to effectively build their personal brand, engage with audiences, amplify their work and navigate the complexities of various social-media platforms.”* Smart companies will increasingly become collections of personal brands. It’s the publishing house model reborn. It’s not surprising that media companies are among the first to catch on. The real challenge will be for the 80%+ of companies who seem unwilling to accept reality. They not only need to learn how to support personal brands but also become the kind of company an employee would want to promote. Good luck with that. This predicament is nothing new. There will always be a top 20% of companies in any industry, willing to adapt to the market and pivot on a dime. This is just another way of identifying them (and possible investing in them). At the very least, if you’re working for the 80%, this is an indicator to start planning your exit. It’s not going to get any easier for them from here. ### The best things in life don’t scale. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-best-things-in-life-dont-scale/ Last updated: 2025-07-14T11:17:38.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2025/07/IMG_2711-1.jpeg) The best things in life don’t scale. I wrote this past week about how [the same is true in marketing](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/do-shit-that-doesnt-scale/). I’ve come up with a list of examples since writing that post, but I’d love to hear yours. Feel free to respond and I’ll share the best. — [CJ](https://cjchilvers.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) **Link love**: - [SEO is dead](https://youtu.be/IUrRq-kEd0A?si=JBA6Gmz%5F3ilSfU6M&ref=cjchilvers.com). [The ad-model newsletter is dead](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/this-newsletter-model-is-dead/). So, what isn’t dead? Believe it or not, [blogging.](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/blogs-arent-quite-dead-yet/) - I went on the Day One podcast to talk about how I’ve [kept a daily journal since 2010](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/keeping-a-daily-journal-since-2010/) - [AI is doing 30%-50% of the work at Salesforce](https://unusualwhales.com/news/ai-is-doing-30-50-of-the-work-at-salesforce-crm-ceo-marc-benioff-has-said?ref=cjchilvers.com). This is a good line if you’re talking to shareholders, but I wonder if they’re telling their customers the same. - “Your purpose is not the thing you do. It’s the thing that happens in others when you do what you do.” – [Dr. Caroline Leaf](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKkz%5F8pRB1c/?igsh=OG5xNW13OXZtMDgw&ref=cjchilvers.com) via [Swiss Miss](https://www.swiss-miss.com/2025/07/your-purpose.html?ref=cjchilvers.com) - “You do realise you don’t absolutely have to do any of this, right – the good grades, the praiseworthy accomplishments, ‘fulfilling your potential’ and all the rest? It’s all great, and it matters, but do you understand that it doesn’t *matter* matter? That the sky won’t fall in if you chill out a bit, and that people who don’t always ‘do their best’ or ‘fulfill their potential’ are allowed to enjoy life, too?” — [Oliver Burkeman](https://newsletters.feedbinusercontent.com/678/678958ed5508b378e89a6d008bb4a45d1515ac58.html?ref=cjchilvers.com) - After constant slandering from a new generation of productivity gurus, Merlin Mann has once again tried to clear the air on what [Inbox Zero](https://merlin.ghost.io/the-right-zero/?ref=cjchilvers.com) actually means. - Much like my lists of principles, Seth Godin has published a short list of his [Notes to Self](https://seths.blog/2025/07/65-thoughts/?ref=cjchilvers.com). Several of these small sentences became entire books. To me, this is the future of the “archive” on personal websites. List the lessons you’ve learned or intense interests you've had, and link out to your supporting posts, books, podcasts, and videos. Create a narrative and stop grouping posts by topic alone. This is probably the future of the ebook. If you don’t own that content in HTML, out in the open, someone else will. ### Do shit that doesn’t scale. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/do-shit-that-doesnt-scale/ Last updated: 2025-07-11T13:00:21.000Z I get questions from marketers all the time about what to do as more and more of their work is eaten by AI. They see their clients happy with AI content, even if conversion rates and sales go way down. Why? The amount of cost-cutting involved is so massive, the client willing to take a big hit in sales. This is short-term thinking in the extreme. Their clients are well aware this could lead to company-ending decreases in sales and reputation in the long term, but the client doesn’t care. Why? The client for most marketers is usually a middle manager who’ll be on to the next job in a year or two. They’ll take the cost-cutting win now and dip out before their boss’s boss figures out that sales aren’t decreasing just because of “the economy.” My advice has been the same for years: do shit that doesn’t scale. What does this mean in practical terms? - Elicit replies to your email newsletters and reply to the replies. - Show up in person more. - Get people to subscribe to your content in person, at any kind of event where like-minded meet — not just conferences. Here’s some real-life examples: - I’ve seen an author put his phone number on the front cover of his book. - I’ve seen newsletters set up booths at events just to subscribe a few dozen people — because both parties know each other are real and engaged. - I went to a bar to meet the inventor of podcasting. He asked people to show up to discuss his podcast and what was on their minds — maybe a dozen or so did. That was more than a decade ago and we’re still telling our readers about it. - I traveled seven hours to meet at a bar with two like-minded content creators. It led to several podcast episodes, countless blog posts ideas, and an event. - I went to concert where I thought several of my readers would likely be. I walked up to the front row and started chatting up random people. I discovered several were readers, and we talked until the band started to play. - I took two publishers' offers to meet with their subscribers in short Zoom calls (it must've been recommended at a creator conference somewhere). Both publishers have grown their businesses into empires since those meetings. I’ve shared their articles dozens of times, and they've shared mine, because we've all met in person now and know we can trust each other’s taste in content. All of these examples led to outsized successes for everyone involved. None of them “scale,” but somehow all of them scaled beyond expectations. ### Blogs aren’t quite dead yet. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/blogs-arent-quite-dead-yet/ Last updated: 2025-07-07T13:28:07.000Z According to long-time content strategist (and 2025’s YouTube viral breakout) Pat Flynn, [SEO is dead](https://youtu.be/IUrRq-kEd0A?si=JBA6Gmz%5F3ilSfU6M&ref=cjchilvers.com). According to newsletter guru Matt McGarry, [ad-based newsletters are dead](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/this-newsletter-model-is-dead/). So, what’s alive? If you’re an AI company, it’s the lowly blog. According to [NP Digital](https://npdigital.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com), blog posts are the #1 source cited by Google AI Overview and Perplexity, and the #2 source at ChatGPT (just behind Wikipedia). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2025/07/E7291745-9BBB-48CA-805F-7B7802933B52.jpeg) I don’t know if that’s a good thing or bad thing. It’s kind of like asking a plagiarist about their favorite authors. But it does prove that blogs aren’t dead yet..at least to AI. ### Keeping a daily journal since 2010 URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/keeping-a-daily-journal-since-2010/ Last updated: 2025-06-20T16:47:08.000Z I went on the [Day One podcast](https://dayoneapp.com/podcast/episode-69-cj-chilvers/?ref=cjchilvers.com) to talk about my daily journaling habit. I've been journaling every day since 2010, and in Day One since...day one of the app, I think. [Every Single Day: C.J. Chilvers on Journaling as Reflection and MeditationC.J. Chilvers has journaled every night since 2010, treating the practice as a form of quiet reflection—part habit, part meditation.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/icon/favicon-32x32-1.png)Day One | Your Journal for Life![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/thumbnail/cj-chilvers-featured.png)](https://dayoneapp.com/podcast/episode-69-cj-chilvers/?ref=cjchilvers.com) I only have two rules. They constrain me just enough to get it done every day and no more. 1. **Create an entry in Day One once every day.** It’s doesn’t matter what’s in the entry. It can be a word, a paragraph, a photo, or an essay. 2. **Drill it into your head that no one will ever seen it.** Keep it encrypted. Never give anyone your password. Go wild. Kill perfectionism. That's it. What really interests me is the intersection of journaling and meditation. I go into it a little during the podcast, but I still need to do my research before writing about it here. There's definitely something weird about that intersection worth studying. Meditation is the letting go of thoughts in an attempt to get a tiny bit closer to the present. Journaling is the detailed examination of thoughts, which puts you in a flow state with outcomes that are very similar to meditation. They're opposite approaches that reach (seemingly) similar results. Cutting through the woo-woo and getting to good, independent, replicate-able studies on this is probably going to be difficult. But what a fascinating topic to explore! ### Stop asking me if I exist. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/stop-asking-me-if-i-exist/ Last updated: 2025-06-06T12:37:31.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2025/06/IMG_2379.jpeg) Thanks to the Dan, Ryan, Jesse, and Tony for the cap — you know how to treat a baldie in the summer. Is this true for you? I keep getting emails from newsletters asking me if I’m still around. Maybe it’s because I use Apple products, which emphasize privacy, and mask a lot of opens and clicks that newsletters (still?!) use to determine engagement, as if we were living in 2015. Why are so many creators so quick to unsubscribe a loyal and engaged reader? Blaming it on data is avoiding the question and creating a bigger problem — because I never respond. Sometimes I wonder “what ever happened to…\[creator who unsubbed me\]?” That’s not a place you ever want a reader to be. Publishing in 2025 means never trusting the data alone. Slow down on the cost-cutting and dig a little deeper into who is subscribing to you. You may be surprised. As always, thanks for taking the time to read. — [CJ](https://www.cjchilvers.com/) [Newsletters are about to get hot…again.](https://www.omeda.com/resources/reports/state-of-audience-report-2025/?ref=cjchilvers.com) Omeda has published their [2025 State of Audience Report](https://www.omeda.com/resources/reports/state-of-audience-report-2025/?ref=cjchilvers.com). A few things here rung true with me based on conversations I’ve had with agency owners: Search traffic is way down and more businesses are turning to email newsletters to reclaim ownership of their audience. [Email ROI is ridiculous.](https://www.litmus.com/landing-page/state-of-email-2025?mkt%5Ftok=ODY0LVZQWi0xMzEAAAGa2nMbsneypXK0JVlxSaDU9eBdPSFRKkNlBPP5w8-NUDetCVa3%5FElTOH0fviYO1qGv8RHwBlZwTD3JSl341Rqn2OYj6OJ0pjPwClh-irjY00M&utm%5Fcontent=bottom%5Fcta&ref=cjchilvers.com#form) The tagline of the new [2025 Litmus State of Email Report](https://www.litmus.com/landing-page/state-of-email-2025?mkt%5Ftok=ODY0LVZQWi0xMzEAAAGa2nMbsneypXK0JVlxSaDU9eBdPSFRKkNlBPP5w8-NUDetCVa3%5FElTOH0fviYO1qGv8RHwBlZwTD3JSl341Rqn2OYj6OJ0pjPwClh-irjY00M&utm%5Fcontent=bottom%5Fcta&ref=cjchilvers.com#form) echoes exactly what [my book](https://cjchilverss.gumroad.com/l/newsletters?ref=cjchilvers.com) said: It’s all about relationships now. According to the report, “One-third of companies see an ROI between 10:1 and 36:1 and another third see ROI above 36:1.” Not bad for an old, boring form of media. [AI is the cure that causes the illness.](https://www.axios.com/2025/05/28/ai-jobs-white-collar-unemployment-anthropic?ref=cjchilvers.com) I tried being a little positive in my last email about AI and creators. But it looks like I picked the wrong month for that, as [one of the most dire articles about AI effects on the economy](https://www.axios.com/2025/05/28/ai-jobs-white-collar-unemployment-anthropic?ref=cjchilvers.com) was published, then boosted by industry leaders and a former President. My take: With such a reduced need for labor in 1-5 years, why would continuously increasing productivity become the focus long-term? The workers are the consumers. Reducing prices only goes so far when your clients have no money at all. This race to the bottom is going to kill companies we think of now as unkillable. [Warner Bros. misses the physical media they abandoned.](https://www.thepopverse.com/movies-warner-brothers-co-chairs-michael-de-luca-pam-adby-dvd-sales-safety-net?ref=cjchilvers.com) The AI story above isn’t the only case of giant companies sabotaging their long-term success for *potential* short-term gains. Media giants are now missing the days of huge-margin, physical media releases. Mike Deluca, Co-Chair and CEO of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, says “When we lost DVDs, when DVDs went away, we did lose a safety net, and streaming doesn’t quite make up that gap.” Huh. You “lost” DVDs. Like your car keys? I guess we just give up then? No one has the imagination to offer something better than increasingly unpopular streaming services? Maybe look into a few of [these](https://www.criterion.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) [companies](https://www.arrowvideo.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) [who](https://vinegarsyndrome.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) are doing quite well. “The scariest thing about AI is realizing your employer doesn’t need you any longer. The exciting thing about AI is realizing you don’t need your employer any longer.” — [Jack Zerby](https://x.com/jackzerby/status/1919906791439179902?s=12&ref=cjchilvers.com) “It takes a lot of imagination to do nothing and you have to be sufficiently self-confident not to have a bad conscience. You have to have a taste for life, so that every minute is complete in itself and so you don’t have to keep saying ‘I’ve done this or that.’ You need strong nerves to do nothing.” — [Françoise Sagan](https://substack.com/redirect/669ee80b-00c8-4530-8fa5-3eb22d2b6c68?j=eyJ1IjoidDNmbiJ9.HaauVxy6XZcVXdaTn4DXRUe4u6FVzja9CscNK0DoXzg&ref=cjchilvers.com) via [Austin Kleon](https://austinkleon.substack.com/p/summer-plans) ### Be weird. Save Lives. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/be-weird-save-lives-newsletter/ Last updated: 2025-05-14T11:50:31.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2025/05/IMG_1996.jpg) We don’t deserve dogs. So, I got a new puppy. I figure the lack of sleep and constant cleanups will eventually get me close enough to deserving this dog. This past week I wrote about how the rest of the newsletter world is waking up to the fact that [this newsletter model is dead.](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/this-newsletter-model-is-dead/) ‘Bout time. Then, I posted about how [this artist’s weirdness](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/be-weird-save-lives/) in 1990 saved (at least) one life and inspired genre of music that would rule the charts a decade later with tens of billions of dollars in revenue. As Sally Hogshead says, “Different is better than better.” Elsewhere, Mark Manson explains why [no one is reading books anymore](https://youtu.be/4KlNgXg25C8?si=APqr7n8UcaV%5FqTKj&ref=cjchilvers.com). His reasons are strong. So are his delusions that we can solve for the long-term, (and IMO natural) transition away from traditional books. The idea that [AI is too busy to take your job](https://www.drorpoleg.com/ai-is-too-busy-to-take-your-job/?ref=cjchilvers.com) seems like wishful thinking, but it’s a great thought experiment too. Thanks for reading! – [CJ](https://cjchilvers.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) ### This newsletter model is dead. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/this-newsletter-model-is-dead/ Last updated: 2025-05-06T11:42:26.000Z Matt McGarry just posted about what he’s calling [Newsletters 3.0](https://www.newsletteroperator.com/p/newsletters-3-0?ref=cjchilvers.com). > “If you’re running a ‘newsletter business’ the way most people do, you’re doomed to fail.” His post could be mistaken for a summary of the topics in [my book on newsletters](https://www.cjchilvers.com/books/), but his take is from an ad-based newsletter POV. The timeline included is pretty great. I remind everyone of the Daily Candy sale, which was considered insane at the time. It was huge news that no one seems to remember now. But they were not “the first company to scale an *online* email newsletter.” I also disagree with this take: > “When people think of a *newsletter business* or *newsletter-first media company* they think about a free daily newsletter that generates revenue from ads inside email. This is the model companies like Morning Brew, TheSkimm, and The Hustle used historically. That model is dead. I agree that business model was always a short-term bet. The get-your-money-and-run model tends to lose to the relationship-building model in the long run. Not a big shock. I disagree with the general perception throughout the post that the soon-to-be-dead ad-based newsletter is the dominant model. Maybe that isn’t Matt’s full take. He does seem to make that assumption a few times in the post, but also adds clarification a few times, including the term “newsletter-first media company,” which is more accurate. I’m sure he knows the difference. Based on in-person conversations, I’m not sure his audience does. I feel like newsletter creators need to be reminded pretty regularly that ordinary businesses have been publishing email newsletters for decades — sometimes for tens of millions of customers — without any ads or expectations of short-term ROI. It’s more likely those companies have the dominant newsletter model. Call it Newsletter 0.0, or the “hey, just keepin’ in touch” model. It sounds boring, but boring is usually where the money is. There’s not much profit in *talking* about those newsletters. There’s a ton of profit in publishing them. ### Be weird. Save lives. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/be-weird-save-lives/ Last updated: 2025-05-14T15:52:40.000Z There’s been a flood of great “create for the fun of it” content in recent weeks, that I desperately wanted to link to — but I feared I’d be repeating my message a little too much. Then, I saw a video pop up on YouTube that said the same thing, but in a new way. I saw the words: > “If it wasn’t for Faith No More, I wouldn’t be here.” It’s [an interview with singer Cory Taylor](https://youtube.com/shorts/OUZux5nbavM?si=4ZVl8FmRb0vKoTky&ref=cjchilvers.com), a heavy metal icon since the early 2000s. In the video, he talks about being a depressed 20-something, who attempted suicide by overdosing. After getting out of the hospital, he saw a performance on TV that would change his life and inspire a career that has touched millions. What he watched that night was one-off, half-joking, awards show performance by Faith No More at the MTV Video Music Awards in June of 1990. > “They were so good. They were so powerful. And it was so different than anything I’d ever seen. They really got me up off my ass. That’s when I started writing again.” I agree. I watched their performance that night too. I was 14, the perfect age for this kind of thing. **Context**: Everyone was expecting the same old boring, homogenous, well-polished pop acts that night. After all, MTV and radio had been pushing sound-alike dance singles from big-shoulder-padded artists for several years by then. Then, [these weirdos took the stage](https://youtu.be/A9aZWFG69-k?si=D-ic66Q90jSQjQfu&ref=cjchilvers.com). Cory picked the perfect word for it: powerful. It was weird. It was unpolished. It was a middle finger to the audience in attendance, without even bothering to lift the middle finger. They were the only act that night that wasn’t seeking approval. Even the bewildering ending of the song was just right — a fish flop followed by a nonchalant, “bye.” It’s hard to overstate the impact of going weird — a playful, positive rejection of the status quo. Musicians really embraced this philosophy and this band. Nirvana got the headlines in popular culture, but every musician I knew was a much bigger Faith No More fan. Metallica was wearing their merch. System of a Down, Korn, Deftones, Slipknot…pretty much every band that ruled the charts a decade later…cited Faith No More as being foundational. Even decades later, [they never gave up on being weird and weirdly great](https://youtu.be/9wETNJ8mXxw?si=GM969k1ndw7q5waU&ref=cjchilvers.com). If you don’t like reality, you can reject it or *play* with it. Rejecting it can send you further into a hole (looking at you, grunge). Playing with reality gives you power over whatever put you in that hole. Sharing your weirdo creations helps everyone. Turns out, it might even save a life here or there. Being un-serious has serious side effects. I think we’re desperately in need of an un-serious rebellion right now. I can’t wait to see what form it takes. I hope it looks something like Faith No More. ### Daydreaming about Publishing URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/daydreaming-about-publishing/ Last updated: 2025-04-21T11:40:02.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2025/04/IMG_1716.jpeg) Since the last post, I spent a week in Mexico (above). I learned two things: 1. All I ever need from a “break” is time away from urgency. We rarely get that, even on a vacation. 2. When I did get a real break, I thought about how I could improve on the same things I post about here. If you’re ever in doubt about your career choices, take a real break, free from distractions, and let your brain tell you what it wants. [Where does blogging fit in your newsletter strategy?](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/where-does-blogging-fit-in-your-newsletter-strategy/) Find out why the often-ignored blog should actually be the engine of your newsletter. When in doubt, [write in red](https://dimenovelraven.com/blog/when-in-doubt-write-in-red?ref=cjchilvers.com). [Views are lies.](https://www.theverge.com/social/639811/view-counts-tiktok-instagram-x-youtube-lies?ref=cjchilvers.com) Psst: So are opens and clicks. “One of the worst problems facing our culture is the amount of Fun Work currently being used up by people who don’t find it fun.” — [Eliza Weisman](https://x.com/mycoliza/status/1900309725717422465?s=46&ref=cjchilvers.com) You’re not too late to the YouTube party. [People are spending 9x more time on video](https://x.com/neilpatel/status/1913563237955809512?s=12&ref=cjchilvers.com) than text these days. And now, [the olds are coming](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/youtube-most-tv-use-us-february-2025-1236171731/?ref=cjchilvers.com). “The only morning routine you need: Have something in your life that’s so exciting, you can’t wait to wake up and get out of bed.” — [Mark Manson](https://x.com/iammarkmanson/status/1912508104677220598?s=12&ref=cjchilvers.com) Thanks for reading! — [CJ](https://www.cjchilvers.com/) ### Where does blogging fit in your newsletter strategy? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/where-does-blogging-fit-in-your-newsletter-strategy/ Last updated: 2025-04-20T22:44:19.000Z I got this question from a reader recently: > “Have you written about how a blog and a newsletter could interact together? Two problems: 1\. We’ve monetized each newsletter. Can I monetize the blog? 2\. Can I train my audience to visit a ... blog (?) ... every day?” I moved my blog over to [Ghost](https://ghost.org/?via=cj14&ref=cjchilvers.com) specifically so there could be tighter integration between my blog and newsletter. I still haven’t taken full advantage of all the features, but when you’re offered a Porsche at the same price as your 10-year-old Camry, you don’t turn it down. I’d say your audience is already trained. If you want to monetize in the short-term, it’s about delivering the information in the way they already prefer (even if that involves audio/video/in-person). That doesn’t mean you have to monetize for the short term, of course. Blogging is more of a long-term strategy. If I had blogged freely since I started my site in the 90s, with no pay walls or barriers to my books, I would have experienced 100x the return and established countless new relationships. For example, my 1998 book on Van Halen would have made WAY more money in affiliate sales alone as a free and open series of blog posts than it ever has or will in book royalties. And that’s just one of several potential streams of income. Here’s the hard truth: We’ve just experienced two lost decades for indie publishers who followed the rules of growth marketing and we’re heading full speed into a third. I’m lucky. I only half-heartedly followed some of the rules and continued to blog like it was 1996\. I missed out on that 100x profit, but I gained trust by just continuing to show up. The lessons I’ve learned: First, publish freely on your own site. When stuck, employ constraints. Follow-up anywhere else *you* want. This keeps you healthy, curious, and prolific. Remember, anything can be a blog post. Not everything can be YouTube video, a podcast, or pithy quote for social media. As for email’s role, I find that attention spans keep shrinking across all media and email is no exception. Contrary to the advice of the new gurus of email marketing, I’d say design your email for the attention span of a goldfish. Let the reader decide when to go in-depth on your blog, podcast, or YouTube channel. So, I’d say yes to 1, depending on your audience, and no to 2 (usually). But I regret not focusing on the longer-term benefits of posting in easier, healthier, and more consistent ways. *P.S. After responding to this question and using author* [*Derek Sivers*](http://sivers.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) *as an example of best practices, the reader contacted Derek Sivers. Derek then contacted me, asking me to update* [*my Now page*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/now/) *so he could promote it. I did. Now, I’m in Derek Sivers’* [*Now page index*](https://nownownow.com/p/ZsiK?ref=cjchilvers.com)*. Long-term, just-showing-up publishing wins again. Big thanks to you, dear reader!* ### SEO elder abuse URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/seo-elder-abuse/ Last updated: 2025-03-02T14:40:33.000Z According to [research by Neil Patel](https://x.com/neilpatel/status/1894009384084160805?s=46&ref=cjchilvers.com), 59.2% of traffic to blogs is driven by SEO. It’s the biggest single driver of traffic by far. He also [reports](https://x.com/neilpatel/status/1886399248389808134?s=12&ref=cjchilvers.com) that your SEO decreases over time, if you’ve published a lot of posts that no longer get the traffic they once did – which describes every older blog. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2025/03/seo.jpeg) In fact, Neil found that if your site is 10 or more years old, 44% percentage of the pages on your site could be considered “irrelevant” by search engines. The more irrelevant pages your site has, the more it suffers in search ranking. In other words, Google doesn’t understand what makes for good publishing on the web. What’s really happening here is that the 20-somethings who were influencing things at Google are now 40-somethings who have moved on to other jobs. The new crop of 20-somethings (at all tech companies) has never known a world where personal blogs and newsletters published some of the most relevant ideas and news, through user-controlled, non-algorithmic means. It’s easy to assume that an archive of content that doesn’t get much traffic is irrelevant, but it’s quite a (lazy) leap to assume the entire site where that archive lives is irrelevant. It’s especially odd when you consider how selective this assumption is, since I doubt it would apply to Wikipedia, The Internet Archive, or IMDB – all of which have countless old pages that get few visits. Most of my favorite blogs and newsletters are over 10 years old. Most of my favorites these days, regardless of age, publish frequently without regard to the size the post or the SEO hits they’re taking. They might publish one to five posts a day that range from one sentence to 10 paragraphs. They are usually experts in one thing but share everything they find interesting – just like the original blogs did back in the 1990s. They have massive archives that Google would find “irrelevant.” These sites are invaluable to me. They are of lesser value to Google, which makes Google less valuable to me. The SEO experts recommend you prune your archives regularly to decrease your irrelevant pages. I think it’s a good idea to check back on your posts for broken links or missing images, but every veteran blogger and newsletter creator I know, would offer slightly different advice than the experts, such as: - Don’t worry about what Google wants. It’ll change tomorrow. As will Google’s dominance. - Post as much or as little as you want. It’s your place. - Post whatever keeps you interested and publishing for the long term. - Post whatever helps you build a stronger connection with your audience. - Looking back at your archives helps you re-discover connections you’ve forgotten. It helps your readers do the same. As AI eats more and more of Google’s search share, perhaps it’s the elder bloggers and newsletter publishers – with that imperfect stream of useful posts in their archive – who will stand out to audiences as relatable, trustworthy humans. Why would we give that up for an increasingly irrelevant search model? – [CJ](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe/) P.S. I’ve been away for longer than I wanted, but it’s because I’ve been writing *too* much. Although I can’t share who I’ve been writing for, I can share it’s been about the latest advances in AI. I am happy to report that the principles I posted two years ago for [creating with AI](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/principles-for-creating-with-ai/) have held true, especially 18 and 19. P.P.S. [The Newsletter Conference](https://thenewsletterconference.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) is back for its second year. Get your tickets before they sell out. P.P.P.S. [The Inbox Awards](https://inboxawards.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) are still accepting applications for the next day or so for the inaugural newsletter awards. If you have a favorite newsletter to nominate, get it in there quick! P.P.P.P.S. I made a few appearances on the [Regarding Van Halen 3](https://x.com/regardingvh3?ref=cjchilvers.com) podcast in the past year and I am scheduled to be on another episode in few weeks. Like the hosts, I’m fascinated by how creators bounce back (or don’t) from failures. ### What’s the job? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/whats-the-job-2/ Last updated: 2025-01-28T15:21:15.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2025/01/IMG_1193.jpeg) The Criterion Collection just put out their 4K edition of *No Country for Old Men*, which includes a new interview with the Coen brothers. The Coen brothers made two of my favorite films of all time: *The Big Lebowski* (a film about life trying — and failing — to change an oblivious character) and *No Country for Old Men* (a film about characters trying — and failing — to change the obliviousness of life). Whenever the Coen brothers are interviewed about the meanings of their movies, they usually avoid a direct answer, but this new interview was a little different. They didn’t seem to care about the meaning behind the controversial final lines of the movie, which was taken word-for-word from the novel by Cormac McCarthy. Their job was to direct a great film. They knew the ending was interesting. That’s all that mattered. I think many of us can relate — on a smaller scale. When I’m asked to write for a client, I ask myself, ‘What is the job of this piece?’ Then, I match the work to the desired objective. Defining the job is the foundation of a successful outcome. Whether I’m writing giant guides or simple social posts, every word, every pixel, and every person involved has a specific job. When I write emails, clients often ask how the subject line ties into their overall brand campaign. I explain, that’s not the job of a subject line. Sometimes, it’s comforting to know that even the most celebrated creators, like the Coen brothers, can’t escape questions like this. They directed one of the greatest thrillers of all time. They won the Academy Award for Best Picture in the process. But if you ask them about the message of the film, they don’t really know for sure. That wasn’t the job. Now, I love the movie even more. — [CJ](https://cjchilvers.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) ## Elsewhere “We are born not remembering why we walked into the room.” — Elisa Gabbert via [Austin Kleon](https://x.com/austinkleon/status/1873444479065276584?s=12&ref=cjchilvers.com) Wonder why I don’t recommend the ad model for beginners? After several big-name YouTubers were seemingly scammed (again) by (another) big name advertiser, [Louis Rossman](https://youtu.be/ksjzI-8Rz2w?si=NVUIv7ALJ2LlZMDz&ref=cjchilvers.com) went on a rant that summed up the state of YouTube advertising: “99% of the people who are recommending you sh@t on YouTube are so out of touch that they’re recommending you products that not only screw you; they’re recommending products that actively screw them. It demonstrates that 99% of the people on this platform that recommend you sh@t have no f@cking clue what it is they’re advertising to you.” Doug Stanhope is the new Norm Macdonald, the underrated comic who other comedians love, but the public barely knows. His [new special](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEJQO-1DADI&ref=cjchilvers.com) includes this rant on caring less about things you can’t change. A lot of burned-out people could use a healthy dose of this right now. “l’ve stopped caring and it’s worked out beautifully. I know that sounds irresponsible, and somewhat Canadian, but just don’t even not give a f@ck. That’s too extreme. When I hear someone say, ‘I don’t give a f@ck,’ I think you sound like you put a lot of effort and energy into that f@ck that you’re refusing to give. I need you to dial it down...that’s what I’m preaching — radical apathy.” ### Surviving Advice Season URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/dont-take-this-advice-2/ Last updated: 2024-12-23T20:38:25.000Z The new year is almost upon us, which means we’re about to enter advice season. Yay! My only advice for surviving advice season is to add the following caveats to everything you’re told: - If it’s about AI, add: “…for now.” or “…yet.” - If it’s about productivity, focus, or creativity, add: “…for some brains.” - If it’s about fitness, add: “…for those with similar genetics.” - If it’s about monetization, add: “…for the short-term.” - If it’s about sales, add: “…and proper marketing solves for this in the long-term.” - If it’s about marketing, add: “…but relationships are always more important.” - If it’s about tactics, add: “…as long as it matches our strategy.” - If it’s about strategy, add: “…as long as it matches our principles.” - And if it’s about resolutions, add: “…all of which is bullsh@t.” I hope you have a wonderful start to 2025\. Thanks for reading! — [CJ](https://cjchilvers.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) P.S. “Every time I’m preaching something…I have to precede that with a story where I eat sh@t, so the reader can stomach it….After that, you can stomach me going, ‘So here’s the lesson I learned from it.’” — [Matthew McConaughey](https://youtu.be/8hWMoM8-hG0?si=vz181B4b620QJNCu&ref=cjchilvers.com) on how to properly give advice ### Newsletters are getting personal URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/newsletters-are-getting-personal-2/ Last updated: 2024-11-26T12:13:44.000Z ![](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! ### Newsletters are getting personal URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/newsletters-are-getting-personal/ Last updated: 2024-11-27T13:03:44.000Z A lot of my advice, especially to small businesses, involves getting more personal in their email newsletters. It remains a struggle to convince some businesses to include real names (not just the brand name), be a little less perfectionist in their designs, and write like a real human. The more human you can be in your email newsletter, the easier it is for the reader to form a connection, establish trust, and build a long-term relationship with your business. However, since every audience is different, there’s never a one-size-fits-all approach or template for a human-first newsletter. I love collecting examples of how successful small businesses are adapting to this. Take [Josh Spector](https://fortheinterested.com/subscribe/?ref=cjchilvers.com), for example, who writes specifically for email marketers. Last year this is how his newsletter looked: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-24-at-10.11.36-AM.png) He recently redesigned his newsletter to highlight that it’s coming from a real person. This bucks the now-default, Substack-ificated trend of titling your newsletter with a brand name rather than your own name. I love it. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-24-at-10.06.59-AM.png) Besides the title change, it’s a very polished design. But I don’t think it’s over-polished for his audience. His audience knows newsletter design and probably appreciates the improved reading experience. I know I do. But what about broader audiences? One of the first examples I give for the best minimal, plain-text approach to humanizing an email is from [Derek Sivers](https://sive.rs/?ref=cjchilvers.com). Derek was a founder who sold his company to Jeff Bezos, became an author, and moved to New Zealand. He doesn’t need your attention, approval, or money. He does this for fun. His emails reflect the simplest, clearest possible way to convey a message. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-24-at-11.10.41-AM.png) What a throw-back! I was sending emails like this back in the 90s. Plain text converted better back then, and it probably converts better now – as long as you have the audience for it. There’s nothing that screams, “I’m an actual human and you can reply to this,” better than a plain text email. Some marketers are splitting the difference. I just received this email from the Vice President of [Blackwing](https://blackwing602.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com), a very fancy pencil brand I love. They usually send me over-designed emails, fitting to their brand, but I was happy to see they’re also experimenting with a more personal approach. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-24-at-9.30.09-AM.png) I would have gone even simpler on the body copy, but I suspect this email pulled in great numbers for them, compared to their more traditional emails. The [Do Lectures](https://thedolectures.com/newsletter/?ref=cjchilvers.com) newsletter is part of a family of newsletters known for experimenting with styles ranging from the photo-filled and perfectly polished Chicken Shed Chronicles to emails like this, featuring hand-drawn images from CEO David Hieatt. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-24-at-10.01.58-AM.png) (cut for length) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-24-at-10.02.15-AM.png) How cool is that signature? So many “humanized” emails go for the flowy, cursive signature, but this feels more realistic — like you’re actually getting a note from David. But, for all of these newsletters, I’m not sure a signature does much. It seems like a cheat code for personalization. I admit, it looks cool. I want one. It also feels like a weird holdover from physical letters that seems redundant in an email. But I don’t have any data to back up whether readers feel the same. I’m not trying to be anti-design, just to be clear. In fact, there are some accomplished designers who have gone more personal in the last few years as well. I love keeping tabs on how they view the design challenges involved in connecting to their audiences. Famously, designer [Tobias van Schneider](https://vanschneider.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) once remarked that he wished he could make his newsletter design even more stripped-down, because he thought it would connect better. It was a design challenge in itself: how do I to appear less design-y? Here’s what it looks like these days: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-24-at-10.07.50-AM.png) I hate the fake personalization of “Hey \[insert name\],” but I love that he resisted the urge to over-design the email as so many businesses do. When you see his portfolio, you’ll understand how much he’s holding back in his newsletter. Dan Cederholm is another OG designer, who just launched a more-personalized, curated newsletter for his company, [SimpleBits](https://simplebits.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-24-at-3.35.59-PM.png) I’m a big fan, but I’d like to see less of the company and more of him. I’m not sure this newsletter needs a title or a masthead. He’s the star here. That’s the story with all these approaches, though. Connecting one-on-one with your readers will always beat seeking shelter under the mast of a brand. ### Recommended Reading URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/recommended-reading/ Last updated: 2024-11-04T12:26:51.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2024/11/IMG_0513-1.jpeg) No one goes north this time of year, so I took a weekend off and [headed up north](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/make-the-time-2/) with my son on a road trip to Door County. A whole bunch of new books were released, so the timing was perfect to catch up on some reading. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2024/11/IMG_0620.jpeg) Alex Van Halen’s new book, [Brothers](https://www.vanhalenstore.com/page/VH/PROD/B85?ref=cjchilvers.com), is really two books. It’s a love letter to his brother, Ed, and it’s Van Halen History 101\. I’m glad he did the book at all, but I wish he would have chosen to go deep on one topic or the other. I suspect it was the publisher’s decision to keep it light and approachable. Hopefully, there’ll be a follow-up, given how well this book is selling. The print edition of Derek Siver’s new book, [Useful Not True](https://sive.rs/u?ref=cjchilvers.com), just arrived a few minutes ago in the mail. I’ll report back, but he’s reliably fascinating. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2024/11/meditations.jpg) I’m still working through Oliver Burkeman’s new book, [Meditations for Mortals](https://www.oliverburkeman.com/meditationsformortals?ref=cjchilvers.com), the follow-up to his blockbuster hit [Four Thousand Weeks](https://www.oliverburkeman.com/fourthousandweeks?ref=cjchilvers.com). It’s best described as a guide to “imperfectionism,” or as he puts it, to be “free to aspire not to a life without problems, but to life of ever-more interesting and absorbing ones.” It’s one of those books I could re-read as a reminder, over the course of a lifetime, and never quite complete – in a good way. Austin Kleon announced he scored a publishing deal for his next title, [Don’t Call It Art](https://austinkleon.com/2024/10/25/just-shy-of-a-major-deal/?ref=cjchilvers.com). It’ll be an instant buy. Jamie Thingelstad was nice enough to [visit me in person](https://www.thingelstad.com/2024/10/18/this-morning-we.html?ref=cjchilvers.com) recently. He recommended subscribing to a blog that’s right up our alley by [Josh Bernoff](https://bernoff.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com). I concur, go subscribe. Read on! – [CJ](https://cjchilvers.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) P.S. For the last three weeks, I’ve posted a photo of a chapter from [my new book](https://www.cjchilvers.com/principles-for-newsletters/) to [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/cj-chilvers-186528ab?ref=cjchilvers.com) every weekday just to see what would happen. Book sales and subscriptions had a slight bump, but LinkedIn says my profile got 7000%+ more “engagement.” Hey, I’ll take it. ### Make the time. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/make-the-time-2/ Last updated: 2024-11-02T15:49:12.000Z I hate that sentence. It assumes a lot about agency, not to mention the reader’s mental and physical abilities. The core of it is necessary to hear, though. It would be better stated as, “You must fight for enough time to devote to the things that matter.” No one will give that time to you. It’s too valuable to them. Last weekend, I took my son up to Door County. I knew my wife would be out of town and it was a perfect opportunity for a boys-only road trip. I don’t know about you, but I need more of this. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2024/11/IMG_0347.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2024/11/IMG_0513.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2024/11/IMG_0373.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2024/11/IMG_0483.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2024/11/IMG_0235-2.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2024/11/IMG_0566.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2024/11/IMG_0519.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2024/11/IMG_0500.jpeg) ### A little ain’t enough URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/a-little-aint-enough/ Last updated: 2024-10-02T11:05:08.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2024/10/IMG_0035.jpeg) Well, that’s another horizontal line filled on the life calendar in my office – another trip around the sun. Unfortunately, I think this calendar has outlived its usefulness. It used to be a reminder of how far I’ve come. It’s turned into a weekly chore now. Thanks a lot, brain. Soon it will be replaced by this minimalist print, inspired by the most offensive video ever shown on MTV. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2024/10/IMG_0027.jpeg) I don’t care about the video, but the song itself happens to be one of my happy-place songs — a song I’ve played after every big victory in my life (since 1990). It’ll add a touch of much-needed optimism to this office. Life isn’t to be checked off by the week and *a little ain’t enough*. – [CJ](https://cjchilvers.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) --- There’s been a lot of great analysis recently of a favorite topic of ours: the fuzzy line between personal and business newsletters. Bottom line: [“Don’t compete with yourself.”](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/dont-compete-with-yourself-2/) I love [this guy’s](https://youtu.be/B1QqAZeEfes?si=kqV-74EMeNiQWcg2&t=4m26s&ref=cjchilvers.com) approach to organization in his lab, which stems more from experience than theory (work with your brain’s flaws, don’t fight them). And [this guy’s system](https://youtube.com/watch?v=%5FSNiAdmA51Q&si=9g%5FcTyT7SBKqgeRH&ref=cjchilvers.com) for storing and labeling his gear is next-level (go BIG with text and labels). I promise you, getting just 1% better at this kind of thing improves your life exponentially. The band as a brand is dead. So why are [brands still behaving like bands?](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/brands-became-bands/) [When does text win over video?](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/when-text-wins-over-video/) When the entire world gets “video fatigue.” If you can say something in a sentence, say it in a sentence. Get to the point. [Over 70% of consumers check their spam folder](https://martech.org/what-marketers-need-to-know-about-email-deliverability/?ref=cjchilvers.com). Just like me. Email providers have failed at this task for more than generation of consumers. But most consumers use ad-supported email providers, so where’s the incentive to improve? --- Quote of the week: “What the hell is a Letterboxd!??” — [John Carpenter](https://x.com/TheHorrorMaster/status/1839361415817376220?ref=cjchilvers.com) ### Brands became bands. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/brands-became-bands/ Last updated: 2024-09-30T15:25:01.000Z Rick Beato just posted a video about [why bands have disappeared from the charts](https://youtube.com/watch?v=h%5FDjmtR0Xls&si=Gus2q0m1hrgpFVJo&ref=cjchilvers.com), replaced by solo artists and collabs between solo artists. Before recorded music gained mass popularity in the 1950s, music branding was all about individuals. As the industry became a well-oiled machine with global distribution, bands became what you shopped for: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, Metallica, etc. This lasted decades. As distribution and marketing became democratized by the Internet, bands started to disappear and individuals became the brands people consumed — once again. In fact, there’s only 1 band formed this decade that appears anywhere in Spotify’s top 250 streams. The band is dead as a brand. I believe this is natural order of things. People trust people more than faceless brands. It’s how we evolved. Companies are bands. Inc. just published an article about why [Now is the Best Time to Start Your Newsletter Business](https://www.inc.com/steve-strauss/startup-bonanza-a-new-era-for-newsletters.html?ref=cjchilvers.com), and it was another example of the most splashy newsletter brands getting all the attention. I know some of the people at these newsletters. I like them. I trust some of their opinions. I do not know or trust their newsletter brands. There are far greater successes in newsletter publishing to mention these days — both from B2B and personal publishing — not dependent on sponsors, paid subscribers, or ads. Corporations and titled newsletters will realize, as the ad economy continues to dry up, that you can’t buy the trust people place on people. There’s a far larger universe of branding and publishing out there that’s never discussed. But one principle remains universal: As long as there are humans reading and buying, solo artists will eventually win. ### When text wins over video URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/when-text-wins-over-video/ Last updated: 2024-09-16T13:39:12.000Z I know the future, and present, of online consumption is video. Audio falls in and out of favor. Text seems like a dinosaur. When does text still win over video? John Gruber thinks he knows and I find it encouraging – especially for email newsletter publishers. He recently released [a podcast episode](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/408-good-enough-to-be-pesky-with-taegan-goddard/id528458508?i=1000667932993&ref=cjchilvers.com) (yes, audio is meta here), about content strategy. In one segment of the episode, he talks about something new he’s noticing that he calls, “video fatigue.” > *“Sometimes you never know, when you have an audience of our size, when you’ll just make an offhand comment that you didn’t even think twice about, but then all of a sudden your inbox fills up with email from readers, ‘Yes, yes, I have been waiting for someone to mention video fatigue. I’m so tired of hitting play and watching video. I read so much faster than I can watch a video, even with the playback controls, and get so much more out of it. I love that your site doesn’t have videos. Love.’”* While I disagree with Gruber on just about everything he posts outside of tech, and sometimes within tech (he gets the founding of podcasting wrong in this episode), I’m drawn-in every time he opens up about content strategy. He’s always been a decade ahead of where the rest of the media should be. I don’t think text is always the answer. It’s about clarity. If you can get the point across in a sentence or two, you’ll win over the algorithmically-incentivized, bloated, 10-minute YouTube video, or the outrage-fueled 30-second video that only exists to get you to click on the next outrage-fueled 30-second video. Get to the point. Be useful. Text can win. ### “Don’t compete with yourself.” URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/dont-compete-with-yourself-2/ Last updated: 2024-09-08T12:44:23.000Z There’s been a lot of great analysis this week of my favorite topic: the fuzzy line between personal and business newsletters. Josh Spector gave some good advice about [why creating multiple brands is a trap](https://joshspector.com/multiple-brands-trap/?ref=cjchilvers.com) that only multiplies your work and your readers’ confusion. > *“If you insist on building simultaneous brands, think about it like this: ‘I want to be known for THIS thing. And once people discover THIS thing, I’ll introduce them to THAT thing.’”* Austin Kleon wrote about why he thinks [the most important about newsletters is the letter](https://austinkleon.com/2024/09/03/newsletters-should-be-letters/?ref=cjchilvers.com): > *“What I love most about newsletters is the letter part — the epistle, the missive, the bulletin, the dispatch! What’s going on — in the studio, in my life, in my mind — that’s worth sending out? Worth opening? Worth reading?”* I agree. Short-term newsletter successes abound, but the real successes (20+ years of engaged readers and customers) come from leaning into the personal. This is why you shouldn’t buy courses from people who went from “0 to 150K subscribers in 6 months.” I’d rather buy a course on “how I kept my subscribers engaged for over 20 years.” Most of those creators don’t need to sell courses, though. ### What’s your creative refuge? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/whats-your-creative-refuge-2/ Last updated: 2024-09-02T12:17:37.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2024/09/IMG_2368.jpeg) I did a stupid thing. I had a summer packed with content strategy work — mostly about AI and mostly with big tech companies. For some reason, I decided this meant I had to really buckle down and never leave my keyboard. I took only one vacation day for the entire summer. The day off was part of a fun weekend of “glamping” with [friends](https://www.instagram.com/producerrachelgiordano/?ref=cjchilvers.com) in Michigan. The kids went free-range, the sunset was epic, and our tents were struck by lightning. All awesome. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2024/09/IMG_2470.jpeg) When I came back, my brain was reset enough to overcome some creative problems that were stumping me. We all know this is a real thing. We all have examples of the reset. BUT We all need to be reminded – constantly. I’m sending this out today to remind you. – [CJ](https://cjchilvers.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) ## Elsewhere Over at The Sweet Setup, Mike posted about [how to set up your own personal retreat](https://thesweetsetup.com/how-to-host-your-own-personal-retreat/?ref=cjchilvers.com). Need a business reason to get out of the grind mindset? The AMA posted about how [if you look like you’re enjoying your work, customers will pay more for your products](https://www.ama.org/2024/07/30/enjoy-your-work-make-it-known-buyers-are-willing-to-pay-more-for-products-you-enjoy-producing/?ref=cjchilvers.com). This [tale of two calendars](https://x.com/khemaridh/status/1809396558221410407?s=12&ref=cjchilvers.com) is aspirational, if not exactly realistic. In another example of AI-I (artificial intelligence inflation), my [practice amp](https://www.positivegrid.com/products/spark-2?variant=50842518323360&ref=cjchilvers.com) now has AI for some reason. I guess they didn’t read that [AI in marketing copy is a sales killer](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/ai-in-marketing-copy-a-surprising-sales-killer-study-finds/523664/?ref=cjchilvers.com). I love following [Dave Lawrence](https://davelawrence.photo/brooklyn-michigan/?ref=cjchilvers.com) and [Jamie Thingelstad](https://www.thingelstad.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com), especially for their photos of what leisure looks like in the midwest and why we all need to take more time off around here — this doesn’t last. ### AI Burnout URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/ai-burnout/ Last updated: 2024-07-28T12:21:11.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2024/07/IMG_2267.jpeg) One of the most beloved [Italian restaurants](http://www.francescosholeinthewall.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) in the Chicago area has a different take on menu technology. No QR codes. No over-the-top printing costs. The menu is written on the wall. If you want it on your phone, you take a photo. Humanity is underrated. [**Does AI decrease productivity?**](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/does-ai-decrease-productivity/) Executives say the opposite is true, but employees insist AI is adding to their workload. Workers say their bosses don’t understand what productivity actually means and it’s burning them out. [**44% of Substack newsletters are dormant?**](https://www.newslettercircle.com/p/substack-newsletter-report?ref=cjchilvers.com) Newsletter Circle analyzed 75,000 Substack newsletters and found that 44% hadn’t published anything since April. When you consider how easy it is to start a Substack, you realize how few will remain active and how easily you risk being associated with less-than-desirable newsletters (and their practices). [**45 years 45 words**](https://x.com/tom%5Fpeters/status/1810320465606431102?ref=cjchilvers.com) Tom Peters, who was the Seth Godin and David Allen before Seth or David were famous, shares his life lessons. My favorite: “Hard” (Numbers) Is Soft (Abstract) = “Soft” (Relationships) Is Hard (Bedrock). [**Why essays are the future of content**](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/revenge-of-the-essayist/) For AI scrapers, the less humanity involved, the more profit can be had — especially with advertisers who want to avoid controversy. Over time, that’s a race to the bottom. Essayists get to opt out of that race. [**Email is the new email.**](https://x.com/p%5Fmillerd/status/1812667588951838925?ref=cjchilvers.com) Once again, the relevance of email is being questioned. It started with Nate Silver, who’s marketing a new book and thinks we’re a year or two from “peak newsletter.” I’ve heard “peak newsletter” a half dozen times since the late 90s and it’s never been true. Example in the link: Author Paul Millerd got a mention in a big newsletter this month and he detailed how it led to hundreds of new subscribers and books sold. This is compared to a viral tweet he had that led to \~2 book sales and no subscribers. Boring old email is still the greatest ROI possible online. Thanks for reading! – [CJ](https://cjchilvers.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) P.S. Just a reminder: the paperback and Kindle versions of Principles for Newsletters are [now available on Amazon](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/principles-for-newsletters-paperback/). P.P.S. I said goodbye last week to my writing companion of 14 years. RIP [Mia Puppia](https://x.com/cjchilvers/status/1815047920447623556?ref=cjchilvers.com). She brought so much joy to everyone she met. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2024/07/GTBaKTEXcAAdV4Z.jpeg) ### Does AI decrease productivity? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/does-ai-decrease-productivity/ Last updated: 2024-07-25T18:36:59.000Z From a new survey conducted by [The Upwork Research Institute](https://www.upwork.com/research/ai-enhanced-work-models?ref=cjchilvers.com): > “77% \[of workers\] say AI tools have decreased their productivity and added to their workload in at least one way.” Meanwhile, upstairs: > “81% of leaders at companies that have deployed AI report an increase in workforce productivity in the past year.” Which is the reason why: > “71% of full-time employees are burned out and 65% report struggling with employer demands on their productivity.” AI is great at what managers can easily measure, but not so great at what builds long-term relationships. Let’s revisit this topic after the talent pool has drained and the clients are sufficiently pissed off. ### Revenge of the Essayists URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/revenge-of-the-essayist/ Last updated: 2024-07-08T13:11:05.000Z I was wrong. In [my last post](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/whats-with-the-hostility-towards-personal-publishing/), I explained where the biggest companies were going with AI, on the backs of creators. But I assumed the biggest corporations in the world had legal teams that understood the basics of creators’ rights under the law. But Microsoft proved me wrong this past week. > “I think that with respect to content that’s already on the open web, the social contract of that content since the ‘90s has been that it is fair use. Anyone can copy it, recreate with it, reproduce with it. That has been “freeware,” if you like. That’s been the understanding.” — [Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPvqvt55l3A&ref=cjchilvers.com) All the content scrapers (Google, Apple, Meta, and OpenAI) seem to agree. Being a creator online doesn’t seem to have much of a future when viewed through this lens, does it? Why post anything if a giant company is just going to take it and re-purpose it as their own? This is where the essayist (or columnist) can show us a proven path to success. An essay can be a sentence, a paragraph, a photo, a video, a stream, or…anything you want it to be. What makes it an essay is that it’s somehow tied to you: your tastes, your opinions, your experiences, and your reputation. For scrapers, the less humanity involved, the more profit can be had — especially with advertisers who want to avoid controversy. Scrapers hate nuance and opinionated storytelling – the stuff that consumers actually love. The essayist relies on a basic fact of humanity: people *prefer* to consume ideas from other people. This goes back to telling stories around the fire, hundreds of thousands of years ago. This will not change in your lifetime. It’s in our DNA. People will seek out a trusted essayist — regardless of platform or format — to help them make sense of the world, as a fellow traveler. It’s the obvious long-term path for creators. What are you doing to become an essayist? ### New: Principles for Newsletters Paperback URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/principles-for-newsletters-paperback/ Last updated: 2024-06-23T12:47:54.000Z There’s finally a physical version of the book at Amazon. You can find it [here](https://amzn.to/4eDq7aH?ref=cjchilvers.com). There’s a Kindle version up on Amazon as well, if that’s more your thing. That’s over [here](https://amzn.to/4ewtO1J?ref=cjchilvers.com). I’m still offering the book indie-style as a package in multiple ebook formats over [here](https://cjchilverss.gumroad.com/l/newsletters?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### What’s with the hostility towards personal publishing? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/whats-with-the-hostility-towards-personal-publishing/ Last updated: 2024-06-18T13:40:08.000Z It's about money, of course. ## Google may have a problem with us. A few weeks ago, Google had a big leak. While details are still lacking, it seems like there’s a bias against personal sites when it comes to search results. From [Mike King](https://ipullrank.com/google-algo-leak?ref=cjchilvers.com): > “Google may be torching small sites on purpose. > Google has a specific flag that indicates a site is a ‘small personal site.’” ## LLMs have issues with us too. OpenAI (Microsoft), Google, and now Apple all admit to scraping from the “open web” to train their models. Under the traditional definition of “training,” where a model simply learns from a data set, small publishers probably wouldn’t have an issue. However, in practice, this training looks an awful lot like: a little learning with healthy dose of copy-and-paste. In other words, a fancy database. Knowing this could be an issue, these companies have started making deals with the biggest content owners, paying off stock image sites and media conglomerates for the use of their content in training models. Wait. What? If it’s just LLM training as traditionally defined, why would they need to pay anything? Because we know it’s not true. We’ve seen stock image watermarks appear on “AI” content in the past. There is some form of (I would argue illegal) content scraping going on here. Simply put, they’ve created billion-dollar models based on content that was used in a very-legally-questionable way. And if they’re paying, why are they only paying the biggest players? Why are there no accommodations for the millions of blogs, newsletters, podcasts, and other forms of content from independent media creators they’ve used to train their models? I just heard an argument on a podcast from a tech bro that it’s because there’s no way to make a good-enough-for-the-public LLM without scraping the entire web. How is that our problem? I’ve always had a copyright notice on my books and blog posts. I do this because I don’t want my content used inappropriately in a place where my readers might be taken advantage of. I lose this battle 99% of the time when (mostly Russian sites) scan my books the day after release and offer them as malware-laden PDFs, but I make the effort to protect them as best I can. If these models only learned from my books and posts, I don’t think I’d have an issue with them. It’s clear they’re doing more, though. I think they’re all hoping to be too big to fail by the time class-action lawsuits around this come to court. Once again, personal publishers take the hit. ## Gmail and Apple have more issues with us. Gmail has been controlling your inbox for a long time by separating anything it deems distracting from their ads. This includes email newsletters – especially those from smaller creators who don’t have deliverability specialists on staff. Last week, Apple announced they were also getting into that game, by sorting your email for you, and taking it a step further by replacing the preheaders (often carefully considered introductions to newsletters) with AI-generated preheaders. Trust is everything in online publishing. Google and Apple want to apply a layer of trust *they define* to supersede any trust you define. I want to be optimistic about this, but Google did this kind of thing years ago with trying to kill off RSS – possibly the greatest tool for online consumption created since the hyperlink. It worked and now only nerds and *some* podcast listeners use RSS. I suspect this change for email will stick too. Smaller, personal publishers will be hit hardest, as usual. ## We are doing this all backwards. As generative AI fills our feeds with regurgitated mush, our innate trust in individuals over brands will determine the winners of both attention and revenue. Everyone in media should be racing to become a trusted individual right now. The biggest tech companies may be aware of this threat. They do hire a lot of psychologists. In Google’s case, attention to individuals means less revenue (see what happened to RSS vs. Google News and email vs. Gmail ads). So, it makes sense that their decisions are counter to our interests. But I see it in mid-size companies too. Have you ever noticed how every new newsletter or blogging platform asks you for your publication’s name by default when setting up an account? That publication name is front-and-center for every interaction with your audience. I’m old enough to remember when your name was assumed to be your name. Why is everyone playing the game that benefits the giant media companies over themselves? It’s perplexing that we default to the less scarce, less valuable, publication name versus the creator’s name. Imagine if Stephen King decided to title his website, newsletter, podcast, and YouTube channel, “IT.” Then, imagine he tried to sell the rest of his books and movies through that brand, rather than his name. That’s what we’re doing as creators online. That’s what content platforms are engineered for by default. It’s short-sighted. The personal website and the personal newsletter have always been more interesting to me. They’re also more trustworthy over time. I see personal publishing as only increasing in value to the consumer the further we get into the AI era. You should probably establish that connection with an audience now, under your name. Soon, it may be impossible to tell if the person behind your favorite content is a person at all. That’s when what’s cheap and easy about establishing trust now becomes expensive and difficult through in-person publishing (speaking and performing may take off again). We all know personal publishing is swimming against the current. But it always has. Our strength is in our flexibility and authenticity. I don’t see that changing. This post remains under my name. ### Embrace the carnage. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/embrace-the-carnage/ Last updated: 2024-05-18T11:45:50.000Z The web is back. Or, is it on its back? Google and OpenAI have been racing to see who can replace the web for you. Google isn’t even hiding it anymore. From [Platformer](https://www.platformer.news/google-io-ai-search-sundar-pichai/?ref=cjchilvers.com) via [Daring Fireball](https://daringfireball.net/linked/2024/05/15/newton-google-io?ref=cjchilvers.com): > *“This new approach is captured elegantly in a slogan that appeared several times during Tuesday’s keynote: let Google do the Googling for you. It’s a phrase that identifies browsing the web — a task once considered entertaining enough that it was given the nickname ‘surfing’ — as a chore, something better left to a bot.”* > *“Over the past two and a half decades, Google extended itself into so many different parts of the web that it became synonymous with it. And now that LLMs promise to let users understand all that the web contains in real time, Google at last has what it needs to finish the job: replacing the web, in so many of the ways that matter, with itself.”* From Copyblogger’s [Tim Stoddart](https://x.com/TimStodz/status/1791114369943622140?ref=cjchilvers.com): > *“Honest question for any legal experts out there. How is this legal? Isn't Google just stealing at this point? This can’t not end in lawsuits. So every publisher in the world now is basically spoon feeding their IP and traffic to Google?”* From [The Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/05/13/google-ai-search-io-sge/?ref=cjchilvers.com): > *“Web publishers brace for carnage as Google adds AI answers.”* Carnage? Oh, they mean *themselves*. I don’t know many creators who are panicking. This has always been Google’s goal and nimble publishers have been preparing for this for years. You do have a newsletter, right? How about a blog and home page? From [The New Yorker](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/infinite-scroll/the-revenge-of-the-home-page?ref=cjchilvers.com): > *“Surrounded by dreck, the digital citizen is discovering that the best way to find what she used to get from social platforms is to type a URL into a browser bar and visit an individual site…Ben Smith, the co-founder of Semafor, told me…‘We were convinced that home pages were dead. In fact, they were just resting.’”* Google, and LLMs, need to feed off our creations to maintain their strategy, without eating their own tail. As long as that is true, they will need to live in a symbiotic relationship. If the content dies, everything dies. As always, avoid the ad model, maintain a healthy newsletter, and care for your web content. Go the extra mile like my friend Jamie Thingelstad by [gardening your blog](https://www.thingelstad.com/2023/09/04/blog-gardening.html?ref=cjchilvers.com) and [keep your readers updated](https://www.thingelstad.com/2024/04/21/blog-gardening-reflection.html?ref=cjchilvers.com). That’s about as contrarian as you can get after Google’s announcements and in the face of LLMs in general. I love it. It doesn’t scale. That’s why it works. And it’s fun. They’ll may steal our creations, but they can’t steal the fun. — [CJ](https://www.cjchilvers.com/) P.S. Check out my notes from [The Newsletter Conference](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/notes-from-the-newsletter-conference/) and my friend Patrick Rhone’s new book, [“For You”](https://www.patrickrhone.net/the-reviews-are-in/?ref=cjchilvers.com) — the perfect example of a [no-excuses book](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-books-of-no-excuses/). P.P.S. One of the search experts interviewed in the stories above named his consultancy Siege Media. That was the name of my publishing company (and probably still is in this state since it wasn't a corporation). It’s named for my nickname’s nickname. CJ is two syllables. Siege is one. So that’s what all my closest friends and family called me. Never underestimate the laziness of your fellow humans (myself included). ### Notes on The Newsletter Conference 2024 URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/notes-from-the-newsletter-conference/ Last updated: 2024-05-10T13:16:08.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2024/05/IMG_1712.jpeg) I went to [The Newsletter Conference](https://thenewsletterconference.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) last week in New York City. Some have [posted](https://twitter.com/sullydoesitall/status/1786837498900922791?ref=cjchilvers.com) [notes](https://bizzie.beehiiv.com/p/newsletter-conference?ref=cjchilvers.com) from the event and [Dan Oshinsky](https://inboxcollective.com/25-rules-for-running-a-great-newsletter/?ref=cjchilvers.com) has even posted the text of his keynote. The first thing I learned was that Dan has been crowned “The Oprah of Newsletters.” I endorse. As one of the older folks there, I wanted to post a few takes from my experience that I thought you'd be unlikely to read elsewhere. 1. Although ConvertKit was there, I got asked a of questions about Ghost from Substackers. I told them the truth: Substack is great for discovery, but eventually you’ll want a real home for your newsletter. [Ghost](https://ghost.org/?ref=cjchilvers.com) is perfect for that. 2. I loved talking to [Brad Wolverton](https://newsletterexamples.beehiiv.com/p/6-takeaways-from-the-newsletter-conference?ref=cjchilvers.com) of HubSpot Media and Newsletter Examples. I didn't think I'd find anyone who cared as much about blurb design as I do. Everyone on his panel agreed that no matter how minimal their design was, they wanted to go even more minimal. This has been the way to go since the 90s. Be brave. Be brief. 3. All the experts on every panel agreed one two things: you need to concentrate on the quality of your content and you need to build stronger relationships. When it got to tactics, these principles evaporated. The focus on the reader changed to a focus on the advertiser, sponsor, or business partner. This is like saying you need to strengthen the relationship to your spouse by pleasing your mistress. You eventually need to pick one. They want very different things from you. The younger the presenter, the less likely they were to realize advertising is cyclical, distracting, and short-term. 4. There was a strong focus on what I call “editorial” or “journalism” newsletters. I didn't hear from anyone publishing corporate or personal newsletters. Sure, newsletters like 1440 and Morning Brew are fun to talk about, but I wonder how much more of the newsletter landscape is actually made of large corporations making billions (selling products and services, not ads) from their boringly-successful weekly newsletters? How many personal newsletters are on Substack right now, enjoying the extra few hundred bucks they make every month to share something with an audience of like-minded friends? 5. I tried to talk to people I wouldn't normally have a reason to talk to. This is a good conference tactic – maybe the best reason for going to a conference. I had lunch with Evan Woolley of [Everlit](https://everlit.audio/?ref=cjchilvers.com) and Marcia Stepanek of [BrandStories, Inc](https://www.linkedin.com/company/brandstories-com/?ref=cjchilvers.com). They have nothing to do with my space in newsletters. I learned a lot, though. 6. [Adam Ryan](https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/perpetual/?ref=cjchilvers.com) and [Matt McGarry](https://www.newsletteroperator.com/subscribe?ref=cjchilvers.com) were the most blunt panelists, unafraid to cause a little controversy in the room. They knew what they were doing. I liked them and I think if your goal in newsletters is primarily about growth, they stuck out as the clearest, no-nonsense advice givers. I'm not in that game, but I respected their game. 7. If you've gotten this far, you need to buy tickets next year. There were over 400 people this year. I think they could do multiples of that if they expanded their reach beyond traditional “editorial” newsletters. ### This will sound obvious in 3 years URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/this-will-sound-obvious-in-3-years/ Last updated: 2024-04-24T13:41:40.000Z From [Digiday](https://digiday.com/media/publishers-revamp-their-newsletter-offerings-to-engage-audiences-amid-threat-of-ai-and-declining-referral-traffic/?ref=cjchilvers.com): > “Newsletters are the darling of the digital media industry again. Publishers like Axios, Eater, The Guardian, theSkimm and Snopes are either growing or revamping their newsletter offerings, tailoring new emails to specific audiences with more personality-driven content…” This was the one of the most important predictions from [my book](https://cjchilverss.gumroad.com/l/newsletters?ref=cjchilvers.com). As content becomes cheap, verifiable human creations will be the scarcity. Scarce = valuable. Yes, newsletters will be the way forward for real human creators — whether they’re bloggers, YouTubers, or podcasters. The common denominator among everyone online for the foreseeable future is still the email address. But I would add an important caveat. The big newsletters are still too dependent on automation-heavy platforms, an outdated ad model, and paid referral traffic. None of these things screams, “a real person did this.” All newsletters will eventually become personal newsletters. It’s about trust and relationship-building. It’ll be a race among the smartest newsletters now to see who can be brave enough to be more human. I see it in smaller companies, but these big boys don’t quite get it yet. ### Long Form = Long Term URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/long-form-long-term/ Last updated: 2024-03-31T14:54:53.000Z I’ve been writing a lot about AI lately for big tech companies. I don’t think any of it would surprise you anymore, except for the reverberations. Every Friday I see news releases about thousands being laid off in content-related business, while I hear nothing but great things about the economy from business leaders. The difference between this current dip and previous dips will be the quiet cost-cutting. It’s already happening. If you own 100 content-based businesses and replace the staff of each with one editor and gen AI, your ad revenue may experience a 50% loss with the quality drop, but a near 100% savings in labor means your margins will explode. Then you start another 100 businesses. This is way of the spreadsheet entrepreneur in 2024\. It’s not a long-term plan, but that’s not interesting to them. Establishing trust this year in your name will ensure you have income in 10 years. I don’t think even 1% of content creators will understand that message, but it’s their only hope and we should help spread that message far and wide. What else is up? - Between meetings and writing, I’ve been learning how to find and fix up high-quality audio equipment and becoming a cheapskate audiophile. I’m having a great time! Remember why we do any of what we do: “leisure is the basis of culture.” I’ll write more about the gear sometime, but this week I wrote about why I started this whole journey and why [we don’t understand how good we had it with CDs](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/why-i-went-back-to-buying-cds-and-you-should-too/). In fact, just in the past few weeks, I’ve picked up some $1.99 CDs at Goodwill that have recently sold for $30-$130 at auction. The vinyl resurgence has turned into a CD resurgence and there are several good reasons for it. - I’ll be at [The Newsletter Conference](https://thenewsletterconference.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) in New York City in May. Say hello if you’re going! Don’t forget to pick up a copy of [Principles for Newsletters](https://www.cjchilvers.com/principles-for-newsletters/) to read at the airport. - I listened to Cal Newport’s latest book, [Slow Productivity](https://calnewport.com/slow/?ref=cjchilvers.com), on a road trip to North Carolina this week. I’d sum up the book as David Allen’s Getting Things Done (GTD) methodology for people who didn’t read the whole book (or books). What’s perplexing is that Cal bashes GTD in the book, then bases most of his chapters on concepts well-covered by GTD. He also muses on the “fall” of Merlin Mann, who probably has more die-hard subscribers today than when he was “famous” as defined by the book. I still recommend Cal’s blog and podcast, but this book was just not for me. - Good health plan: “I work out to stay young physically and I write to stay young mentally.” — [Scott Galloway](https://overcast.fm/+XutS26TJU/22:53?ref=cjchilvers.com) - Good career plan: “Long-form content with long-term friends.” — [Jason Levin](https://x.com/iamjasonlevin/status/1765873592170873145?s=12&ref=cjchilvers.com) Thanks for reading! — [CJ](https://www.cjchilvers.com/) ### Why I went back to buying CDs (and you should too) URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/why-i-went-back-to-buying-cds-and-you-should-too/ Last updated: 2024-08-08T20:40:13.000Z I blame David Lee Roth. A few years ago, the final studio album from Van Halen disappeared from streaming services. No one knew why. Even Wolfgang Van Halen didn’t know why at first. Then, in an interview much later he said, “I hope people who like it have a physical version of it.” That’s never a good sign. A few months ago, David Lee Roth released a video explaining that he’s the problem. He refuses to renew the streaming rights. What happened here isn’t unique. Media that was once considered stable and pervasive is now gone. I checked on my ripped copy of that last studio album from 12 years ago to make sure it was still there and intact. It was…kind of (more on that later). Just to be safe, I bought a physical CD of the album anyway. The deluxe version was already inflated to $30 (it’s up to $37 as I post this). But I don’t just blame Dave. ## An Extreme Edit Audio means a lot to me. I love movies and books, but albums have always been where I’ve gone for the most solace in my life. So, when my audio library is messed with, I don’t take it lightly. Last summer, I went to see Extreme in concert and loved it. After that concert, I re-listened to the Extreme catalog. But when I got to their third album, I noticed something new in the song “Cupid’s Dead.” Trumpets! I had 30 years of experience with that song. There had never been horns in it. But here they were, being annoying as hell and obscuring Nuno’s incredible riffs. Why?! The album had been edited, remixed, and remastered. But it wasn’t labeled as such. My music app couldn’t tell the difference between the new version and the version I actually wanted to listen to from my ripped CDs. On my phone, the ripped version isn’t even accessible. What the hell is going on? I got on my laptop and dug into my file directory looking for the files from my ripped CD. Found ‘em. No horns. Good. The song had been ghost edited. The app was confused. The original file had been relegated to a digital dungeon. I hadn’t lost the original file, which has happened to some gaming and movie enthusiasts, but I had lost the ability to reliably play the original. The integrity of my audio library had been corrupted, at least in small ways. Horns were easy to spot, but how many other songs or albums had been messed with, without my knowledge? It turns out, way more than I had thought. ## A New Hope Lucky for me, physical media is making a comeback, including innovations in the hardware that plays physical media. I brought physical media back into my life not to replace streaming, but to keep streaming in its place. I heard an audiophile once say that he treated streaming music services (even lossless streaming) like radio. It’s great for discovering new music and artists, and to play at parties, but it’s not for serious listening. I think that’s a perfect analogy. I still stream lossless music (or play from files) whenever it’s more convenient. But when it comes to serious listening, I’ve gone back to physical media — CDs specifically. Here’s why: 1. **The music I want exists and it’s available.** That seems like a pretty basic demand, but it’s where streaming music often drops the ball. Look at what got me into this mess: the final studio album from greatest hard rock band of all time is not available to stream. The CD of that album will easily last my lifetime and I never need to think about rights issues or lead singer tantrums. 2. **The music on the CD is different.** This is an uncomfortable truth. We can debate which formats sound better, but they all sound different. When you rely on a streaming service to determine which version you are listening to, don’t be surprised when you get edited, remixed, and remastered garbage. Also, expect the latest, garbage version to be the only available on any of the digital services (the contracts are easier and cheaper that way). Each CD is from a specific version of the master, just like vinyl and streaming, which could be better or worse than other versions out there. But it *is* different. 3. **Track order is an art.** Every good album is like a book with every song being a chapter. The artists and their producers stress over the order of tracks because it’s how the story unfolds. Even the transitions from song to song are given a lot of thought. On streaming, track order gets changed all the time and transitions are considered an extra. “Oh, you wanted to listen to this album with ‘gapless’ playback?” Yes! That should not be an extra feature. That’s a huge part of the experience. Stop trying to make “gapless” a feature. Having the original disc preserves the full story and lets it unfold as the artist released it. 4. **CDs have the best sound quality.** At least they have the best *potential* for sound quality in physical media. They don’t always *use* that potential. But, for the music I love most, CDs often have the same or greater dynamic range compared to vinyl, without the degradation over time that vinyl experiences (like wear, distortion, clicks, and pops). Consult the [dynamic range database](https://dr.loudness-war.info/?ref=cjchilvers.com) to find out which formats of your favorite albums are likely to be of the highest quality. **NOTE**: I consider dynamic range in music media to be like taking a person’s temperature. It won’t tell you specifically what is right or wrong with that person, but it’s a useful starting-point indicator of health. 5. **I don’t like being watched.** No one is spying on me to track behavior with physical media, including myself. No one is reaching into my physical audio library to change or take away my music either, which is easy on most streaming platforms. 6. **Notifications are not music.** It’s OK to receive audio notifications when out-and-about, but if I’m blasting my favorite songs over speakers at home, I don’t want constant interruptions from notifications. Un-online my serious music listening, please! 7. **It’s the cheapest physical media you’re going to find…for now.** I bought a CD of the album 5150 in 1990 for $18.99 (that’s over $31.00 today, adjusted for inflation). I just bought the same CD, in mint condition, at a thrift shop for $1.99\. Adjusted for inflation again, that would be $0.84 in 1990\. That’s an insane deal to own a physical, audiophile-quality version of an album that will last my entire life. As for new CDs? I see them for around $11-$13\. Compare that to new vinyl (often more than twice that price). And compared to vinyl listening setups, CD listeners can have the best gear for a fraction of the price. I think this is as cheap as physical media will ever be. The surge in vinyl prices and collectibility will come to CDs. You’ve already seen it in my example in the beginning. But it isn’t widespread yet. Take advantage of that. 8. **Apps are no longer built to support your albums.** The album is an enthusiast’s medium. Developers of music apps are not the same kind of music enthusiast. They’re younger. They’ve likely never ripped a CD. Remember when I said my CD-ripped copy of the last Van Halen studio album was still in tact? It was, but the app thought there were 45 tracks on the album (there’s only 12). The features made for album lovers like me are dying and the reliability is gone. We should not be surprised when our apps fail us because we have (relatively) strange needs to the mind of a modern developer. 9. **It’s physical art.** Just like with vinyl, there’s extra physical art (visual and touch) in an CD album. I don’t need to get woo-woo about it. It’s literally added art. It’s also a surface for autographs, if you’re into that kind of thing. The physicality creates the scarcity, and scarcity is valued. 10. **CDs are the most durable physical music medium.** The jewel case was well-thought-out, with replaceable parts. Even if your favorite artist cheaps-out with digipaks, the disc itself is a lot harder to damage than a vinyl disc or a cassette. CDs can take a beating. 11. **You listen more than you look.** Ask a producer who’s been around a while. Looking at audio waves changed the relationship of professionals in the studio to the music they were recording. Being able to listen without the distraction of ever-changing video interfaces — whether that’s Pro Tools in the studio or Spotify on a phone — gives you an entirely different point-of-view on the music. A good percentage of the greatest albums ever made were recorded by ear. We could learn something from that as listeners. 12. **It’s the best backup.** CDs have consistently outlived every other form of media storage I’ve ever owned. That’s no guarantee for the future, but it’s good enough for my expected lifetime, which is all I need. 13. **It’s transferrable.** I can share, giveaway, and sell the music I buy without being considered a criminal. Imagine that! 14. **It’s fun.** I could eliminate all other reasons from this list and I would still be OK with buying CDs just for the fun of it. It’s why I would never discourage anyone getting into an all-vinyl hobby either. Since I’ve started buying CDs again, I’ve listened to way more music than I have since my 20s. I’ve also learned about good audio equipment: what it is, where to find it cheap, and how to restore it. I’ve found the best-mastered versions of my favorite albums in bargain bins, while lower-quality “remasters” sell for 10 times as much. I’ve met new people, listened to new artists, and had new sonic experiences. What more could you ask for in a hobby? Don’t take it from me, though. I’ve only been back on this train for a few months. Here’s a few audio experts on the topic: - [John Darko: 15 Reasons Why I Still Buy CDs](https://youtu.be/nfbzH6gCXp4?si=wc5jFcGtLmvNC1cw&ref=cjchilvers.com) and [his follow-up on the topic](https://youtube.com/watch?v=RTdGo5-NdRQ&si=XHE1thisQKhXu49x&ref=cjchilvers.com) - [TheNextWeb: CDs: Forgotten But Still Amazing](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAIdYernX0w&ref=cjchilvers.com) - [Michael Andrew: CD or High Res Streaming, Which Sounds Better?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vq2DRNvOkgk&si=4P0INCu1GSRUMKqS&ref=cjchilvers.com) - [Cheap Audio Man: 10 Reasons to Buy CDs Now Before It’s Too Late](https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZMahjuxnUsI&si=3Q-gT9FKhfeafBmv&ref=cjchilvers.com) - [Forever Analog: 3 Reasons I Bought More CDs Than Vinyl This Year](https://youtube.com/watch?v=nicLM8lYD9E&si=ekzgJqWdBOce23hD&ref=cjchilvers.com) ### Create like an Icelander. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/create-like-an-icelander/ Last updated: 2024-02-19T13:56:18.000Z What a month! Thanks so much for all the messages about the new book. For everyone who asked: yes, it will be available physically. I’m working on it now. Here are a few of the things I thought were worth sharing in the meantime. 1. Dan Oshinsky of Inbox Collective was nice enough to feature [15 of the 49 lessons](https://inboxcollective.com/15-lessons-from-30-years-in-newsletters/?ref=cjchilvers.com) from my book, [Principles for Newsletters](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/principles-for-newsletters-released/). I really love the community Dan has fostered around newsletters. Subscribe to [his newsletter](https://inboxcollective.com/newsletter/?ref=cjchilvers.com) – the newsletter of record for newsletter publishers — and check out his keynote at [The Newsletter Conference](https://thenewsletterconference.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) on May 3 in New York City. I also posted a [behind-the-scenes look at the book](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/behind-the-scenes-principles-for-newsletters/) to answer some of your FAQs. 2. [10% of Icelanders will publish a book in their lifetime](https://archive.is/HSuUB?ref=cjchilvers.com). They claim it’s due to their love of stories, the long winters, and a love for physical media over digital. This lends some credibility to benefits we don’t often consider of physical media — like encouraging creation, project execution, and leisure time (the basis of culture) across large populations with constant, visible reinforcement. 3. I’ve tried to avoid being the typical middle age dude who gets too into physical media. I’m not a gamer, so I never experienced the anger of buying entertainment digitally and having it deleted remotely. That would have prompted a rant much earlier. The issue hit closer to home these past few weeks, though. A few of my favorite albums were pulled from digital services or ghost-edited to include new instruments, different track orders, and terrible “remastering.” I’m deep-diving on how bad this is getting, and writing my next way-too-long essay on the subject. Until then, take it from [an audiophile](https://youtu.be/nfbzH6gCXp4?si=24JGF8Z6YXIU87JF&ref=cjchilvers.com) or [two](https://youtu.be/ZMahjuxnUsI?si=Vo-OvSpb7QQbt%5FGf&ref=cjchilvers.com) — we still don’t appreciate how good we had it before the streamers took over. 4. Speaking of physical media that lasts, what were writers thinking about 2000 years ago? According to [a scroll that’s being deciphered](https://x.com/natfriedman/status/1754519304471814555?s=20&ref=cjchilvers.com), they were pretty much just blogging — contemplating ideas and talking sh1t about other writers. 5. I see so many creators obsessing over the format and design of their newsletters, instead of publishing. I checked back in with [one of the most successful and respected tech newsletters](https://rubyweekly.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com). Yep, it's still as basic as hell. It's been for around for almost 700 weekly issues. There are no excuses. 6. The [off-the-grid, floating-in-a-forest, backyard design studio of Mike Matas](https://www.dwell.com/article/moss-rock-glass-office-swatt-miers-ground-studio-healdsburg-california-e86fd990/7117335057034641408?%5Fkx=nAdjac-f2GUZWc%5FrqweJsGTWvqu3PSdEfP1HknIEnZA%3D.aVinKJ&ref=cjchilvers.com) deserves a place on our list of [best garden offices](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/just-a-series-of-garden-offices/). (via [Ugmonk](https://ugmonk.com/pages/newsletter?ref=cjchilvers.com)) Thanks for reading! – [CJ](https://cjchilvers.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) ### Read an Excerpt from Principles for Newsletters URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/inbox-collective-excerpt/ Last updated: 2024-02-07T15:04:01.000Z Dan Oshinsky of Inbox Collective was nice enough to feature [15 of the 49 lessons](https://inboxcollective.com/15-lessons-from-30-years-in-newsletters/?ref=cjchilvers.com) in my new book today. I really love the community Dan has fostered around newsletters. Make sure to subscribe to [his newsletter](https://inboxcollective.com/newsletter/?ref=cjchilvers.com) – the newsletter of record for newsletter publishers. ### Behind-the-Scenes: Principles for Newsletters URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/behind-the-scenes-principles-for-newsletters/ Last updated: 2024-02-06T14:33:00.000Z First, thank you to everyone who bought [the new book](https://www.cjchilvers.com/principles-for-newsletters/) over the past few weeks. After just one email, around 3% of you immediately bought the book — not clicked on — bought. That’s huge. Thank you so much! Like any book, there’s bound to be questions about the choices made. This should answer most of the big ones. **Why is the book a set of principles?** Admittedly, it would be a lot easier to have written a how-to book for newsletter publishing, but there are countless books and courses out there on that. I was looking for a higher-level set of guidelines. With principles in place, you can avoid taking most courses and reading most books on the subject, if they have nothing to do with the path you’re on as a publisher. This quote from John T. Reed puts it pretty well: > “When you first start to study a field, it seems like you have to memorize a zillion things. You don’t. What you need is to identify the core principles – generally three to twelve of them – that govern the field. The million things you thought you had to memorize are simply various combinations of the core principles.” **Why is it just an ebook?** I’m a deep-diver. I don't need to solve for research or organization. I need to solve for execution. In order to make sure this book got published at all, I needed to do it in the fastest possible way — no excuses. In the near future, it will likely be a print book as well. I’m looking into book designers for a proper cover. But for now it’s published, and that’s the biggest hurdle for a brain like mine. **Why publish on Gumroad and not Amazon?** All of my other books have been sold mostly from Amazon. But the whole reason I’m even making this newsletter book is to get to know the community better, and to build relationships with like-minded people. I lose all that contact when I publish on Amazon. I have no idea who my reader is or how to serve them better. When I make updates to the book, I don’t know who to alert with: “Hey! There’s a new version of the book you can download for free.” Sure, I can sell 100x more books by launching this on Amazon rather than my own site, but knowing my customers is far more valuable to me than the few extra dollars (and it is just a few) I’d get from Amazon. I highly recommend creators prioritize relationships over royalties. **So, why isn’t the book free, then?** No one reads a free ebook. **What’s with the title?** There were dozens of clickbait-y titles I could have gone with, but “Principles for Newsletters” was the most honest title. Plus, it’s what I had titled it in my own notes. My long-term readers know I keep a set of principles on just about every subject I cover in my essays. This is just the one I assembled for newsletters. In the future, you could see Principles for Personal Publishing, Principles for Creating Daily, etc. **What did I use to make the book?** I used all of the old tools I’ve been losing to build books for years, including Scrivener, Vellum, and MindNode. However, I encountered some new obstacles I hadn’t in the past with these tools and I tried many others. I was shocked to learn how easy it was to create an ebook in Apple Pages. It was taking me hours to compile the book properly in other tools and only minutes when I experimented with Pages. I had no idea it had gotten this good. I work in Word all day for clients, so I hadn’t had much experience with Pages. I was impressed. Plus, Apple sneakily added a feature to their Notes app this past year for handing-off larger pieces to Pages for formatting and publishing. This handoff will introduce many to the features of Pages that I’ve just discovered. **What’s next?** I plan to keep a change log of any additions or updates to the book. It will appear in [my newsletter](https://cjchilvers.com/subscribe?ref=cjchilvers.com). If you buy the [ebook version](https://www.cjchilvers.com/principles-for-newsletters/), these updates will just appear automatically. You can download the latest version of the book whenever you want. When there’s a print book, I will update it as well. It just won’t be as often. It’s my hope that I can do this kind of updating to all my books as I move ownership of the publishing process over to my site. As always, I'll keep you informed of every failure and success along the way. Thanks again for reading! ### Principles for Newsletters URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/principles-for-newsletters-released/ Last updated: 2024-07-06T15:27:52.000Z My new book, [Principles for Newsletters](https://www.cjchilvers.com/principles-for-newsletters/), condenses the most important lessons I’ve learned from 37 years of newsletter publishing down into 49 short principles. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2024/01/cover-square-2.png) There's no fancy launch, special editions, courses, or workbooks. Just $5 for the ebook in every popular format. Square deal. **WARNING!** This book is not for creators who want millions of subscribers. This book is for creators who want a sane number of lifelong readers. From Dan Oshinsky, Founder, [Inbox Collective](https://inboxcollective.com/newsletter/?ref=cjchilvers.com): > “As I read through ‘Principles for Newsletters,’ I found myself nodding along on every page. If you’re serious about building a newsletter, this book is the companion you need.” From Tarzan Kay Kalryzian, Founder, [Tarzan Kay Global](https://tarzankay.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com): > “This book should be required reading for everyone who writes a newsletter.” From [Patrick Rhone](https://www.patrickrhone.net/14365-2/?ref=cjchilvers.com): > "My friend CJ Chilvers has a new book out. He has 37 years of newsletter publishing experience under his belt — both personal and professional for companies you know. Well worth the $5.00 if you have any interest in this stuff at all." From [Jamie Thingelstad](https://www.thingelstad.com/2024/01/27/ive-followed-cj.html?ref=cjchilvers.com): > "I’ve followed CJ Chilvers writing for years now. His newsletter is one that I learn from and find inspiration in. He just released Principles for Newsletters that brings his 37 years of newsletter experience together in 49 lessons. Just $5\. Instant buy for me." From [Claire Zulkey](https://substack.com/@evilwitches/note/c-48167948?r=t3fn&utm%5Fmedium=ios&utm%5Fsource=notes-share-action): > "was just reading an excerpt of @CJ Chilvers book on newsletter best practices. The brevity, insight and philosophy are aspirational—def worth the $5 on Gumroad." ### Your favorite links of 2023 URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/your-favorite-links-of-2023/ Last updated: 2023-12-14T14:28:44.000Z Back in July, I wrote about [what I had learned from your feedback](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/thanks-for-the-advice/). It’s been a crazy half-year since. Discovery is really about re-discovery, right? Based on your replies and visits, these are the links that got the most attention in 2023\. (I also sprinkled a few favorites that never made it into the newsletter but kept my attention throughout the year.) Enjoy! 1. Thinking about how AI will change your world? No worries. I gathered a list of [principles for creating with AI](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/principles-for-creating-with-ai/) this year based on your input and what we’ve all experienced so far. The predictions seemed to have held up. Other lists of principles (or manifestos) this year included: [why (against all market trends) you should still write a book](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/why-would-you-write-books-in-2023/), [why “personal brands” still matter](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/do-personal-brands-matter/), [why you need brainless tasks](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/brainless-tasks/), and [truly useful creative constraints](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/are-you-useful/). 2. Some of my favorite things to share this year were [garden offices](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/just-a-series-of-garden-offices/), the notion of [solitude deprivation](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/solitude-deprivation/), [the importance of namedropping](http://constructionmarketingideas.blogspot.com/2008/10/names-names-names.html?ref=cjchilvers.com), and [the wisdom of bankers boxes](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/bankers-box/). 3. My favorite internal revelation of the year was how to solve the personal vs. professional newsletter conflict and what it means for the process of newsletter creation. In short, everyone should try both and even though [everything is an essay](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/everything-is-an-essay/), [curation](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-c-word/) will be the future for creators. How can you combine these ideas and create more valuable experiences for your subscribers? (I like lists. Judging by replies, so do you.) 4. My favorite book of the year was Kevin Kelly’s [Excellent Advice for Living](https://amzn.to/3OxDa2J?ref=cjchilvers.com), because I love [“no excuses” books](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-books-of-no-excuses/). It’s a perfect constraint. I can’t wait until Merlin does something similar with his [Wisdom Project](https://github.com/merlinmann/wisdom/blob/master/wisdom.md?ref=cjchilvers.com). 5. In the marketing world, we re-learned why [social proof is overrated](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/social-proof-is-overrated/) and [personalization is creepy.](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/personalization-is-creepy/) 6. In productivity land, we re-learned (again) about the folly of [the external brain](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/rip-external-brain/). 7. I loved sharing the work of personal newsletter publishers and [their](https://www.thingelstad.com/2023/09/24/how-i-build.html?ref=cjchilvers.com) [processes](https://www.thingelstad.com/2023/10/01/task-management-for.html?ref=cjchilvers.com). It reminds me of [this post from Austin Kleon](https://austinkleon.com/2018/06/05/how-i-put-a-newsletter-together/?ref=cjchilvers.com). 8. Your favorite post (most visited page on my site) was a post from last year: [35 Lessons from 35 Years of Newsletter Publishing](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/35-lessons-from-35-years-of-newsletter-publishing). I’m glad you’re still into that kind of thing because there’s a book coming based on that list. Hit me up if you want a sneak peek. 9. I don’t understand why, but the post with the most replies was: [Some Idiot Wrote This](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/some-idiot-wrote-this/). The one I revisit the most is: [The Workspace of the Future Is a Workbench](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-workspace-of-the-future-is-a-workbench/). 10. There were so many possibilities for quotes that defined the year (for what we do), but I think [this one sums it up the best](https://www.swiss-miss.com/2023/01/build-a-good-name.html?ref=cjchilvers.com). See you all in the new year! – [CJ](https://cjchilvers.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) P.S. [Derek Sivers](https://sive.rs/pdog?ref=cjchilvers.com) could have won best quote with this. “Do whatever interests you now, no matter how uncharacteristic. *Refuse to assign yourself a purpose.* There is no plot. You are not a story.” But he edited it on his site. P.P.S. My personal favorite quote (showing up in my notes multiple times) relates to the above and is from the hilarious and thoughtful journalist, Michael Moynihan. “None of the tribes want you. They want you to be tribal. Tribes are boring. Who cares? Read books that are interesting. Read books that are bad. I was once attacked for ‘platforming’ somebody. How did you know that person was ‘bad?’ Because somebody ‘platformed’ them before. We used to call it reporting. Read what you want. Believe what you want. And never call yourself anything. It’s a dead end.” ### Everything is an essay. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/everything-is-an-essay/ Last updated: 2023-11-13T16:40:36.000Z I get this question a lot. From [Tim Stoddart’s personal newsletter](https://www.theblankpage.io/p/curated-or-long-form?ref=cjchilvers.com): > "I love newsletters. They are great businesses, I enjoy writing them, and they are lucrative. However, I’m still unsure about the format. I have two options… > Do you prefer the lighthearted and more entertaining style of the curated newsletter? Or do you like the more meaningful, more educational, and more intensive writing of the long form article?" I think this is a false choice. First, it’s always been my experience (whether for clients or myself) that a *properly* curated newsletter is much more difficult and time-consuming to publish than any other format of newsletter. Second, the length of the article is not a good predictor of meaning, entertainment, or engagement. That’s why, especially in the case of personal newsletters, I say go with the “essay” format first. If that succeeds, and if you have the time, expand to a curated newsletter. It comes down to what you’re trying to solve for in the moment. Most newsletters need to solve for consistency more than anything else. It’s the thing that eludes even the best publishers. When solving for consistency, of both quality and quantity, your best friend is the humble essay. Why? - Anything can be an essay. It’s the most versatile format of publishing. Link posts, quotes, photos, videos, a Q&A, or just plain-old paragraphs of ideas — it can all be formatted as an essay. Essays can be a sentence or book in length. Whatever length keeps you creating, and your subscribers reading is the perfect length. - Every time I look back through my archive, I’m disappointed in anything that wasn’t an essay. That doesn’t mean that I was thrilled by every essay, but only the essays seemed to have any real shot at staying power over the years. - It’s less work than curation. [Curation is the most successful way to format a business-based newsletter](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-c-word/). But for personal newsletters, it takes a different level of work, time, and experience to do well. You need to be beyond the consistency problem. You can do both formats, of course. You should aim to eventually do both. But curation is a bigger boss battle than you’re likely fighting right now. - It’s ingrained in the way some CMSs are structured now, and the way newsletter readers have been re-trained to read, by Substack and the like. My stats and replies are confirming the obvious: readers increasingly expect a newsletter (especially a personal newsletter) to look like an essay. Instead of fighting that, figure out how to make it work for you. - Essays are crucial for any products, podcasts, videos, books, courses — any other direction you want to go in the future. Essays are so much easier to compile into products years from down the road. Trust me. I made a book using the content from my first 800 personal blog posts. 90% of the usable material ended up being from the essays. - It’s human. We’re in the generative AI era now. Establishing real human-to-human relationships has always mattered, but since early 2023, it’s been getting more valuable by the day. Mediocre curation is well within the capabilities of AI. Essays will be too, but they’ve got a little more time. Maybe in a year or two, we’ll all need to move to video as a last stand. But even videos can be a part of an essay newsletter. - It’s fuel for established curation newsletters – starving week-to-week for a good essay or two. They’ll send some subscribers your way. This is nothing new. Blogging started out like this too. Everyone overthought the formats, but the most successful bloggers made their content malleable and consistent. The same was true for podcasting, video, and previous generations of newsletter publishing. I would’ve written you a curated newsletter for today, but I didn’t have the time. – [CJ](https://cjchilvers.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) P.S. This is [the ultimate writer’s studio](https://www.ericjsmitharchitect.com/recent-work-main/writers-studio?ref=cjchilvers.com). Dream big. P.P.S. Yes, technically those three links did make this a curation newsletter. It was also an essay. This is why writing is an insane activity (that sometimes leads to sane results). ### Easier books and handsome home screens URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/easier-books-and-handsome-home-screens/ Last updated: 2023-10-12T12:20:36.000Z [I think there’s still a place for books in 2023](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/why-would-you-write-books-in-2023/). I consider them the place for the “why.” Courses and posts cover the “how.” I’ve been privately updating my 2022 post [35 Lessons from 35 Years of Newsletter Publishing](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/35-lessons-from-35-years-of-newsletter-publishing/) with new lessons, revisions, and research. It’s a straight-up “why” piece. So, why not make it a book? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/10/MindNode-Book.png) This is what the book looks like right now in [MindNode](https://www.mindnode.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) (before it transitions to [Scrivener](https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/overview?ref=cjchilvers.com) and [Vellum](https://vellum.pub/?ref=cjchilvers.com)). Folded within the title of each branch, are the links, updates, additions, quotes, and other backing materials that make up each small chapter. Yep. Tech really helps. This is just another reason why [there’s no excuse not to write a book](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-books-of-no-excuses/). — [CJ](https://cjchilvers.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) P.S. The [Focused](https://www.macsparky.com/blog/2023/10/focused-188-q4-planning-and-the-pkm-stack/?ref=cjchilvers.com) podcast turned me on to [Getaway houses](https://getaway.house/?ref=cjchilvers.com) as a personal retreat/quiet place to work for a day or two at a time. P.P.S. Want more subscribers? [Give away more content](https://inboxcollective.com/want-to-sell-more-subscriptions-give-away-more-content/?ref=cjchilvers.com). P.P.P.S. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a home screen [this handsome](https://twitter.com/isaacmurasaki/status/1710324170494812582?s=61&t=EzftWWMqsBhBil4yeMc1mQ&ref=cjchilvers.com). ### Indie Hope and Bankers Boxes URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/indie-hope-and-a-bankers-box/ Last updated: 2023-09-23T18:22:52.000Z Welcome to the best season. I’m feeling a bit silly — optimistic in a very contrarian way. I see nothing but pessimism in the press right now, and nothing but opportunity for creators with an indie spirit. That’s the tone for this issue’s set of truly odd links. – [CJ](https://cjchilvers.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/09/stanhope.jpg) [**“Don’t stay home.”**](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/dont-stay-home/) It’s tempting to stay inside as the temperatures get colder and the days get shorter. Here’s why that impulse should be battled from time to time. I got to meet the ultimate indie creator in the weirdest way, which is just his style. [**The Wisdom of the Bankers Box**](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/bankers-box/) What?! It’s totally normal to post a mini-book’s-worth of research on why the Bankers Box is an underrated miracle of technology. Old man wisdom at its finest! [**Social proof is overrated.**](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/social-proof-is-overrated/) From an underrated technology to an overrated tactic. Social proof is helpful, but there’s a time and place. Use it wisely. [**Enjoy collaboration…or else!**](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/enjoy-collaboration-or-else/) I posted this last week, but it’s already been backed up by several articles and new research. You can’t escape demographics, but that won’t stop many businesses from trying. This is a huge opportunity for indie creators. [**I miss blogging.**](https://joshspector.com/i-miss-blogging/?ref=cjchilvers.com) It’s that season again, when we all lament the loss of the slower, saner, non-algorithmic world of media we used to live in when blogging ruled. Besides the above article from Josh, there’s Jamie’s incredible article on [blog gardening](https://www.thingelstad.com/2023/09/04/blog-gardening.html?ref=cjchilvers.com), that will keep me busy for years to come, and Austin’s re-linking to his article, [15 years of blogging (and 3 reasons I keep going)](https://austinkleon.com/2020/09/09/15-years-of-blogging-and-3-reasons-to-keep-going/?ref=cjchilvers.com). Jamie also linked to a project called [the internet used to be fun](https://projects.kwon.nyc/internet-is-fun/?ref=cjchilvers.com), which I can’t wait to dive into, but also can’t wait to rebut. The internet has always been fun and will always be fun to those who publish and read whatever the hell they want, without the expectation of immediate rewards. ### The Wisdom of the Bankers Box URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/bankers-box/ Last updated: 2023-09-20T12:35:07.000Z Please allow me to relay a bit of old-man nerdery today: Look to the Bankers Box. When my mom died, and we had to move my dad out of his home of 50 years, I was tasked with salvaging as much of their documents, photos, and keepsakes as possible. They had done the same for their parents, so I had to salvage all of that as well. Add all of that to my family’s own collection of stuff and there was a big enough pile of obligation to last a lifetime. I think this is another mid-life right-of-passage achievement to unlock. I’m hoping my solution might help others when they reach this right-of-passage. I had to confront the idea of what all this stuff really meant, what could be done with it, and how could I possibly store it so it wouldn’t get in the way of our daily lives or cost more than it was worth. The answer for most people in these situations is to grab whatever kind of container they have lying around, fill it with stuff, and never revisit it (a metaphor for life?). Our brains say, “Don’t deal with it! Just pass it along to your kids and they can throw it all out if they want.” I decided the generational buck was going to stop with me. But it was going to be a lot of work. It was going to be emotional. It might take years. Where do you even start? First things first. What is all of this stuff? We need a definition. I call it “inactive reference.” There may need to be actions taken with it, but not right now, and maybe not this decade. Lots of our stuff fits this definition: one-off tools, photos, tax records, replacement parts, etc. As you get older, this stuff builds up. It may also include stuff you don’t have the right to throw away. Being a minimalist is something you can choose for yourself, but not for your family, and often not for your government. I was starting to feel like the plastic tubs we had collected over the years were not a good long-term solution (you’ll see why). But it seemed like every video I watched on YouTube, and every article I read, looked something like this: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/09/labeled_plastic.jpg) I appreciate [the effort here](https://www.instagram.com/p/B8PvD03Jhxa/?ref=cjchilvers.com), but it's not me. It just didn’t sit right. The more I researched, the more I realized that — as usual — my grandparents and great-grandparents had it right all along. The pre-greatest generation loved the Bankers Box (that’s apparently the proper name and spelling). Invented in 1917, here in Chicago, these boxes became a hit for record-keeping after the U.S. created its first income tax and workers had to start collecting receipts. Buckle up. You’re about to get nerdy and find out why the Bankers Box makes so much sense, especially when compared to plastic. ## They’re a standard. This is huge if you’re trying to plan a space for long-term storage. The Bankers Box has remained the same shape and size for a lifetime and won’t change for at least the rest of your life. You can know exactly how much space you’ll need now, and how much space you might have available in the future when taking on more stuff from relatives. This is predictability injected into the least predictable time of your life. Embrace it. This means you can plan shelving and spacing to be comfortable — no moving or fighting with stacks of boxes to access something. Small businesses often prefer this kind of standardized cardboard storage too, because cardboard boxes aren’t tapered at the bottom like plastic storage. That means more surface area can be covered on a shelf with a single box. Over the course of dozens or thousands of shelves, that adds up to huge cost-savings and process efficiencies. ## They’re writable, sticker-able, and post-it-able. There are endless ways to enhance a box filled with information with additional contextual information. Think about that technology: layered, contextual information on top of a file system. That’s hard to implement with digital files. It’s trivial with 1917 tech. Inside the box, there’s files and folders with their own surfaces for metadata, but on the outside, you can add any kind of visual or textual information to convey more meaning about the information within the container. Or you can just label the box. This metadata idea helped a lot when I was hauling in the 25+ large, moving boxes of my parent’s documents and photos. I had to index the contents, determine the actions needed for them (scan and shred, scan and keep, just keep, or just shred), and prioritize them based on contents (boxes with photos are always the top priority). With labels, writing, and post-its, I was able whittle it all down to 13 or so Bankers Boxes (at the time of writing this) in my spare time. Then, it was easy to transfer all of that contextual information to a spreadsheet, where even more efficiencies were discovered. This helped me also realize that I needed to do the same with all my own records, so my son doesn’t have to go through the same, long, emotional process when I’m gone. Don’t worry about needing to correct anything you’ve labeled the box with — this is cheap cardboard after all, and easily replaced. And since the boxes standardized and templated, you can just turn the box around and restart on the identical blank side. ## They’re breathable. For all of its pluses (which we’ll get to below), plastic off-gases chemicals inside and outside the container. Sometimes, the safer your plastic solution is from outside elements, the more harmful it can be to what’s being stored inside. The Bankers Box is just cardboard. One of the first changes I noticed after switching from plastic to cardboard was how much better my basement smelled (no more off-gassing). You can get more expensive archival-safe cardboard, free from any acids used in the paper-making process. But I’ve just opened a Bankers Box from my grandfather, and his WW2-era maps of the South Pacific were in pristine condition — gleaming-white. So, I think my tax receipts from 2019 are going to be just fine in regular old cardboard. Cardboard protects the items inside from light (unlike clear plastic) and breathes away a lot of the gasses. Remember, the items inside your box may be off-gassing too. Don’t bottle that stuff that up and hope for the best. Just like a good house for people, a good house for your stuff needs to breathe to stay healthy. ## They’re cheap. In ridding my basement of plastic containers, I became more aware of the cognitive load of plastic, as well as the expense. In less than a decade of use in this house, my plastic boxes were weathered, scratched, cracked, and near-impossible to dispose of responsibly or efficiently. I couldn’t easily break them down to clear them out. They took up large amounts of space, even when empty. Because they were (in some cases) 10-30X the cost of a cardboard box, I didn’t want to get rid of them, even when I didn’t have reasons to keep them. I did the math and decided that freeing up the huge amount of space in my basement by getting rid of them was worth the few hundred dollars I was (theoretically) losing from their original worth. The view was worth it. I replaced all of that with an initial $30 in Bankers Boxes, and a backup $30 in boxes at-the-ready. Now, if there’s damage to a box, if I need to re-label a box for the fourth time, if I need to consolidate or split up boxes, I don’t worry about it. I go over to my flat-folded, vertically-stored stack of new boxes, create a replacement, and recycle the old with the rest of the paper. I can’t stress the peace of mind it gives you, to be able to change make quick decisions about weighty things so freely, especially when sifting through your deceased relatives’ personal belongings. I’d rather concentrate on what’s best for those items, not what fits in my plastic containers’ random shape and condition. Changes will always need to be made on-the-fly for unexpected family-related storage. Inexpensive boxes give me far more options as my needs and responsibilities grow. ## They’re unassuming. It doesn’t matter if you’re a billionaire or thousandaire, everybody uses Bankers Boxes. They’re almost invisible. Let’s say you’re a burglar. You break into my basement. There are dozens of boxes on shelves with everything from replacement parts for my door handles, to my grandfather’s tribal ax, gifted to him during the Pacific campaign in WW2. Good luck trying to find which box holds what. Clear your calendar. They’re not transparent. They’re all indexed in a password-protected spreadsheet. The boxes have a label, but it’s usually something like “Parts 25,” or “Travel 13.” It’s equal amounts of security through obscurity, and security through…security. I’ve never understood people who label their storage in great detail, on clear containers, as if it’s a menu for thieves. It’s not your job to streamline their process. ## They’re not transparent. This one is big for my brain, specifically. My brain gets easily confused by clutter. Clear plastic is my Kryptonite. I need solid-colored containers with clear, simple labels or I’m lost and stressed, even when I know where something is. My brain is also able to make much clearer decisions about projects and outcomes when there’s a separation between the items in storage and the index of those items, like in a spreadsheet or text-file list. I look at my box of old guitar pedals and see memories of my youth in garage bands. I look at them in a spreadsheet, see their inflated value on the market, and I know it’s time to sell them to someone who can get more use out of them. That’s space I can clear from a box and money I can use to make more memories. I can’t get my brain to understand that when I’m looking directly at the item in the box. ## They force weight limits. If you’ve ever moved, you know the impulse to overload a container with too much weight, and the feeling of severe back pain from misjudging that container’s weight later on. It’s really hard to overload a standard Bankers Box. It’s really easy to move and carry a standard Bankers Box. Your back thanks you in advance. ## They fit for the vast majority of what you’re storing. You’re never going to find a single storage solution for everything. Let go of that notion right now. That myth is why The Container Store has such a successful business model. Shoot for 80%. I figured that’s what I would find in Bankers Boxes, and everything else would get a box of a bigger size (or mailing tubes for large prints, and photos). For my inactive storage, it turned out Bankers Boxes covered 95% of what I needed. We tend to exaggerate the outliers. Bonus tip: You can use a Bankers Box as temporary storage for actively-used items (like tools, your pantry, your gardening gear) to calculate the amount of space and budget you’ll need for permanent storage (tool chests, cabinets, shelves, etc.). It will give you 3-D insights a tape measure alone won’t. ## They’re timeless. I laugh when I see a professional organizer buy hundreds of dollars of plastic boxes to organize someone’s space because they all have to be a uniform size and color. Never mind the fact that those plastic boxes all have proprietary sizes and locking mechanisms that change the minute the patent expires, so you’ll never find replacement tops when yours cracks or additional boxes when your needs increase. The timelessness of the Bankers Box means never having to think about keeping up with the organizational Joneses. Plus, even though we’re all used to seeing Bankers Boxes at their worst, piled up floor-to-ceiling by lawyers in dingy back rooms, cardboard’s timeless looks can be made beautiful and functional in the right hands. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/09/herman_miller.webp) [Herman Miller likes cardboard too](https://www.hermanmiller.com/products/seating/stools/aeron-stool/?ref=cjchilvers.com). ## Consider the downsides. This only real downside to cardboard for long-term, inactive storage is that the contents have an increased risk of exposure to fire and flood damage. That wasn’t a problem for me for a few reasons. Fire isn’t stopped by plastic. Plastic is made from petroleum. Water also isn’t stopped by plastic, unless the containers include water-resisting elements like o-rings. But even then, those elements often (usually?) fail in a flooding event. They’re just *increased* protection. My solution for that downside was to keep any still-unscanned-but-important materials in a plastic, o-ring-equipped container on a top shelf. Only non-paper-based items that could survive flooding were put on bottom shelves. There hasn’t been a serious flood in my area of town in recent memory. I assume the worst anyway and prepare. ## Now you’re ready to think outside the box. Work your process. Digitize, process, and scale it all down to size that’s manageable for those you’ll leave behind. Don’t leave your family hundreds of little projects in a pile of ill-defined obligations. Leave them good memories and a minimized, well-organized archive that will serve them, not require service. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/09/national_archives.png) [The US National Archives seems to like cardboard too](https://twitter.com/aotus11%5Fshogan/status/1664396993676947457?s=12&t=5u3JpTJ0KaTbGXeLv5fnAQ&ref=cjchilvers.com). # ### Social proof is overrated. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/social-proof-is-overrated/ Last updated: 2023-09-12T15:14:56.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/09/aida.jpg) There’s so much bad advice in content strategy, that no one bothers to talk about what is merely overrated advice. After decades of email marketing, copywriting, and content strategy, I’ve can confidently say that “social proof” gets too much attention. It’s important, but it’s overrated. It’s a favorite topic among 20-something advice-givers on social media, because it solves a lot of the writer’s problems (but often ignores the reader’s and/or client’s problems). What is social proof? To the advice-givers, it’s a magical, evolutionary hack that convinces customers to buy into something because others have. It should be plastered all over your email, landing pages, bios – all above the fold (and there’s never a fold). [There’s an actual definition for social proof](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social%5Fproof?ref=cjchilvers.com), but I’ve come to define it as, “reassurance for an already-made decision.” That’s all it is to the reader. They’ve arrived at a page, or opened an email. That takes a reader all the way from attention and interest to decision and action within 5 seconds. They’ve read a headline and chosen to read more. They’ve clicked a button. Those are all incredibly important, and telling, decisions and actions. Social proof is what comes after those critical first decisions. You can’t build trust in a solution if the reader doesn’t know (or care) what the solution is. So, why is social proof such a popular topic for the advice-givers, versus getting past that first 5 seconds? To the writer or business owner, social proof isn’t only reassurance copy. It’s a psychologically satisfying way to battle imposter syndrome, convince higher-ups that you’re doing a good job, and convince your workers that they’re helping to solve problems in the real world. It feels really good. But to the reader, social proof is primarily a way of reassuring themselves about their initial decision. Then, it’s about reassuring themselves that this solution has solved a problem like their own, for people like themselves. You can’t get a click before an open. You can’t get interest before attention. You can’t close a sale before there’s a real customer. **You don’t need reassurance about a decision before the decision.** There’s a reason books have traditionally put their social proof copy on the back cover, or inside flap. It’s not what turns heads in a book store. It’s what reassures the reader that they’ve decided on and acted on the right book. Social proof is important, but it’s nowhere near the importance of getting that initial attention, interest, decision, and action. ### Enjoy collaboration…or else! URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/enjoy-collaboration-or-else/ Last updated: 2023-09-11T17:14:40.000Z I can’t look at the news anywhere online without seeing threats being made by CEOs to their remote workers. It’s a thinly-veiled, insecure attempt to turn the clock back and save what’s left after their poor real estate decisions. I think it’s an opportunity for indie creators. From The Street reporting on [JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon’s threat to his employees](https://apple.news/Avi2HlVsCSy6RLBFNu6b3Dw?ref=cjchilvers.com): > “Dimon doubled down on his hard-line stance in July, saying, ‘I completely understand why someone doesn't want to commute an hour and a half every day. Totally get it... Doesn't mean they have to have a job here either.’” And Amazon’s CEO Andy Jassy’s threat to remote workers: > “It’s probably not going to work out for you.” And my hometown’s own [Crain’s Chicago Business](https://www.chicagobusiness.com/workplace/labor-day-remote-work-hybrid-rto?ref=cjchilvers.com): > “Employers across the country are making the unofficial end of summer the official end of full-time remote work.” Sure. The office is welcoming, collaborative, and mentoring — but you must be incarcerated within the walls of some arbitrary location (no matter how much less productive you are there) or else! Here’s the truth. In a healthy business, if the work can be remotely, the business will enthusiastically choose to be open to remote work. This ensures they can have their pick of the best talent across the country, or around the world, at the best possible prices. An unhealthy business, looking to rid itself of pesky employees as cheaply as possible, will demand in-person work. JPMorgan is great example of an unhealthy business, as is Amazon (along with most tech companies who raise tons of cash, but struggle for real profits and positive employee experience). As the skilled workforce continues to evaporate with the retirement of the boomers and the decline in work-age population, it’s the remote-minded businesses that will succeed long-term. This is good for independent creators. This is time to make a name for yourself as a trusted expert. Unhealthy businesses are about to jettison millions of employees who will need to make a name for themselves in the market too – starting from zero. Creators will have the upper hand. Unhealthy businesses usually assume workers will be available to hire after government bail outs make their businesses healthy-ish. But they won’t be this time. The demographics aren’t there. More importantly, after knowledge workers get a taste of the indie lifestyle and (typically) higher pay, why would they ever want to go back to the scolding taskmaster and the beige cubicle? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/09/1432239969633021952-png__700.jpg) We’re about to experience a once-in-a-century shock to the system of work. Regional banks will fold. Skyscrapers will empty. Creators are in the best possible position to weather this storm. ### “Don’t stay home.” URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/dont-stay-home/ Last updated: 2023-09-08T17:12:02.000Z In 1995, the band 311 had a hit with the song, [Don’t Stay Home.](https://youtu.be/Q-d4H7GhvM4?si=dT6%5FOpy-c9uLRP2P&ref=cjchilvers.com) Ever since, it has played in my head whenever I’m supposed to go out for an event and don’t feel like it. This happened last weekend. Consider it for your weekend. I had tickets to a movie premiere for [The Road Dog](https://www.theroaddogmovie.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com), starring Doug Stanhope, but I had worked hard all day and I didn’t feel like I had the energy to go. That song started playing in my head. I decided not to stay home. If you don’t know, just like there are band’s bands in music, Doug Stanhope is *the* comedian’s comedian. He’s the natural successor to George Carlin. Even Joe Rogan has to pester him into coming on his show, because he wants more people to know about Stanhope. He’s also fiercely independent. Ever since he had a bad experience hosting a show on Comedy Central many years ago, he’s been determined to own and control everything he creates. He films and owns his specials. His wife, Bingo, sells his merch at shows. He lives in an Arizona border town instead of LA. He buys his clothes at thrift shops, which have given him his trademark look. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/09/ART_DougStanhope_2384.jpg) There’s a lot that independent creators can learn from Doug – worts and all. The movie itself is sort of what the life of a road comic is like — depressing but honest. It’s got the same kind of issues most low-budget indies have, but I totally understand why Doug won a best actor award for it. Doug Stanhope gave an acceptance speech that was on-brand. Sticking to character, Doug and Bingo took an Amtrak to the movie premiere, signing autographs at stops, and bartering for booze when they ran out. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/09/F4qP1woWsAE7asK.jpeg) I arrived at the premiere by walking through an alley next to the theater. To my shock, there they were! Doug and Bingo were taking a casual stroll through the same alley — no helpers, no fans, no pomp of any kind. I said something about his socks. They both chuckled. The “don’t stay home” tune in my head results in just as many failures as successes. This time it resulted in me making *the* comedian’s comedian chuckle. I consider that a “tell the grandkids”-level event. Life achievement = unlocked. ### The Best Newsletter in the World URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-best-newsletter-in-the-world/ Last updated: 2023-08-28T11:45:34.000Z This is not my usual newsletter day, but in the past few weeks, I’ve written a book, several guides, a course, and more articles than I can remember. I wish I could share them, but none had bylines. So, I figured I’d just randomly share some interesting links with you on a Monday for no reason. Have a great week, everyone! — [CJ](https://cjchilvers.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/08/IMG_3738-1-1.WEBP) It's been a helluva few weeks. ↓ [**“How I write the best newsletter in the world”**](https://kareem.substack.com/p/how-i-write-the-best-newsletter-in) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar details his newsletter-writing process, which is a lot like the processes of top-tier online writers we’ve heard from before, like Dave Pell, Austin Kleon, and Seth Godin. They just read a lot, think a lot, and create over MUCH longer periods of time than you think. [**4 hidden events in your calendar**](https://twitter.com/ozolinsjanis/status/1481957265695334400?s=12&ref=cjchilvers.com) Always account for the margin. If you’ve ever had to track your time, you’re very familiar with the feeling this image evokes. [**We don't need a new twitter.**](https://calnewport.com/we-dont-need-a-new-twitter/?ref=cjchilvers.com) Cal is right again, but while he mentions that the old Internet (non-algo consumption) is trending and that it’s the obvious solution, I think we need to liven it up a little. The “design playground” of RSS apps is giving me a lot of hope. The losers in this trend? It’s hard to imagine how ad-dependent podcasts, especially Spotify’s acquisitions, survive when younger generations discover [the benefits of RSS](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/open-wins/). Just listen to [these popular podcasters](https://castro.fm/episode/bV2G95?ref=cjchilvers.com#1:45:37) on the increasing demands of creepy, anti-RSS advertisers. It doesn’t work for the audience or the creators. Open wins. We solved the social media issue 20 years ago. It’s time to speak up about it. [**On the link between great thinking and obsessive walking**](https://lithub.com/on-the-link-between-great-thinking-and-obsessive-walking/?utm%5Fsource=substack&utm%5Fmedium=email) I’m revisiting this idea again as we’re seeing the rise of walk ’n talk channels on YouTube like [Peter Zeihan’s](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=video&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiVh7TBv%5FiAAxUvg4kEHUAGCEYQFnoECAMQAg&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fc%2FZeihanonGeopolitics&usg=AOvVaw3mLUNEL8l1Hvee4CqLTjsC&opi=89978449) — a trend I love because it shows the power of constraints in creativity. Even if you’re not on board with the creating part, your brain could always use a walk. Even [Darwin](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/how-think-about-exercise/201501/charles-darwins-daily-walks?ref=cjchilvers.com) and [Kierkegaard](https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/336809-above-all-do-not-lose-your-desire-to-walk-everyday?ref=cjchilvers.com) agree. [**Never meet your heroes?**](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/never-meet-your-heroes/) Hogwash. Meet everyone. I have maybe two or three bucket-list icons I still want to meet. I checked one off this past week. He’s had an enviable creative process I’ve been following since 1989\. No one thought it would lead to the year he’s had in 2023. [**“Working remotely is a competitive hiring advantage again.”**](https://world.hey.com/dhh/working-remotely-is-a-competitive-hiring-advantage-again-c182250e?ref=cjchilvers.com) Once again, DHH is several steps ahead of his competition. All I’ve seen in the business press for a month is articles slamming remote work. This is an obvious real estate ploy. Owners hire (remote) freelancers, who pump out articles (often in pay-to-play business publications) opposing remote work, which buys the owners enough time to dump their holdings before the market bottoms out. Demographics don’t lie. The workforce has kept shrinking **significantly** since the boomers started retiring and there aren’t enough skilled workers to begin replacing them – even with remote work. It’s not even close. DHH knows what’s up. P.S. Our friend Patrick Rhone reminds us of [the heroic choice of getting up in the morning](https://www.patrickrhone.net/13934-2/?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### Never meet your heroes? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/never-meet-your-heroes/ Last updated: 2023-08-23T19:03:36.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/08/IMG_3706.jpeg) Never meet your heroes, they say. Well, I met Nuno Bettencourt last week and he turned out to be a nice dude. Plus, he’s also the template for a well-lived creative life. For those who don’t know, Nuno is one of the last guitar gods still performing. You most likely know him from hits he had as far back as 1989 with Extreme, Janet Jackson, and Rhianna – or from [my guitar design idea that turned into an actual product last year](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/just-putting-it-out-there/). But I know him as the uniquely-percussive, founding-father guitarist of the funk metal genre — metal that will have you banging your head *and* dancing at the same time. His relentless creative process took him from being labeled a “one-hit-wonder” in the 1990s, to recording and touring constantly throughout the 2000s – no matter what size the crowd. Imagine everyone’s surprise when he scored viral-hit song in 2023 **after** performing at the Super Bowl. Is there such as thing as a two-hit wonder spanning four decades? Nuno's performs his viral solo for "Rise" at the concert after the meet and greet. This is what a daily creative process looks like. It’s not even. It’s not about constant audience growth. There’s a lot to learn from Nuno. — CJ P.S. Thank you Abe, for catching this pick and slyly putting it in my pocket as a souvenir. Guitar players will notice the striations in the side of the pick from the unique way Nuno plays. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/08/IMG_3717.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/08/IMG_3712.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/08/IMG_3738-1.WEBP) P.P.S. The opening act was Living Colour. I have no idea how they retain this level of energy and swagger. ### Some Idiot Wrote This URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/some-idiot-wrote-this/ Last updated: 2023-08-09T14:14:57.000Z One of my favorite writing prompts comes from a podcast I love by three veteran journalists. They have a segment called, “Some idiot wrote this.” The point of the segment is not (usually) to pick on the writer of a bad take, unless the take is egregiously error-prone. It’s just a jumping-off point for the three to discuss the correct way to approach, research, and write an article on whatever the topic may be. This has always been my most productive creative prompt. It works for any creator: - For writers and podcasters, see the above. - For photographers, it may be about an overall photographic idea you love, but the composition was so bad, you feel forced to create your own version. - For musicians, this is a daily thing already. You hear a great drum track with horrible bass, or cringy lyrics. It’s motivation to prove there’s a better song out there. Whatever it is, it’s usually best to express the better take in your own way, rather than just criticizing someone else’s work. See it from the all angles. Then, fire away. With this prompt, you’ll have an endless supply subject matter, especially from social media, and no excuse not to consistently post about something — with passion. — [CJ](https://cjchilvers.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) P.S. I’ve been on vacation this week. The many places I’ve found to sit and work are a reminder of why remote work isn’t going away — or even waning in popularity — at least for the rest of my lifetime. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/08/IMG_3638.jpeg) ### Creativity vs. Productivity 🥊 URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/creativity-vs-productivity/ Last updated: 2023-08-02T13:19:45.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/08/creative-v-productive.png) I saved this from a post by [Tobias van Schneider](https://vanschneider.com/blog/?ref=cjchilvers.com), which has now been deleted. Spot on, though. Links are break quicker these days, which is just one more reason I need to create more of these link-sharing posts. Feel free to send me any that you think I should highlight in the future. Thanks! – [CJ](https://cjchilvers.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) [**Creators are identifying more as hobbyists.**](https://convertkit.com/reports/creator-economy-2023?ref=cjchilvers.com) This was a welcomed surprise from [ConvertKit’s State of the Creator Economy Report 2023](https://convertkit.com/reports/creator-economy-2023?ref=cjchilvers.com). The number of creators who consider themselves hobbyists jumped from 10% last year to 19% this year. I’ve always believed the most interesting, innovative creations come from hobbyists. It’s just more fun to create and consume for the love of the game. [**Text shows how much you care.**](https://greycoder.com/a-list-of-text-only-new-sites/?ref=cjchilvers.com) Via my friend and yours, [Patrick Rhone](https://micro.blog/patrickrhone?ref=cjchilvers.com), comes this list of [text-only and minimalist news sites](https://greycoder.com/a-list-of-text-only-new-sites/?ref=cjchilvers.com). This is the ultimate in respect for the reader. My favorite of these is usually [CNN Lite](https://lite.cnn.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com). Maybe you can be an [HTMinimaList nut](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/im-a-htminimalist-nut/) too. [**Chalk another one up for guerrilla marketing.**](https://twitter.com/sweatystartup/status/1681280020436664320?s=61&t=%5FK0aXcmQYpIn3AEJLK90Sg&ref=cjchilvers.com) I’m a sucker for these elbow-grease and shoe-leather stories of marketing. Here, a husband and wife team [spend $200 in chalk and get $500K in revenue](https://twitter.com/sweatystartup/status/1681280020436664320?s=61&t=%5FK0aXcmQYpIn3AEJLK90Sg&ref=cjchilvers.com). As an introvert, the times in my life where I’ve pounded the pavement to ask for businesses have been the most lucrative. You just have to really want it. [**From the no-sh@t files: Programmatic ads suck.**](https://digiday.com/media-buying/programmatic-ads-pose-new-brand-risks-amid-the-generative-ai-boom/?ref=cjchilvers.com) When AI-generated content meets the ad model of content delivery…well, we all knew what the results would be. But for those who run their creativity-based business through nothing but Excel or Google Sheets, maybe it was harder to predict that garbage content feeding garbage ads would have a garbage result. Again, it’s all about respect — for yourself and the reader. This is actually great news for creators of good content. [**How inspiration really works in the brain.**](https://www.fastcompany.com/90923653/heres-how-inspiration-works-in-the-brain-and-how-you-make-your-brain-more-creative?ref=cjchilvers.com) I’ll forgive the imprecise nature of the terms used in this article, because it’s a great introduction to what really helps us be more “creative.” This doesn't just happen on its own, of course. [Inspiration is scheduled](https://www.cjchilvers.com/inspiration-is-scheduled/). P.S. “Creativity happens when other variables are predictable.” — [Michael Lopp](https://twitter.com/rands/status/1015072830256340994?ref=cjchilvers.com) ### Personalization is creepy. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/personalization-is-creepy/ Last updated: 2023-07-26T11:26:43.000Z File these rules under “totally obvious advice that almost no one follows.” 1. Don’t be creepy. 2. Treat everyone online as if you’re talking to them in real life. 3. Long-term relationships build long-term businesses. 4. You are never automatically entitled to track a person. You wouldn’t walk up to someone in public, call them by a name you hope is right, make obvious you scraped their personal information from a social profile, and pitch your latest crypto-adjacent course. Best case scenario: that person runs away. Worst case scenario: you tried that sh@t in Texas and now you need to be shoveled off the sidewalk. Nevertheless, personalization remains the trend that won’t go away – or shut up about how great it is. From Litmus’ “[2023 State of Email Design Report](https://page.litmus.com/state-of-email-design.html?ref=cjchilvers.com),” under the heading, “Why utilize personalization in your emails?” > “Right now, 64% of emails sent by companies leverage personalization using dynamic content, and over half of email marketing teams want to improve their content personalization. At this point, personalized emails are an industry standard and requirement!” That sounds like an order! Actually, it sounds like a lack of taste on many fronts. Yes, they all want more creepiness. Yes, they used the word “leverage.” Yes, they used the word “utilize” in the heading. “At this point,” I wish professional writers were “an industry standard and requirement.” So, what happens when Apple provides privacy features to block some of the creeps from being more creepy? From Dan Oshinsky, in a newsletter I really like, [“Not a Newsletter”](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pySiYQ%5F5OMsj1U4r5XXLPru0NtiVg2FVaO5INBlNffk/edit?usp=sharing&ref=cjchilvers.com): > “I got more than a handful of panicked emails about the announcement. Some sent me articles suggesting that Apple would be making it impossible to track click data or would strip away all UTMs attached to URLs.” Heavens no! Whatever shall we do?! I like Dan’s work a lot. It’s probably because he took the time to meet me. He does this with any of his readers. All they have to do is schedule the meeting. Ghost recently published [a bunch of examples](https://ghost.org/resources/get-personal/?ref=cjchilvers.com) of newsletter writers who make the same offer. Does that scale? Of course not. That’s the point. Everyone’s so worried about what scales, no one sees the obvious solution for non-creepy engagement. Be a human. Gartner, of all companies, just released [a report](https://www.gartner.com/en/marketing/research/cmos-embrace-catalytic-marketing-as-your-strategy-to-drive-profitable-growth?ref=cjchilvers.com) that seems to agree: > “A majority of customers (62%) don’t want to exchange their personal data for more relevant and personalized recommendations and/or experiences. And the more of their personal data that marketers use, the creepier and more intrusive they find personalization.” That’s been my experience. I’m sure personalization works to sell more in the short term when used with a light touch. But I’ve never subscribed to anything because I hoped I could be sold to more. A seller-focused strategy will always lose head-to-head against a reader-focused strategy in the long run. It’s a competitive opportunity too few are willing to explore. ### RIP: The External 🧠 URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/rip-external-brain/ Last updated: 2023-07-19T11:52:01.000Z Last week, while everyone was arguing over who the next social media giant was going to be, Evernote [laid off](https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/07/evernote-the-memory-app-people-forgot-about-lays-off-entire-us-staff/?ref=cjchilvers.com) its entire U.S. staff: > *“Evernote, the app that has sought for two decades to find a large paying audience for its ‘external brain,’ is moving its operations to Italy, home of its parent company Bending Spoons. It's yet another big shift for a company that's been useful, but not quite profitable, since at least 2004.”* The story of Evernote is about greed, not ambition. To summarize: Short term revenue goals betrayed long-term customer relationships. Then everyone just waited for years as it all wound down. That’s not really what’s unique about this story. What’s unique is that Evernote is based on the outdated ideal of an “external brain.” Evernote was the first “external brain” company. They coined the term. Tiago Forte’s “second brain” system didn’t come along until much later, along with Notion and the like. Cal Newport ripped into the idea of “second brains” recently on [his podcast](https://castro.fm/episode/YHcUWy?ref=cjchilvers.com#36:25): > *“What we're missing here is that most people have not saturated their first brain. Let’s focus on that first before we care about how we need to cybernetically augment that with another system.* > *This is what I see as the difference between serious thinkers and others. To saturate your primary brain is to actually spend time with information — to walk and think, and talk it through, and to bat it around, and test it out in different types of essays.* > *The effort to get your primary brain to be as sophisticated as possible can be a lifelong effort.* > *Digital tools are great for supporting the human brain. But I am a big believer that most of us are so far from getting the most out of our primary brain that it’s not really time to think about outsourcing thinking yet.”* Hell yeah. The industry of creators that has sprung up around some of these companies, selling robo-mind-creator-preneur hope to people, who probably need just need vacations and/or medications, is disturbing – but expected. I won’t shed a tear for Evernote. External brains are rarely needed to create. Looking back, they’ve only been useful to me when writing reference material, which is pretty rare. Cal is right. The most prolific thinkers aren’t thinking with external brains. If you’re a photographer, take more pictures. If you’re a writer, produce more text. The tools will work themselves out. ### Thanks for the advice! URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/thanks-for-the-advice/ Last updated: 2023-07-12T12:36:33.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/07/sp23eMl.gif) I don’t like analyzing personal newsletters. They’re whatever their creator wants them to be. There’s no rules. That goes for mine as well. But I am interested in looking back every year or two to check in on what you think. I don’t nitpick. I don’t scrutinize. I just want the big picture: what were you into? ## Here’s what you’ve taught me this year: 1. No matter what you think of the length of blog posts, you prefer shorter emails. Noted. 2. You didn’t seem to care about email format as much as in the past. I think Substack has started to break the assumptions of what a newsletter should be. 3. Fun and “inspirational” topics got the most responses. Replies are my favorite metric. 4. However, a more tactical topic, [35 Lessons from 35 Years of Newsletter Publishing](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/35-lessons-from-35-years-of-newsletter-publishing/), was your favorite post of the past year or two. 5. You generally love lists. I mean LOVE them. I can’t blame you. I do too. ## Things I believe I did right this year: 1. I finally conquered consistency. I publish every day, but never consistently in public and under my own name, until this year. 2. I starting getting membership revenue even though I don’t offer memberships. People found a way. 3. My audiobook is 1/3 done. It’s part of my project to package each of my books in all possible formats for one price — independently. 4. I appeared on more podcasts. 5. More people subscribed to the Van Halen Encyclopedia, my guilty pleasure project. 6. Offline content strategy work increased almost too much — leading to some of the bad results below. ## Things I believe I did wrong: 1. My offline work seriously ate into my online work, negatively affecting…everything. 2. Promoting my last book in the Derek Sivers style didn’t work in the long run. 3. I’m glad I moved to Ghost, but I didn’t do enough work to transition the site seamlessly. I’m seeing some negative consequences from not tending to my garden around here. ![](https://media.tenor.com/aY9vxHGFHN0AAAAC/die-hard-oops.gif) I won’t tell you what I’m changing. I’m just going to do it and we’ll check in again next year. ### Opens Wins URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/open-wins/ Last updated: 2023-07-05T12:02:39.000Z RSS is still the way. I’ve written about the [utility and idealism of RSS](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-smartest-dumb-tech/) in the past, but I think enough time has passed for us to reflect on whether the anti-RSS decade we’ve just been through worked for anyone. Were consumers better off? Were publishers better off? How do you personally feel about these kinds of content? RSS-friendly: - Blogs - Newsletters - Podcasts - YouTube - Mastodon - Email - Personalized updates for changes across the web RSS-unfriendly: - Twitter - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Twitch There are many who fall into a gray area with limited RSS options, but you probably see where I’m going. Over time, it’s become obvious that RSS-unfriendly companies and technologies tend to: - Burn out - Steal your time, data, and attention - Run into trouble with the law - Develop negative brands/reputations - Fail Why? I think it’s about control and advertising. RSS represents a loss of control for many – especially to the new generation of founders and developers, who never knew a web without gates. That loss of control means it’s harder to extract easy, safe money in the short term. When a recession looms, those ties to the open web are among the first things cut (aside from the Marketing department). Short-term money is needed, no matter what the damage to long-term reputation. But embracing that loss of control enables ideas to spread faster and be adopted wider. Being more open is scary, but that’s what makes a bet…a bet. RSS isn‘t at the core of all of that, of course. I don’t even think it’s a consideration for those at the top of these companies. But I do think it has become a useful business indicator. If a company offers RSS, they probably care more about their users‘ experience. They’re usually a better company. If they don’t offer RSS when they technically could, you shouldn‘t care too much about them. They will eventually burn you and themselves. If a creator embraces RSS, I find the same to be true — whether it’s a part of their consumption or creation. Guard your time and attention by placing as much of your consumption in RSS as possible. From first-hand knowledge, the mental health benefits can’t be overstated. Take control over what your feeds look like and who gets to populate them. Create and share in the most open ways possible. It’s tempting to give attention to the silos, but the payoff is hollow. If the internet has enough of a history to teach us anything, it has taught us: - Open wins. - Open is sane. - Open lasts. ### Don’t mess with librarians. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/dont-mess-with-librarians/ Last updated: 2023-06-28T13:18:09.000Z This weekend, I helped my wife in her booth at the American Library Association Conference ([my wife helps libraries with fundraising](https://fundraisinglibrarian.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com)). I’ve been to the ALA conference a few times in the past decade, but this time felt different. The conference is usually overshadowed by authors, big publishers, and the latest ed tech startups. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/06/ALA001.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/06/ALA003.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/06/ALA000.png) But this year, the vibe was all about combatting book bans and encroachments on free speech. Both the right and the left were represented. Although they didn’t see eye-to-eye on any other issue, they agreed on fighting any government action that restricted access to books. The activist booths towards the back and sides of the show seemed to get as much interest as the larger booths from the likes of NASA, The Library of Congress, and Simon and Schuster. Lesson 1: Book bans are always a mistake. Lesson 2: Don’t f@ck with librarians. ### Publish or perish? Document or die. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/publish-or-perish-document-or-die/ Last updated: 2023-06-21T14:02:57.000Z [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/06/Xnapper-2023-06-21-08.59.22.png)](https://twitter.com/ozolinsjanis/status/1458785155707985928?s=61&t=sv96INzeVxzeoZIf7WQ1ew&ref=cjchilvers.com) I don’t believe in goals. I believe in process. I believe in process because I used to believe in goals. What I’m about to reveal to you is far more boring than goal setting, but far more effective. Goals tend to get further away the closer you get to them. The solution is to not move closer to your goals, but to get them to move closer to you. The outcomes I dreamed up in my goals were actually just the byproducts of processes. Writing these words is a weekly process for me. The words themselves are the byproduct — along with any future books, posts, or relationships built upon the foundation of these words. Goals meet up with you as part of your daily process. ## Process is usually the guest, not the host. Process is powerful, but often ignored in favor of procedure. Procedures are simpler. Procedures are individual. Procedures are useful. Procedures will never be as valuable as processes. Have you ever read a book about productivity, leadership, or entrepreneurship, and been totally inspired by the advice in the beginning chapters, only to be deflated by later chapters when the “how-to” details didn’t apply to you at all? That first part was probably process (here’s why this topic matters and how it can improve your life) and the second half was probably procedure (sell everything, move to a rural area, and start a collectible-magnets business on Etsy). Procedure thrives in YouTube videos, podcasts, and social media posts. Google loves it. Consumers love it. It’s comfort content. Process found a home in books, alongside topics governing the principles and values that guide processes. But few people read books anymore. For every 50 episodes of a popular business podcast, you may hear one episode with an author as a guest, reminding the audience that none of what they’re listening to really applies to them. That’s valuable advice, but it usually doesn’t scale past one episode. However, that episode couldn’t have happened without the funding that comes from the procrastination of endless “how-to” episodes. So, an uneasy truce has formed over the years. Procedure, which only really applies to the host, takes the spotlight and makes the money. From time to time, listeners will be treated to some process truths, as a trust-building exercise, before hearing an ad that reminds us of what really pays the bills. I don’t expect much to change. This is how we’re wired. But if I could go back 20 years, I’d tell myself this: **If the advice isn’t about improving your processes somehow, it’s probably not worth your time.** That would have eliminated 95%+ of my nonfiction consumption over the years. Imagine the byproducts that could have formed in those lost hours. ## Document or die. What makes procedures weak as advice is also what makes them strong in your daily work — their utility to the individual. Documenting both your processes and procedures is painful. I wrote this kind of documentation professionally for about a decade. I’ve seen the toughest high-level executives inside international banks crumble at the thought of documenting the “gray areas” of their daily work. Processes at that level are mostly determined by regulation, so they’re vague, full of legalese, and rarely updated. But procedures at that level are assumed to be too complex for a lowly writer to understand. In reality, they were too simple and inefficient for an executive to want to face. However, without honest documentation of what you do, you can’t improve. It doesn’t matter how inefficient you are now. Documentation doesn’t care. It only needs an honest accounting of how you do what you do — step by step. That’s too hard for most people to accomplish. After documentation, a new universe opens up for you. - You can scan each step for ways to improve quality or efficiency. - You can recognize where money and time is wasted. - You can realize where you’re not the best person for a task, farm that task out, and create far more of what you care about in less time, more enjoyably, and for more money. - You can easily train others or transition parts of the process to a new hire, or new vendor. The usefulness of a procedure cannot be overstated. Process is still more valuable, as it determines whether the procedure should even exist, but it’s less useful to your daily work. ## Why does this matter for you? I’ll give you an example of how I recently failed. Maybe that will help. My personal publishing process is pretty simple. > I write every day. From that process, articles, books, client work, and occasionally friendships, arise. The procedures behind that process can be complex. Over time, I’ve learned to simplify and clarify them, but they remain as complex as the world of publishing forces them to be. This past week, I ignored my procedures for creating audio versions of my books and essays because they weren’t producing the outcomes I wanted. Byproducts had never appeared in any quality or quantity that I felt would’ve been publicly acceptable. I didn’t re-write the procedures like a smart person would. I just ignored them and moved on. I never faced my painful inefficiencies. I became fascinated by AI voice technology. It read my essays and books better than I did, with more enthusiasm, in an easier-to-understand voice. The AI was also way more efficient. What used to take me several recording sessions and endless frustration, only took the AI voice seconds to complete. After I finished paying for and downloading the narration of the first six chapters of one of my books, I realized that I had fed the AI voice the first edition of the book, not the second edition. I didn’t consider procedure. I didn’t document properly. Now it’s going to cost me. It’s not going to cost a lot, but it didn’t need to happen at all. Process is extremely valuable. It got me to a place where an audiobook was even possible. Procedure is extremely useful. It could have saved me time and money. Documentation is needed for both because no one is good at breaking any of this down step-by-step in their own head to analyze where they could improve. Use my failure as a lesson. Don’t lose money and time because you’re afraid to face the unknowns in your daily work. It’s only really painful for a minute and doesn’t cost you anything…unless you’re an international bank. ### Why would you write a book in 2023? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/why-would-you-write-books-in-2023/ Last updated: 2023-06-14T15:00:27.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/06/barriers.png) It doesn’t make much sense to write a book in 2023 — especially a nonfiction book. In fact, your readers would likely pay 10X as much to get the same information in a video-based course. But, for many reasons, some of us still prefer creating books over any other medium. Why?! 1. **Books have an end.** It’s rare for a creator to reach an “end” to anything these days. Books have a clear, physical end. 2. **Books have a clear and easy-to-understand offer.** The reader knows they can pay for it once, keep it, read it, and share it. 3. **Books are a clearer offer for the seller as well.** While it’s true that most writers could make more money from other forms of media, some have a greater chance of profiting from the larger audiences, with a wider distribution of messaging, that a book offers. This is why professional speakers, consultants, financial experts, and lawyers choose to create books first. The chance for the upsell to their services (which are far more expensive than a course) is greater with a book. Why not just give that content away for the upsell? Because… 4. **Books are weighty.** Books have both gravitas and physical heft. The general public still understands that publishing a book is hard work. If you have a book, it’s proof you’ve run a gauntlet that is not to be taken lightly. It’s gotten so a politician isn’t considered a true contender for a weighty position without having written (or have had ghostwritten) a book (that is then usually used as a funnel for dark money, of course). 5. **Books are the royalty of text.** Text is the starting point for every idea in publishing. It may be a book idea now, but it could be a course, talk, movie, or anything else a year from now. Text is foundational. You can always do more, but why not share the foundation? 6. **Books are clarified thoughts.** Writing clearly is thinking clearly. A book is an unforgiving constraint in this way. Half-ass ideas do not survive long in book world. 7. **Books are slow.** Slow productivity works. As crazy-making as the authoring process may be, it is not the multitasking, inhuman craziness of modern knowledge work. It’s focused. It’s a crazy of your own choosing, which makes it much more sane. 8. **Books contain multitudes.** After a book is complete, it can become a physical book, ebooks (in many formats), an audiobook, a podcast series, a newsletter series, YouTube videos, blog posts, or social media posts — all translated into any language. This is also all automated now by AI (including the audio/video). Extra work is encouraged, but not required. This means every completed book is now 10,000+ pieces of content that can be used to spread your message (or just help you sell). 9. **Books last.** Most everything else is forgotten. 10. **Books put your best foot forward.** Yes, it takes a long time to create, edit, and publish a book. But that quality makes for the best possible introduction to new clients, bosses, friends…anyone. It’s a great relationship starter. ### Do Personal Brands Matter? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/do-personal-brands-matter/ Last updated: 2023-06-07T14:25:58.000Z Many of you have asked me about the differences between personal and business newsletters, websites, and branding. There must be something in the air, because I’ve seen a lot of content spring up around the subject lately, including from [Gary Vee](https://youtu.be/ZjIkY16BYZs?ref=cjchilvers.com), Seth Godin (in multiple new interviews), and [Copyblogger](https://www.copybloggerpod.com/is-personal-brand-even-worth-it/?ref=cjchilvers.com). I figured it was time to go back to some foundational principles to get clarity, because most of the advice is a little too in-the-weeds and for most readers. 1. A brand is just a reputation. In fact, I’ve learned to just replace “brand” in my head with “reputation” whenever I read or hear it. 2. Everyone, and every business, has a reputation. You don’t have a choice. 3. You’re not in charge of your reputation. Others are. It’s a byproduct. You can only attempt to influence it. Those inside attempts can also be called, “branding.” 4. The most effective changes to your reputation come from the ground up, by being honest, kind, and consistent. It’s the same for businesses, even if businesses often believe a new coat of paint will cover up years of dishonest behavior and inconsistent service. 5. A personal reputation is a long-term investment. 6. A business’s reputation is, by definition, going to be your shorter-term investment. Your life will be longer than your involvement in any one business. 7. You will likely derive immediate, direct benefits from a business’s reputation. 8. You will derive lifelong benefits from your personal reputation. Both kinds of reputations are important. But a personal brand matters more than a business brand. That doesn’t mean you should pour all your efforts into your personal brand, though. That’s not how byproducts work. It doesn’t take much work to be honest and kind in both arenas. ### Want a Do-Over for This Month? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/want-a-do-over-for-this-month/ Last updated: 2023-05-31T13:43:59.000Z Some of my experiments aren’t as Earth-shattering as others, but I wanted to share one small update I’ve made to my routine that might improve your life by 0.5%. For the last few years, I’ve been keeping a note called, “Month notes.” Every month or so, I go into the note add a thing or two that I need to keep in mind for each month, in the years to come. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/05/month-note.PNG) We all get a do-over every year (if we’re lucky), but now you can go into it a little more prepared. This “keep-in-mind” note doesn’t fit neatly into a reminders app, task manager, or a calendar. But, it’s become useful enough to stand on its own. - For February, I’ve got a small list of things I could do better to combat the gloom of late-winter Chicago. This worked last year. That didn’t. - Maybe there’s a weird month when several large semi-annual bills, including the property tax bill, come due at once and reserves need to be ready. - Maybe this is the month school lets out and the neighborhood gets less chaotic, so it’s a better time to accomplish outdoor projects. - Maybe next month is when the cicadas emerge and add a deafening sound to all outdoor activities. It’s a small list that carries great weight. Give it a try. I never forget to check it. I don’t even need a reminder. ### The Books of No Excuses URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-books-of-no-excuses/ Last updated: 2023-05-24T16:42:27.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/05/IMG_2822.jpeg) I buy books to dissect their strategies as much as to read. A sub-genre of these purchases is the “no excuses” book — a book that exists to show you why you have no excuses not to publish your next book. Kevin Kelley’s new book, [Excellent Advice for Living](https://amzn.to/3OxDa2J?ref=cjchilvers.com), is simply a collection of the advice he’s been publishing online for years. They are often just one sentence, filling a full page with a thought. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/05/IMG_2824.jpeg) Seth Godin has a few such books. [Ship It](https://amzn.to/3IEXYBH?ref=cjchilvers.com) was just a tiny workbook, sold five at a time. You were meant to use a new one every time you launched a product you wanted to ship. It’s not much more than a brochure. Seth Godin also once published [a one-page book](https://coolinfographics.com/blog/2011/11/4/death-taxes-2012-qa-with-jess-bachman-poster-giveaway-deatha.html?ref=cjchilvers.com) on behalf of a designer (it was essentially a poster). Austin Kleon suggested checking out the book, [300 Arguments](https://amzn.to/3oucwNv?ref=cjchilvers.com) by Sarah Manguso. Like Kevin Kelly’s book, it’s a collection of one-sentence-ish thoughts. And, it’s super-small. The idea of such a tiny, physical product that a creator could add to their offerings had me all-in before I read a word. Chase Jarvis’s [The Best Camera Is the One That’s With You](https://amzn.to/43qKdyg?ref=cjchilvers.com) is the book that launched 1000 blogs. It’s just a small book of (mostly) images made using the first version of the iPhone, when no one thought phones could yield “real photography.” Now, the title of the book is used as a cliché. I can’t think of a higher compliment. Timothy Goodman made a book from [his Sharpie drawings](https://amzn.to/423QUVR?ref=cjchilvers.com). This collection of [20 prints](https://www.swiss-miss.com/2022/05/bold-truths.html?ref=cjchilvers.com) packaged like a book could be the clearest, most impactful book you read this year. Several of no-excuse books are collections of blog posts edited to be manifestos, like [Patrick Rhone’s](https://patrickrhone.com/books/?ref=cjchilvers.com), [Austin Kleon’s](https://austinkleon.com/books/?ref=cjchilvers.com), or even [mine](https://www.cjchilvers.com/books/). George Carlin’s book, [Brain Droppings](https://amzn.to/3OIh3H3?ref=cjchilvers.com), is a collection of snippets of jokes and stories that he used or didn’t use while on tour. It was followed up by a few sequels. Why let all those scraps of humor go to waste? David Hieatt of Do Lectures published [a cool little ebook on 24 quotes that changed his life](https://cdn.sanity.io/files/9ndb8yrg/production/4e40cffe00a94013a4a70aba1aaa50704ed0651f.pdf?ref=cjchilvers.com), with commentary. He also published the tiny physical book, [The Path of a Doer](https://amzn.to/3BVjKNQ?ref=cjchilvers.com). The truth is: we all have books that are already written…somewhere. They live in our blogs, social feeds, and notes. It’s the constraints and strategy, and the decision to ship, that eludes us. We need to be reminded – sometimes physically – that there’s no excuse for not shipping. ### The Workspace of the Future Is a Workbench URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-workspace-of-the-future-is-a-workbench/ Last updated: 2023-05-17T14:30:05.000Z A few months ago, I shared some aspirational [garden offices](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/just-a-series-of-garden-offices/). But I didn’t share the aspirations for what should go inside those offices. For example, this is a beautiful office, but it’s not a place for work. It’s a place for leisure. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/05/perfection.jpeg) So, what makes for a great place to work? Research says humans work best: - [In short bursts](https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/for-95-percent-of-human-history-people-worked-15-hours-a-week-could-we-do-it-again.html?ref=cjchilvers.com) - [In silence](https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/12/the-best-music-for-productivity-silence/509948/?ref=cjchilvers.com) - [In a nearby place that is not home, nor “the office”](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/remote-work-not-from-home?ref=cjchilvers.com) [This](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg1vsumLXcY&ref=cjchilvers.com) is proper workspace. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/05/savage.jpg) So, is [this](https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/a15615/how-eddie-van-halen-hacks-a-guitar/?ref=cjchilvers.com). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/05/evh-workbench.jpg) And, so is [this](https://austinkleon.substack.com/p/inside-my-studio). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/05/austin.jpeg.webp) The way we typically think of workbenches is the proper way to think of workspaces — few distractions, deep work, and clear boundaries. ### Your 3-Step Book URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/your-3-step-book/ Last updated: 2023-05-10T13:54:29.000Z What if you could create a table of contents for everything you’ve posted online? How many chapters would you be proud of? I’ve done it. It’s not difficult. It’s not even as time consuming as you might think. The secret is constraints. Don’t worry about tools or methods. Use whatever tools you have available right now. Some of today’s most successful writers still use paper for this kind of exercise, so tools are not a valid excuse to procrastinate. Your assignment: 1. Gather **everything** you’ve posted online *for yourself* from the last five years in one place. 2. Organize the posts by their *primary* topic. Limit yourself to 10 overall topics. 3. Combine and clarify your posts into a list of thoughts under each topic. Steps 1 and 2 will inform you of your primary interests (or “passions” if you insist). The results are not always positive. Adjust accordingly. Step 3 makes you an author. Congrats! Now, ship. ### Solitude Deprivation URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/solitude-deprivation/ Last updated: 2023-05-03T13:42:27.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/05/Pasted-Graphic.jpg) Life goals (via [Need](https://twitter.com/neee%5Feeed/status/1650340738163523585?s=61&t=a0SmqAhWo0YTBRk0DC9zzg&ref=cjchilvers.com)) Since I’m doing some editing and cleaning on my site, I figured it might be fun to do another link love issue. Enjoy! — CJ **1** Author Cal Newport explains the collected research on [whether smartphones are bad for kids or just another moral panic](https://youtu.be/7h7anorDy9A?ref=cjchilvers.com). This was more even-handed than I expected, and it re-introduced me to the concept of “solitude deprivation.” It pairs well with this Adam Grant post on [the importance of reflecting and relaxing](https://twitter.com/adammgrant/status/1651962599674724353?s=61&t=w%5Fhmb3Z4b31hVIsHPxy29g&ref=cjchilvers.com). **2** The CEO of Herman Miller is a pain in the ass. Literally. I had just discovered my wife had an Aeron chair from decades ago. She let me borrow it. I was immediately hooked and went shopping for my own on the used market (remote work has made them affordable). That’s when [this tone-deaf CEO](https://www.chicagobusiness.com/workplace/millerknoll-ceos-pity-city-bonus-rant-put-execs-multi-million-pay-focus?ref=cjchilvers.com) made me proud I wasn’t paying them directly. This is what happens when CEOs don’t believe they need writers anymore. Herman Miller also just bought Fully, which sucks because they made [my whiteboard desk](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/whiteboard-desk/), who — I’m guessing — will end their stellar tech support now. Nevertheless, the genius contained within [this photo](https://www.hermanmiller.com/content/dam/hmicom/page%5Fassets/products/aeron%5Fstool/202106/ig%5Fprd%5Fovw%5Faeron%5Fstool%5F01.jpg?ref=cjchilvers.com) on their site cannot be overstated. I could write an entire book about the disruptive storage strategies on display here (nerds only, please). **3** Speaking of storage, [MacSparky went full Han-fired-first nerd on his tech gear](https://www.macsparky.com/blog/2023/01/why-i-love-kaizen-foam/?ref=cjchilvers.com) with a mountain of Kaizen Foam. Everyone now knows what I want for Father’s Day. And since we’re talking about upcoming holidays, [the illustrated history of the picnic table](https://placesjournal.org/article/an-illustrated-history-of-the-picnic-table/?ref=cjchilvers.com) was a fun find for Memorial Day. **4** Here’s how to do [a little spring cleaning on your website](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqZVENGJlo4&ref=cjchilvers.com) without getting in trouble with Google. While you’re at it, [clean the inputs as well](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-smartest-dumb-tech/). What’s in your RSS, social feeds, and podcasts that doesn’t absolutely need to be there? What can be moved to RSS only? **5** Hubspot and Litmus have released their [2023 State of Marketing Report](https://www.hubspot.com/state-of-marketing?ref=cjchilvers.com), which claims that video is “the most popular and effective media format for the fourth year in a row.” Also, the “#1 highest ROI of any marketing channel are blogs, social media shopping tools, and influencer marketing.” So…content is good I guess? Conflicting info abounds in this report, though. Litmus steps in later in the report to add, “Email marketing is an unmatched investment…brands get back $36 for every $1 spent on the channel on average.” OK, so email must still be the best for ROI then, right? Not blogs and social? $36 really is news to me. Very impressive, if true. I guess email just isn’t trendy enough for those surveyed? I'd rather have the money than be trendy. ### When Pay to Play Doesn’t Pay URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/when-pay-to-play-doesnt-pay/ Last updated: 2023-04-26T12:04:06.000Z Seth Godin just posted about [the search tax](https://seths.blog/2023/04/the-search-tax/?ref=cjchilvers.com) you’re paying: > “Amazon took in more than $30 billion in ad revenue last year, money spent to elevate some products over others in the hierarchy of attention.” Amazon, like Google, YouTube, and Apple’s App Store are often referred to as “pay to play.” But even an expert like Seth can be fooled into thinking it’s a simple scheme. Here’s a real-world example of how the incentives actually work from an ad experiment I ran a few years ago on Amazon. ## The first taste is free-ish. I started by spending a few hundred a month to boost sales for one of my books. The ROI was great at first. This mirrors my experiences with YouTube. I suspect the same would be true at any ad-based platform. ## Reality creeps in. The margin decreased over time. I believe this was Amazon calibrating just how much I’d spend before getting cold feet, or trying to game the system. Seth Godin adds: > “The thing is: all of that spend is paid for by the consumer.” If he’s referring to price alone, that’s not how it works. If a publisher raised prices to cover the ads, why wouldn’t the ads simply re-calibrate around that price increase? The publisher can’t lower costs either. That’s also controlled by Amazon, because it's prohibitively complex and expensive to not publish using Amazon services (more about that below). ## Now, you’re hooked. By the end, I was spending $1200 a month in ads to receive $1500 in sales. Was the $300 worth it? Maybe — as long as I was willing to front the $1200 and wait on the $1500 to deposit, while spending another $1200. Effectively, I was loaning them money at 0% interest, and taking their word on the actual amount of revenue they were receiving from my readers. That's a pretty sweet deal for them, right? Since I was publishing through Amazon services for Kindle and print-on-demand paperbacks, I had no real expenses. Anything over $1200 was a win, as long as I was willing to wait for deposit. But Amazon knew that too. Things were not going to change in my favor ever again. ## Small publishers and authors went to rehab (…or at least Shopify and Gumroad). Imagine you’re not on Kindle. Imagine you’re not printing on demand through Amazon. Imagine you create the greatest, most beautiful book ever made on a topic. That $300 margin wouldn’t cover a fraction of the shipping costs to get your books to the Amazon warehouse to even start selling them. Meanwhile, your competition, with lower-quality books, is taking all the search traffic for that topic and enjoying their free-and-clear $300. This is not a hypothetical. I experienced this with my one, non-print-on-demand book. This is why smaller publishers began breaking up with Amazon years ago to sell direct on Shopify, Gumroad, or Kickstarter. Many of those same publishers now happily receive less revenue in exchange for: - Greater margins - Direct communication (email address for notifications of the next book, updates to current books, and long-term customer relationships) - Fewer headaches from dealing with a platform they can’t control (including fake reviews, counterfeiting, bad packaging, and so much more) - A better overall customer and reader experience ## So it will be across the ad model. Amazon, Google, and YouTube all work in similar ways. Apple’s App Store does as well, although with increasing pushback, both internal and external. Seth Godin concludes: > “Search and discovery would work just fine without the ads. Our satisfaction with what we bought would be at least as good if organic search simply highlighted the best match.” This is the strength and weakness the ad model. There has been a lot of short-term money in the ad model. But if consumers (and creators) could reach the same objectives without paying to play, it’s game over for companies who bet the farm on this ever-ratcheting ad model. Enter DuckDuckGo, countless AI tools, and whatever Apple, Microsoft, and Samsung may soon do with search (they're all threatening something disruptive). All of them enjoy ad revenue, but they don't rely on the ad model to survive. Big difference. Clear choices. It’s exciting times. My advice to creators remains the same: Focus on establishing long-term relationships through experiences you control. ### You’re not namedropping enough. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/youre-not-namedropping-enough/ Last updated: 2023-04-19T11:55:11.000Z I wasn’t kidding. [Curation is probably your best bet for the near future](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-c-word/). And it’s been too long since I shared some great links and quotes. Enjoy! — CJ ## [You’re not namedropping enough.](http://constructionmarketingideas.blogspot.com/2008/10/names-names-names.html?ref=cjchilvers.com) I love this. What’s the secret of the most successful local publication ever (grabbing 112% of their target market)? Names. There can never be enough names in your publication. In fact, the publisher stated back in 1978 that he’d hire more typesetters if the reporters could include more names. This is why curation and the “via” win. Via [Ethan Brooks and Tim Stoddart](https://www.copybloggerpod.com/joinhamptoncom-how-to-build-community-on-a-membership-platform/?ref=cjchilvers.com#show-notes). ## [Why do author newsletters suck?](https://youtube.com/watch?v=FDQRfl3TgPk&feature=share&ref=cjchilvers.com) This applies to everyone’s newsletter, or blog, or social presence. But it only applies with the caveat Josh Spector mentions: your goal must be growth. The [full episode](https://youtu.be/oNJ7-JgX5m4?ref=cjchilvers.com) gets deeper. There are plenty of examples of creators who started their own thing to sharpen their skills. Growth was a byproduct. But this advice is for the majority. Your newsletter is not (just) for you. ## [What’s the cozy web?](https://maggieappleton.com/cozy-web?ref=cjchilvers.com) I don’t care. I love this site’s design and experience so much, it’s brought me back to the 90s when I used to save websites to be inspired. The typefaces, the illustrations, the navigation, and overall reading experience is a knockout here. I don’t even need to care about the topic to read this site and experience absolute joy. ## [Have you had the AI talk with your kids?](https://polymath.net/2023/04/birds-bees-ai/?ref=cjchilvers.com) It’s hard to disagree with the challenges stated here, but I don’t think the resolution is likely, given the history of humanity. We will always find a way to avoid leisure — [the basis of culture](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-importance-of-leisure/). It’s scary stuff, but it’s coming. ## Quotes “Impatience is an argument with reality.” — Rick Rubin “I am building a business that will allow me to: - Have breakfast & dinner with my family every day - Be at every dance recital & little league game - Go to every parent/teacher conference - Take the kids out of school and travel whenever I want What more do I need?” — [Dave Gerhardt](https://twitter.com/davegerhardt/status/1637454263642144768?s=12&t=qXZUkMAxNznl4kFDT8oXaQ&ref=cjchilvers.com) (it’s easy to be anti-hustle, but better to be pro-sensible) “When you first start to study a field, it seems like you have to memorize a zillion things. You don’t. What you need is to identify the core principles – generally three to twelve of them – that govern the field. The million things you thought you had to memorize are simply various combinations of the core principles.” — John T. Reed “None of the tribes want you. They want you to be tribal. Tribes are boring. Who cares? Read books that are interesting. Read books that are bad. I was once attacked for ‘platforming’ somebody. How did you know that person was ‘bad?’ Because somebody ‘platformed’ them before. We used to call it reporting. Read want you want. Believe what you want. And never call yourself anything. It’s a dead end.” — [Journalist Michael Moynihan](https://wethefifth.substack.com/p/members-only-156-second-sunday-live#details) ### Principles for Creating with AI URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/principles-for-creating-with-ai/ Last updated: 2024-06-19T14:06:48.000Z As usual, when I find myself writing too much about a topic, I have to distill it all into a set of principles — easily digested by a (very) mere human. These principles are backed by real data, case studies, and personal interviews. They are subject to change, ridicule, and memes…but only if all goes well. 1. AI tools will continue to improve. 2. The rate of improvement will continue to increase. 3. Because of 1 and 2, never say, “AI can’t…” 4. If everyone has access to the tool, the tool is not a competitive advantage. 5. AI seems to have a bias towards abundance. It seems to abhor scarcity (the driver of value) and constraints (the driver of creativity). Use this. 6. AI will be incorporated in all your work tools. It will be expected as a part of your process, even if it isn’t. To be competitive for clients, you should master the tools more than the next person. 7. AI companies are still hiring writers, content strategists, and designers for a reason. 8. Who did you turn to for trusted info on AI? Not AI. 9. AI will take jobs quickly, but probably not careers — as long as relationship-building remains the focus of the career. Stick to your principles. Principles are useful constraints, not likely to be shared by AI anytime soon. 10. Process pays no mind to AI. Your process is guided by the constraints that work for your brain, without regard for whether AI can help. Maybe it can. Most likely it will also remove vital constraints if you’re not careful. But, see number 3\. Never say never. Experiment. 11. AI is an executive function aid. It will be embraced for accessibility purposes, and put to use in K-12. 12. AI does nothing to solve the hardest part of creating (for yourself or for clients): having the courage to express an opinion in public. “Voice” is not opinion. 13. People still prefer to buy from people, even if they also buy from AI. Adding real people to the mix will drive more value over time. 14. In B2B, AI can open conversations and create interest. Closing still happens between humans — sometimes entire committees. The companies who are fastest in getting a human involved with the customer are likely be more competitive. Use AI to quickly get that human in front of that client. 15. With so much new content about to be added to everyone’s information diet, trusted editors will rule for the foreseeable future. 16. True curation requires trust and opinion. This is a weakness for AI and an opportunity for creators. Invest in curation. Email newsletters still return the best ROI for curated content. 17. Humanization of content beats personalization and automation. 18. Most businesses have short-term biases. Cost-cutting with AI will come before revenue-boosting. 19. It was **Content** Strategy. It’s now Content **Strategy**. Even the greatest AI-wielding creatives have terrible implementations. Again, editing will be a more desired skill. Strategy is the competitive advantage. ### Choose your stressor. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/choose-your-stressor/ Last updated: 2023-04-05T11:55:26.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/04/IMG_2330-1.jpeg) Here’s just a quick lesson I learned from a road trip to the Smoky Mountains this past week. Even with the views, the southern cooking, and time with family, I put in plenty of work — both for myself and others (related: see my new post at StudioNorth on [B2B marketing email ROI](https://www.studionorth.com/your-marketing-emails-have-two-jobs-are-they-working-hard-enough/?ref=cjchilvers.com)). Why? Don’t I preach about the importance of leisure? You can’t escape stress. But, at times, you can gain enough independence to choose what you stress over. That’s my goal. This week, I choose to fully enjoy hikes with my family, three different kinds of fried chicken, and the most beautiful sunrises in world. I also chose to think, write, and speak on how AI will change the lives of professional writers. Yeah, it was a perfect week. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/04/IMG_2219.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/04/IMG_2177.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/04/IMG_2099.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/04/IMG_2305.jpeg) — [CJ](cjchilvers.com) ### They tricked us. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/they-tricked-us/ Last updated: 2023-03-29T11:33:59.000Z All of the following rock guitar gods sold tens of millions of albums. Guitar players, like myself, believed for years that these artists had access to futuristic tools and production tactics that were out of reach for the ordinary musician. The opposite was true. - [Eddie Van Halen’s iconic striped guitar](https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/752454?ref=cjchilvers.com), used to write, record, and perform some of the most legendary songs in rock history, was pieced together from factory-second parts. - Slash recorded the ground-breaking debut album from Guns ‘n Roses using a [replica Gibson Les Paul guitar](https://www.guitarplayer.com/gear/a-look-back-at-slashs-les-paul-standard-copy?ref=cjchilvers.com). The album sold countless real Gibsons, arguably giving the company a second life. - Def Leppard's Phil Collen and Steve Clark recorded *Hysteria*, the album that defined the sound of late-80s pop rock anthems, through [a small plastic amp-in-a-box with a belt clip](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0-pMx39TB8&ref=cjchilvers.com) — not racks of equipment or giant amps. The few sounds available through the box created useful constraints: a setting for the ballads, a setting for rockers. That's pretty much it. They had way more time to focus on songwriting. Why are the solutions to creative problems so often presented as a list of expensive tools, rather than a process? Because it’s easy. It makes money. And it's simple enough to connect with any audience. This month, YouTuber Josh Scott showed that an [ugly, used guitar pedal from 20 years ago](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFOD6s0IRoM&t=18s&ref=cjchilvers.com), selling for around $60 online, could sound like a $7000 guitar pedal. This caused such a stir, the price of the ugly pedal shot up 2-3X overnight. Josh's point was that you should make the most of the cheap gear you already own. His point was missed by the market. Process wins every time. In these examples, the constraints presented by the artists’ less-than-impressive tools are exactly what created better processes and execution. Those constraints also produced truly unique sounds, which copycat musicians would empty their bank accounts chasing for the next several decades. All they really had to do was make the most of what they had to create a better process. ### Consistency is simpler than you think. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/consistency-is-simple/ Last updated: 2023-03-22T11:39:55.000Z Why does mediocre writing and photography often get more attention than best of the best? Why do mediocre “coaches” get more attention than industry veterans with decades of advice summed up in a single book, video, or blog post? What are we missing here? The hardest problem to solve in creating anything for the public is consistency. Check out a few of the podcast directories out there. There’s around \~5 million podcasts in existence. But only \~500,000 are active (something published the last 90 days), with much fewer being consistently active (published on a regular schedule). The same was true of blogs in their heyday. The same is true on YouTube today. Attention comes and goes in seconds. Consistency is how you maintain attention. Humans are creatures of habit. The quality (and qualities) of what you create determines whether it’s engaging, but you can’t get to engagement without first going through attention. This isn’t a secret. Yet, consistency remains a final-boss-level challenge for even the greatest of artists. I won’t steal the thunder of the best, most-accessible books written on the topic, like Austin Kleon’s [Keep Going](https://amzn.to/3JRN7VU?ref=cjchilvers.com) or Seth Godin’s [The Practice](https://amzn.to/3ljewqx?ref=cjchilvers.com), but I did want to share how I’ve conquered this final boss (for now anyway). I’ve been writing here for over 20 years, but I’ve never established a consistent schedule. I write large amounts of material for clients daily, but I’ve always kept this place separate – a place for fun, not deadlines. I feel this lack of consistency has held me back in my personal publishing far more than any other factor. You may have noticed this blog/newsletter changed formats a few months ago. That’s when I decided to make consistency my sole focus. This was my two-step plan. ## Publish one essay every week. Why one? It’s a start. Why an essay? Because anything can be an essay. It can be a sentence or a book. Lack of format is a useful constraint in this context. Templated formats can be useful constraints in other contexts. I’ll go deeper on that in another post, because people have asked me about this contrast. It’s just too much of a tangent here. ## Strip everything away that poses a threat to consistency. - Photography decisions - Design decisions - Aggregation decisions - Over-editing - Content length - SEO considerations - Email deliverability optimizations - Social integrations - What’s personal vs. what the audience wants ## What happened? It’s been almost two months since I started this. There have been modest gains in subscribers, but that was never the point. The only point was to solve for consistency. Mission accomplished? I won’t know until I’m practiced enough at this that it’s an unthinking routine. I'm not there yet. When I get there, I’ll solve for other things. As with most things in life, the solutions to the biggest challenges get pretty simple when we give ourselves permission to confront them one at a time. ### Are you useful? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/are-you-useful/ Last updated: 2023-03-15T14:01:00.000Z I preach about the miracle of constraints and their ability to boost creativity in anyone. But I see un-useful constraints being used all the time by creators, so I wanted to make a small list of examples to clarify what a useful constraint looks like. There’s only two real constraints when publishing anything online: ## What is useful to your audience? ### Useful: - Getting to the point - Finding obscure ideas, people, and resources for solving specific challenges - Finding entertaining ideas, people, and resources - Providing more value than you ask for in return - Having a consistent publishing schedule ### Not useful: - Over-designing to seem professional rather than human - Over-formatting for topic: Podcasting like you’re on the radio in the 90s (you don’t need segments) - Over-formatting for style: Emailing or blogging with sections for links versus essays (readers don’t care) ## What is useful for you? ### Useful: - Time blocking your work - Having a consistent publishing schedule - Limiting word counts - Limiting when or how your work is published - Using process-based templates and automation - Being imperfect and humanizing your publishing (versus “personalizing”) - Ridding yourself of any work unrelated to your objective (like stressing over photos when consistent writing is your goal) ### Not useful: - Using templates and automation that detract from your publishing voice - Being overly acceptable to everyone - Limiting or expanding your publishing based on SEO or trends As you can see, there’s some overlap in those examples. When you find a constraint that works for you and your audience – like [publishing a one-paragraph newsletter every day](https://fortheinterested.com/subscribe/?ref=cjchilvers.com) or [creating visual essays on the backs of business cards](https://hughcards.net/?ref=cjchilvers.com) – you’ve found a set of successful constraints. Congrats! ### The C Word URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-c-word/ Last updated: 2026-07-05T15:17:24.000Z “Curation” shouldn’t be a dirty word, but it is. In the last decade, it has come to mean slapped-together-links, or outright-stolen content, used to fill space and capture just enough attention to convert free onlookers into consumers. There’s a lot of truth behind that association. In fact, I’d say that’s how the majority of corporate newsletters get approved to be made in the first place: cheap, easy content for engagement with the brand. I think that association is about to change in a big way. Curation is the future for creators. It has to be. ## Why curation is the future 1. Editors are needed more than creators. The crush of mediocre human-made content, combined with bland AI-generated content, will only increase. We need picky people with fine-tuned BS detectors to comb through it all and surface the good stuff. 2. It’s never about you. No one really cares about you (in this context). Readers are looking for a variety of answers for a variety of problems. Think of it as a lottery. You can try to get attention from a headline and have one chance to connect with your readers. Or, you can offer several interesting headlines from multiple sources, increasing your odds that something will speak to your reader enough to be considered useful. Useful is the coin of this realm. 3. But everyone cares that there is a “you.” Humanized content beats “personalized” content. Your voice matters. It’s your differentiator. All curation rests on the reputation and voice of the *person* doing the curation. This will take bigger companies too long to figure out. 4. Sharing is powerful. Finding the best content fills your personal network with the best creators. It does the same for readers. There’s nothing more valuable than being the hub of those connections. 5. Companies think it’s easy. If you’re a freelancer, this could be a way to get your foot in the door. Charging for the real amount of work involved? Good luck with that part. 6. Curation is also the future of content on a larger scale. Pillar pages and topic-based, organized archives are killing off chronological archives on websites. This is mostly because of SEO now, but for a generation that has grown up with algorithmic consumption, we have an opportunity to treat them to old fashionable human-curated resources, organized by topic, going back years. They’ll have no idea why the experience is so much better. It just will be. This is the way forward. ## Why curation isn’t seen as the future 1. It’s harder to do right. If you’ve done it right, you know. This is the hardest content to create consistently at a high level. 2. It takes longer – way longer than you think. In the best corporate environments, you’ll find teams arguing over the best links – fighting for their favorites. That’s before copy and design get involved. It takes a serious amount of time to be valuable to the reader. 3. It’s more expensive if you have a team. See the above. More time means more money. The price of curation grows with the size of the organization doing the curation. This is great news for individuals. This is your competitive advantage over the biggest of corporations. 4. It can lead to burnout quickly if you don’t have [a process](https://austinkleon.com/2018/06/05/how-i-put-a-newsletter-together/?ref=cjchilvers.com). Process is everything with curation. 5. Processes are expensive. Spending more time and money on something related to the thing, without actually being the thing, is a tough sell. But in curation, a good process will save you hours on every piece of content. For an individual, it takes almost nothing to decide on a process and maybe a few hours to implement it. For a company, the price gets steep pretty fast. Curation favors individual humans being useful to other individual humans. It’s the simplest form of content in concept. It’s the hardest to execute in practice. That’s an enormous opportunity for creators to stand out in any industry. ### Where were we 10 years ago? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/where-were-we-10-years-ago/ Last updated: 2026-06-21T18:41:22.000Z It’s been a decade since I gave [this short talk at Ignite Minneapolis](https://youtu.be/%5FWEwzCX5nC4?ref=cjchilvers.com), titled “How to Take Perfect Photos Every Time.” I’m sure title was inspired by the sarcasm of the infamous 2009 Merlin Mann and John Gruber talk about blogging ,[“149 Surprising Ways to Turbocharge Your Blog With Credibility!”](https://www.43folders.com/2009/03/25/blogs-turbocharged?ref=cjchilvers.com) I’m grateful to [Patrick Rhone](https://www.patrickrhone.net/?ref=cjchilvers.com), who prompted me to try this. I stressed over it for a month, trying to find the correct angle to talk about how corrupt photography-focused publishing had become in 2013. It was warmly received at the time, and kicked off the writing process that would result in my book, [A Lesser Photographer](https://www.cjchilvers.com/books/), which went a lot harder on the topic — expanding it to cover creativity in general. ## What have we learned since then? **I was fat.** I dropped about 60 pounds after this by dropping carbs. Sometimes shaming works. **The snapshot remained the most important of all photographs.** Look around at what images move cities and nations — they’re usually taken on the fly (or from a bodycam). The democratization of publishing has changed course of humanity. **Cameras really did move to the phone.** Although not really the focus in the speech, the book went deeper into why professional or prosumer cameras were not the future, based on the snapshot being so important. The Daily Beast and others came after me for suggesting this would happen. Now, it’s just considered obvious. [This chart says it all](https://twitter.com/bwjones/status/1617654305758285824?s=61&t=4%5FSq37LGZAtzt1xIsg3ahw&ref=cjchilvers.com). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/02/1C92D8A8-AF90-4BAD-8E99-A53E7FC79B1B.png) ## Where it all goes from here for the next 10 years? I think the democratization will continue, but be abused on a global scale. It’s too easy to fake authenticity now, so the definition of authentic will change. I worry this will de-value the same citizen-sourced information that has brought so much positive change to the world. But, I also think that most sources of misinformation aren’t just unethical. They’re lazy and stupid. Rock stars will be made of those who expose liars, cheaters, and fakers. It’s already happening over on YouTube (check out the meteoric rise of Coffeezilla). We need to embrace these people as consumer watchdogs, rather than calling them “haters.” They will have a tough road for a few years, but we will need them as societal editors. As with anything in publishing now — especially with the ubiquity of AI in content — it’s the editors and curators of all stripes that will incur the most risk, but reap the greatest rewards. Trust will move from brands to people. Creators will move from polished perfectionism (aka “professionalism”) to value and vulnerability. People will vote with their attention and there’s less attention available with every passing year. Good news: that attention will go to the kind of person who cares enough about their audience to read until the end of this prediction. ### What do you have to offer? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/what-do-you-have-to-offer/ Last updated: 2023-02-22T12:50:19.000Z I want you to write a list of what you have to offer the world — professionally and personally. I think it will be a longer list than what you’re imagining right now. This list is among the most useful you will ever create. This list is how you beat imposter syndrome. You can’t be an imposter on the points you list. It’s just who you are. This is how you beat comparisons. If you’re reading this, you’re probably doing better than the majority of humans, who don’t have the time, means, or access to read much at all. Stop getting hung up on the top 1% in your industry or neighborhood. You’re likely already in the top 1% for most of the items on your list and there will always be room for more. You’re also in the top 1% of introspective humans just by completing the list. You can even join the top 1% of creators just by posting something (anything) regularly. My list lives in my notes and is titled “What do you have to offer?” It’s a simple list of things I add to world in some way. I refer back to it whenever I publish something like this, and especially when comments are turned on. Are you kind? Do you help others? Do you create anything or support creators in any way? All of this goes on the list. Forget testimonials. Save those for another list. This list is about you rediscovering you. It’s not hard to be at the top 1% for what you bring to the world. It’s extremely hard to sit for 10 minutes, create your list, and occasionally check back to stay grounded. But it’s totally worth it. ### Brainless Tasks URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/brainless-tasks/ Last updated: 2023-02-15T12:52:33.000Z When you’re burned out, in the 2pm slump, or not in the mood to “produce,” keep this in mind: 1. It’s OK to not be productive all the time. [Humans were likely designed for a 15-hour work week](https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/for-95-percent-of-human-history-people-worked-15-hours-a-week-could-we-do-it-again.html?ref=cjchilvers.com). Go a little easier on yourself. 2. Know that you will probably not go easy on yourself. Prepare for the negativity. Don’t give regret any space to spring up. How? 3. Keep a list of brainless tasks you can turn to in these moments. Keep them vague enough to apply to different environments, and low-effort enough to do accomplish easily. My list includes things that are fun, useful to others, or simulate control over your space (which helps when chaos is your energy drain). It doesn’t really matter which you choose. It’s the feeling of acting that deters the regret. A few examples from mine: - **Throw things away.** There’s no better feeling. This can applied anywhere and is especially useful in the home. - **Do laundry.** It never ends, but it’s also never been easier. - **Scan.** This also never ends. Do you have piles of found photos and legal documents that were never digitized? I have mountains. If it’s not backed up offsite, you’re one flood or fire away from your own personal Library of Alexandria moment. Have a small pile nearby, ready to process at any time. Your family will thank you. - **Exercise.** This takes a bit more energy of course. But if you’re feeling completely drained from a day of creative work, nothing beats 20 push-ups for lifting your spirits. - **Sleep.** If you can get away with it, because you probably need more. - **Dust, organize, or tidy up your immediate area.** You have no idea how bad it looks to someone who isn’t sitting there 8 hours a day. - **Play the guitar.** I always have a new riff I’m learning that’s way above my pay grade. Whenever I have five minutes between meetings or drafts of copy, I try to nail that riff one more time. It usually doesn’t work but it’s worth the effort for the rare victories. I’d love to see what’s on your list, so feel free to reply with what you consider brainless tasks. ### Your Smartest Dumb Tech URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-smartest-dumb-tech/ Last updated: 2023-02-08T13:15:14.000Z If the resurgence of blogging and newsletters wants to remain sane, it should really be a resurgence of RSS. ## Email has new problem. For the longest time, I’ve advocated for publishing by email as the most independent, universal, and effective form of getting the word out about anything. That’s still true. There’s no better investment. But it’s hard to ignore the growing influence of email’s biggest enemies — email service providers and email clients. Email is rotting from the inside. These services are unable to keep up with privacy measures, and deliver on the promises in their marketing. Publishers can’t rely on data anymore and readers are missing important stuff that used to just show up. And it all seems to be getting worse. Like land lines, email will be around long after I’m gone. It will just have less influence in the long-term. That’s what destroying trust does. Ask Facebook or “the phone company.” ## Solutions have problems too. As very-online nerds, we tend to believe there’s universal alternatives for universal problems. We believe that, because it was once true — back when the internet was just a handfull of nerds like us. I think the solution for this problem will be less universal. That’s OK. We should be diversifying anyway. How you publish and consume need only last (at maximum) your lifetime. Calculate and adjust accordingly. ## Be everywhere. I asked [Tim Stoddart](https://www.timstodz.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com), content strategy expert and Copyblogger exec, about how he was dealing with email insecurity as a publisher. His sage and overly-indexed-for-executive-fiction advice? Just be everywhere. He’s right. It’s simple, but difficult. The future of publishing will be about meeting the reader/viewer/listener where they want to be. ## Your old friend is your new superpower. For now, being everywhere at once with the most control, and the least amount of time and effort, means embracing an old technology: RSS. Accept that most non-nerds will never become RSS power users. We’re not trying to find a universal solution. And chances are, if they're using social media, they’re already RSS publishers and don’t know it. I realize the antique nature of RSS, but it’s always been the answer — a true “open” network that the general public may actually willing to use (see Reader in the old days, podcasts and social posts today). I never neglected RSS, but (I'm guessing like you) I never really used it to its fullest either. This winter, I decided to change that. ## To hell with the algos! I publish on [Ghost](https://ghost.org/?via=cj14&ref=cjchilvers.com), so everything I post to the web is sent out by RSS to email and social media without third party tools. Add third party tools, and those capabilities expand to more social networks and content tools that compile (way too many unfinished) books and newsletters. Yes, I know, this is exactly what Seth Godin has been doing for 15 years. What can I say? He knows his stuff. I don’t worry about formatting for each social network. That’s a distraction. Solve for the greatest of creator problems first: consistency. I’m also looking into new AI transcription tools to include audio and video versions. They’ve gotten pretty good, and this may be the next frontier for accessibility and international distribution. Good start. On the consumption side, I’ve been using [Feedbin](https://feedbin.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) for many years, but I’m starting to use it for more than just blogs: - Newsletters - Social feeds - YouTube channels - Podcasts (Feedin has their own [bespoke app](https://feedbin.com/airshow?ref=cjchilvers.com) for this) - Read-later feeds - eBooks - Individual web page updates I won’t even get into the automations. You’re only limited by your imagination. As for apps, I use [Unread](https://www.goldenhillsoftware.com/unread/?ref=cjchilvers.com) in pure-black mode to do all my reading. It’s the most luxurious reading experience you’ll ever have. Other apps do more, but no app gets out of your way like Unread. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/02/Tuesday--07-Feb-2023-10-57-44.png) ## RSS loves creators. I see RSS is an asynchronous sanity tool for creators. You control the pace. You control the flow of information for the natural processing capabilities of your unique brain. Author Cal Newport wrote a bit about this natural pace in the [New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/01/23/magazine/cal-newport-interview.html?ref=cjchilvers.com) last week: > *“So how do you actually work with your mind and create things of value? What I’ve identified is three principles: doing fewer things, working at a natural pace, but obsessing over quality. That trio of properties better hits the sweet spot of how we’re actually wired and produces valuable meaningful work, but it’s sustainable.”* I don’t believe life lets that happen at 100%. But I do believe RSS can help get you 5% closer to that dream, which is a pretty great return for a few simple changes. ### How to Stay Creative Forever URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/how-to-stay-creative-forever/ Last updated: 2023-01-18T14:56:45.000Z How do writers stay in shape? They usually don’t. But writers (and all creators) do have to keep their minds in shape over the decades if they hope to maintain that career or hobby. ## The mind gym It’s now been 36 years since I started publishing and I just passed the 8th anniversary of the first edition of my biggest seller, [A Lesser Photographer](https://www.cjchilvers.com/books/). What helped keep my mind in shape is also what reminded me of that anniversary — a journaling app called [Day One](https://dayoneapp.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/01/CJ-Chilvers-journaling-streak.png.webp) I’ve been journaling with Day One for 4404 days straight. This past week, the Day One blog posted [an interview with me](https://dayoneapp.com/blog/streak-story-cj-chilvers/?ref=cjchilvers.com) about the details. They chose to highlight this quote about why you should journal: > ” Journaling is an offshoot of meditation — a type of introspection where a record of events is welcome. It doesn’t have to mean the record is permanent. In fact, it’s probably better as ephemeral — permanently locked behind a password. But, the fact that it exists is a comfort in itself. It’s a stream of conscious. You have to have a place of your own: physically and mentally.” But the more important quote to me was about the habit itself: > “Don’t think about it too much. Don’t be hard on yourself. Journaling is not a rule, just a routine. It helps a little with you thinking, so don’t invest more than a little. It stuck with me, but my brain isn’t yours. See what sticks for you.” I don’t think there’s been a lot of room for nuance in the productivity-hacking space, so it’s always important to remind people that prescriptive systems for such processes are bunk. If you do journal, it’s a good workout for your brain. I don’t think it’s as good as straight-up meditation, but the more energy you give to your journaling, the greater the results — just like in a physical gym. ## The other mind gym The part of staying creative that’s easily forgotten — but even more important — is play. And, yes, I have an app for that too. I’ve really grown to love [Sofa](https://sofahq.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com). It’s an extremely simple app that provides a well-considered, customizable place for planning what you want to do during your leisure time. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/01/sofa-shared-lists-1-small.jpg.webp) Does that sound frivolous? It shouldn’t. Leisure is why we work. Wars are fought for leisure. The freedom enjoy culture, create art, and spend time with family and friends is what we all strive for, whether it’s at the end of a day, career, or life. What we consume during leisure is also the foundation of our own contributions to our culture and relationships. Leisure is also when we allow ourselves some separation from the distractions of everyday life. It’s no coincidence that this tends to be when we have our best ideas. Leisure has a direct and persistent effect on the quality of our lives. So, why don’t we treat it that way? We don’t tend to schedule our appreciation of art. We don’t daydream much anymore — Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin wouldn’t get very far today. We don’t tend to consider the media we consume based on much besides convenience or an algorithm. We’ve built countless app temples to productivity, but precious few to why we’re productive. Having [Sofa](https://sofahq.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) around reminds me of the importance of leisure and sometimes that reminder is more important than the actual utility of the app. But, damn, it’s beautiful too. It’s like appreciating art for the sake of art, while helping you determine which art to appreciate in the future. This is the time of year for trying new habits, but very few of us experience leisure as a habit. That needs to change. Have a great week! — [CJ](www.cjchilvers.com) P.S. It looks like [Alan Rickman agreed](https://twitter.com/mikevardy/status/1583240853212262400?s=61&t=2s02lAnbBm5W5%5FbyZjJhaw&ref=cjchilvers.com). ### The Future of AI, Newsletters, and Your Garden URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/future-ai-newsletters-and-gardens/ Last updated: 2023-01-08T17:05:00.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2023/01/from-Ali---Luke-01.jpg) Let’s start off 2023 with some fun, get into some data, and play with ideas for how to ship more in the year to come. 1 What would it look like if creation was joyful and sane? From my swipe file of dream workspaces, this [just series of tiny, serene garden offices](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/just-a-series-of-garden-offices/). 2 [Is AI going to take creators’ jobs?](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/is-ai-going-to-take-creators-jobs/) Yes. I wrote more than a decade ago about how the camera and phone automation would make photography more of a hobby than a profession (much like small-scale publishing in the 90s). People fought that message, but it was obvious. GPT has been used by writers for years (through third-party services) to boost their output. GPT-4 is coming. In fact, GPT tech is already being incorporated in tools like Notion and soon it’ll be in Microsoft Word. If you’re a pro writer like me, this kind of “AI” will be just a part of the writing process from now on. Learn to use it. Partner with it. You’re already using writing-enhancement tools like grammar- and spell-checking. This is just the next tool to add. 3 I read all the big predictions from the experts for email and email newsletter publishing for 2023, and came away with a few huge questions that were glossed over. Here’s the [4 big questions about email marketing in 2023](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/4-big-questions-for-email-marketing-in-2023/). 4 The always interesting Do Lectures posted their latest manifesto: [23 Laws of Interesting](https://thedolectures.com/manifestos/23-laws-of-interesting/?ref=cjchilvers.com). Also, they’re promoting a program called “Lazy Discipline” that seems to compliment my years-long series of posts on the “Lazy Billionaire.” 5 “People will realize the idea that we had reached ‘peak newsletter’ was both stupid and undermined by the data and consumer preference. Bad newsletters will continue to die, just like all bad products should. They simply clog inboxes — and should be flushed. But there is no better way for busy readers to mass consume high-quality content than a well-crafted newsletter.” — Jim VandeHei, CEO of Axios via [Nieman Journalism Lab](https://www.niemanlab.org/2022/12/there-is-no-peak-newsletter/?ref=cjchilvers.com) 6 “Anticipated, personal, and relevant messages are more likely to resonate with people than spam. An affective newsletter can completely change the game. The goal isn’t to reach a lot of people. The goal is to reach the right people. And to reach them in a way where they’re glad you showed up. Anticipated, personal, and relevant means that they would miss you if you didn’t show up. “ — [Seth Godin](https://overcast.fm/+L0YXuxzkA/01:58?ref=cjchilvers.com) on how he came up with the idea for permission marketing ### 4 big questions for email marketing in 2023 URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/4-big-questions-for-email-marketing-in-2023/ Last updated: 2023-01-03T17:55:39.000Z I posted last week about the [predictions](https://www.litmus.com/blog/email-marketing-trend-predictions/?ref=cjchilvers.com) from Litmus (based in part [on research from earlier in the year](https://www.litmus.com/blog/trends-in-email-engagement/?ref=cjchilvers.com)). It just re-affirmed what we’ve know for over a year about the future of email as a publishing and marketing platform. It’s a great future for readers and customers, but terrible for marketers who took a wait-and-see attitude. - Open rates are no longer reliable. - Tracking in the browser will probably also no longer be reliable. - The reliability of the above will only lessen in the months and years to come. - Dependable deliverability is likely to decrease due all of the above. ## Ask: 1. Why should we trust email analytics? 2. What are email service providers still able to truthfully promise to customers? 3. When are the first lawsuits coming from those who bought into the promises that decreased their open, click-though, and deliverability rates? 4. What should we do now? ## My guesses: 1. We shouldn’t. 2. Not much. 3. Small businesses are already angry. When big businesses discover the obvious contradictions, that’s when the gold rush should begin for lawyers. 4. We should do what we always should do. Concentrate on *providing* value more than *asking* for value. The rest is out of our control. ### Is AI going to take creators’ jobs? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/is-ai-going-to-take-creators-jobs/ Last updated: 2022-12-30T23:10:13.000Z Yes. Over enough time, there’s isn’t anything we do as creators that AI (as it's defined now by tools like GPT from Microsoft) won’t be able to do. AI has all the time and energy in the world to learn and improve. We don’t. That’s not the problem. Yes, AI scrapes from what creators before have done. That’s also not the problem. That’s the essence of creativity itself. All human creations are derived from other creations. The problem isn't even plagiarism. In fact, AI seems to do a better job of avoiding that than Google's search results, and highly-trusted *New York Times* editors (if you know, you know). The real problem is the rate of improvement. Humans cannot replicate AI’s rate of improvement. Over a smaller amount of time that we think, the current AI tools out there will surpass our abilities. Then, they will improve even more and even faster. Will we even understand what comes after? Creating anything as a human comes back to what you get out of it. The AI itself gets nothing out of it. Its owners do. But *you* can get a better understanding of yourself. You can build relationships with others. You can even have fun. I have a suspicion that (at least in my lifetime) if you keep building your understanding of yourself and enhancing your relationships, no AI will ever be able to take your career even if it does take your job. Remember, money is a human construct. We value based on scarcity and trust. These are ideas that AI abhors…so far. ### Just a Series of Garden Offices URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/just-a-series-of-garden-offices/ Last updated: 2022-12-28T17:15:16.000Z Creator Cabins seem to be a growing business – thanks in part to the increase in remote work. Who doesn’t aspire to have a place of their own for uninterrupted creative work? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/12/dwell-writer-cabin-1.jpg-1.webp) via [Dwell](https://www.dwell.com/article/16-inviting-countryside-cabins-a1e7dd6c/6133467055350747136?ref=cjchilvers.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/12/dwell-writer-cabin-2.jpg.webp) via [Dwell](https://www.dwell.com/article/modern-tiny-cabins-613f57dc/6490641750291075072?ref=cjchilvers.com) Within that genre resides the more-within-the-grasp-of-an-actual-human cabins for backyards and “gardens.” This seems to be bigger in the UK than the US (possibly due to residential building codes). With the holidays upon us, I thought it would be nice to have a rabbit hole that all my readers (regardless of profession) would be happy to spend hours going down. Here’s a series of “garden” or “backyard” offices and links to their information to get you started. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/12/mill-valey-.jpg) Via [The Bunkie Co.](https://www.thebunkie.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/12/Display-Granny-Flat-Design-Garden-Studios-Gallery-Image.jpg) Via [Garden Studios](https://www.gardenstudios.com.au/gallery/?ref=cjchilvers.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/12/pre-fab2-e1649717340319.jpg) Via [Garden Studios](https://www.gardenstudios.com.au/gallery/?ref=cjchilvers.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/12/02.jpg) Via[ Studio Shed](https://www.studio-shed.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/12/08.jpg) Via[ Studio Shed](https://www.studio-shed.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/12/small.jpg) Via [Shedworking](https://www.shedworking.co.uk/2020/08/small-garden-office.html?ref=cjchilvers.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/12/eDEN-Hub-Curve-garden-office-4.jpg) Via [Small Garden Room Guide](https://www.thegardenroomguide.co.uk/uses/small-garden-rooms-2/?ref=cjchilvers.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/12/9.jpg) Via [Office Pod](https://officepod.co.uk/gallery/?ref=cjchilvers.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/12/6274e1fd8b917a4fc64cb20e_Garden-Pod-Studio-Room-new-model-2020.jpeg) Via [Vivid Pods](https://www.vividpods.co.uk/?ref=cjchilvers.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/12/6273b984e46d57133308a1ea_Vivid-Pods-125.jpeg) Via [Vivid Pods](https://www.vividpods.co.uk/projects/southville-pod-home-office?ref=cjchilvers.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/12/9C97325D-1BB0-4807-9D8E-CAE4ECBFC0CF.png) Via [Craig Phillips](https://twitter.com/silverlinetools/status/1357378067971342336?s=61&t=GwO7KFejt76GjCGmqX8oIA&ref=cjchilvers.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/12/IMG_2366-1.jpg) Via [OKOPOD](https://okopod.co.uk/?ref=cjchilvers.com) ### The Stupidest Experiment URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-stupidest-experiment/ Last updated: 2022-12-16T15:35:01.000Z **Me since 2001**: Don’t revisit your Van Halen book for a third edition. It’s an endless pit of work that never makes money and invites trolls by the dozens. **Me in 2022**: [Let’s do this thing.](https://vanhalen.substack.com/) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/12/c59648d0-2b05-471c-af18-b91871c58884_1280x960.webp) As always, I’ll report back with my findings on Substack, the concept of “living books,” and what content formats people actually care about these days. Until then, enjoy the guiltiest of pleasures – an awesome link roundup. — [CJ](https://www.cjchilvers.com/) ## Link ❤️ - Why [every creative should have a website.](https://www.creatorbread.com/blog/why-every-creative-should-have-a-website?ref=cjchilvers.com) - The CEO of Axios on why [there is no peak newsletter.](https://www.niemanlab.org/2022/12/there-is-no-peak-newsletter/?ref=cjchilvers.com) - Litmus publishes the quiet part loud in their [10 Email Marketing Trend Predictions from the Experts](https://www.litmus.com/blog/email-marketing-trend-predictions/?ref=cjchilvers.com): “Open rates are no longer a reliable metric.” Yes! That would have been a great prediction a few years ago. The experts are a little behind the times, because they’re usually paid to be. That’s good news for you. Start a newsletter. - [The new list of spam trigger words for emails just dropped.](https://arcdn.net/ActionRocket/Marketing/spam-trigger-words/spam-trigger-words.html?ref=cjchilvers.com) - Seth Godin on GPT-3 and AI for creators: [“Attention and trust don’t scale. If your work isn’t more useful or insightful or urgent than GPT can create in 12 seconds, don’t interrupt people with it. Technology begins by making old work easier, but then it requires that new work be better.”](https://seths.blog/2022/12/attention-trust-and-gpt3/?ref=cjchilvers.com) - Josh Spector evokes memories of homework and that damn 60 Minutes ticking stopwatch: [“The best measure of career happiness is how you feel on a Sunday night.”](https://twitter.com/jspector/status/1602151313323819009?s=12&t=z12zTpZMxA--2pqEeBtvjQ&ref=cjchilvers.com) ### Just putting it out there URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/just-putting-it-out-there/ Last updated: 2022-11-18T18:44:40.000Z Publish your weird ideas in public. You never know who’s listening. Back in May 2021, I posted this idea about a guitar design to Twitter, tagging EVH guitars: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/11/Xnapper-2022-11-17-12.48.01.png) I asked EVH for a Nuno-style version of the guitar (which is a natural-finish ash or swamp ash guitar body with an ebony fretboard and chrome hardware) like this: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/11/N4ESANM.jpg) I said I’d pay double for such a killer combo. One year later, this happened: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/11/Xnapper-2022-11-17-12.49.32.png) EVH announced they were doing a limited run of the guitar I requested almost exactly a year before. Today, it’s home. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/11/Xnapper-2022-11-17-12.50.08.png) From a random idea, tweeted a year and a half ago, to the physical product in my hands, this guitar is proof that publishing your wild ideas still matters. ### Surviving the Ad-pocalypse…Again URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/survive-the-adpocalypse-again/ Last updated: 2022-11-13T21:21:00.000Z Experience is a brutal teacher. One lesson, that is almost never passed along, is that creators should avoid advertising as a business model for as long as possible. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/11/rushed-processes.png) via [Alvin Tsui](https://twitter.com/justsomedev/status/1546827210618814464?s=61&t=phm%5FWecr%5FdIhEY71XqsRRw&ref=cjchilvers.com) Sure, most of time, it seems like the easiest, fastest way to put food on the table, especially to a younger generation who grew up idolizing YouTubers and influencers — who all started their monetization journeys through ad revenue. In fact, this week mega-popular YouTuber Marques Brownlee [posted a video of business advice for Elon Musk on behalf of creators](https://youtu.be/I1qsF0WQy8c?ref=cjchilvers.com). In the video, he explains how, “The internet runs on ads.” He says without embracing this fact of content creation, Twitter may not survive. He may be right about Twitter, but he misses the point about the sustainability of the business model. This is useful advice for a very specific kind of growth-obsessed, social, user-generated-content business. It’s not great advice for business in general on “the internet.” Not every business needs to be a billion-dollar business, when a hundred million dollars may be more sustainable for the long run. Advertising has always been an unstable business. It’s not the foundation you want to build upon. Depending on your business, it may not even be the supplemental income you want to bring in during the good times. This week, FTX, a firm who sponsored countless creators – and even got the naming rights to an arena – seems to have been doing some [really shady things](https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/12/business/ftx-missing-funds/index.html?ref=cjchilvers.com). Lots of people, who trusted FTX’s celebrity spokespeople, influencers, and ads, will lose their money. We seen this before — 2000 and 2007 come to mind. Our favorite content creators took truckloads of money from companies that ended up bankrupting the creators’ audiences. Those wounds don’t heal. Companies can rebrand and resurrect. Individuals can’t. As the ad market starts drying up again, remember this: - It was predictable. I wrote about this ad model downturn throughout 2021. - Ads are not as effective as other forms of marketing for your clients or your audience. - Click fraud is routine. That’s one of many reasons online ads are relatively cheap. - Clicks and opens don’t mean what they used to. The “transparency” advertisers thought they were getting into their audiences is going away fast. - Curation and voice will matter more and more over time. Content is cheap. Finding useful content is valuable. All of it rests on the reputation of the *person* doing the curation and having the voice. *Start of digression*: Expect a giant shift at corporations, as they pay more for real people to express themselves in interesting ways, have real bylines, and stay for long enough to matter before (inevitably) going indie. And they will go indie. They will not rest their reputations on a partnership with an advertiser surrogate (the corporation) they do not fully control. The next decade will feature incredible short-term growth opportunities for individuals within corporate content channels. *End of digression.* - You own every pixel of your audiences’ experience. You choose to cede some of those pixels to ads, or the ads and branding chosen by the network you’re using. It’s your responsibility. - If you choose to cede those pixels, you are vouching for those advertisers and hosts. You may not believe you are doing that, but it’s not up to you. It’s up to your audience. It may not always mean legal liability, but it certainly means reputational liability. - Anyone can sue anyone for any reason. Partnering with any company introduces risks. You need to be prepared for those risks no matter how little income you may derive from your content. Are you ready to take on all of that for ad income? If so, good luck to you. I hope you’re doing well enough to retain a decent lawyer and accountant too. I hope you know your advertiser well enough to rest your reputation and voice, in whatever small way, on their message. If you’re just starting out, know that it’s not easy money. Nothing is. You are taking a long-term risk for short-term gain. It’s a gamble. You know what’s less of a gamble? Make your own thing. Communicate it directly and honestly with your audience. Then, make better and better things for them over time. ### Return of the Lazy Billionaire URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/return-of-the-lazy-billionaire/ Last updated: 2022-10-10T11:30:32.000Z I love a good lazy billionaire — or at least a person who acts like one. [I’ve written about them in the past](https://www.cjchilvers.com/new-newsletter-be-a-lazy-billionaire/) as trusted, imaginary advisors for creativity and marketing. Strategy? Funnels? Pfft. Make it. Sell it. Move on. Lazy billionaires protect their time, energy, and reputation — all of which are lost in modern content strategy. It wasn’t until recently that I realized the lazy billionaire I’d been referencing all this time was executive function itself. I just hadn’t been asking that billionaire in my head about anything other than marketing or creativity. So, as an experiment, I asked the lazy billionaire about productivity and writing — which seem to be sources of fascination and frustration for many of my readers. This is what I heard in response: ## Stop fighting your brain. Know thyself. Act your age and do one thing at a time, well. ## Stop fighting your tools. Use the right tool for each job. There's no knowledge-worker exception to this rule. You already embrace the “one-thing-well” approach in more areas than you realize. You break out passwords, contacts, bookmarks, notes, documents, and events into separate places – when they are all pieces of reference that could be linked. Explore why. Reference matters way less than you think. Stop working so hard for it. Make the very few pieces of your active reference fun and interesting. Use illustrations, captivating headlines, and numbered lists. Think about what keeps readers interested. It works on you too. Make your massive pile of inactive reference (including inactive projects) as invisible as possible to your daily work. It taxes you, your process, and your tools. ## Compete with yourself. Stop thinking in terms of just the end product. What is your process? Shorter, focused experiments inform decisions and solve problems your competition may not know even exist. ## Rumination kills creation. Prioritize for creating first, but fun as a close second. This is what makes work worthwhile. ## You don’t need a “second brain.” Especially when your first needs so much work! Avoid any complexity in organization. My second brain hasn’t returned significant results for me in 15+ years. All my best projects were pulled from a myriad of sources outside of my control. The everything bucket is garbage can. I know it feels good to harness all that information in one app for “linking your thinking.” But guess what? The OS you use every day already does that, while supporting a one-thing-well approach. Learn it. Automate it. Move on. ## To do lists are wishlists. Hopefully it’s *your* wishlist (but agency isn’t a problem when you’re a billionaire). Nothing happens if it’s not on a calendar. The details? As long as they’re captured, who cares? Keep it fun or it won’t be revisited, but keep it automated enough to not require too much organization and maintenance. ## No one cares. People care about how your output helps them. No one cares about much else. Guard your mental health. Keep your tools and process simple. Realize it’ll all be deleted one day — sooner than you think. Be kind to your future self by protecting your time and energy for what matters. Hint: it’s not productivity. Thanks for reading, [CJ](www.cjchilvers.com) ### Having trouble starting your next thing? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/having-trouble-starting-your-next-thing/ Last updated: 2022-10-09T21:13:31.000Z Make a list of writers, podcasters, and YouTubers who are consistently pushing out great stuff – in the ugliest ways. Refer to it often. I love slap-dash creators! I won’t name names here, but they’re not hard to find. From the CEO who records videos on his morning walks to the dad on a treadmill reacting to comedians, there’s a whole universe of creators out there with massive subscriber counts who only publish rough drafts. Their videos sound and look awful. Their blog posts go unedited. Their podcast episodes are recorded in a car because it’s the only quiet place in their lives. But they’re doing the scarce thing. They’re executing consistently when most won’t. Just to single out podcasts as a medium: there’s about 2.5 million podcasts in the most popular directory, but only about 460,000 are active (18%). Of those, how many are consistently delivering? 5%? 1%? > “The important thing is not being number 1\. The important thing is improvement. That’s what makes you happier. It’s hard to be the best in the world at something. It’s not hard to be in the top 1%.” — [James Altucher](https://youtu.be/gGDcNjtF0y8?ref=cjchilvers.com) I love finding YouTubers who record from their basements without proper lighting or sound equipment, and get 100K subscribers just because they care deeply enough about an obscure topic to press record every day. Constraints are how it’s done. No “production” is required. When you have something useful to offer, the value is in the showing up. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/09/saraharnoldhall.png) via [Sarah Arnold-Hall](https://twitter.com/saraharnoldhall/status/1511503387984285696?ref=cjchilvers.com) --- ## Recommended [This list of cool things people do with their blogs](https://brainbaking.com/post/2022/04/cool-things-people-do-with-their-blogs/?ref=cjchilvers.com) pairs well with my list of [blogging prompts](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/practical-ways-to-post-something-every-day/) and having a [style guide for your blog](https://www.cjchilvers.com/personal-publishing-principles/). David Hieatt of Do Lectures published a little ebook on [24 quotes that changed his life](https://cdn.sanity.io/files/9ndb8yrg/production/4e40cffe00a94013a4a70aba1aaa50704ed0651f.pdf?ref=cjchilvers.com), with commentary. So many people collect, but David publishes. Big difference. [Apple Notes became a meme and I’m loving it.](https://youtu.be/Wk8sDh9w6ts?ref=cjchilvers.com) Derek Sivers believes [restrictions (constraints) will set you free](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8Wo0%5FOGy7M&ref=cjchilvers.com). We agree. This is a chapter in his revolutionary [animated video book](https://sive.rs/ymap?ref=cjchilvers.com), two years in the making. [He is the lazy billionaire](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/new-newsletter-be-a-lazy-billionaire/). This list of [modern self-publishing resources](https://www.indiehackers.com/post/self-publishing-write-in-public-presales-podcasts-d7a28b141a?ref=cjchilvers.com) is a rare, up-to-date and useful roundup. [Kit your sh@t](https://youtu.be/ncZ1mO8mA44?ref=cjchilvers.com) (via [Merlin Mann](https://www.backtowork.limo/584?ref=cjchilvers.com)). Cal Newport explains why [you need to get an office](https://castro.fm/episode/nlxPg9?ref=cjchilvers.com#46:09) outside your home or official workplace. Want your content to actually be read, heard, or watched? The co-founder of Politico and Axios explains how his publications learned to [write less and say more](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6BmurUpiN0&ref=cjchilvers.com). --- If you find this kind of thing useful, please let me know by replying here or on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/cjchilvers?ref=cjchilvers.com)! Thanks for reading, CJ P.S. Thanks to [Chad Moore](https://twitter.com/chadgmoore/status/1562865636811845633?ref=cjchilvers.com) for sketching [the previous issue](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-cures-for-burnout/) on Twitter. It hit a lot of people (myself included) at the perfect time. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/09/chadmoore-1.png) ### The Cures for Burnout URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-cures-for-burnout/ Last updated: 2022-10-09T21:17:19.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/08/IMG_6239-1.jpeg) Hi there! I’m back from Maine and ready to publish. How has the summer treated you? The hope is that it’s sunsets, pools, and loved ones having fun all around you. The truth is often that we hope the summer just staves off the inevitable burnout for a few months. But there are diffenent levels of burnout and we often talk past each other, using differing definitions. It seems like the popular discussions examine the short-term variety of burnout — creatives with so many urgent projects, they crowd out the important projects. A bankruptcy of some kind gets declared and there’s a restart. But what about long-term burnout? What about entire careers that become void of importance? Why does this happen? Why does it seem to happen more in middle age? During my road trip last week, I listened to a lot of podcasts, but one stood out for quotable moments. Arthur C. Brooks, professor of happiness courses at the Harvard Business School (yes, they teach their MBAs how to be happier people!) was on the *Waking Up* podcast. He recapped what he’d learned from the research of Raymond Cattell around and how he teaches his students about the arc of a creative life: > “Almost anything you can get good at, from being an air traffic controller to being a french horn player to being a college professor, that requires innovative capacity crack the code, to solve problems — that’s ‘fluid intelligence.’ That gets better and better through your 20s and 30s. It tends to peak in your late 30s or early 40s, and then it tends to decline. The way you notice it — it’s what people in the management world call, ‘burnout.’ > Humans aren’t happy when they’re not making progress. All of happiness is in getting better. > It’s very easy to lose weight, but it’s very hard to keep the weight off. When the scale is going down, you’re motivated and happy. The reward for hitting your goal is now you never get to eat the things you like ever again for the rest of your life. Congratulations! > This is the nature of how we’re wired. Progress is everything. What happens is that people get very frustrated, angry, desperate, afraid, and sad when they’re on the downslope of this fluid intelligence curve. > There’s a second intelligence curve behind it that doesn’t reward the same things. It’s called ‘crystalized intelligence,’ and it’s based on all the things you know and how to use the things you know. > So, your working memory is a lot worse. Your innovative capacity is worse. Your speed and ability to solve problems is worse. But your wisdom is higher. Your pattern recognition is higher. Your vocabulary is higher. Your teaching ability is higher. The great news is that crystalized intelligence increases through your 40s and 50s, and even 60s — and stays high in your 70s and 80s. > If you stay handcuffed to that fluid intelligence curve, you’re going to ride it to the basement and feel aggrieved for the rest of your life.” I think this is the cause of a lot of burnout in middle age. Teaching, coaching, and consulting is a better way to happiness than a lot of us had been led to believe. At younger ages, I think burnout is more a mix of overpromising, lack of self-awareness, and the lack of agency to become more self-aware. We need to be a lot more OK with being generalists, having hobbies, and creating our own labs online. Mostly, we all need to be more OK with being OK. This is what I think of when I see creators “taking a break” from YouTube, blogging, or social media. It doesn’t look to me like they feel they have the agency or ability to pivot to something they may enjoy more, so they stop. If you don’t have a *personal* blog, newsletter, or channel, separate from your niched-down business, I’d say consider starting one for above reasons alone. A storefront for your goods will suffer without a proper workshop in the back. By the way, thanks for visiting my workshop today! A new storefront is coming this fall. — [CJ](https//www.cjchilvers.com) P.S. I’m loving this small confirmation on [the value of solitude and just thinking.](https://www.calnewport.com/blog/2022/08/08/new-study-confirms-the-value-of-solitude/?ref=cjchilvers.com) P.P.S. I’m always looking for better ways to highlight smart things said since the last newsletter, but nothing beats old fashioned text and links: “I had a therapist who once told me, ‘if you don’t schedule a break, your body will take one for you. And it probably won’t be at a convenient time.’ — [Sara Schonfeld](https://twitter.com/saraschon/status/1546879037183860737?s=12&t=d0OUM6bICMCqMNS8WjcM0g&ref=cjchilvers.com) “Logos are for closers.” — [Garrick van Buren](https://twitter.com/garrickvanburen/status/1549753122897248265?s=21&t=cIqcwtY7Hls4xjRz5%5FFcdg&ref=cjchilvers.com) “Perfection is boring. Getting better is where all the fun is.” — Dragos Roua via [Chris Ducker](https://twitter.com/chrisducker/status/1549318153154486272?s=12&t=3Pu7bFtynClDtrycdY7tng&ref=cjchilvers.com) [No one wants to work anymore.](https://twitter.com/pessimistsarc/status/1550598489641549829?s=21&t=yp7lZMiP0KNdqOK871OZTg&ref=cjchilvers.com) ### Consumption is underrated. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/consumption-is-underrated/ Last updated: 2022-10-09T21:23:50.000Z “Create. Don’t consume.” Do you hear this mantra as much as I do? Does it get under your skin too? Behind every hour of good writing is at least 10 hours of reading. Every great writer I’ve known is a voracious reader. Every great musician I’ve known is an insatiable listener — among the top 1% of vinyl collectors as well. Create, of course. But feed that creation properly. Take away the stigma of consumption. Consumption is an action. It isn’t good or bad. You get to determine its worth. Treat it as you would any other priority action in your life. Schedule it, if need be. It’s that important. Consumption gets a bad rap because finding and enjoying the good stuff is hard. That’s why it’s worth it. That’s also why curation will always matter. Cutting the fat will always be a valued service. How about this one? “The iPad is just a consumption device.” Great! We need more well-designed devices to help us get the good stuff into our brains, whether it’s an iPad, Kindle, or a hardcover. Whatever works. Don’t starve your creativity. Consume away! Then, please, share the best with the rest of us. — [CJ](www.cjchilvers.com) ## French Goodbyes “I keep telling a lot of my corporate friends and leaders, ‘You’re worried about The Great Resignation? Wait until you see The Great Never Applied in the First Place.’ You’ve got an entire generation of kids growing up on Roblox, TikTok, and Fortnite, who are like, ‘I could work at IBM, VaynerMedia, or whatever. Or, I could make 61K doing \[my own thing\]. I’ll keep building and maybe get to 200K.’ It’s a blind spot to the establishment — at scale. What we talk about is, ‘These kids are entitled.’ They’re not entitled. They’re aware of their options.” — [Gary Vaynerchuck](https://youtube.com/shorts/LCtqXb9dzKc?feature=share&ref=cjchilvers.com) “I’ve regretted two kinds of decisions in my life: those I made in haste, and the other ones.” — [Jeffrey Zeldman](https://twitter.com/zeldman/status/1546834183850496000?s=21&t=8R-6mx8FUzJboPHcTajTgg&ref=cjchilvers.com) “The real measure of any time management technique is whether or not it helps you neglect the right things.” — Oliver Burkeman via [Tim Ferris](https://twitter.com/tferriss/status/1546267899035254784?s=21&t=9-QbnxxmJZIW3MhyA7ScGA&ref=cjchilvers.com) “Trying to be a ‘growth hacker’ is really one of the worst ways you can approach the internet. There is a reason tenured marketers do not engage in such things, as they understand the importance of optics, long term reputation, and building something sustainable.” — [Adam Singer](https://adamsinger.substack.com/p/theres-only-one-thing-no-one-can) ### Why Nerds Win URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/why-nerds-win/ Last updated: 2022-10-09T21:27:29.000Z Are you a good fit for what I write? Here’s one way to know. I’ve been getting a lot questions about my new website theme. It’s still being built out, but how I decided on the theme should tell you everything you need to know about “growth marketing.” There’s several themes for Ghost having a moment right now, but only two fit well with a “personal site,” in my opinion. Both are priced in the same ballpark. One was flashy, used by popular creators, and highlighted by designers as one of the most beautiful themes ever made for the platform. The other, was less flashy, but better documented with a long track record of updates and real-world examples. I dug a little deeper on who created the themes and skimmed their tweets to see how they interacted with their audiences. The flashy theme creator’s tweets were all about growth marketing — how successful he was, his advice on hustling, and how you could do the same. The nerdier creator’s tweets were updates about his themes, examples of real people using them, and support responses. I dug a little deeper into the features. While the flashy theme had some of the latest whiz-bang features, the nerdier theme seemed to be about smaller, more frequent, quality-of-life updates requested by customers. - Who do you think will be around for the long term? - Who do you think will move along to the next shiny thing? - Who’s documentation would you trust to be accurate and up-to-date? - Who would you trust with your money? - Who do you think got my money? I chose the nerdier (or “more professional”) creator. I chose the [Ubud theme](https://aspirethemes.com/themes/ubud?ref=cjchilvers.com). I want to call it out, because it’s fantastic. You’ll see why in the coming months when I activate more of its features. If you wonder why I write more about the principles behind marketing and creating, instead of growth tactics, this is why. This is what builds trust. This is what will survive recessions. — [CJ](https://www.cjchilvers.com/) **P.S. “So long nerds!”** A different lesson about personal brands is being taught to YouTubers. Last week, it was announced that my family’s favorite YouTuber, Technoblade, [died at just 23](https://youtu.be/DPMluEVUqS0?ref=cjchilvers.com). We were heartbroken. Since then, growth hackers have been using his name and image to boost their views, score quick ad money, and sell off their channels when subscriptions top out. This tactic has been happening on YouTube for years, but this time, the growth bros went too far. The nerds came after them and exposed their practices (and their brands) to the market. There were severe repercussions. Reputation matters. Chasing short term gains gets costly real quick. ### You are more interesting than you think. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/you-are-more-interesting-than-you-think/ Last updated: 2022-06-29T11:29:44.000Z I’m guessing you’re a generalist, because most people are. But the online content-consumption machine seems to reward those who make their personalities all about one thing. I believe that’s a distracting, unhelpful remnant of the first 29-ish years of the web — minus the first five years. Why subtract the first five? That was the era of the generalist blogger on the web. It wasn’t called blogging, yet. That would take a few more years. It was just a ritualistic practice of updating the index.html file on your website every morning with the cool links and ideas you found the day before in your explorations. The trust was always about the person behind the index.html file, not the information itself. We gave that up in the years since. We put our trust in algorithms. Look how they've paid us back. It's time to bring trust in individuals back. Our role? Keep building up that trust by being real and providing value consistently. Post about whatever your generalist heart desires. Will that go viral? **Hell no.** That’s not where the value is. The value is in the daily practice that makes you a better creator and a trusted resource. Something will resonate within that practice. That’s what will determine your “viral” product or service. Your practice is the backbone. It could take 10 days or 10 years. You’ll never know until you start. Can’t stick to the practice you want? - Add a constraint. - Don’t be precious. - Click publish. And, as always, hit me up for pep talk. That’s why I’m here. ## Links 🔗 **[You’re Doing Email Marketing Wrong](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/youre-doing-email-marketing-wrong/)** I’m not a big fan of the typical “marketing email.” I don’t think it’s anywhere near as effective as content-based or relationship-based email marketing. But, it is the dominant form of email for business. Here’s how to do it right. **[You are more interesting than you think.](https://youtu.be/U5bX03Kwwow%0A%0AAuthor%20of%20space%20And%20time?ref=cjchilvers.com)** When the life seems meaningless, it helps to remember that you are the author of the universe. That’s not a metaphor. There’s quantum physics involved. **[Be everywhere. But be your best here.](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/be-everywhere-but-be-your-best-here/)** Here’s why brands are turning to signature models, and why it’s important for your personal site, newsletter, and social media. Be everywhere. But be your best in one place. **[Get to your cabin to escape cognitive capture.](https://www.calnewport.com/blog/2022/06/06/jack-carrs-writing-cabin/?ref=cjchilvers.com)** Cal Newport has been on a roll lately with [cabin-based productivity](https://www.calnewport.com/blog/2022/06/22/on-wendell-berrys-move-from-nyu-to-a-riverside-cabin/?ref=cjchilvers.com). I don’t know if I believe in all of it, but it’s so much fun to think about. His recent piece on the [internet’s creative middle class](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-rise-of-the-internets-creative-middle-class?ref=cjchilvers.com) is great too, but only focuses on original, negative argument against “1000 true fans,” not [the optimistic argument](https://www.cjchilvers.com/all-you-need-is-1-2/) against it. **[Why digitize everything?](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/a-lesser-minimalism/)** I love paper. So, it takes a very persuasive argument to get me to go all-digital. But, this changed my mind. Plus, if you feel overwhelmed by digitization projects, [watch how the Smithsonian does it](https://twitter.com/smithsonian/status/1535257893888458753?ref=cjchilvers.com) on an industrial scale. ## Quotes 💬 “Be bored better.” — [Brad Dowdy](https://castro.fm/episode/jXjWly?ref=cjchilvers.com) “I’m a huge believer in less. Do fewer things. Work at a natural pace. Obsess over quality.” — [Cal Newport](https://castro.fm/episode/YOQGFB?ref=cjchilvers.com) summarizing his “slow productivity” philosophy and all of his books “Writing is networking for introverts.” — [Derek Sivers](https://castro.fm/episode/GW9Uen?ref=cjchilvers.com#21:50) “What is the ultimate quantification of success? For me, it’s not how much time you spend doing what you love. It’s how little time you spend doing what you hate.” — Casey Neistat via [For the Interested](https://fortheinterested.com/subscribe/?ref=cjchilvers.com) “Writing online is like going to the gym. You won't get any results in one day. You'll barely get results in two months. But if you stick with it for two years, the transformation will be massive. Keep going.” — [Tim Stoddart](https://twitter.com/timstodz/status/1541387895130521601?ref=cjchilvers.com) ## French Goodbyes 🍟 Last year, I posted that EVH Guitars should build guitar with a very specific design. I forgot about it. Exactly one year later, [they have created the guitar as a limited edition](https://twitter.com/cjchilvers/status/1537399205341298688?s=21&t=CrtvY8AH9ndniMzH6LrhhA&ref=cjchilvers.com). It pays to post — even for the most random ideas. ### You’re Doing Email Marketing Wrong URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/youre-doing-email-marketing-wrong/ Last updated: 2022-06-26T17:19:17.000Z The time and money invested in email is going to the wrong places. Investing for the long-term with relationship and content marketing is the best use of your funds. But short-term-focused marketing emails still represent the vast majority of spending. As long as that’s true, where should that spending take place? In the last decade, I’ve written marketing emails for tens of millions of readers. These are the differences I’ve come to expect (usually from straight-up A/B testing) from the individual parts of each email, according to the two main goals. ## Goal 1: Get the Open If you don’t get the open, you don’t get anything. Worse, your deliverability can take a hit. Assuming you have deliverability currently under control, how much of a difference can a change to these initial parts of an email make towards this goal? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/06/The-email-marketing-disconnect-for-images.001.png) The numbers get far better, with less effort, in content-based emails. ## Goal 2: Get the Click If you’re lucky enough to get the open, here’s where to concentrate your efforts. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/06/The-email-marketing-disconnect-for-images.002.png) ## A Better Way to Email If you must invest in non-content-based marketing emails, make sure to: 1. Spend more time on what’s actually seen. 2. Spend less time on what isn’t seen. 3. Realize that [the From line delivers more ROI than any other part of your email](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/your-from-line/). 4. Realize that the only way to improve your From line is through trust, often built with content-based marketing. 5. Invest for the long term with more content marketing and relationship building for better ROI on every part of every email. ### Why move to Ghost? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/why-move-to-ghost/ Last updated: 2022-08-20T23:25:43.000Z I got a lot of messages after my move to [Ghost Pro](https://ghost.org/?via=cj14&ref=cjchilvers.com) from Squarespace (after being there almost 15 years). I figured it made sense to post the reasons publicly. So, here goes. ## Better Experience Yes, you pay a lot more. But, you’re paying for the time saved toward producing something. You’re also paying to automate a myriad of things you don’t want to do. Ghost Pro offered a simple interface where a you just write, and your writing magically distributes to many places and audiences at once, in their preferred formats, without any further action. Other hosts claim to offer this. Ghost is the first I’ve found that actually does it. It’s a personal site, blog, newsletter, membership site, and social media planning app in one. There’s one source of true — one place to be your best, while still being everywhere else. It’s pretty much what Seth Godin has had for two decades. But he’s Seth Godin and I’m not. ## Better process Ghost fits best with [my publishing principles](https://www.cjchilvers.com/personal-publishing-principles/). It focuses on the most important part of the process: the practice of creating with consistency. It’s the part that my brain wants to fight the most. It takes design mostly out of the equation. I fiddle with design too much, and I’m a terrible designer. That’s a bad combo. The lack of design decisions needed in Ghost is a plus for me, but I know it will turn some people off. There’s still a lot broken from the move, but I see the light at the end of tunnel. Hang in there. ## Better company Ghost, as a company is focused on writers and publishers. Lots of other CMS companies start by wooing writers, then move along to more profitable clients. So far, I see none of that thinking at Ghost. The support at Ghost has been very kind. I have way too much content to port to any new CMS. They did it anyway. In the process, they converted all that silo’d, proprietary, locked-up content into a database that can be manipulated and moved at will. This was worth the price of admission alone. ## Better go So far, so good. I’ll keep reporting back as I experiment around here. Thanks for reading! ### The Most Useful Book Cover Constraint URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/book-cover-constraints/ Last updated: 2022-06-22T14:12:04.000Z > Love plain linen hardcovers. Wisdom without hype. [pic.twitter.com/nlvHCAWcMe](https://t.co/nlvHCAWcMe?ref=cjchilvers.com) > > — Derek Sivers (@sivers) [September 6, 2021](https://twitter.com/sivers/status/1434977837375627265?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=cjchilvers.com) I can’t tell you how many hours and how much money I’ve spent on book cover design. But, for nonfiction, nothing beats the stamped, cloth cover. It somehow adds more weight to your words. You should always have at least one version of your book like this. ### A Lesser Minimalism URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/a-lesser-minimalism/ Last updated: 2022-06-21T15:21:13.000Z Minimizing your processes is more important than minimizing the amount of your objects. Objects are often just the byproduct a process and a reflection of its health. But there are painful places where the two ideas meet. One of the first nerdy courses I bought, many years ago, was MacSparky’s [Paperless Field Guide](https://learn.macsparky.com/p/paperless?ref=cjchilvers.com). I love MacSparky. We share a very similar brain and I’m always impressed with what he’s done with the gray matter I’ve wasted. I’m sure the course has been updated many times since, but back then I was disappointed in it because there was only one “why” given for his paperless lifestyle. The why matters more than the how in nonfiction, because the why informs whether you need the rest of the book or course at all. It’s a stoplight. MacSparky’s one reason for being paperless back then was a story about inheriting a pile of paper from his parents and the profound impact it had on his thinking. Well, I’m in my basement right now, in front of 20 boxes of the most important files, photos, press clipping, war medals, and other keepsakes that I was able to grab from my parents’ old house before it sold. I’m no longer disappointed in the why of that course. I get it. I will never put my son through this. Our attachment to information can be profitable, distracting, emotional, or fleeting. The cognitive weight of words is not equal page-to-page. The process is the equalizer. It’s been my experience that every minimalist dreams of passing down a thumb drive or password, giving their families access to 90%+ of their multi-generational trash and treasure. Then, they want their remains cremated and scattered to the wind, as to leave no trace. It’s a laudable goal to enable as much as possible to be carried away on a cloud. Both kinds. But that requires a daily process — a practice. And it's anything but minimal. ### Be everywhere. But be your best here. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/be-everywhere-but-be-your-best-here/ Last updated: 2022-06-20T12:53:26.000Z The biggest trend in branding this year appears to be one of the oldest trends — signature models. From shoes to guitars, old-school brands are flooding the market with products stamped with a creator’s personal brand. A “brand” is just a “reputation.” The bigger you get as a company, the less control you have over your reputation. Employees are unpredictable and every interaction they have with a customer reflects on the company and affects its reputation. Good companies know this and focus on hiring the best and most trustworthy employees. Some companies don’t. But most big companies find it useful to layer a personal brand on top of their own to build trust. This is because people don’t trust big, faceless companies or organizations. They never did. But, traditionally, they never had a choice. The typical size of a human tribe throughout history was somewhere between 30-2500 people, depending on which expert you believe (most believe it was toward the lower end). Could this also be the limit of the implicit trust humans have for any kind of organization? Since the industrial age, large organizations have been a requirement for getting products made and distributed at scale. But, this hasn’t been true for a long time, and is becoming less true by the year — especially for creators. As our networks continue to expand abilities and size, without the same amount of focus, real names are becoming the more trustworthy than brand names. This year’s [NAMM](https://youtube.com/watch?v=uRV%5F1d4WBTA&feature=share&t=430&ref=cjchilvers.com) show revealed that music product companies are going all-in on personal brands. Some of the biggest selling guitars at well-known guitar brands are now signature models — dwarfing the sales of previously-reliable, bestselling models. The brands themselves were doing well, and have used signature models in the past to boost sales with a few premium models for fans of big artists. But, in the 2020s, these companies found that stamping even moderately successful, but trusted, artists’ names on guitars became very profitable, even as prices surged beyond the reach of most buyers. This is why I haven’t given up on personal websites, blogs, and newsletters. The trustworthiness of a real person, using their real name, will always be valuable to the reader, consumer, or partner. When you create on social media, it’s like you’re creating signature-series content. As long as it makes sense for your goals, have at it. But beware of the value of the reputation you’re lending to the social media company. Their brand is likely less trustworthy than yours. The personal site, blog, and newsletter is 100% you, though. It’s where you build that reputation. Be everywhere. Automations exist to make distribution possible wherever your audience is, with as little or as much personal involvement and customization as you like. But be your best here. Own piece of the internet, under your own name and on your own terms. Their brands will come and go, but yours is for a lifetime. Treat it well. ### Ghosting to Improve Relationships URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/ghosting/ Last updated: 2022-06-05T12:02:33.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/06/IMG_4930.jpeg) Last of the lunch notes for this school year This post is my first on my new host, Ghost. They were kind enough to port my 15+ years worth of blog posts and newsletters over to kick the tires. My former host, Squarespace, was built up by word-of-mouth during the second golden age of blogging, and evangelized by bloggers in those early days as “the Apple of blogging platforms.” But, they quickly learned it was far simpler and cheaper to shape their hosting around small businesses that needed fast, easy websites to set and forget. It made sense. Bloggers publish a lot and demand a lot of their platforms. Restaurants only publish four or five pages, which may never get updated. It's the same recurring revenue for far less trouble. I can't blame them. It’s a good business model, but I’m no longer their target customer, so I’m no longer their customer. Ghost focuses on publishing, though. In fact, Ghost focuses specifically on the biggest problem facing writers, photographers, and creators of all kinds – the process of properly distributing what you publish. They knew that was the hard part. That was the scarcity in the market. So, they owned it. I love that. I was thrilled to jump over, but not just for that reason. Ghost is also the host that fits best with my idea of [what makes a great personal blog and newsletter](https://www.cjchilvers.com/personal-publishing-principles/). Remember personal blogs and newsletters? It's been a while. I think they're due for a third golden age. When’s the last time you went to an actual website to read a real article written by a human, without being slapped in the face by pop-ups, cookie warnings, ads, and lead magnets? We are witnessing the start of new era of online marketing, publishing, and creation. Very few people seem to notice. That’s good. That’s what opportunity looks like. Apple is about to land a few more punches against their ad-dependent competitors on Monday. Alphabet and Meta say everything’s fine on their end. In fact, they love privacy so much, they want you to entrust them with all of your data. They promise to look after it well. Meanwhile, they’re racing to transition more of ad sales to product- and service-based sales, hoping Wall Street and ad buyers don’t catch on before ad prices fall. Alphabet seemed to make changes to their ad strategy after last year's WWDC. Meta didn’t start as early, so they got hit hard. And, of course, there are dozens of big, but not mega, companies making the same transitions — if they’re smart. What does all that mean for you? If you’ve invested in building relationships with your audience, you’re ahead of the game. If you’ve invested in complex journeys, advertising, and short-term sales, you’ve got some changes to make. The only constant is looking after the best interest of your audience. In my case, that’s you. So, I developed a multi-year plan back in 2020 to streamline my process, speed up my site, and deliver a lot more value for the time and attention you give my rants. Thanks for hanging in there during the move. I’m grateful for every minute you’ve spent reading or listening to me ramble since the 90s. Big thanks to [Paul Davis](https://twitter.com/PaulAdamDavis?ref=cjchilvers.com) as well, and his team, for the weeks it took unravel the decades of Squarespace cruft. I’m sure there’ll still be some minor issues with broken links and feeds. My former RSS feed was a mess, and I know many of you live and breath RSS, so I’ll do my best to make that transition as seamless as possible. Please feel free to hit me up with any questions! Thanks for reading! ### How to Enjoy What Doesn’t Exist URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/how-to-enjoy-what-doesnt-exist/ Last updated: 2026-06-26T16:35:59.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2026/06/image.png) I entered my dog’s guitar rig for an episode of the always-hilarious [Rate or Roast My Rig](https://www.youtube.com/c/fluff191riffsandbeards/featured?ref=cjchilvers.com). I’m deep into the part of each fiscal quarter when I’m spending 100% of my time writing for others. So, I’ll keep this issue short on commentary. I’ve compiled a rough draft of my book on publishing newsletters, but I haven’t had time to set up a separate announcement list for it…next issue? Also, the kind folks at Ghost have generously ported my website over to their platform to kick the tires. Expect a full report (or a full port?) in the coming weeks. Now, let’s get on with the links. — [CJ](cjchilvers.com) - Is [this](https://twitter.com/manglewood/status/1501657698559049728?ref=cjchilvers.com) the best title ever for a haunted house book? - Everyone could benefit from the kind of Post-It project management love happening [here](https://twitter.com/thedolectures/status/1501589111618035719?s=21&ref=cjchilvers.com). Someone develop a Post-It-based desk, please. - I love the idea behind [this app](https://getrecut.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com). It auto-cuts silences from the videos you create in seconds. How long it will take bigger apps to steal the feature? - “There are no traffic jams along the extra mile.” — [Roger Staubach](https://www.swiss-miss.com/2022/04/the-extra-mile.html?ref=cjchilvers.com) - [Inspirational garden offices.](https://www.hoxtonminipress.com/products/pre-order-work-from-shed?ref=cjchilvers.com) - Gumroad posted some interesting articles with tips they’ve learned for [selling digital products](https://gumroad.com/blog/digital-product-ideas?ref=cjchilvers.com). It seems they agree that most digital products still exist in the shadow of courses, even though we have a soft spot around here for books . They have tips on [books](https://gumroad.com/blog/how-to-create-and-sell-ebooks?ref=cjchilvers.com) as well. - “Local realism is false. Non-contextual realism is false. I conclude that particles themselves don’t exist when they’re not perceived. They have no position. They’re not there. When you have no position, you’re not there. And space-time itself is not there. Space-time itself is merely a data structure.” — [Professor Donald Hoffman](https://castro.fm/episode/ZSBfCN?ref=cjchilvers.com#57:56), MIT PhD, award-winning scientist, and author on why physics has proven “The Case Against Reality” - Adding a hand to an image [seems to work](https://tips.ariyh.com/p/-the-virtual-touch-effect?ref=cjchilvers.com) for engagement. Hmmmm…making photos more human and authentic works? Where have we heard that before? - “Enter the URL of an article you found valuable into Twitter search and you’ll see other people who shared that article. It’s a great way to find people with similar interests to follow or connect with.” — [Josh Spector](https://twitter.com/jspector/status/1511541959139209216?s=12&t=wSwsxCdkvSbC0nGjYrNGQQ&ref=cjchilvers.com) - “No matter how late in the day it is, everything is still possible and everything is in front of us.” — [Nick Gillespie](https://twitter.com/joeljmiller/status/1504958713941176322?ref=cjchilvers.com) ### A New Brand of Unsubscribe URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/a-new-brand-of-unsubscribe/ Last updated: 2022-03-28T12:20:00.000Z A few weeks ago, I downloaded the Substack app. I didn’t like what I saw, so I deleted it. That action unsubscribed me from every email newsletter on Substack. Fast-forward a few weeks. This is what I just received. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/dc5d59ac-6450-42d1-a1e0-ba1f99f36502/substack.jpeg) Notice: 1. Substack newsletters are now just email “notifications.” 2. I could be unsubscribed and resubscribed. I assume that’s legal somehow, but this would be a new form of subscribing, unsubscribing, and re-subscribing for email newsletters. 3. What kind of chaos must this cause in their analytics? Do any of the newsletter writers know I wasn’t reading or even seeing their newsletters? 4. If you subscribe to a newsletter through this app/ecosystem, is the creator ever getting a real email address? 5. If I “pause” emails from the preferences, that would unsubscribe me from a lot of email newsletters at once. That would represent a huge risk. One bad apple out of thousands could get me unsubscribed by association. This is the other shoe dropping, and it’s way too soon. It seems desperate. I get why they’re doing this. They need to own the experience, not Gmail. But owning the audience? That’s not part of the deal for newsletters. Social, sure. But not email. Now, the rewards only outweigh the risks for a small number of creators. As always, beware of “free” services. ### How Spring Break Broke URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/new-newsletter-how-spring-break-broke/ Last updated: 2026-06-26T16:56:41.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2026/06/IMG_4578.jpg) Taking a step back from the photo everyone else is taking is way more interesting. Same goes for life. As anyone could have predicted, I didn’t do the traditional spring break very well. It only made me want to publish more — but in different ways. I got fired up about how creators are currently being screwed and starting warning creators about [the great personal newsletter migration](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-great-personal-newsletter-migration). Then, the other shoe dropped at Substack. I picked a fight when [they invented a new-to-me form of unsubscribing](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/a-new-brand-of-unsubscribe). I can’t say what they did was wrong. I believe the way they did it was wrong, for both creators and their own (stated) business model. I would expect more of the same across the creator economy. New picks and shovels are about to be invented for the latest gold rush. The trick will be recognizing which fit best for what creators are mining. — [CJ](https://www.cjchilvers.com/) ## French Goodbyes Speaking of picking a fight, I challenged every nerd friend I have when I asked, “[Is plain text best?](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/is-plain-text-best)” I hope I didn't lose too many of them in the process. “You are underestimating the compounding awesomeness of continually fixing small broken things.” — [Rands](https://twitter.com/rands/status/1036800261329629184?s=12&ref=cjchilvers.com) “Boredom is everything, man. I think our loss of boredom in contemporary society is one of the greatest weird ambient losses. It is one of these things that it’s very hard to quantify the value of it. And we’ve lost it so completely and totally that we very rarely have moments to even re-experience it, unless you do it intentionally. And so for me, yeah, the boredom of these walks is, I would say, 50% of the value of it. It’s forcing yourself into a place where you’re not teleporting mentally. You just have to be there. And you have to recognize, like, ‘Oh my God, I have these thoughts.’ And it’s been extremely therapeutic.” — [Craig Mod](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/podcast/walking-through-japan/?ref=cjchilvers.com) “Advertising is at odds with the principles of creating good content: it requires a broad audience with a smaller, less manageable return.” — [Ghost.org](https://ghost.org/resources/how-to-make-money-blogging/?ref=cjchilvers.com) “Golf is a good walk spoiled.” — [Anonymous](https://quoteinvestigator.com/2010/05/28/golf-good-walk/?ref=cjchilvers.com) (another quote I had to change in my notes after researching who said it — never trust anything attributed to Mark Twain or Churchill) “Think of many things. Do one.” — Cassell’s Book Of Quotations, Proverbs And Household Words via [James Clear](https://jamesclear.com/3-2-1/refer?rh%5Fref=1df21f21&ref=cjchilvers.com) “The best ideas come as jokes. Make your thinking as funny as possible.” — [David Ogilvy](https://quotesondesign.com/david-ogilvy-6/?ref=cjchilvers.com) ### Is plain text best? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/is-plain-text-best/ Last updated: 2026-08-09T13:42:10.000Z [Derek Sivers](https://sive.rs/plaintext?ref=cjchilvers.com) and [Patrick Rhone](https://www.patrickrhone.net/11399-2/?ref=cjchilvers.com), two of my favorite writers, have just posted about how the simple text file is the most stable, malleable format for storing your thoughts and work. This is probably the most widely accepted truth among nerds I can imagine. Who would be stupid enough to argue? I’ll be the “yeah, but” guy here, because: 1. This has not been my experience. 2. It really doesn’t matter. **The incident** When I switched to the Mac in 2008, all of my text file notes got corrupted in the move. I didn’t notice for a while because work occupied most of my time, and (non-developer) corporate work never happens in text files. By the time I went back to my notes, all of the titles and meta data had been replaced with gibberish. Luckily, the internal copy wasn’t corrupted, and I didn’t care enough at the time to dip into my backups, so it wasn’t a huge deal. The meta data of a note/file is critical to me now. It gives valuable context the internal text usually doesn’t. A business idea from when I was a 25-year-old idiot carries very little weight compared to one I came up when I was 40\. A content strategy tip from 1999 is not likely as applicable in 2022\. I won’t even get into titles, tags, and location. You get the idea. **It doesn’t matter anyway** Use whatever medium and constraint works for you. Every medium for ideas is corruptible. There’s no magic file format. Most are likely to last long enough for you to convert to something else if need be. It’s more important to find the constraint that works for you. Text may be it. But maybe it’s audio. Maybe, with storage and transcription becoming less of an issue, video will be the most prized and stable format those with shorter attention spans (I see it in kids right now). I wouldn’t worry too much about your archive, though. Nothing digital is of archival quality. There hasn’t been enough time to test any format or storage method. When it all shakes out in 400 years or so, I doubt anything we use now will be the preferred format. I’m not even sure humans will be a preferred biological format. You know what has lasted longer than text files for me? Email, Word docs, and PDFs — all file formats I would never count on for their archival qualities. Also, none of this really matters. [Legacy is a sales tool](https://www.cjchilvers.com/legacy-is-a-sales-tool/). No one is likely to dig through your thoughts in any file format. What matters is how you transform the text into useful stuff for you and others. Even then, it will be forgotten quickly. It’s important to think of your captured thoughts as fleeting bits of information across all formats and uses. Maybe you’ll get back to them. Maybe you’ll use them. But investing everything in one, stable format doesn’t take away their fleeting nature. Thoughts will exist here and there for a while, then be gone and forgotten. Just like you. I find that very humbling, but comforting as well. I’m sure Derek and Patrick agree with most of this, and choose the text file as the best candidate for them, given all the above. It’s just not for everyone. ### New newsletter: HustleTrust URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/new-newsletter-hustletrust/ Last updated: 2022-02-28T14:19:23.000Z The great newsletter migration, character > competence, and logo paralysis: it’s [the latest issue](https://www.cjchilvers.com/email/issue-275-hustletrust) of my newsletter. Is it possibly the last in this format? ### The great personal newsletter migration URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-great-personal-newsletter-migration/ Last updated: 2022-02-23T15:40:16.000Z For the third week in a row, about a dozen of my favorite indie newsletters have landed in the spam folder — newsletters I’ve opened and click-through hundreds of times. What gives? I love how Apple, DuckDuckGo, Neeva, and others are making our online lives a little more private and secure. It was about time companies started seizing on that clear gap in the market. The downside for indie publishers was lower deliverability and engagement for email newsletters. Traditional email service providers (ESP), who are responsible for delivering your favorite personal newsletters, have had the better part of a year to adapt to these privacy measures and offer solutions. But all I’ve heard is nonsense about how it’s not a big deal for overall delivery and “predictive AI” will justify keeping their current business model largely unchanged. In my opinion, they’re failing, flailing, and (sometimes) straight-up lying to keep customers from fleeing. That’s not what worries me. What worries me is how predictable it was. What worries me is how lame the response has been. Check your calendars. WWDC is pretty damn close. Do you really think Apple is done releasing privacy features? Given Apple’s marketing successes around privacy, do you really think no one else is going to join them? I’m being (indirectly) hurt by Apple here, and still cheering them on, because they’re doing the right thing. ESPs: this is the best you can do in response? Really? Why on earth would a creator agree to a pay-per-reader email service when the service can’t reliably tell you if the readers are even real or alive anymore? Every week, those nonexistent readers pile up and drive down your real engagement in the eyes of Gmail (or insert your favorite email services/client). To the spam folder you go! Here’s a hard truth for personal newsletters like mine: deliverability and engagement will keep declining. There’s no incentive (at the moment) to stop it. Every week, you’ll see more personal newsletters in your spam or promotions folders. **The pay-per-reader model is dead for traditional, personal newsletters.** The biggest business will always be OK. They’ll pay more and more to middlemen to ensure their sales promotions cut through to the inbox. But the lowly, free, personal newsletter? We’re faced with the decision to: - Pay increasing more for decreasing engagement. - Pay increasing more for decreasing engagement among free readers, while going freemium and charging enough to cover additional costs. - Use a free service like Substack or Revue and hope for the best. So, now you know the reason all your favorite personal newsletters are going to Substack or Revue. No one I know is getting rich there, and it doesn’t mean they won’t end up in a spam folder. In fact, many still do. But, at least they’re not paying to be in a spam folder now. ### New(ish) Newsletter URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/newish-newsletter/ Last updated: 2022-02-07T20:40:00.000Z I really have to get better at cross-posting about my newsletter issues. Last week, I did one on [Creation and Kit Kats](https://www.cjchilvers.com/email/issue-274-creation-and-kit-kats). It was part of a test on formatting, linking styles, and self-imposed constraints. The results? I love plain text emails. You seem to love simple, linked headlines to obscure, useful stuff. Sounds perfect. ### Practical Ways to Post Something Every Day URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/practical-ways-to-post-something-every-day/ Last updated: 2023-06-26T01:45:58.000Z I create the equivalent of at least 1 book worth of writing per week. Most of my work ends up in newsletters, websites, and marketing campaigns for companies you know very well. You won’t see my name, but you’re probably reading my stuff all the time. On good days, I get to write for you directly. Today is a good day, so I’m sharing some of the most useful, practical ways I’m able to create and publish something every day — while keeping most of my sanity. These have been tested over 20+ years. They’re solid. 1. Just sit in silence. The ideas will overwhelm you in seconds. This sounds incredible, but works every time. 2. Apply constraints. Can’t post an essay? Post a sentence. Can’t post a sentence? Post a photo and a word or two. Keep applying constraints until you can maintain a daily creation habit. 3. Ask yourself: What did I learn today? 4. Find a previous post you disagree with and write about why. Find an old post you agree with, but experience has taught you more about. 5. Take a quote you love, or hate, and write about the why’s. Back up your reasoning with evidence. 6. Find something interesting in the mundane — something others don’t care or aren’t talking about. 7. Distill great articles and books into single thoughts, better aligned to your readers. 8. You probably answer questions from email, IMs, DMs, etc. Post the most common answers. Over time, this will serve as an FAQ, and guidance for the products/services your audience wants from you. 9. Write about your mistakes. Humiliation has an upside: It’s entertaining. Messages stick with the reader when there’s a good story attached. 10. Make a link post, then think about what value you could add to the thoughts in the post. This could be as simple as explaining why you saved the link in the first place. Sometimes, it takes me on tangents unrelated to the link. Each tangent is a possible post. 11. Review anything you buy that your audience might buy. This is not for the affiliate links. The trust you build from honest recommendations is much more lucrative in the long term. 12. Have you ever sought the advice of professionals in your space? Keep it up. Ask permission to pass along the best. This is more interesting than most full interviews, but if you have the gift of gab, go for the full interviews too. 13. Post, speak, appear, guest, and generally help others build their audiences. Then, post links to the results. You’d be surprised how many posts and ideas helping others generates (even though you’re not doing it for this reason — it’s just a wonderful byproduct). After one conversation I had with a favorite creator, we both wrote more than five posts from the ideas generated. BONUS: This builds a searchable archive of your career. **Bookmark this page and return.** I’d love to add your suggestions to the list and keep it growing. ### 35 Lessons from 35 Years of Newsletter Publishing URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/35-lessons-from-35-years-of-newsletter-publishing/ Last updated: 2023-06-26T01:45:33.000Z My first newsletter was about ninjas in 1987\. I was 12. Since then, I’ve been obsessed. I’ve created small newsletters for my own projects, and big newsletters for corporations. What ties them all together? Probably hundreds of things, but I’m lazy, so let’s start with 35. I won’t lie — most of these lessons here were learned by failure. That’s OK. My mistakes could be your head start. 1. Email lasts. You will have a medium that best speaks to your style (maybe audio or video is what keeps you excited), but email is as universal as we’ve gotten online as a species, so far. It’s still the king. 2. There is no competition for your personal voice. 3. Build relationships. That’s what it’s all about. Anyone trying anything else is lying to themselves or their readers. All you need is one relationship to change or save your project, career, or life. Why not establish more? This is also what separates the wealthy from the successful. 4. Be human. People recognize spam. People recognize a sales pitch. People also recognize honest, direct communication. This is where newsletters excel. Be real. Be vulnerable. 5. The best metric is replies. 6. Perfection sucks and it’s boring. 7. No one cares. You have to give them reasons to care. Earn five seconds of their attention. Then, earn the next five. Repeat. 8. New idea? Just start. You can’t establish relationships if you’re not out there. Whatever it takes, get your idea out there now. Course correct, if and when needed. Every failure is possible entertainment for your audience. So, just ship. 9. Curation matters. There’s way too many creators and not enough editors. This scarcity creates value. 10. There’s bravery in brevity. Small is considerate, difficult, and valuable. Most books should be a blog post. Most blog posts should be a tweet. Most tweets shouldn’t be. 11. Be consistent. People are creatures of habit. That’s why consistency works. Become a part of their routine. 12. Your newsletter is the byproduct of your process. Focus on improving your process and everything else works itself out. This is where you learn how to stay consistent and avoid burn out. 13. Deliver value, not word counts. Solve someone else’s problem — the bigger the better. It’s nice if it solves your problem too. 14. Don’t be an asshole. Make it easy to unsubscribe. Don’t get bogged down in tracking clicks. Respond. People are not “opens.” People are not “clicks.” 15. Only one person is opening this email. You are not a broadcaster. No one is crowded around a single screen reading your email. You are writing to one, individual reader. 16. Give a shit. It’s shocking how many don’t. 17. Discovery is recovery. You’ve covered topics a thousand times without realizing they intersect in new and interesting ways. Re-read your stuff and you’ll find something new every time. 18. No size fits all. No matter what you do, you won’t please your entire audience. That’s good. Build trust by being honest and you’re bound to get hate. Remember: the opposite of love isn’t hate, it’s indifference. 19. Keep track of what delights you about other newsletters — not what engages you (that’s too easy — A.I. can do that). Engagement is good for a few sentences. Delight builds anticipation for the next issue. You’re probably not producing enough delight. You probably should be. 20. Subject lines don’t matter anywhere near as much as your From line. Trust is the only thing that improves your From line. 21. Add [your newsletter link](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe) to all the things. Make it the center of your online universe, because it’s where relationships are built. If you build a newsletter of value, it’s your duty to expose it to as many readers as possible. 22. Put your best link forward. Value must be made apparent quickly. What gets linked to first, gets clicked on the most — make it valuable enough for the reader to want to return to your newsletter. 23. Cut ruthlessly. In projects and processes: delete first, organize and automate later. Properly-placed automations should occur to you over time and should never come at the cost to the relationship you have with your readers or the quality of the content. 24. Your brain doesn’t know the difference between announcing something and shipping it. Announcements are easy, tempting content in newsletters. If you post an announcement, add something to make you accountable to your audience to actually ship (like pre-sales). 25. Meet your subscribers. When you meet readers in person, you get a better understanding of how what you do fits in their world. It shapes the way you publish, as well as what you publish. 26. Monetization is a byproduct. If you build an audience to serve that audience, monetization will present itself. You don’t need to chase it. You don’t even need to accept it if you don’t want the added responsibility. 27. Pick a day, any day. Publish in a manner and at a time that best fits your habits or strategy, not when stats on the general public tells you to. Your audience is not like anyone else’s. You have more control over your publishing schedule than anyone will admit. 28. Ask for testimonials. New readers want to know why they should care about your newsletter. Give them real reasons from real readers. 29. Give more away for free. Nothing is more valuable than the relationships you’re building. Projects come and go, succeed and fail. The audience should remain. What attracts and keeps them is what you’re giving away. You’re probably not giving enough away. 30. Inspiration is scheduled. It’s also called work. The common denominator of our tasks, projects, and entire lives is time. Your schedule is there to keep you consistent and sane. It’s the foundation of your process. 31. Schedule play too. All work and no play makes for a boring newsletter. “Leisure is the basis of culture.” How cultured and interesting can you be if you’re not scheduling time for leisure? Creators don’t want to admit they’re in the entertainment business, but they are. What makes you entertaining? What is entertaining to your audience? How can you make this all a little more fun for everyone? 32. Create daily. You don’t have to publish daily, but creation is the habit that makes everything else possible. 33. When stuck, apply another constraint. 34. Celebrate and share the wins of others — always. Be the cheerleader for your topic. 35. Unlearn. Everything changes. It’s the only constant. Be ready to unlearn in an instant when presented with new information. ### Clarity is Expensive URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/clarity-is-expensive/ Last updated: 2021-11-27T19:06:56.000Z After many years of writing for big companies, a few universal truths have emerged from hundreds of projects, no matter the budget: - Having a clear audience is critical for creation, promotion, and sales. - Having a clear goal is existential for the project and ultimately the company. - It’s rare that a project has both worked out. In most cases both are missing. Clarity is expensive. It takes the right people, the right amount of time, and levels of risk tolerance usually not found below the C-suite or above “the mail room.” Safety matters in the middle, thus “cornflower blue.” Lack of clarity is even more expensive, though. What those in the middle don’t know (or care), is that a lack of clarity in your goal or audience can mean everything, especially for a new product or service. Small businesses, creators, and entrepreneurs: you need to understand this is your biggest opportunity. Getting clear on your audience and goal is 5 minutes of thinking to yourself, or a few weeks of testing landing pages. Compare it to the hiring process, PowerPoints created (for 10 separate, hour-long meetings with sparse attendance), and the quarterly budgeting concerns of the massive ship of a big business that’s trying to turn (on a dime that’s usually the size of a year or more using the tactics of decade ago). None of your bigger competitors can do what you can do to get clear. Their greatest (and often ignored) expense is your greatest advantage. ### New Newsletter: Walking in Memphis URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/new-newsletter-walking-in-memphis/ Last updated: 2026-08-09T13:43:27.000Z Issue 271: Rethinking newsletters, the perfect book cover, and talking VH on YouTube at 2am. Check it out [here](https://www.cjchilvers.com/campaigns/view-campaign/9lgxNi4aPZ7WkxKNSiSQ9vGtYR%5FhKDk-bgG9v0oG%5FLKhuQja7-pJPz3NOyneMCTVBTWc9oDK7TzwnYsRCt3C6HJ5sSEsurXg), and subscribe [here](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe). ### The Importance of Giving a Shit URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-importance-of-giving-a-shit/ Last updated: 2021-10-14T17:59:15.000Z This is usually a lesser rule of being a creator, marketer, or human being. It’s almost implied. I’m bumping its status up a bit now. I’ve spent the past month driving through the eastern and southern US. Like many travelers, I was throwing money at businesses for lodging and food, hoping for the best and preparing for the passable. The stand-out business during this time was a small coffee shop in Memphis, [Crazy Gander](https://www.crazygander.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com). It wasn’t because they went above-and-beyond (though they did). It was just that they were the odd business that seemed to care. So, I made it a regular stop. I even tried their lamb-bourguignon-stuffed croissant (wha? yep!). I spent a lot of money there over the course of a few days. I bought a t-shirt for my son on the last day. It’s all because they were nice, and they cared. They gave a shit. Sometimes that’s all it takes, especially after a long trip, full of businesses that didn’t care. Maybe this rule deserves to be more foundational. Maybe this lack of care in the market is an opportunity for you. Whatever business you’ve chosen (or chosen to work with), give a shit. You may stand out more than you imagine. ### Dave or Sammy? Ernie Ball or Kramer? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/van-halen-encyclopedia-interview-5150-show/ Last updated: 2021-09-26T19:05:17.000Z I stayed up until 2am talking Van Halen with these wonderful gentlemen. ### Marketing Maps Vs. Marketing Plans URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/marketing-maps-vs-marketing-plans/ Last updated: 2021-08-21T16:01:05.000Z Both are needed. Both must change on the fly to fully be realized. But it’s the marketing map that stirs the most inspiration. It’s a look inside the brain of a creator — messy but clear on principle. This is Walt Disney’s from 1957 (via [George Mack](https://twitter.com/george%5F%5Fmack/status/1422292923777966083?ref=cjchilvers.com)): ![disney1957.jpeg](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1629560890359-2V4F0G8CQFPK03FZQ0KS/disney1957.jpeg) This is Chris Ducker’s (via his book [Rise of the Youpreneur](https://amzn.to/3mpUWH0?ref=cjchilvers.com)): ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1629561062432-D6DWG2QT5GSJEILDFOCE/chrisducker.jpg) This is from [David Perell](https://twitter.com/david%5Fperell/status/1264712805174870016?ref=cjchilvers.com) (the youngest entrepreneur I could find with such a map): ![david.jpg](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1629561033089-CZQB17A9YQW4YT9YZQOC/david.jpg) [I’d love to see yours](https://www.cjchilvers.com/contact). ### Book Review: Four Thousand Weeks URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/book-review-four-thousand-weeks/ Last updated: 2022-04-11T15:36:00.000Z ![four thousand weeks.jpg](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/04/four-thousand-weeks.jpg) [Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals](https://amzn.to/3CZ1xxR?ref=cjchilvers.com) by Oliver Burkeman I have to admit, this is the time management book I probably would have written myself. Is there’s anything better for your time and project management than having someone else write your book for you? Thank you, Mr. Burkeman. Four thousand weeks is about the lifespan of an average human. So, right from the title, you know this is going to be a high-level, introspective assault on how you think about time. That’s why it works if you’re ready for it. I don’t think most are ready for it. Looking at these ideas from higher levels means confronting a lot about how broken your brain is. It means realizing how small you are. It caught me at the right time in my life, which is the most I can ask of a book. This quote I pulled is a nice summary of what you can expect: > “The average human lifespan is absurdly, terrifyingly, insultingly short. But that isn’t a reason for unremitting despair, or for a living in an anxiety-fueled panic about making the most of your limited time. It’s a cause for relief. You get to give up on something that was always impossible — the quest to become the optimized, infinitely capable, emotionally invincible, fully independent person you’re officially supposed to be. Then, you get to roll up your sleeves and start work on what’s gloriously possible instead.” The title instantly brought to mind the [Life Poster](https://store.waitbutwhy.com/products/life-calendar-24in-x-36in?ref=cjchilvers.com) that was all the rage several years ago (and has been copied to death since): ![Life Calendar.jpg](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/04/Life-Calendar.jpg) But I never understood why someone would want that reminder on their wall every day of their lives, much less fill in each square as the weeks pass. Oliver has the reason: > “Why treat 4,000 weeks as a very small number (because it’s so tiny compared with infinity), rather than treating it as a huge number (because it’s so many more weeks than if you’d never been born)? It’s incomprehensibly miraculous to have been granted any time at all.” There it is. Gratitude cures productivity. Part of the book focuses on that kind of time management, and part of it focuses on accepting your imperfections within the time you have. You’re imperfect and not OK. And that’s OK. I’m glad there’s a manual for these ideas now. I’m glad I didn’t have to write it. ### Take Note URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/take-note/ Last updated: 2021-08-18T19:31:52.000Z I love this time of year, because as new OSs and devices debut, people who never think about their processes look at what’s new and reconsider how they do…everything. This is where I live year-round. (I’m an overly-analytical person with ADHD, which means I’m extremely detailed about things I can’t possibly remember. I’m the perfect customer for complex notes apps.) This year, the buzz is all about notes apps, probably because of the new features in the Notes app in iPadOS, which introduces the possibility of linking your notes bi-directionly to information inside and outside of your OS (which is mind-bending). The most recent breakthroughs in notes apps have involved deep-linking to the content within “everything buckets.” However, this usually comes at a cost — you have to do more work. Of course, that cost presents an opportunity for the creation and consumption of courses on how use these apps. In fact, if you want the most out of a new notes app, you may have to research how to even get started. It’s the opposite of how notes apps were marketed 15+ years ago, when it was all about automation. Evernote had more web automations a decade ago than any of the most popular notes apps today, which is a little weird. These updates to Apple Notes (and Reminders as well) bring back the idea of useful connections happening without requiring a human in the middle. The connections are simple for now, but seem limitless for the future. No courses needed. Take notes in Notes. Remind yourself of things in Reminders. Schedule in Calendar. The defaults should be the default, and they should do one thing well. Connect them in the overall system — inter vs. intra connection. From [Ben Brooks in May 2021](https://brooksreview.net/2021/05/member-journal-53121/?ref=cjchilvers.com) (before the new features): > ”Don’t Fight Apple and I really mean that. If Apple is trying to force a specific way or method for doing something, then go with it, not against it. You’ll have a better overall experience even if you think it makes things harder/stupider at first. Embrace what Apple wants you to do and the way they want you to do it, but then enhance those ways with your own tricks.” From [Ben Brooks in June 2021](https://brooksreview.net/2021/06/member-journal-61421/?ref=cjchilvers.com) (after the announcements): > “Quick Note is fucking good. Kudos. (Also, remember when I encouraged you to use Notes and to stop fighting Apple when they are really pushing on a tool — yeah, well, there you go.)” DailyTekk took a deeper look at the new [Notes](https://youtube.com/watch?feature=share&v=wV7ccCa0jGI&ref=cjchilvers.com) and [Reminders](https://youtube.com/watch?feature=share&v=qwM8TlR8fk0&ref=cjchilvers.com), which is worth a look if you want an idea of why this is a big deal. Don’t worry if you if you’ve already committed to a more complex system, though. Complex systems will only get more popular and well-supported due to this. Why? Simpler note taking requires an admission that you don’t/can’t control your entire process, and no one else has your specific brain, much less your specific work style. From [Linus](https://thesephist.com/posts/browser/?ref=cjchilvers.com): > “No single app can be my second brain. There are going to be parts of my life that are inherently spread out across apps that aren’t pure information-storage tools. For example, there’s a humongous amount of knowledge sitting in my email inbox and my blog, and there are some things I only remember because I tweeted about it once, or recorded in a quick journal entry. There are ideas saved in text messages and contacts. ‘Notes apps,’ it turns out, are not the only places where knowledge lives. And a true ‘second brain,’ or whatever you want to call it, needs to recognize that and let you wield its magic over all of your digital footprint, not just the bits you tell it.” From John Vorhees in [Club MacStories](https://club.macstories.net/?ref=cjchilvers.com): > “It took me a long time and thousands of notes to realize that I could delete most of my notes tomorrow with minimal consequences. I never did because they’re text files and keeping a folder of small files tucked away somewhere where they can be searched feels like a small burden, but I’m not so sure anymore...Another issue with elaborate note-taking systems is that they often focus on notes and systems at the expense of ideas. Most of my notes have a short shelf life, so I treat them that way, as disposable bits that should be deleted more often than saved. I know that’s a radical, almost heretical, view of note-taking in some quarters, but it makes browsing my notes more manageable and search results more relevant which I like.” Letting go of these complex systems is also a theme behind the new book [Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals](https://amzn.to/3CZ1xxR?ref=cjchilvers.com), which the world is currently falling in love with (for good reason). I would not have guessed this year would go in this direction, but it’s welcomed. The hunt for perfect note taking app will certainly live on, but I hope it can get along without me for a while. ### Can Your Desk Help You Organize Your Thoughts? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/whiteboard-desk/ Last updated: 2021-07-19T13:30:00.000Z This is my new desk. I call my “ADHD desk,” as that was my internal justification for buying something so massive it made a 27” monitor look like an iPad on a stick. ![IMG_1983.jpeg](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1626638071393-K2QOYGODD37AJF5N7D3S/IMG_1983.jpeg) So, what’s the big deal? I can write directly on it! No more excuses for not jotting something down. It’s a 6-foot whiteboard on an adjustable standing-desk frame, sold by [Fully](https://www.fully.com/jarvis-whiteboard-standing-desk.html?ref=cjchilvers.com). It seems like a gimmick at first, but after reading several recommendations, I had to give it a try. ![file-694648FC-D04B-48BC-A746-F632166A4A11.jpeg](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1626627551359-VIQAO92XHKYV5L6OLB9W/file-694648FC-D04B-48BC-A746-F632166A4A11.jpeg) Over the past few weeks, it’s gotten a lot of use for note taking, especially during content strategy meetings — but I’m finding business uses are not the real “draw” for me. My son showed me that a little personal note or drawing can add quite a bit more joy to the work day than an outline from a meeting: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1626627739013-HQLVIK5NMRAW7QVKUL6L/file-5DD0135F-9D1F-4401-A72B-C3439F53FAA4.png) I haven’t customized it to my computer set up just yet, so I’m sure some designed-to-impress photos are still to come (please save me if I become *that guy*). Highly recommended. ### Mies van der Rohe Marketing URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/mies-van-der-rohe-marketing/ Last updated: 2022-11-13T22:24:12.000Z Have you heard about the latest “trend” in online marketing? It’s not really a trend — good publishers have been doing it all along. But with the [recent privacy changes](https://www.macstories.net/news/an-overview-of-the-new-privacy-controls-coming-to-apples-oses/?ref=cjchilvers.com) at Apple (and soon many others), online publishers have had to resort to some old-school methods of getting the word out. This includes groundbreaking tactics like: - Not being an asshole - Not spamming - Treating your readers like they know the difference between a sales pitch and an article - Getting to know your customers personally - Not trying to trick people into short-term sales - And so on… To be fair, there are some pretty interesting trends being addressed like why you should [de-personalize](https://neilpatel.com/blog/de-personalize-marketing/?ref=cjchilvers.com) some emails. The cool kids have been calling this new approach of treating each email, and page on your site, for what it really is, “authentic personalization.” I hate jargon, so I call it “Mies van der Rohe marketing.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/11/Ludwig_Mies_van_der_Rohe.jpg) It’s a tip of the cap to the modernists, who believed in “truth to materials.” If you build a steel and glass building, make it look like steel and glass. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/11/Chicago_Federal_Center.jpg) Don’t be the McMansion with foam columns. You’re not fooling anyone. ## What does this approach mean for marketers? - Realize your customers are part of a generation that has grown up being marketed to online. They know what you’re trying to do, so be real, not clever. - When marketing for products and services, create fewer, but more precise email and landing pages. - Be honest to the kind of email you’re sending. Don’t mix messages. Is this a marketing email? OK, get me in and out. Make it clear. Is this a newsletter? Give me content I care about. Is this a letter from the CEO? Make it look like a real email from a real human. - Get clear on one-to-one vs one-to-many messaging. - “Hey \[name\],” is not personalization. It’s transparent automation. - Segment if you can, but don’t count on tracking. It was never good for customers, and now it’s going to be the ruin of many campaigns (both good and bad). Email will get less engagement and cost more to send for smaller businesses. You must remember this is not your customer’s or reader’s problem. Adapt. - Email Service Providers will not have your best interests in mind. All you need to do is look at the history of fraud in advertising data to see where this is all heading. You may lose engagement, but ESPs are beginning to lose their business models. - Realize none of this stops with the latest changes. It will progress. While we can’t know how, we can certainly see which way the wind is blowing. Many publishers and ESPs were angry at Apple for their privacy changes, but consumers (and smart marketers) rejoiced. Consumers set the market. They don’t care about your business model. Adapt. - Start measuring the true cost of getting and keeping readers and customers. Long-term relationships are what it’s all about. None of this is new. There will always be marketers who play to the latest trends, change jobs every 2 years, and rack up small, short-term victories. There will also always be marketers who build long-term relationships and deliver what their customers and readers want, regardless of trends. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out which camp offers the more fulfilling, less-stressful experience — at least to a principled person. ### After, Not Once URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/after-not-once/ Last updated: 2021-06-28T14:05:42.000Z When I was a technical writer, one of the first things I learned was the difference between “once” and “after.” We were just creating manuals and procedures, but this one rule was profound and extended way beyond our day-to-day writing. The rule was: never use “once.” “Once” is an imprecise word. It implies you can perceive the present and know when it has arrived and passed. Imagine that. In one word, you’ve conveyed enlightenment itself. Use “after” instead. We never perceive anything until “after.” No step follows another until “after.” Life is always “after” until death. After death, it’s still “after,” but the perception of “after” disappears. There is never a “once.” ### The Importance of Your Calendar URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-importance-of-your-calendar/ Last updated: 2021-06-04T13:30:00.000Z A few great quotes from Merlin Mann from this week’s [Back to Work podcast](http://5by5.tv/b2w/533?ref=cjchilvers.com): > “A calendar is a map for your time. A calendar is the decisions you have made about your future. This is the glass that holds your temporal water.” > > “If you’re young and don’t need a calendar, enjoy it while you can. But as you become less young…you might want to start getting ready for a future where you’ll do better if you lose the conceit of thinking you will, can, and should remember everything. Because you’re not an alarm clock and you’re not a whiteboard. You’re just a big, pooping, meat machine and you’re going to need some help. ” I’m a sucker for this stuff. The more agency you have over your work and life, the more this all makes sense. But gaining agency is the key. ### Experiments Check-In 2 URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/experiments-check-in-2/ Last updated: 2021-06-02T14:18:53.000Z I have a few updates since [my last 2021 experiments update](https://www.cjchilvers.com/experiments-check-in/). I do these mostly for myself, but I figure they may help others on similar journeys. ### The Good - Readership and follows are still going up across all platforms, but especially [the newsletter](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe). - Engagement is way up. - I’ve gotten way more experience behind the scenes that I hope to bring to the site in the next 6 months. - I wrote a massive amount for others, and I’ll be re-purposing some of it for the public soon. ### The Bad - My mom passed away, leaving so much to be done. In these situations, business is never a priority. I’ve let a lot of things go for a while. - Daily writing is actually up for others, but writing in public for my own stuff is way down. - I’m really not loving my newsletter service. When a service is built for e-commerce and newsletters, chances are the newsletter part is an afterthought. - Books sales have dropped since winter. ### What’s Next 1. Build a better personal newslettering process. 2. Switch to a better newsletter service. 3. Try a new newsletter I’ve been sitting on for a while. 4. Turn my [Twitter](https://twitter.com/cjchilvers?ref=cjchilvers.com) feed into something more useful to others, rather than just a time sync for my reading (this may turn some people off, but it’s an experiment I’ve wanted to try for a long time). ### A Good Philosophy for Personal Publishing URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/a-good-philosophy-for-personal-publishing/ Last updated: 2021-06-01T12:53:00.000Z From [Om Malik](https://om.co/2021/05/31/some-changes-2/?ref=cjchilvers.com): > “I have often lamented that the ‘why’ of blogging got overtaken by the ‘what’ and the ‘how,’ with the tools and format becoming the primary focus. Ironically I made the same mistake with my newsletter. I don’t work for a publication, so I don’t have a deadline. I no longer have anything to sell. In short, I write, because I am…my reward for writing and sharing is your time and attention.” I love everything about this philosophy. It’s perfect for personal (if not business) publishing. The line after it, however: > “If I find that you have not read the last dozen emails sent to your inbox, I will assume you are not keen on what I have to say. You will automatically be unsubscribed. I am not interested in building the biggest community — only one that is thoughtful and engaged.” A few years ago, it may have been that easy and automated. Now, the data that does exist for opens is untrustworthy, and its collection is almost impossible to excuse. Yes, it has traditionally cost the publisher (myself included) lots of money (not to mention deliverability issues) if this unsubscribe automation isn’t being used. But that’s not the reader’s problem, that’s our problem. The only happy compromise I’ve seen for email has come from membership-related or paid newsletters, where it’s in the reader’s interest to keep their subscription status up-to-date. Sending free email is tough these days. Perhaps this is the reason [Google is dipping its toes in RSS again](https://techcrunch.com/2021/05/19/undead-again-google-brings-back-rss/?ref=cjchilvers.com)? ### Daily Lunch Notes Update URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/daily-lunch-notes-3/ Last updated: 2021-05-17T18:13:50.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1621275439017-MDD2O7LS078ORP2LQJ2U/public.jpeg) This may be the last two weeks of my punny, daily [lunch](https://www.cjchilvers.com/my-most-important-daily-writing-assignment/) [notes](https://www.cjchilvers.com/daily-lunch-notes/) to my son. He says the other kids at lunch enjoy them more than he does now. After a few years, the joke is starting get old. But it was such a fun, creative exercise, I’m trying to figure out how to take it up a notch for next year. Remember, [quantity leads to quality](https://austinkleon.com/2020/12/10/quantity-leads-to-quality-the-origin-of-a-parable/?ref=cjchilvers.com) (in creativity, fitness, time with family…even silly lunch notes). ### The Problem with Newsletter Advice URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/modern-newsletter-advice/ Last updated: 2021-05-05T13:45:00.000Z I started following a bunch of new newsletter publishers recently to see what advice they were giving out to young people. I don’t disagree with the things they say, but I usually disagree with the context. Personal newsletters should have no rules. They are where you find your audience, voice, topics, cadence, products, etc. Your business or “project” newsletters have universal rules going back decades. This is what is often confused in modern newsletter advice. Business advice is passed off as personal advice. This leads to burn out and lots of dead personal newsletters (and blogs, YouTube channels, etc.). When I started in newsletter publishing (no joke: in the 1980s at 12-years old), there were no email newsletters. They were done on paper. Yet, there were 7-figure newsletters. To publish one, you had to deliver on that value. Nothing has changed, but the means of delivery. The good advice for business (and life) is boring and readily available. - Deliver value. - Save money automatically. - Diversify. - Strive for more agency in work and life. - Be kind. - Be generous. - Put family first. - Without your health, nothing else can happen. - And so on… Young advice givers will lean on shortcuts that only work for <1%, then share those rare success stories over and over. It’s perceived value, which is only real enough to make short-term money from clickbait. It’s far healthier to take your readers on your journey with a beginner’s mind. This is less lucrative at first, but builds trust, and it’s where you’re going to end up anyway if you’re any good. At some point, we all realize how little we know about anything. I’ve been making newsletters now for 34 years. I still don’t know how to make a great personal newsletter, other than to just share what I find interesting. I can boost the revenue from your business newsletter 20% overnight, but that’s an entirely different (and much easier) context. I wish the advice givers would share a little bit more of that context, so new publishers won’t be so easily scared off by a list of rules that never really applied. We’re living in a time when it’s never been easier to publish anything, anywhere. Let people play with this stuff in their own weird ways. That’s when the really cool stuff happens. ### Generosity Comes from People URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/generosity-comes-from-people/ Last updated: 2021-05-04T15:54:45.000Z Fom [Josh Spector](https://twitter.com/jspector/status/1386759740772999176?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=cjchilvers.com): > “No one wants a newsletter from a company, but lots of people would like a newsletter from a smart person who works for that company.” This is where everything is going, especially as data from email gets less and less reliable. If you’re reading this, this is where you’ve probably already gone (maybe many years ago). But, large organizations will find this a difficult transition. If you trust your hiring process, and pay your employees what they’re worth, you won’t have an issue attaching their faces and voices to your email communications. I really doubt the leaders of most large organization have that kind of trust, or even visibility to these employees, though. This is a massive opportunity for smaller companies to swoop in with specialized products attached to real people, establishing real relationships, and creating life-long customers. Publishing is being disrupted under the radar right now, product by product. ### Algorithm vs. Audience URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/algorithm-vs-audience/ Last updated: 2021-05-03T13:56:07.000Z From [Rene Ritchie](https://twitter.com/reneritchie/status/1387781270344699905?ref=cjchilvers.com) (who recently went from employee to independent publisher): > “Replace ‘algorithm’ with ‘audience’ and it’s 900x better for your mental health. From powerless to empowered. You’re the one at bat, picking the swings. You won’t connect every time. Weather can suck. Other players can/will swing better. But you’re the one picking the swings.” ### My Holy Grail Pen and Paper URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/my-holy-grail-pen-and-paper/ Last updated: 2022-05-16T14:44:46.000Z Writers spend way too much time and money seeking out their “grail” pen and paper combo — the tools that will make their work so much “smoother.” It’s a pattern we’ve seen repeated in all creative pursuits. I did that for a while, many years ago, but it faded as I started concentrating more on shipping creative output over everything else. While I was on vacation last month, I realized that I had been using the same cheap paper and pen combo for years without complaint. I had found my grail, without knowing it and without breaking the bank. If you focus on creative process and output, the equipment will usually figure itself out. ![My trusty sharpie pen (discontinued but findable) and Field Notes notebook.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/04/pen-and-paper.jpg) My trusty sharpie pen (discontinued but findable) and [Field Notes notebook](https://fieldnotesbrand.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### A Punch in the Gut URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/a-punch-in-the-gut/ Last updated: 2021-04-15T14:07:34.000Z Life has a funny way of reinforcing lessons you’ve already learned with a punch in the gut. This may be a function of middle age. I spent the last few weeks comforting my mom as she slowly passed away from cancer. We had a few long talks towards the end, and she even cracked a few jokes. She was a science teacher who fully understood the situation — sometimes better the professionals around her. I don’t think either of us learned anything we didn’t already know. We were just there for each other, which was exactly what she needed. She could have lived a few more weeks in a hospital, but chose to live a few more days and see her grandchildren one more time in her own home. They performed a talent show for her, and she was able to tell each one of them how special and loved they were. That’s a decision we’d probably all choose — no new lessons, just a punch in the gut. *P.S. I wrote the above the day my mom died, almost a week ago, not knowing that her wake would be quadruple the size any of us thought. The impact of a good teacher on a community turned out to be the lesson.* ![public.jpeg](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1618495534495-K5VKZ80V27MKFAMK735E/public.jpeg) ### Put relationships first. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/put-relationships-first/ Last updated: 2023-05-20T18:48:08.000Z This has been the conclusion I’ve reached at middle age as well — about marketing, publishing, business, parenting, everything. We’re hardwired for this. That’s why it’s so prominent in my [personal publishing principles](https://www.cjchilvers.com/personal-publishing-principles/). From Cal Newport via [Lex Fridman](https://youtu.be/ciGHq8RgQQw?ref=cjchilvers.com): > “If I was going to give advice to young people...If they haven’t already, bad things are going to happen that you can’t control. So, what’s the plan?...How do you live life when life is hard in ways that are unfair and unpredictable? Relationships is the buffer for all of that...It’s all we’re wired to do. It’s like ALL of our brain is for this...It’s at the core of human thriving. I worry that social media is reducing strong relationships. Strong relationships, where you’re sacrificing non-trivial time, attention, resources, whatever — on behalf of other people — that’s the net that’s going to allow you to get through anything. THEN, what do you want to do with the surplus that remains?” ### Ghost Resurrects, Haunts Substack URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/ghost-vs-substack/ Last updated: 2021-03-23T14:46:31.000Z Ghost has doubled its revenue this year, by focusing on reader/creator experience. From founder [John O'Nolan](https://www.indiehackers.com/post/whats-new-nonprofit-blogging-platform-ghost-hits-3-3m-arr-48787565ad?ref=cjchilvers.com): > “Nobody needs to know what Ghost is. I want people to know the creators that we power, instead.” This is what platforms like Substack don’t understand. I love the Ghost approach. It was a pain when I tried to move there last year, but with their [newest version](https://ghost.org/features/?ref=cjchilvers.com), it might be worth a second look. ### For the Best Ideas, Go Without URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/go-without/ Last updated: 2021-03-22T16:57:33.000Z I just returned from a walk on the beach, jumping in the water, searching for shells with my son. I had nothing on me that couldn’t be underwater in the ocean — pretty much just the clothes on my back. That’s when all the ideas hit me. - The best photos because I had no camera - The best essays because I had no notebook - The best Tweets because I had no phone This is how it always has been, of course. Ideas flow when we go without. Nowadays, we’re just rarely without. ### How does it make you feel? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/how-does-it-make-you-feel/ Last updated: 2021-03-17T13:37:54.000Z Carlo from [The DO Lecture series](https://thedolectures.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com): > “It’s not how it looks, it’s how it makes you feel.” Even though he’s talking about work spaces here, I think this is a sentence we could use to describe anything we create and market — or just anything in life. ### Trust Without Metrics URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/trust-without-metrics/ Last updated: 2021-03-15T13:40:12.000Z From [Maneetpaul Singh](https://world.hey.com/maneetpaul/why-metrics-are-hurting-creators-6a209d83?ref=cjchilvers.com): > “Our inboxes are a sacred place. As someone who’s purchased several digital products before, I buy from people I trust. Being thrown into an automated sales sequence is the last thing that builds trust.“ The problem is that it works. Only for now, and only for short-term sales, but it still works. As long as that’s true, short-term thinkers (which is just about everyone who needs to keep an eye on quarterly numbers to keep their jobs) will stick with the status quo. > “Email marketing in the creator economy has become toxic.” This is the bigger point for me lately. Concentrating on metrics is bad both ways — for the customer/reader and the creator. I don’t like the word “toxic,” as it’s often overused and misused, but I agree if it means that concentrating on the short-term payoffs will burn you out. Some creators are OK with burn out, if it leads to a decent retirement plan, but I don’t think anyone reading this wants to be shallow, burned-out creator…or person. Invest for the long term in everything. It’s old, obvious, and rarely-taken advice. ### MIQ vs MIT URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/miq-vs-mit/ Last updated: 2021-03-14T20:16:18.000Z We often hear about how we should write down our Most Important Task (MIT) for the coming day — usually the night before. Setting aside agency, which may have a lot to say about your MIT, I’ve found it way more powerful to have a Most Important Question (MIQ) for the day. Example: MIT: “Complete \[task\] by \[time\].” MIQ: “What’s the best way to get to \[the outcome\].” “The outcome” could be anything from a product to a specific dollar amount, or even a feeling (the more honest questions tackle mental outcomes, but let’s not get too heavy at the start). A good question can resolve dozens of MITs in seconds. Give it a try. ### Public Speaking Tip: Get Angry URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/public-speaking-tip-get-angry/ Last updated: 2021-03-12T15:49:19.000Z *I know many of you are aware of these videos, but I need to post them for my own archives. They are NSFW at all.* One of the most brilliant ways to win over a crowd, and your own fears of public speaking, is to get angry. Anger can often be a disguise for enthusiasm about something very positive. I know that sounds counter-intuitive, these example videos illustrate that point, which I need to remember if I’m ever speaking to a hostile audience. Example 1 comes from the early 90s, when Def Comedy Jam was the hottest show on HBO. Each comedian was given about 10 minutes to perform their best material for a hyper-critical crowd. The show was so big, the audience’s reaction could make or break a career in just a few minutes. One night, the audience was in a particularly hostile mood, booing a comic off the stage. An up-and-coming comic from Chicago was waiting to go on next and he got angry. He had worked too hard for too long to get here, and he wasn’t about to let this audience dictate where his career was going. The comic was Bernie Mac, and [he came out swinging](https://youtu.be/7JkPx0gk6LE?ref=cjchilvers.com) in one of the most legendary performances in stand-up history. Example 2 comes from the mid-2000s, at an outdoor area in Philadelphia. Hours into a comedy festival, featuring some of the biggest comedians at the time, the crowd had descended into alcohol-fueled chaos. Some comic were heckled off the stage. Tracy Morgan ended his set early and fled. Bill Burr was up next. He was a few jokes into his set, when the first boos started. He stopped his rehearsed act, and [launched into a tirade](https://youtu.be/3jMhoGUiIkk?ref=cjchilvers.com) against the crowd and, in his words, “attacked everything they loved.” He refused to leave the stage until his allotted time was up. By the end of that time, he had won over the crowd with the creativity of his ad-libbed insults. Audience recordings leaked to YouTube and solidified another comic legend. I don’t know who else needed to see these video again, but I occasionally need to be reminded that enthusiasm (in all its forms) is an incredibly effective sales tool. ### Do subject lines matter anymore? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/do-subject-lines-matter-anymore/ Last updated: 2021-03-11T19:38:56.000Z Yes, but as not much as you’d think from all the advice out there. I see way too many marketers fretting over subject lines that make a 1-2% difference in open rates, when they miss the bigger, more obvious part of an email that can make a 50%+ (these are real-world numbers I see, by the way). I’ve written about this before, but with every wave of email apps and email service updates, it becomes more true. Focus on the From line. Companies who spam (or bacon) customers, dilute the trust and authority of their From line everyday. They rely on the tiny 2% jump in opens they get from a better subject line. It’s all they have left to work with. Meanwhile, that same company can send out a direct email from a sales rep or the CEO and get a 50% spike. Why? Because it must be more important or valuable or timely. It’s from a real person. If all this seems obvious to you, it should. But it doesn’t stop the dilution. The answer, as always, is re-establishing relationships with the customer, providing value, and being decent. All of those things will get you long-term, die-hard customers. But in a climate where each quarter’s numbers are the CEO’s scorecard for their next job, long-term focus isn’t often a thing. Thus, we live with spam and bacon, for as long as they bring short-term gains. The good news for everyone: those short-term gains decrease every year. ### My ADHD Wearable URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/my-adhd-wearable/ Last updated: 2021-03-09T16:07:54.000Z That’s how I refer to my Apple Watch. I only take it off once a day to charge for about 30 minutes. The rest of the time it keeps me on track with my schedule, reminders, and messages (from VIPs only — minimal interruptions). It alerts me if my security system detects something odd. It let me know if it’s about to rain. It taps me if I take a wrong turn while walking somewhere unfamiliar. I dictate new reminders, copy ideas, and workout timers. All of this removes me from the day-to-day management of systems and devices as much as possible. That’s what slows me down and pulls me into my ADHD spirals. Don’t make me think. I’m doing. Help me do. People who oppose the Apple Watch often make the mistake of comparing it to a “real watch.” It may have started life as a watch (thus, the name), but that is the least of what it does today. It’s a WINO (watch in name only). It’s an assistant. That’s all. Just like Alexa or Google, but everywhere you go. In fact, I’ve given it a British accent and refer to him as Jeeves, because…why not? I don’t think there’s another piece of hardware that’s done more to support (rather than thwart) my attempts to step away from traditional, distraction-filled tech. ### You Need 2 Things URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/you-need-2-things/ Last updated: 2021-03-08T18:02:22.000Z Whenever I write copy for a marketing campaign or new product, I ask for two things: 1. Who is the audience? 2. What is the goal of this piece? It’s rare to get a straight answer for both — even from billion-dollar companies (*especially from billion-dollar companies*). Both are required for success, because both define success. ### How to Get the 3 Things You Want Most URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/how-to-get-the-3-things-you-want-most/ Last updated: 2021-03-06T14:06:19.000Z > “There is a wonderful, almost mystical, law of nature that says three of the things we want most — happiness, freedom, and peace of mind — are always attained when we give them to others. Give it away to get it back.” — Basketball Coach John Wooden in [Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court](https://amzn.to/2PtUokX?ref=cjchilvers.com) via [James Clear](https://jamesclear.com/3-2-1/march-4-2021?ref=cjchilvers.com) ### Perfectly Designed Imperfection URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/perfectly-designed-imperfection/ Last updated: 2021-03-05T15:53:28.000Z This is the most exciting guitar deign I’ve seen in a while. ![2966035555_gtr_frt_01_rr.jpg](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1614959791264-J5CTMHXLHQ4FXHRJAA5I/2966035555_gtr_frt_01_rr.jpg) The design is not optimized for hanging on a wall. It’s (very intentionally) optimized in every way for picking up, plugging into anything and sounding great, playing reliably without constant care and maintenance, throwing anywhere (on a stand, couch, floor, etc.), and delivering on the two most important sounds in rock and blues with those pickups. Even volume knob is moved out of the way and acts as a pickup switch when you slap it (it’s also labeled “tone” in a tip of the cap to Eddie Van Halen’s volume knob). Guitar snobs immediately recognize the type of finish and wood used is top notch. The fret finish is something you’d expect on a guitar twice the price. It’s an unassuming beast in the guise of a pawn shop relic. Everyone has different constraints when it comes to creativity. When I write, I fuss over format and strategy, when I should be writing. So, I write now in apps that don’t allow for fussing over things that don’t matter. When it comes to guitar, I fuss over maintenance and tone, when I should be practicing. So, although this guitar may not look pretty to some, it’s intentionally designed for players like me, who need fewer excuses to plug and play. I can see the designer of this instrument had a need for the same constraints I do. Of course, it takes an bankable artist to demand this kind of guitar be made in the first place — no company these days would take such a risk on its own (which is a shame). This one was designed to the specs of Swedish artist [Henrik Danhage](https://www.charvel.com/gear/series/artist/henrik-danhage-limited-edition-signature-pro-mod-so-cal-style-1/2966035555?ref=cjchilvers.com) and is only available in limited numbers. Bravo, Charvel! ### Seth Godin on Why You Should Start a Podcast URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/seth-godin-on-why-you-should-start-a-podcast/ Last updated: 2021-03-04T19:35:10.000Z It’s the same reason you should start a blog, newsletter, or any public, creative outlet for yourself. Here’s Seth (from his [podcast](https://overcast.fm/+L0YWOn%5Fr4/24:52?ref=cjchilvers.com), of course): > “The middlemen have not yet come along that make it financially feasible for the typical person to have a podcast. That’s not why you should do it. You shouldn’t do it because you want to sell ads, because you won’t. You should do it because the craft of talking to that smallest viable audience will enrich your life and may help other areas of your business life go forward.” Or as [Pat Flynn](https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/podcasts/starting-a-podcast/?ref=cjchilvers.com) once put it: > “If you were to create a podcast — and you only have 200 people listening, for example — imagine a room full of 200 people, that you’re standing in front of, and they’ve come there to see you and listen you and listen to your message. And this happens every single week. That really puts that 200 people in perspective." A decade ago, speaking in front of hundreds of people every week would have been considered impressive, for the skills involved alone. It was the stuff of “B” celebrities. Now, anyone can do it. But there are relatively few *active* podcasts out there. We hear about podcasts in the millions, but only a small fraction of those are still being published regularly. Why aren’t more people taking advantage of the opportunity? It’s not going to be this way forever. ### Audience First Vs. Product First URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/audience-first-vs-product-first/ Last updated: 2021-03-03T14:53:36.000Z Every year (maybe six months lately), creators post about why you should create a products, then build an audience for the product; or build an audience first and create products based on their needs. It’s a false choice. Reject this premise. You need both. Both need constant attention. Both lead to business and personal goals. There are two problems to solve for creators starting out: 1. No one cares about your products/services yet. 2. No one knows who you are yet. Working on one leads to gains in the other, but working on both creates a positive feedback loop. ### My Personal Publishing Principles for 2021 URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/my-personal-publishing-principles-for-2021/ Last updated: 2021-03-02T15:23:40.000Z It’s a semi-annual tradition around here to summarize all the knowledge I gather, and link to, in simple, general statements that can be applied across all the topics covered. This year is a little different. I’ve started giving these summaries their own pages to be continually updated. I also started breaking the statements down into project areas, starting with personal publishing. Personal publishing is very different from professional publishing, with goals more aligned to building relationships and processes, not necessarily profit. I have many more principles to post, but since this site is all about the benefits of personal publishing, this one had to be first: [Personal Publishing Principles](https://www.cjchilvers.com/personal-publishing-principles). ### Experiments Check In URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/experiments-check-in/ Last updated: 2021-03-01T15:24:41.000Z A few of you wrote to me to ask about how my year of experiments is going. To refresh everyone, for 2021, I changed personal websites, started blogging daily again, changed book publishing models, moved to a new newsletter host, and tried to fix an old guitar with my son for fun. It’s been a month or so. How’s it going? **The Good** - Subscribers are up. - Site visits are up. - I re-established some old relationships. - I made some new friends. - My hosting fees went way down. - Updates to projects are being applied much faster. - Daily posting hasn’t been an issue. - I received two new podcast guest invites (accepted, but not scheduled). I’m looking to jump back in to podcasting this year in a big way. - Getting back into playing the guitar and restoring one with my son was a joy. **The Bad** - My processes are all messed up due to the moves, and the newsletter suffers most as a result. - Design is far from where I want it to be. - We mangled the old guitar. - The newsletter is not as readable, due to the new host, and I really want to move to Buttondown before the next issue. After all, this is an experiment, and the newsletter needs to be nimble. This is the first time I’ve ever had complaints about the readability of an email. That’s just not acceptable. **The Inconclusive** - Book sales have not changed. However, I really haven’t hyped my new strategy yet. - New products are in flux. I have a few “guides” in the hopper that could be finished in a weekend or two. But, this pandemic has made my schedule…not my own. I’m dealing with madness at work and home, and a sick parent. Family, obviously, comes first. That means new products can’t be created as quickly as hoped. - Follows are flat on social, but I haven’t started going after that yet. I have a plan. That’s coming, but the newsletter must come first. Onward! ### Get Your Ass Kicked URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/get-your-ass-kicked/ Last updated: 2021-02-28T20:20:57.000Z From [Brené Brown](https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/9855106-if-you-are-not-in-the-arena-getting-your-ass?ref=cjchilvers.com) via [Weekly Thing](https://weekly.thingelstad.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com): > “If you are not in the arena getting your ass kicked on occasion, I am not interested in or open to your feedback. There are a million cheap seats in the world today filled with people who will never be brave with their own lives, but will spend every ounce of energy they have hurling advice and judgement at those of us trying to dare greatly.” ### 22nd Birthday Makeover URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/fender-strat-restore-1999/ Last updated: 2022-05-16T14:45:00.000Z Yesterday afternoon (February 26, 2021), I began preparing my Fender Strat for a makeover/restoration project with my son. I never knew when the guitar was actually built, so when I finally opened her up, this is what I saw. ![public.jpeg](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1614439848986-MSSLKX7Z541E1ZECR0D6/public.jpeg) That’s a little spooky. It’s stamped February 26, 1999. This was the guitar’s 22nd birthday! I tweeted out the photo and the first like I got was from the friend who was with me when I bought it (and probably didn’t even remember). Something whacky is happening here. Let’s just hope this survives today’s surgery. ### 2 Dutch Sayings You’ll Use Every Day URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/2-dutch-sayings-youll-use-every-day/ Last updated: 2021-02-26T15:31:27.000Z I learned these from Adam Curry, inventor of podcasting and former MTV VJ. I use them almost daily (as mantras in my head when dealing with difficult projects and people). **“Wat je zegt ben jezelf, met je kop door de helft.”** Loosely translated, it means: What you say about others is who you really are. **“Mierenneuken”** Literally translated as: “ant fucking.” This should be a common term in productivity. Nitpicking things that don’t matter, especially within projects that should not exist, is a daily frustration. ### Reading Is An Action URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/reading-is-an-action/ Last updated: 2021-02-25T15:36:11.000Z And it takes time. So, why do treat our reading (of RSS, social media, email, books, etc.) in the same way we treat non-active parts of our life? An aside: I’ve given up giving lifehack-y, productivity tips. As lucrative as they have been for some, I’ve aged out of the whole thing. Yes, that’s possible. With age and experience, I’ve come to realize that everyone’s brain is very different — much more so than I expected — and everyone’s agency is different. The most logical methods and apps for productivity rarely match the make up of an individual’s brain or agency. This would take an entire book to flesh out, which isn’t going to happen here. Since I’ve started treating reading as an action, I’ve stopped using read later apps. I’ve started saving articles and newsletters as tasks in projects. I’ve started blocking time for reading. I’ve stopped reading “just in case.” I now read “just in time.” I won’t get into the technical details of how, because that will differ for everyone. This is just one little switch I flipped last year at some point and it’s really worked so far. Once you realize you’ve built a project of reading 20 articles on a topic over the course of a week/month, you realize: 1. I really like this topic. 2. I spend too much or not enough time reading about this topic. 3. Is there something I can build related to this topic (a book, post, video) that could help others? 4. Does this research belong in a greater project to improve an area of my life? Did I just realize, through this re-structuring, that an area of my life is in need of improvement? There’s no real hack here. It’s just being honest about the amount of information coming into your life, observing how you process information, and being mindful about how it’s being used. The same strategy could be used for video, email, podcasts…anything you regularly consume that takes up time. Don’t spend much time on processing or organizing it, though, because those are actions as well (actions that tend to take value rather than give). It would be better to automate 99% of this process and just glance at the results. The technical parts of all this do not matter as much as the overall realization, which is enough for all of our brains to handle for now. ### Practice Avoids Perfect URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/practice-avoids-perfect/ Last updated: 2021-02-24T15:09:40.000Z I love this from [Tim Stoddart](https://www.timothygrant.co/?ref=cjchilvers.com): > “Hate to break it to you, but the people who read my morning blog read my worst work. > > Which is actually the point. > > This is my warm up. This is my set of jumping jacks before I do burpees. This is my slow jog around the track before I do sprints. > > Creative work is like anything else. Your body and your mind need a few reps to warm up and get lose. > > This is why I wrote every morning. I need a warm up round before I step into the ring.“ Yep. Same. It’s all about *what* you’re practicing. I try for something different in journaling, for example. If you reflect in private everyday, you’re practicing something else. Here, Tim is practicing creating in public, not his grammar, editing, or punctuation. In journaling, I practice asking the right questions, setting expectations properly, and expressing gratitude (the secret weapon behind all productive reflection). In business, you practice what builds relationships with the reader/customer. The trouble creators run into is when the try to combine those goals in a single practice. That leads to confusion and burn out. Keep the personal personal. Keep a laser focus on your audience’s needs in business. Keep practicing. ### Hey, World! It’s About Time! URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/hey-world-its-about-time/ Last updated: 2021-02-23T14:25:26.000Z I’ve spent months trying to duct tape together what the team at Basecamp just unveiled: [Hey, World](https://world.hey.com/jason/hey-world-b02a6f2e?ref=cjchilvers.com). In short, they’ve taken their email service, [Hey](https://hey.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com), and turned it into a privacy-friendly, old-school publishing platform. I love it. Just about everyone else in marketing-related businesses will hate it. I bet we see everyone from Salesforce reps to random dudes selling email marketing courses publish posts against this, because it makes sense and it breaks their business model. Their business model was already broken. It just needed a kick in the pants from the right company. Enter [Hey](https://hey.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com). What the people who dislike this kind of open platform don’t understand is that publishing online is all about relationships. Short term sales, opens, and clicks are meaningless compared to long-time customers and readers. We’ve all heard about [1000 true fans](https://kk.org/thetechnium/1000-true-fans/?ref=cjchilvers.com). But I argue [you only need 1](https://www.cjchilvers.com/all-you-need-is-1/). Building strong relationships through publishing leads to opportunities you can’t imagine right now (for you and for your reader). You get to that place by doing what’s best for your reader — building trust over time by providing value in any way they are willing to receive it. You adapt. It shouldn’t be on them to adapt. If you work for a large company, you know that’s not really possible right now. The tools provided are usually focused on what’s best for the publisher, not the reader. Whatever flips that model on its head will win. I think Hey World is a winner. I just wish they had invented it last year and saved me a lot of time and money! ### Ask. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/ask/ Last updated: 2022-04-11T15:28:32.000Z You have to ask. It’s humbling. It’s takes guts. But if you need help, you need to ask. If you want customers, you have to ask. The problem is that some businesses ask too much and don’t provide enough value. The heart of content marketing (and just being a decent member of the community) is in the value you provide long before and after you ask for anything. Today, The Chicago Tribune published an article about [a local bakery that asked for help](https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-palatine-bakery-community-paczki-lines-20210222-25wxcwqzo5ccfhvh524j2fghey-story.html?ref=cjchilvers.com), Spunky Dunkers. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/04/spunky-2-2.jpg) Spunky Dunkers is where I used to take my son when he was 5 or 6, every few weeks for a special treat — a seasonal donut. If it was autumn, for example, we’d share an apple cider or pumpkin spice donut, just the two of us, and talk about life. I’d bring dozens of their donuts into work to share with the marketing department. It may be the only reason they tolerated me in those days. The provided value to the community since 1987. The pandemic and a snowstorm on Paczki Day (one of the most important days in the bakery world) put them in a very bad situation, so they asked for help on social media. Lines formed around the block. Old employees came back to help bake. 10,000 donuts were sold in 3 days. > “We knew people liked us, but I had no idea — I had no idea how much people love us. It’s overwhelming. We feel so blessed.” I stopped by this morning and they were out of ingredients. They posted this note to thank the community. ![spunky 1.jpg](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/2022/04/spunky-1.jpg) You never know if you don’t ask. ### David Lee Roth Predicted the Future URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/david-lee-roth-prediction/ Last updated: 2021-02-21T21:29:10.000Z 30 years ago, David Lee Roth made a prediction in a music video about what he’d look like and be up to in 2021\. [How close did he come?](https://www.vhnd.com/2021/02/17/when-david-lee-roth-predicted-2021-in-1991s-a-lil-aint-enough-video/?ref=cjchilvers.com) I think he (accidentally?) predicted everything he could possibly do to offend people in the video, but missed the mark on himself by a mile. Also, I heard this song blasting a few weekends ago while at an intersection. What an odd, deep cut to hear in the wild?! I rolled down the window and it was coming from the Harley of gigantic biker dude. It was weird enough, I tweeted a quote from the song that seemed fitting for the times, “\[I\] was vaccinated with a phonograph needle.” ### Why Chaos May Reign in Newsletter Design URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/why-chaos-may-reign-in-newsletter-design/ Last updated: 2021-02-20T16:33:32.000Z My personal newsletter has no set design. It used to. Maybe it should again. But here’s why it probably won’t. [My metric for newsletter success](https://www.cjchilvers.com/how-to-measure-your-newsletters-success/) is the replies (relationship building). Some of [my metrics for *delight* in the newsletters I love](https://www.cjchilvers.com/what-should-your-personal-newsletter-include/) are: surprise, personality, and lack of formality. The only design I’ve found that keeps people reading to the end of any newsletter is **chaos**. If the reader doesn’t know what’s coming next, but keeps receiving value (in the form of links, photos, quotes, whatever), they tend to read the full newsletter. Chaotic design is what seems to get read. In my experience, it gets the most replies. So, it meets my definition as being the most successful. It makes sense too. A formal, well-scrubbed newsletter with a clear hierarchy, doesn’t seem personal. It doesn’t seem like you could reply and get an answer. It doesn’t seem like you could find something novel, like a really unique, sharable link. It seems corporate. Remember, you’re writing for one person, not an audience. Think of your newsletter as a **letter** to a singular reader offering something **new**. ### What should your personal newsletter include? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/what-should-your-personal-newsletter-include/ Last updated: 2021-02-19T19:43:26.000Z This is another common question I get about both blogs and newsletters, and it’s not easy to answer, because most newsletters must conform to their audience. Personal publishing is different. With personal newsletters, you should ask yourself, “What *delights* me about the personal newsletters I like?” Here’s a short list I came up with: - Surprises - Fun - Odd, interesting, and obscure links - Lack of formality - Hand-drawn and/or original images (no stock) Most of us are generalists. Your audience will tell you what they love and you can supply it in the form of products, services, or other newsletters. But your personal newsletter is yours. It’s where you find these things out. The most important thing is to keep it going. So, figure out what will make it fun enough to keep going. ### How to Measure Your Newsletter’s Success URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/how-to-measure-your-newsletters-success/ Last updated: 2021-02-18T19:38:43.000Z The best metric in email newsletters isn’t opens or clicks, but how many replies you received. The reply is the greatest advantage the small-timer has. It may also be the greatest fear of large organizations. Building relationships is what it’s all about, no matter what the medium. When you’re small, you can engage with your audience and pivot on a dime. When you’re large, you can’t even read the replies. Or, worse, those replies may make your job unsafe in the eyes of your superiors. So, large organizations often discourage replies with layers of bureaucracy. They publish newsletters to nameless, faceless audiences, who need to remain that way. **That is your advantage.** Since starting my daily posts up again, I’ve had messages from writers, publishers, and photographers I haven’t spoken to in years. This blog and [my newsletter](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe) are serendipity engines. You can’t measure that on a spreadsheet, but I’ve never encountered a better metric for success. ### RIP Email Again URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/rip-email-again/ Last updated: 2021-02-17T14:28:35.000Z Dan Oshinsky is back with his monthly look at email newsletters, [Not a Newsletter](https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1pySiYQ%5F5OMsj1U4r5XXLPru0NtiVg2FVaO5INBlNffk/mobilebasic?ref=cjchilvers.com), a terrific resource if you’re not already subscribed. This month, he writes about how he’s expecting another round of articles proclaiming the death of email. This is his second time around. I think I’ve experienced this 3 or 4 times now. The first was probably after the dot com bubble, which gave rise to a new wave of newsletters in 2000\. The second was the blockbuster acquisition of the Daily Candy newsletter (one of those newsletters started in 2000 and VC-funded by 2003) for $125 million in 2008\. Daily Candy was shuttered by Comcast in 2014 during another round of “the death of email.” Now, it’ll be the same story. Only the names have changed. Much like investing for the long term financially, investing in your audience with email will face dips from time to time. But, the dips are usually (always so far) followed by the greatest gains. In other words, hang in there. Email newsletters have been resurrected from death many times, and each time they come back stronger and more valuable. Also, subscribe to Dan’s [Not a Newsletter](http://signup.notanewsletter.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com). I was lucky enough to talk to Dan about all this a few months ago in a video chat and I think he has a lot in the works to be excited about. ### Have you ever met Eddie Van Halen? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/have-you-ever-met-eddie-van-halen/ Last updated: 2021-02-16T14:51:15.000Z I get this question about once a week, because I wrote [this book](https://www.cjchilvers.com/the-van-halen-encyclopedia), so this will be the link I send everyone to in the future. Short answer: Yes. Long answer: Yeah, kind of. Once. Here’s the photo. ![I’m the one Alex Van Halen is leaning on. We were all so fashionable! Kneeling is the king nerd of all Van Halen data, Ron Higgins — also known to Van Halen podcast fans as “Midwest Fucking Ron.”](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1613487524392-HBSKACFPZJGX74EN9YRS/van-halen-meet-and-greet.jpg) *I’m the one Alex Van Halen is leaning on. We were all so fashionable! Kneeling is the king nerd of all Van Halen data, Ron Higgins — also known to Van Halen podcast fans as “Midwest Fucking Ron.”* There’s a few things I remember about this picture: 1. If you were born the day this photo was taken, you’re old enough to drink in the US. That’s insanity. 2. I skipped my college graduation ceremony to be there. Mail me the diploma. Sorry, commencement speaker, Tracy Chapman. There’s a very different kind of music on my mind, and I don’t have a *fast* enough *car* to hear both of you. 3. Gary is tiny. He was the first person I met and it felt like how I would imagine meeting Tom Cruise. This guy can perform incredible feats on stage, but is so unassuming in person. 4. The camera was a Van Halen-branded, striped disposable 35mm camera with really grainy film for low light. I never got an original to scan and the camera went to someone else. I only have this digital copy. 5. The passes were given out to members of the Van Halen Mailing List (VHML). Remember mailing lists? Anyway, it was coordinated by Brad Starks. The band was extremely generous with the passes. 6. I wasn’t allowed to shake Eddie’s hand. “If you shake Eddie’s hand, 200 people will want to shake his hand, and there won’t be a concert.” This was the typical speech given backstage by Scotty Ross at every show. 7. Alex is the only one who spoke to me and it was just to say, “Hey! What’s up?” 8. I never had contact with the band after this. I only got messages from insiders, lawyers, and management (usually filtered through third parties). Sometimes, I just want to start a podcast to have the many conversations I always meant to have with everyone I write about (not just Van Halen). I need to correct this, since none of us are getting younger! ### Experiment 2: New Newsletter URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/experiment-2-new-newsletter/ Last updated: 2021-02-15T16:56:15.000Z Two days, two new experiments. I moved [my newsletter](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe) over to my personal site at Squarespace and away from Mailchimp. Yesterday, I sent out my first new issue, which was as easy as posting a new blog post and clicking one more button to send it out to all my email readers. The added bonus to this approach: I will finally have a newsletter archive, with RSS, all under the roof of my personal site. The reading experience for this issue was…not great. Honestly, I can do better, and so can Squarespace. I will tinker with the settings and see what can be improved. I’m tempted more and more every day by [Buttondown](https://buttondown.email/?ref=cjchilvers.com), which has the best reading experience, but isn’t as integrated or easy-to-use. I’ve already had some great responses and comments on the new direction, so I’ll keep sharing the changes in the hopes this helps others with their personal publishing projects. ### Experiment 1: Sivers Style URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/experiment-1-sivers-style/ Last updated: 2021-02-14T14:21:00.000Z The reason I moved my personal site was to start some experiments — to see what I liked to publish and what my readers liked too. The first experiment was to implement the same idea Derek Sivers had last year with his books. I think it’s genius. The idea he had was: work in public, post each chapter of your book in plain old HTML, and add links to where it can be found for sale (including multi-format bundles he sells directly). His idea was [a huge success](https://sive.rs/250k?ref=cjchilvers.com): - More people read his books than expected. - More people bought his books than expected. In fact, the physical books sold out before they were publicly announced. - It circumvented all the middlemen and rights issues one encounters with Amazon. - It thwarts the countless websites that scrape content from ebooks to make money from ad views, while scoring SEO points off the author’s book and name. - He now has direct contact with readers and keeps much more profits per book sold — which he gave to charity. - Readers can now link directly to chapters in blogs and social media to agree or disagree, adding to the conversation. The goal I’ve always had with my writing is a direct connection with readers. This seems like the direction all independent authors need to go if they to keep that connection, own their work, and be found in searches for their work. Each chapter of [A Lesser Photographer](https://www.cjchilvers.com/a-lesser-photographer) now its own page on this site. Although it’s only available for sale on [Amazon](https://amzn.to/2OBO3SJ?ref=cjchilvers.com) right now, I am working on making a bundle of formats for sale directly. I can’t wait to see if this makes the book a little more accessible. If it works, I’ll expand the experiment and offer new books. Thanks for the inspiration, [Derek](https://sive.rs/?ref=cjchilvers.com)! ### Default Apps for Productivity URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/default-apps-for-productivity/ Last updated: 2021-02-13T15:45:58.000Z What you choose as your default tools for your projects should employ the same amount of constraints as the tools you use for creativity: just enough to spur results and not enough to let stuff slip. Everyone’s brain is different. Everyone’s job is a little different. This is why all-in-one productivity systems fail. The biggest lies told in marketing and politics begin as a “comprehensive solution.” Whenever I hear this, I immediately know a giant load of bullshit is coming. [Ben Brooks](https://brooksreview.net/2021/02/reminders-app-is-all-i-need/?ref=cjchilvers.com) has been on a journey lately, away from complex apps for productivity, and toward the simplest default system apps: > *“I think all I need is a Reminder engine, I am pretty good at getting my tasks done once I am reminded of them.* > > *And here is the scoop: Things and OmniFocus make for shitty reminder tools. They aren’t built for it. They are built for workflows, for managing tasks, projects, and tackling complexity with complex and flexible tooling.* > > *I need a bucket not a warehouse with programmable robots.”* I quote Ben often, because I’m a subscriber and he defended me against very popular bloggers back when I was making the *controversial* argument that the cameras in your phones were good enough for most people. There’s a lot of good stuff in that article. [Go read it](https://brooksreview.net/2021/02/reminders-app-is-all-i-need/?ref=cjchilvers.com). You are not Ben, so you shouldn’t expect the same results, but here’s a few pros and cons you can learn from similar journeys I’ve taken lately with default apps: 1. Ben is usually right in the long-term, because he has the kind of agency most people want in the long term. That doesn’t mean you currently enjoy the same amount of agency he does. Don’t get caught in a comparison trap. 2. Agency is everything. Default system apps are very difficult to use if your boss can add to your calendar or project list at a whim and without warning. Even executives can have this issue. It’s not necessarily a matter of job title. 3. Default apps are usually enough, but you have to think like the people making decisions on the apps. This is a part of my “Lazy Billionaire” productivity strategy — how would a billionaire CEO look at this issue while expending the least amount of cognitive energy? In most cases, this clarifies. My default weather app doesn’t have a radar, because tornados and blizzards aren’t a thing in California. My default calendar is where all productivity happens (for everything I haven’t assigned out to my 10 admins). My notes app is for quick notes here and there; easy to search and add to, but not much else. My reminders app is for…reminding. That’s it. Trying to make those tools fit into the GTD, PARA, or Kanban world is where you get into trouble. 4. Default apps can fail. In fact, I’ve lost some data in default apps very recently. The change to iOS 14.4, for some reason, wiped out a few notes and reminders. They didn’t get sent to the trash. They just disappeared. I was only able to rescue the notes by finding a device that wasn’t on the network and moving the data to a different app. If I hadn’t known to catch it (because I saw notes shrinking on a work device out of the corner of my eye), it’s likely that backups would not have helped, since I may not have known what I was missing. This is why photo backups can be very tricky. Even text files fail and get corrupted sometimes — that really happened to me back in my Windows days and spurred my move over to Apple. 5. Reminders now offers you the option to backup in the form of PDFs and paper, so this is less of a problem there. However, built-up, completed reminders do weigh down the system in ways that don’t seem to happen on third-party apps. I now use a shortcut to clear out these dead reminders every three months. This makes the app noticeably more responsive. 6. We need to remember we won’t always be *typing* everything. Speaking to your devices will get more common every year. Default apps on all systems are built for this. Adapt to it now. You’ll thank me. This is why I use an Apple Watch, even though I hate the look. I dictate to it all the time — ideas, reminders, timers, etc. Reaching for a phone seems more and more primitive. Dotting your home and work environment with listening devices starts to makes less sense. I envy the writers who can dictate entire books already…some day. The lesson I’ve taken from all this? **Go as default as you can, but no further.** ### “You’re Wrong About…” URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/youre-wrong-about/ Last updated: 2021-02-12T15:30:00.000Z Is easy. Is often the first comment on any piece of content. Is often under-researched and over-confident. Is a lower form of content. Is a popular form of content. Is way less power than “I was wrong about...” ### Unexpected Design Playgrounds URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/unexpected-design-playgrounds/ Last updated: 2021-02-11T14:30:00.000Z After getting a few positive responses about my (lack) of design on this site, and how that ties in with my [partscaster](https://www.cjchilvers.com/25-years-of-creativity-for-200/) post, I thought I could add an aside about one of my favorite design playgrounds. In addition to apps, pens, websites and newsletters, one of my favorite design playgrounds (hotbeds of design choice and innovation) is guitars — lately, minimalist guitars because they’re harder to design. I love a classic guitar. When done right, there’s nothing like an original. But lately, I’ve been craving the simple, clear, do-one-thing-well guitars that offer the right balance of constraints to learn and grow as a player. The best minimalist guitars focus on fewer, and higher-quality parts, leaving a larger blank canvas for aesthetics like finishes and hardware options. Like most design playgrounds, 90% of the attempts fail. Only 1 or 2 models, of the hundreds released every year, even catch my eye. Historically, I think Eddie started the minimal craze in 1978 (many homebrew guitars came before, but they were very far from minimalist). ![public.jpeg](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1612999007191-679VYNY3IEHBP3IHQHOG/public.jpeg) He was copied for a decade by uninspired attempts. ![public.jpeg](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1612999106822-K4A1OD5I1YCLSDSVLK4G/public.jpeg) In the 90s, Tom DeLonge resurrected the Eddie design for a new generation and new genre. ![public.jpeg](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1612998787308-66MVJGECKFCTDAC11AZ4/public.jpeg) Lately? While most large guitar makers have embraced complexity in recent years — everything buckets — just a few shine in the minimalist category (Charvel and ESP most of all). This was the most handsome of 2020. ![public.jpeg](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1612998357985-4FTNW7P94ACJD5Q4NZXP/public.jpeg) And this is my pick for the current year. ![public.png](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1612998310801-X929MEJKHEQK4C6I5KYW/public.png) Purdy. ### Welcome to my kinda meh personal site. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/welcome-to-my-kinda-meh-personal-site/ Last updated: 2021-02-10T14:28:00.000Z This is my new personal site. It has significant changes under the hood, but you’d never know it from the drab design. That will change over time. The important thing is that I have 20+ years of content under one domain (some not visible yet), and a process to add to it daily. I tried this new site out on many platforms, and to simplify the 6-or-so months of trial and error, I’ll sum up the hosted CMSs I tried: ## Ghost (hosted) **Pros**: perfect for self-contained, single, paid publications and membership brands **Cons**: not great at much else yet, not great for freely distributed publications, and expensive ## Wordpress (multiple hosts) **Pros**: industry standard, lots of options to expand, lots of options for design **Cons**: can be expensive with a good host, and fiddly with a bad host, plus it’s increasingly complex for just posting something daily ## Microblog (hosted) **Pros**: I love almost everything about this. **Cons**: Not great at integrating with your decades of previous work (if you want that all in one place and under your control), not great at adapting individual pieces to the habits of your specific audience (and that’s not the focus anyway) ## Squarespace **Pros**: Version 7.1 has introduced an entirely new philosophy for experimenting with content and products — it’s virtually limitless and damn near effortless. I’ve been with them since version 4 (well over a decade ago), while also using about 10 other personal and enterprise CMSs in my writing. **Cons**: Transitioning to 7.1 from previous versions is notoriously difficult, expensive since it’s not fully supported yet, and the company seems hostile to writers at times. I can’t really blame them when you consider how much money can be made from a 5-page small business site (that doesn’t change over the course of years but may upsell into marketing and ecommerce services) versus a writer’s site (which for the same price could have 1000+ multimedia posts and may never need the upsells, just more and more storage for posts at the same unlimited fee). ## The Winner? I ended up on Squarespace 7.1, because my top priority right now is *experimentation*. I need create and fail more. On 7.1, it’s comically trivial to set up a podcast, landing page, newsletter, downloadable or physical product for sale…it’s endless. It takes minutes to try something new and see if it sticks with anyone. If I have 20+ years of content with only a few (publicly available) products to show for it, I’m probably doing something wrong. I wanted simpler, clearer ways to communicate through books, videos, audio, guides, directories, etc. Creating something daily in public is also big for me right now. I’ve journaled daily for 10 years, so it’s time to practice that a bit more in public. It’s a different muscle. Personal sites should be more about the practice of creating than selling the reader on an idea or product. It’s the place where the reader gets to tell the creator which ideas resonate, so that more focused sites, newsletters, podcasts, or books can form naturally with the support of the audience. And, yes, the site not very pretty right now, but there are a lot of great designers out there who could help where I struggle. It’s a lesser concern (but I must admit the Ghost version of this site was gorgeous right out of the box). It took a lot of time and money to get this site up and running on 7.1, but I’m hoping the payoff will show in the experiments I have queued up. If it doesn’t work, that’s fine too. The hosting element was an experiment as well, and you can’t correct course if you don’t set sail. ### 25 Years of Creativity for $200 URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/25-years-of-creativity-for-200/ Last updated: 2021-02-09T14:35:00.000Z This is the current state of my guitar collection (the 2 of 5-ish guitars that have survived the wear and tear of the past 30+ years). ![guitars](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1612802833756-Q3IBL6HPQ1AOPMQ1S6PY/guitars.jpeg) The one on the left was my daily workhorse until 2020\. I bought it in the 90s when my then-workhorse guitar (a blue mutant of a guitar made from many guitars) died and I needed a quick, cheap replacement (I had very little money). Guitar Center always had a pile of Mexican Fenders in the front of the store for $199\. I grabbed the one that felt best, even though I wasn’t crazy about the color, installed hot rails in the bridge so it could play metal, and off I went. It lasted 20+ years before the frets wore down to nothing and part of the nut flew off when I played a low E. It now faces the prospect of either: my shoddy attempts at repair, a total neck replacement, or archiving to be used in the future for parts. It’s probably going to be a Partscaster now — a Fender guitar with parts that mutate over time to fit your exact needs/wants. In my dreams (where I willingly spend 3X what the guitar was original worth) this Fender would get a 70s-style, maple neck with jumbo, stainless steel frets. Then, I’d probably go with the minimal, single-humbucker look for the body. After all, 95% of what I play is hard rock, so why deal with the hassle of the rest of the awful wiring inside a cheap Strat (the single coils sound terrible in this one)? Plus, I love the look of a well-designed single-humbucker guitar. The one on the right is my “formal” guitar, an Ibanez JS-700, I bought used sometime around 2002\. It sounds and looks perfect. It’s what I used whenever recording or playing in front of people. It’s stock, except for the P-100s, which replaced the way-too-noisy-for-home-recording P-90s. This guitar will make anyone sound ten times better than the really are. It’s that good. I learned songs on the workhorse to show off on the JS-700\. It’s the opposite, to my mind, of the Partscaster. It’s a guitar you mold yourself to, to take advantage of its incredible sound, whether or not it fits your style or hands perfectly. See any parallels here to creativity and what you’re into? From cameras to pens to apps, we face this decision all the time. It’s only when looking from decades on, you can see which actually got used most — what you got the most pleasure and “productivity” from. The harder truth is that the tools you use are never Partscaster enough. If there are no compromises, there are fewer constraints to drive creativity. I have to admit, $199 for 25 years of fun, learning, and creative output is pretty great no matter what I do next. ### “Real” cameras lost. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/real-cameras-lost/ Last updated: 2021-02-08T13:49:00.000Z When [A Lesser Photographer](https://www.cjchilvers.com/a-lesser-photographer) was released, I caught all kinds of heat from photographers who said, “Get a real camera.” I had the controversial opinion (at the time) that you could express yourself photographically with your phone and the many other “lesser” devices available. It’s not controversial anymore. If I have one update to make to that entire book, it’s the overall feeling that we were the underdog. Om Malik posted [this](https://om.co/2021/02/07/iphone-vs-camera-no-contest/?ref=cjchilvers.com) yesterday: ![om.jpg](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1612718191432-WPS0QJLLOHIBWEWH7BFR/om.jpg) > “There has been a spike in the number of new cameras released by camera companies in the recent past. While it might seem like a sign of strength, it is the exact opposite. It smacks of desperation. The game of outdoing each other with features and megapixels is all about attracting elusive consumer dollars.” The argument in my book was about constraints increasing creativity. The argument got a little lost in the photography industry debates, which I’m sure helped sell books, but ultimately missed the point. Now, “lesser” cameras are dominant. Will constraints need to be found elsewhere for some? Yes. As long as brains differ, constraints will differ. The important thing is finding out what’s best for your unique brain. But there’s no longer a reasonable argument against the camera in your phone being a “real” camera. ### Daily Lunch Notes URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/daily-lunch-notes/ Last updated: 2021-02-07T16:33:24.000Z I’m still doing [these](https://www.cjchilvers.com/my-most-important-daily-writing-assignment/). Daily creativity can be practiced in many forms. These days, I’m easier on myself — some are totally of the top of my head and others I’ve edited from overused puns. Hey, I’m a dad, a mental condition in which puns become the highest form of humor. ### Who decides? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/who-decides-what-you-write/ Last updated: 2021-02-05T18:10:15.000Z **Young me**: I’m only going to write about things that matter. **Older me**: You don’t get to decide what matters. The reader does. **Young me**: Then, how should I write? **Older me**: A lot. ### A Love Letter to the Link Post URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/a-love-letter-to-the-link-post/ Last updated: 2021-01-23T20:28:58.000Z I don’t know for sure, but I think my first blog started in 1996, two years after I built my first website. At that time, they weren’t even called blogs. You’d simply update the front page of your website every day with a few interesting links you discovered since the day before. Add a sentence or two about why the link was cool and voila! You were now a publisher within a new community you were helping to build. This was later called “link blogging” or “link posts” but to me it was just sharing cool stuff — the heart of web publishing, the generosity of a community expressed in a simple, clear form that was perfect for skimming. It was respectful of your time, both as a reader and a creator. The pickier you were (the more respectful you were), the better the links. You built trust and authority as the editor of your tiny corner of the web. It was a pretty great system. Occasionally, you’d have something significant to add to the conversation, so you’d post an essay or a new work you created. That got linked to by the community on their sites if it was any good. No one was getting burned out on producing too much content. So, why did blogging evolve into endless essays? Why did the humble link post die out on most sites? Why are people scared to share great links in simple ways on their sites? Why did the generalists with good taste mostly disappear to social media? Why did we lose the spirit of 1996? Most writers started writing to please the search engines (later just one search engine). To feed the beast, more “original” content was needed. The sharing moved to social media and got lost with the ephemera. Writers burned out producing longer and longer posts for ad pennies over trust and community. Massive publications took over the attention of the majority, turning the sharing of a cool link into a bloated summary of whatever they were keeping you from seeing just long enough to show more ads. This is now what your reader expects to see at every blog. The trust is lost. With so many experts urging writers to go all in on long-form content, selling courses on how to please Google and build your list, I know I’m not going to make a dent here. But I encourage you to join the many old school bloggers who write at their readers’ pleasure, not Google’s. You’ve always seen link posts in [my newsletter](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe/), but I’m going to start sharing them more here as well. Thank you to all the writers who never stopped link posting. You’ve kept your corner of web more interesting and generous. It’s appreciated! ### It’s Time to Get Personal URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/its-time-to-get-personal/ Last updated: 2021-01-18T18:03:29.000Z The personal website seems to making a comeback. Why? When social networks fail, we return to the hub: the place you own, the place where you control the experience. It's where you're indexed for life, if you're lucky. It's where you're background checked by employers, neighbors, new friends, and new business partners. It's where you can share what you learn daily (and let automations spread the message to whatever social media platform hasn't ruined society lately). It's where you control the narrative (as much as that can be done at all). It's stable. It's a playground for your creativity. It's your place to be generous with what you learn and kind to those who care enough to learn with you. It's a place to build relationships with those who care. Those relationships will determine your future projects, experiences, and outlook. It's not the *only* place for these things, but it's *your* place for these things, and that makes all the difference. ### My Door Is Always Open URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/my-door-is-always-open/ Last updated: 2020-12-18T17:15:11.000Z Nat Geo put up [a great photo essay on rural post offices](https://api.nationalgeographic.com/distribution/public/amp/history/2020/10/rural-post-office?ref=cjchilvers.com). See those old P.O. boxes? When my post office modernized in (back in the 90s), they offered to sell us the old “doors” to our boxes. I made sure to secure mine. It sits on my bookshelf now, the original door to my business from 1994 — a reminder to always keep it open. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579237784-0QOEMVZ1NUBUCWURGKNA/image-asset.jpeg) ### Overthinking? Try this iOS Shortcut. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/ios-overthinking-shortcut/ Last updated: 2020-12-17T15:14:00.000Z As usual, I found myself overthinking this week about small details and not getting much done on the big stuff. It’s been happening too often lately, delaying my newsletter and book projects. But this week, I decided to do something about it. I built a kind of break-glass-in-case-of-emergency shortcut for whenever I’m stuck in a rut and overthinking. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579241314-WW28Z3OLXUSX2DSF83A1/image-asset.png) It’s nothing fancy. I’m sure future iOS updates will make this seem primitive. But it works. What happens when you press the “Overthinking?” icon? It opens this note. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579242494-3FD89RUZF270XITQXDH2/image-asset.jpeg) It’s come in very handy so far. I wonder how many personal behaviors/habits I could make icons for? The next one will probably condense all the quotes, photos and links I have on happiness. How nice would it be to open that shortcut every morning instead of some social media app? ### How to Journal Every Day for 10 Years URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/how-to-journal-every-day-for-10-years/ Last updated: 2020-12-14T13:01:00.000Z It’s simple, but difficult — as most good things are. On Christmas Day 2010, the first day of my honeymoon, I wrote my first journal entry, starting a streak of daily journaling that has lasted 10 years. A few months into my journaling, [Day One](https://dayoneapp.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) came along and became its home (I backfilled the entries from those few months). This is my first entry from the 10-year streak: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579245895-54ZKWOT4BK3AHPEDUZF8/image-asset.jpeg) It was what you’d expect from someone who just spent an entire day on a plane (and was told much better in my photos). It wasn’t meant to be poetic. It was meant to be the start of a habit. I thought if I could push myself to write every night for a month, I could keep journaling forever. So, whether it was one sentence, or five paragraphs, I wrote in that journal every night. There were no rules about content. There were no templates, no reminders, no prompts or notifications of any kind. The sole constraint — and balance of constraints means everything in writing — was to write something, *anything*, every day. Also, I pledged to myself that this journal will die someday with me. No one else will ever have access to it. I must be free to unload everything, be in the present, and let go of the notion of legacy. Sometimes, I would discover something profound about myself and star that entry. Most of the time, I just wrote enough about the day to unload my exhausted mind before drifting off to sleep. That’s it. Once the habit was established, 10 years went by like nothing. If you’d like to do the same, I’d recommend a few things: - Set realistic constraints, for your unique brain, to get the habit established. Then, only when you feel like it, go deep. - Use [Day One](https://dayoneapp.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com). It’s built for this and pretty much any constraint you want to throw at your brain. - Get the [Day One course](https://thesweetsetup.com/dayone/?ref=cjchilvers.com) from The Sweet Setup. - If you’re not writing every day, try more constraints, not more technology. - Write for yourself. You wouldn’t meditate for the entertainment of others, and this is no different. - Lower your expectations. Journaling can have massive benefits, but expecting them is a sure way break the habit. (This is also true of meditation, blogging, publishing, and creation in general.) - **Just write.** ### 9 Lessons on Landing Pages URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/9-lessons-on-landing-pages/ Last updated: 2020-12-06T16:33:29.000Z I just spent 3 months in meetings and writing sessions helping to create a landing page and content strategy for a new product that I can’t tell you about — you’re not in the product’s audience anyway, so it doesn’t matter. What I can tell you, now that the landing page and initial testing is done, is what I’ve learned (or re-learned): 1. **Always return to the basics** in every meeting. When there’s dozens of people from different areas of the business, who may be having great or terrible days, and may have skipped lunch, topics can veer into weird territories. Go back to the basics. **Who is the audience? What action do they need to take?** 2. **Focus on benefits.** This is a basic, but 90% of the landing pages I see are written by developers or executives, who don’t hire professional writers, and they tend to focus on features. Back to basics, again: **Who is the audience? What’s in it for them? How should they feel after using this product/service?** 3. **Think in 5 second intervals.** When someone arrives at your page, how do you capture their attention for that first 5 seconds and get them to take the desired action? Does your headline get attention? Does your subhead call out the most differentiating benefit? Is your CTA an easy, no-brainer action? If so, and it all worked — great! If it didn’t, how do you earn another 5 seconds? 90% of your time and energy should be spent on those first 5-10 seconds. If you’ve gotten beyond that, and they haven’t taken an action, they’re at least interested. If they have taken the action, they’re sticking around for reassurance in their action. So, after your most shocking benefits (and a repeated CTA), give them social proof, a story, and testimonials. The very bottom is where navigation, social links, and your logo should be — these could be used as lower-level forms of social proof, but usually just distract. 4. **Focus on one action.** This is a tough one. Everyone wants to throw more links and actions in front of the customer “just in case.” This only distracts the customer from the main action you want them to take. I lose this argument all the time, because it just feels wrong to designers to not include navigation at the top of a page. But, it does distract. You will lose customers/leads. 5. **Everything on the page is a trade off.** The more words, images and links you put in front of a customer, the more you are potentially driving away sales/leads. That’s OK, if you’re OK with losing sales to fulfill branding requirements, or if you’re trying to project a message that may lead to longer-term sales and/or an acquisition. However, this is rarely the case. People just want to throw more stuff on landing pages because “no one ever got fired for buying IBM.” It’s a safety thing. Your boss might get mad if you didn’t mention their pet favorite feature. Your boss probably won’t notice a customer or two bouncing because you mentioned that pet feature instead focusing on the one action needed. 6. **Every page on your site is a landing page.** No one arrives and travels through your website(s) like you hope they do. This isn’t 1997\. They come in from every direction and for reasons you can’t know right now. On this site, the most visited page is a throw-away blog post I did years ago on [why Seth Godin blogs every day](https://www.cjchilvers.com/seth-godin-explains-why-you-should-blog-daily/). Whether I like it or not, that post is now a landing page, so I’ve added a CTA to [subscribe](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe) — the action I (and the reader) will get the most value from. 7. **Please the customer,** then BERT. Since Google implemented BERT, I’ve heard countless theories of how to optimize your sites for organic search traffic. I really believe most are bunk. The more you read about BERT from trusted sources, the more you realize that it’s not for you, it’s for advertisers and voice search advantages over Amazon and Apple. The minute you think you pleased BERT, BERT will change on you. Right now, it loves FAQs at the bottom of landing pages, so it can answer questions easily in searches (especially voice searches). But it will change. Pleasing your audience first should never change. You can break any these lessons if it pleases your audience. 8. **Test.** You will be wrong about something on your landing page. You have no idea what that is now. So, test. Experiment. You won’t know what spaghetti will stick to the wall until you throw it. 9. **Be humble.** Testing will also reveal what stakeholders were wrong about. Go easy on them. It took me 20 years of marketing online to whip up a great landing page in a few hours. Your stakeholders may have spent just as long learning sales or finance. There will always be more landing pages to create and if you can win the stakeholders over, everyone can be happy and the business can thrive. When a stakeholder feels ignored or slighted, and pulls away, the project suffers from the loss of their insights. Diplomacy is crucial. If you were wondering where I’ve been hiding for the past few months — this is it. While I was arguing for these principles, [Rob Hope put out his book on landing pages](https://onepagelove.com/100-tips?ref=cjchilvers.com) and it helped keep me sane and grounded. I put a lot of personal projects on hold for this project, but I hope my schedule will be clearing for more time with my own audience, so watch this space and [subscribe](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe)! ### A Lesser Photographer Audiobook URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/audiobook-interviews/ Last updated: 2020-12-03T19:41:19.000Z I’m finally recording an audiobook for [A Lesser Photographer](https://www.cjchilvers.com/a-lesser-photographer)! But, let’s face it, it’s a small book. So, to beef it up a little, I’m planning interviews with creators who feel strongly about the ideas in the book. If you have a favorite chapter, or totally disagree with one of the essays, I’d love to hear from you. [Let’s talk](https://www.cjchilvers.com/contact). ### Write for a life. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/write-for-a-life/ Last updated: 2020-11-17T19:19:56.000Z My useful pinned reminder in Notes: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579253165-CM1KKE3W22YE9OLGJEER/image-asset.png) ### The Arguments Folder URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-arguments-folder/ Last updated: 2022-09-20T19:52:23.000Z My son was scrolling through my notes app recently and saw a folder with a skull and crossbones icon. He saw the fear in my eyes and asked me what was in this dark, scary folder. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579255183-9Y1SCOUAOX0P3YXO1UBJ/image-asset.jpeg) Are you an over-thinker like me? If you are, you know there are some topics that cause such rumination, that hours, days, or weeks can go by without relief from a nagging debate in your head. That’s what lurks in that folder. Which business model works best for X? Which app is best for Y? Which organization method is most future-proof for Z? I know if I engage in these debates, I will be trapped. I won’t act. Action, and lots of failure, solves over-thinking. If I ever need to know what I fear taking action on right now, it’s in the Arguments folder — dark and scary indeed. ### Things 3 Is Step Zero URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/things-step-zero/ Last updated: 2020-10-25T22:50:21.000Z I wrote an article for The Sweet Setup on [how to use Things 3 to start and manage writing projects](https://thesweetsetup.com/how-to-use-things-3-to-streamline-your-writing-process/?ref=cjchilvers.com) (among many other things). ### New newsletter: The king is dead. Long live Ed. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/new-newsletter-the-king-is-dead-long-live-ed/ Last updated: 2020-10-15T17:47:56.000Z This week’s newsletter is about what we could all learn from the life of Eddie Van Halen. You can check it out [here](https://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/the-king-is-dead-long-live-ed?ref=cjchilvers.com) (and subscribe [here](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe)). ### Let's Keep in Touch URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/lets-keep-in-touch/ Last updated: 2020-10-12T23:17:00.000Z I’m moving this blog to better home! I ***really*** recommend subscribing to [my newsletter](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe). Due to the weirdness of my RSS feed, I don’t know if this blog’s feed will survive the move. I’m doing what I can, but the pluses of the move far outway the minuses of staying where I am, so the move will happen. Please subscribe to [my newsletter](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe) and you’ll get anything I publish. Feel free to then unsubscribe if the move goes well, but let’s keep in touch! ### New newsletter: Why ask? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/new-newsletter-why-ask/ Last updated: 2020-09-27T22:30:25.000Z Consider “consider,” Ted Lasso on Sammy vs. Dave, and how to properly judge newsletters. It’s all in [my latest newsletter](https://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/why-ask?ref=cjchilvers.com). Subscribe [here](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe). ### Be a Lazy Billionaire URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/new-newsletter-be-a-lazy-billionaire/ Last updated: 2020-08-21T17:23:45.000Z I was inspired to start updating my oldest available book, [The Van Halen Encyclopedia](https://www.cjchilvers.com/the-van-halen-encyclopedia), by a few great ideas I’ve seen from others over the past month. I thought they might inspire you too. I began by updating the book in real time on Twitter. It’s an experiment while I’m learning my way around a new CMS, which will probably host a web version of the book in addition to my blog (and maybe even this newsletter). The Twitter part was inspired by Rob Hope’s Twitter feed of [100 days of landing page tips](https://robhope.com/100-tips?ref=cjchilvers.com) leading up to the release of his landing page ebook/course. Working stuff out in an ephemeral, public medium like Twitter really keeps you on your toes editorially, without the cognitive load of a more-permanent-feeling blog post (blasphemy, I know, but what are your beliefs worth if you don’t question them from time to time?). The web book part came from the way Derek Sivers is marketing his [new](https://sive.rs/n?ref=cjchilvers.com) [books](https://sive.rs/m?ref=cjchilvers.com). He posts them, in their entirety in both text and audio, to his stripped-down, personal website. He also offers the books for sale in a packaged download that includes all format. He'll throw in a print version for an extra $4. This puts everything out there for free (the best way to build an audience), while offering true fans multiple options to own. Why would anyone buy something that’s available for free? This can’t be working, right? In the first month, he earned $250,000 — which he gave to charity. This is part of what I refer to as the “lazy billionaire” strategy. No, Derek isn’t a billionaire, but this is a behavior I’ve noticed in wealthy people in general, and I thought it was a memorable name at the time. For some reason, billionaires (and lowly multi-millionaires) still like writing, podcasting, speaking, and publishing. I don’t fully understand why. What I do know is that they don’t want to waste time with publishing strategies, launches, or funnels. The money is an afterthought. That’s exactly why they win. They create something no ordinary creator would, because they have different constraints. It makes me wonder why so many creators, who aren’t professional bloggers or podcasters, play by the constraints of professionals. Be a lazy billionaire. Do something different. Be constrained by the knowledge and experience you hope to gain. Give as much away as possible. Make it stupid easy to consume. Then, do it again. ### New newsletter: Giant Books and Paid Newsletters URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/new-newsletter-giant-books-and-paid-newsletters/ Last updated: 2020-08-01T17:37:48.000Z Products over newsletters, Ghost over your CMS, and manifestos over notes — it’s all [the latest newsletter](https://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/issue-257-giant-books-and-paid-newsletters?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### New Newsletter: Issue #256: Remembering Fun and Rest URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/new-newsletter-issue-256-remembering-fun-and-rest/ Last updated: 2020-07-14T15:24:19.000Z Office gravestones, a book that isn’t for morons, and your first mistake as a writer — it’s all in [the latest newsletter](https://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/issue-256-remembering-fun-and-rest?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### New Newsletter: Quick Father's Day Issue URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/new-newsletter-quick-fathers-day-issue/ Last updated: 2020-06-21T15:15:06.000Z Payback is fun. The tropical storm killed my grill. Never go full Telecaster. It’s all in the latest, special edition of the newsletter [here](https://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/issue-255-quick-fathers-day-issue?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### New newsletter: Issue #253: Begun the newsletter wars have URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/new-newsletter-issue-253-begun-the-newsletter-wars-have/ Last updated: 2020-05-26T14:07:50.000Z [Why you don’t have to take part](https://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/issue-253-begun-the-newsletter-wars-have?ref=cjchilvers.com). Subscribe [here](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe). ### The best business advice he ever got... URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-best-business-advice-he-ever-got/ Last updated: 2020-05-21T15:59:23.000Z Josh Morgan Brown, CEO of Ritholtz Wealth Management, on [the best business advice he’s ever received](https://overcast.fm/+XutQNSKaM/19:38?ref=cjchilvers.com): > “Make yourself useful. Go up the most successful person you can find and say, ‘What is the 20% of your job that you hate the most? What is the 10% of your job that’s total shit and you wake up hating it and you go to sleep hating it? Let me do it for you.’ If you do that, you will gain a mentor and you will get a foothold into a situation where you have become indispensable to somebody.” ### A Lesser Photographer Gets a New Cover URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/a-lesser-photographer-cover/ Last updated: 2020-05-13T14:58:27.000Z I loved the work [Daniel Benneworth-Gray](http://danielgray.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) did on the [A Lesser Photographer](https://amzn.to/2Z1kGxB?ref=cjchilvers.com) eBook cover, so I asked him to make a version of it for the print book, and now both versions have the same awesome cover design. ![The new front cover of the print version.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579277832-XV4AX1Z57JEDJTF6M7P9/image-asset.png) The new front cover of the print version. ![The new print cover design with spine and back.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579279075-NBVUC6S2G0CROL7PYVZY/image-asset.png) The new print cover design with spine and back. Daniel was the first to come up with the idea of incorporating a “lesser than” symbol, and I was “that guy” (who most other designers would hate) because I drew in a Field Notes notebook what I thought would look good and emailed it to him: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579280216-WM5QZEW1BFWBTRB249JY/image-asset.jpeg) He took my terrible drawing and turned it into something really great. I highly recommend hiring him for your next cover. Also, be sure to check out his newsletter, [Meanwhile](http://danielgray.com/meanwhile?ref=cjchilvers.com), for wonderfully obscure (my favorite thing in a newsletter) design and art links. ### How to Get to #1 on Amazon (Or at Least How I Did It Twice) URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/how-to-get-to-1-on-amazon/ Last updated: 2020-05-11T15:22:34.000Z The second edition of [A Lesser Photographer](https://amzn.to/2WL9brx?ref=cjchilvers.com), my book on minimalism for photographers, went to #1 in the pro photography genre sometime this month. I wasn’t expecting it, so I wanted to figure out why it happened. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579283199-2UF13D8V4V0TCQPE92FN/image-asset.png) It’s my second time at #1 in a genre, but that means nothing. The first time was for my book on [Van Halen](https://www.cjchilvers.com/the-van-halen-encyclopedia), which topped the music book genre for a while. That was about 20 years ago, when Amazon was a very different place and getting to #1 just meant people really liked your book. After a pleasant period at the top (maybe a few weeks or months), a lot of underhanded stuff started going on from a competing author in the genre, who posted at least one fake review that got upvoted repeatedly. My book went from the top spot to barely selling a few copies a week. I couldn’t get help from anyone at Amazon for years. I swore I’d never sell a book through them again and published some B-to-B books from my website for next several years. A lot has changed since then. Amazon now controls most of the market, and most of the potential audience for my books, whether I like it or not. I decided a few months ago to find out what would happen if I put away my grudges and played by their rules. After paying to have *A Lesser Photographer* re-edited and re-designed, I re-wrote the book description away from the gear-focused minimalism (popular in the past) to creativity-focused minimalism (much truer to the book’s purpose). Then, I plunked down money for an Amazon ad and refined the message of the ad until I felt good about it. I didn’t slave over any of it, so it could probably use a consultant’s touch, but this was just an experiment in my mind. It took a while before the ad caught on, but the book finally started making more than the ad cost. So, I reinvested any profits back into the ad. I figured that’s what would make Amazon’s algos really happy. That’s when the ad caught fire. Throughout March and April, sales of the book skyrocketed. I’m talking at least 10X. Maybe it was the quarantine, or the ad copy, or the longevity of the campaign, or the increased spending, but it was probably the combination of all of the above. So, is the lesson “pay to play?” Pretty much. It’s the same lesson if you want to get to the New York Times bestseller list, which is all about who you know and guarded insider knowledge. To me, that’s shadier than Amazon’s scheme, which is simple: give us more money and we’ll let more people discover your book. I’m still waiting for the other shoe to drop, given my history with them, but so far this seems to be working. And THANK YOU for reading the book and leaving your reviews. That’s really all I care about. Even at #1, books don’t really make any money. It’s all about getting it in front of more readers and not losing your shirt in the process. But you can bet I’ll keep making them as long as someone cares enough to read. ### Review: Ted Templeman: A Platinum Producer’s Life in Music URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/ted-templeman/ Last updated: 2020-05-11T15:01:42.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579285227-0J4Y2ZCWO8Y5CH4NTKJS/image-asset.jpeg) [Ted Templeman: A Platinum Producer’s Life in Music](https://amzn.to/2Lfskwu?ref=cjchilvers.com) by Greg Renoff is the rare, all-encompassing autobiography that never drags. Ted explains what it was like to work with Van Halen, Aerosmith, and The Doobie Brothers, and how he helped shape their songs and albums. Ted made Van Halen happen and helped create the best six-album run in hard rock history. Ted had the power, the purse strings, and production expertise to take Van Halen to the mainstream in a way no other person could have at the time (consider that Gene Simmons — at the height of his power — failed to pull off the same job a year before Ted). What I love most about the book is the candor. Ted was already wealthy, ambitious, and headstrong about music by the time he decided to take on Van Halen. In contrast to Van Halen’s former manager’s book last year (I’m sorry to keep picking on that book but would it killed them to have a fact checker?), Ted is clear on his motives, his occasional lapses in judgement, and his part in the some of the biggest debates in hard rock/heavy metal history. I believe his take on everything from the vocal coaching David Lee Roth in 1977 to the master tapes of *1984* being held hostage. He’s just telling his life’s story so that others don’t do it for him. I wish Eddie, Alex, Michael, and Wolfie would do the same. If you’re lucky, your life will boil down to a short narrative for a few decades before the world forgets you were even here. You should at least have a say in the narrative. Thank you Greg Renoff for pushing Ted to tell you his life story, and for creating a riveting book that made this quarantine more bearable. Thank you Ted for setting the record straight on so many debates and leading a life worth reading. ### Newsletter Issue #252: 14 Diversions URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/newsletter-issue-252-14-diversions/ Last updated: 2020-05-11T13:54:27.000Z Patton tells you to get weird, the worst solo ever, and the origin of the blurb — it’s all [the latest issue](https://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/issue-252-14-diversions?ref=cjchilvers.com) of my newsletter from this weekend. Sign up [here](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe) to get it before it’s posted on the blog! ### The Era of Perfection URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-era-of-perfection/ Last updated: 2020-04-14T00:03:39.000Z YouTuber/Record Producer Rick Beato [mourns the loss of imperfect music](https://youtu.be/L-8EbHkc8tc?ref=cjchilvers.com): It does seem that there’s a new generation of anxiety-filled, perfection-seekers topping the charts. But what’s topped the charts has rarely been what’s interesting to the devoted fans/evangelists of any art form. There’s plenty of creators [embracing imperfection and making real connections](https://www.cjchilvers.com/musicians-want-their-analog-tools-back/) with readers, listeners, and viewers. They’re worth seeking out. As always, dig deeper for the good stuff. ### New newsletter: Issue #250 "Creativity in Anxietyland" URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/new-newsletter-issue-250-creativity-in-anxietyland/ Last updated: 2020-04-06T12:30:19.000Z Podcast zombies, personal websites, and notebooks for bad ideas — it’s all in [the latest issue of the newsletter](https://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/issue-250-creativity-in-anxietyland?ref=cjchilvers.com). Subscribe [here](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe). ### "Suggestions for Staying Safe While Shopping" URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/suggestions-for-staying-safe-while-shopping/ Last updated: 2020-03-31T21:17:38.000Z Today, [Kottke.org](https://kottke.org/20/03/grocery-store-worker-offers-suggestions-for-staying-safe-while-shopping-during-the-pandemic?ref=cjchilvers.com) highlighted a grocery store worker’s video and her suggestions for safe shopping during a pandemic. On the list was (item #3) was, “Go to the bathroom at home.” Jason commented: > “Are people serious with #3?! Jesus. I know it can be difficult to think of something as simple and ubiquitous as grocery shopping as requiring forethought, but these are not normal times. Make a plan and stick to it.” I love Kottke. He started blogging at the same time I did and he’s been a daily read ever since (we’re talking the 90s). And I did see a line at the bathroom this week when I went to Trader Joe’s, so this is not a small concern for the shopper or the workers. Big BUT(t) coming… That line at the store had my mind spinning for a lot of reasons. For about 20% of the population (who have [IBS](https://www.webmd.com/ibs/what-is-ibs?ref=cjchilvers.com) to some degree), using a public bathroom isn’t a choice. If you want to eat, or feed your family, you have go out and shop (unless you got lucky with delivery times being available in your area) and you take your chances with how your IBS is going to react. 20% is not a small number. You don’t hear about it more, because it’s embarrassing to talk about. For many, the primary trigger of IBS is anxiety. Simply put, anxiety makes you have to poop, usually at the worst time possible. Your brain controls it, and your brain also knows when you’re at your most vulnerable. What makes anxiety worse? Being stuck in a line that you can’t get out of. Being stuck in a pandemic that you can’t get out of. Being stuck in any way. A lot of us writers fall into this category of anxiety-induced IBS. I’m not sure why that is, but I’m guessing it has something to do with a brain that’s a little bit more sensitive or empathetic. It tends to make us good at inner exploration. It tends to make us really good at things like copywriting. That’s the good stuff. The bad stuff is that it also makes you have to run to a bathroom when you don’t want to. I have [a whole lot of ways of dealing with it](https://www.cjchilvers.com/30-practical-tactics-to-decrease-your-anxiety-intro/), but I see others out there who don’t deal with it as well, and shaming them doesn’t help (it does the opposite). I’m not saying that’s what Jason is doing, I’m just saying let’s all cut each other some slack. This is a once-in-a-century, horrific event and everyone was already coping with something when times were “great.” I generally never judge anyone in public bathroom situations anyway. That’s wartime decision making. No one wants to be in there, no matter what brought you there. Keep reading Jason. He’s doing a great job keeping up with the science on this. I don’t want to downplay that. And thank every grocery store worker you encounter. They’re on the front lines, and helping to keep us all fed at great personal risk. They should paid way more for what they’re doing now. If you are an IBS sufferer, there are support groups, [organizations](https://www.theibsnetwork.org/?ref=cjchilvers.com), and I’m even drafting [a new newsletter](http://eepurl.com/gYjwun?ref=cjchilvers.com) (separate from my personal newsletter) devoted to helping you plan how to deal with all this. Plus, you can always just [contact me](https://www.cjchilvers.com/contact/) if you need someone to talk to about it. ### New newsletter: Issue #249 “Hunkered” URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/hunkered/ Last updated: 2020-03-22T08:21:00.000Z Photography in a quarantine, the spy pixel debate heats up, and the world needs more editors — it’s all in the [latest issue](https://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/issue-249-hunkered?ref=cjchilvers.com) of my newsletter. Sign up [here](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe). Thanks! ### Further Reading on Newsletters URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/further-reading-on-newsletters/ Last updated: 2020-02-29T14:25:00.000Z This is the last post in my [month of daily blogging on email newsletters](https://www.cjchilvers.com/daily-posts-newsletters/), so I thought I'd sign off with a recap of the most interesting links to keep you inspired. ## Articles On Newsletters - [How to start your own good newsletter](https://chimpessentials.com/how-to-start-your-own-newsletter/?ref=cjchilvers.com) - [On Being a Good Newsletterer](https://craigmod.com/essays/on%5Fwriting%5Fgood%5Fnewsletters/?ref=cjchilvers.com) - [Oh God, It's Raining Newsletters](https://craigmod.com/essays/newsletters/?ref=cjchilvers.com) - [How I put my weekly newsletter together](https://austinkleon.com/2018/06/05/how-i-put-a-newsletter-together/?ref=cjchilvers.com) - [The Blissfully Slow World of Internet Newsletters](https://www.wired.com/2016/05/rise-of-the-newsletter/?ref=cjchilvers.com) - [Don’t Call it a Newsletter: Tips from Tobias van Schneider](https://medium.com/mailchimp-for-agencies/dont-call-it-a-newsletter-tips-from-tobias-van-schneider-afcef8a799d7?ref=cjchilvers.com) - [Email newsletters might save journalism — here’s why](https://medium.com/@jason/email-newsletters-might-save-journalism-heres-why-5074ff364c20?ref=cjchilvers.com) - [Newsletters Are Immortal](https://medium.com/@davepell/newsletters-are-immortal-9887b1a5dc6a?ref=cjchilvers.com) - [How to create a premium newsletter (+ successful case studies)](https://ghost.org/blog/how-to-create-a-newsletter/?ref=cjchilvers.com) ## Newsletter Services (I've tried) - [MailChimp](https://mailchimp.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) - [Buttondown](https://buttondown.email/?ref=cjchilvers.com) - [Substack](https://substack.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) - [TinyLetter](https://tinyletter.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) - [Squarespace](https://www.squarespace.com/email-marketing?ref=cjchilvers.com) (yes, they have an email service too) ## Continuing Education - [ChimpEssentials](https://chimpessentials.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) - [DoOpen](https://thedobook.co/products/do-open-how-a-simple-email-newsletter-can-transform-your-business-and-it-can?ref=cjchilvers.com) - [Newsletter Ninja](https://newsletterninja.net/?ref=cjchilvers.com) - [Contact me](https://www.cjchilvers.com/contact/): I'd be happy to help you. And don’t forget to [sign up for my updates](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe). Thanks! *Check out the rest of this month’s posts on* [*creating email newsletters*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/daily-posts-newsletters/)*.* ### Examples of Newsletters Doing It Right URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/examples-of-newsletters-doing-it-right/ Last updated: 2020-02-28T14:35:48.000Z I keep a folder of well-designed newsletter examples going back years. Here’s some of my most contemporary favorites. Here’s a great sign-up form from [James Clear](https://jamesclear.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com): ![The copy on this is form (located above the mast for entire site) so well-considered. It’s not “Subscribe,” it’s “I’m in!” The email address field is pre-populated with “Your best email.” And the call to action is clear in setting expectations for r…](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579299425-8GQAGERZM2I2QRTNBQF2/image-asset.jpeg) The copy on this is form (located above the mast for entire site) so well-considered. It’s not “Subscribe,” it’s “I’m in!” The email address field is pre-populated with “Your best email.” And the call to action is clear in setting expectations for reader. I love this opt-in form. This welcome page from Brian Clark’s [Further](https://further.net/?ref=cjchilvers.com) is a masterclass in copywriting for an audience that might actually read a welcome page: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579300579-BOXD2ILS2S7KB15RLAGO/image-asset.jpeg) [John Saddington](https://john.do/?ref=cjchilvers.com) prides himself on his daily writing and vlogging, and the intro to each issue of his newsletter reminds you: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579301635-8EC95QVGL1Q8TMD4I38C/image-asset.jpeg) Here’s a great subscribe page from [The Lazy NBA](https://thelazynba.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com). The copywriting here is top notch: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579302709-X2KLLEXOSQGJBPI1TD4J/image-asset.jpeg) There are so many more examples, and this is a topic I’d like to return to often. So, please [send me](https://www.cjchilvers.com/contact) your own examples and I’ll feature them here. *Check out the rest of this month’s posts on* [*creating email newsletters*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/daily-posts-newsletters/)*.* ### The Future of Privacy in Newsletters URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-future-of-privacy-in-newsletters/ Last updated: 2020-02-27T14:18:57.000Z There's been more momentum towards email privacy in the last month than in the last decade. It's such a strange coincidence that it's all happening while I'm taking a month to blog daily on newsletters. I had prepared all kinds of posts on techniques that newsletters employ to help with deliverability (both getting the email to the reader and making sure that the email lands in their inbox, not spam or promotions folder). But it's becoming clearer to me that this wasn't such a huge problem until Gmail became dominant and that should be the primary focus. There's always been methods to ensure your email gets delivered on any system, but it's Gmail's algorithm that's changed the game. They're deciding (and changing their minds regularly about) what you are allowed to read. So, the first, and most important, deliverability technique for newsletters isn't about deliverability to every inbox. It's about mitigating Gmail's harmful algorithm. The Markup posted [an article](https://themarkup.org/google-the-giant/2020/02/26/wheres-my-email?ref=cjchilvers.com) yesterday about how Gmail is deciding which political candidates' emails you will see in your inbox, which will go to the "promotions" tab, and which will go to "spam." As an example, Pete Buttigieg had 63% of his emails get through to the inbox, Bernie Sanders had 2%, and Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren got 0%. When I saw that, my first thought was that Sanders, Biden, and Warren must’ve hired terrible email marketers to handle their campaigns. That could be true, since these campaigns often resort to buying lists and using tactics normally only employed by spammers, but it misses a bigger point. Do we want an algorithm deciding what we’re allowed to read, without our consent or knowledge about what that algorithm is basing its decisions on? Do we want the future of our nation to rely on the wisdom of that algorithm? The founders of Basecamp are betting you are going to say no. They released [a manifesto](https://hey.com/problems-with-email/?ref=cjchilvers.com) yesterday for a new email product they’re about to launch called Hey. It promises to bring privacy back to email and allow you to control the experience, not an algorithm. They have a great track record, and I really hope they can persuade the industry to change, like they did with their [original manifesto](https://37signals.com/manifesto?ref=cjchilvers.com) on web design back in 1999\. But, I fear that for now, the majority of the public will still opt for the spying and manipulation of a "free" product like Gmail. Look at Alexa, Ring, Instagram, and Google search to see how much the public cares about privacy right now. As long as that's still true, there's still mitigation we need to do around Gmail. If you publish a personal newsletter, pick a provider who will honor your readers' privacy and provide your readers with instructions on how to whitelist your newsletter on Gmail. Only a small percentage of readers will follow those instructions, but any little bit helps. I used to also throw in a plea to switch from Gmail occasionally, but that sounds preachy pretty quick (I quit Gmail years ago and somehow I survived). If you publish a newsletter for an organization, things are still complicated. Google is probably already pressuring you (as well as Facebook, Twitter, etc.) to pay to play. Even if you honor privacy and have great relationships with your readers, it may not be enough to get you to the inbox. Deliverability also depends on your provider's relationship with Google, so there's that to consider as well. Did they pay? Get yourself a good email marketer. If things aren't so great for readers right now privacy-wise, the choices for publishers are also not so great. I remain hopeful for change, and will probably switch providers for my personal newsletter to one that is better for reader privacy. And if Hey is all it’s promising, I’ll have a new way to read email as well. *Check out the rest of this month’s posts on* [*creating email newsletters*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/daily-posts-newsletters/)*.* ### Ask for testimonials. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/ask-for-testimonials/ Last updated: 2020-02-26T14:30:50.000Z If a reader doesn’t actively seek you out, and stumbles upon your newsletter’s subscribe page, the top two questions on their mind will be: 1. What is this about? 2. Why should I care? Answering the first question is copy that you will keep editing for as long as your newsletter exists. Answering question two is helped most by testimonials. If they don’t know or trust you yet, present them with quotes praising your newsletter from names they are likely to know and trust. How do you get these persuasive nuggets of gold? Ask. It’s just that simple, and just that hard. Ask for opinions, reviews, and suggestions from all readers. You never know who’ll respond. Keep an eye out on social media too. When someone says something nice about you, ask them if you can use it as a quote. No, asking doesn’t make you seem likely a self-promoting blowhard. It makes you seem like someone who really values the opinion of the person being asked. *Check out the rest of this month’s posts on* [*creating email newsletters*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/daily-posts-newsletters/)*.* ### Pick a day, any day. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/pick-a-day-any-day/ Last updated: 2020-02-25T14:07:51.000Z I recently attended a meeting in which a certain humungous marketing and sales company (which starts with an “S”) was advising our marketing department to send email on Tuesdays and Thursdays because that when people are most likely to open more email in general. I’ve been hearing that advice for at least a decade and it’s just as ludicrous now as it was then. I don’t send “general” emails, and neither do you. Our audiences have their own unique personalities and needs. When it comes to newsletters, you get to choose the day and time of your publishing, and your audience will adapt, as long as you are consistent. Saturday is usually considered the worst day for email opens. But what if you’re in an industry or genre with lots of competitors who publish throughout the work week? Owning Saturday would be a huge opportunity. I’d even name the newsletter *Your Saturday* . You’d have the whole inbox to yourself! Publish in a manner and at a time that best fits your habits or business strategy, not when stats on the general public tells you to. *Check out the rest of this month’s posts on* [*creating email newsletters*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/daily-posts-newsletters/)*.* ### Strategize long before you monetize. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/strategize-long-before-you-monetize/ Last updated: 2020-02-24T13:59:21.000Z I don't want to discourage you, but I want you to realize that for the great majority of newsletters, monetization is byproduct, not the product. I get all kinds of questions about monetizing email newsletters, so I'll make some generalizations and say: don't worry about it yet. Publish because it's good for you. Publish because it helps you think clearer. Publish because you want to build relationships with like-minded people. If you're a business: publish a newsletter to build trust with your customers and authority in your industry. That’s all the monetization you need if you already have products or services. It's the same advice I'd give for podcasts or blogs: you can make money directly with them, but it's a pittance compared to the benefits of doing it as normal part of your lifestyle. Of course, some newsletters are built specifically for monetization, and some have been sold at astronomical prices (DailyCandy sold way back in 2000 for $125 million). But those newsletters are built for large-scale commerce, and they are the exception to the rule. Most newsletters are small and specialized. Unfortunately, this majority is almost never addressed as the majority. If you really want to monetize directly, options for small newsletters can include direct sales, ads, subscriptions, memberships and donations. Direct sales are the most common form of monetization. Have a book, course, or consulting to sell? Chances are, your newsletter is major part of that strategy, if not the most profitable part. A light touch is still the key here. Provide WAY more value in your content before you make an ask of any kind. It really has to be worth the reader's time. Most authors I read have a small sentence in their newsletter to check out their latest book. It's small because that's not the true point of the newsletter, but if the reader really wants to know, they can find it. Ads are almost always a bad idea in a newsletter that's about building relationships. What if, every time you had a conversation with someone, an ad was inserted? You wouldn't have many second conversations with people. An exception here is when a company sponsors someone’s newsletter for an entire year and has a tiny mention in each issue. Still, I believe that ultimately can have a censorious effect on the content, which is why I haven’t had an ad on any of my newsletters since 1999\. Sometimes, you have to learn the hard way. Subscriptions are hard to pull off, but if you have a large audience or valuable (usually financial, established-authority, or work-related) information, they're absolutely possible. The downside is burnout, because if you commit to a regular paid newsletter (or additional content to a free newsletter) and you only get 10 takers, you've just signed up for a lot work for very little pay. I've seen newsletters limp along like this for years, devoted to making their fans happy and convinced more people will sign up if they just market themselves better. Most of the time, there isn't a big paying market for small newsletter content in itself. Memberships are a lot like subscriptions, but can also include audio, video, and physical products. I like memberships for individuals publishing newsletters, as the publisher has much more freedom in what's made available, and much more control over how the reader experiences the content (no lock-in for either party to someone else's scheme). Restrictive membership models do exist (like Patreon) and they’re currently very popular with readers. But be wary of any service that can yank away all your members on a moment's notice without recourse. I've heard much better things about [Memberful](https://memberful.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) over the years, and there are many do-it-yourself models that can be baked-in to your main website these days that give you total control (usually at the cost of convenience). Donations rarely bring in much for amount of space devoted the pleas. But they are the easiest to set up, since nothing is expected in return. I’ve only seen donations work really well in one case and it was because a celebrity was involved. If you’re just starting, focus totally on your readers and they will tell you what they want/need. If it makes sense to you, you can start a business around that need. That is business as a byproduct and that’s where newsletters and podcasts shine. If you’re an existing business, work on building stronger bonds with your current customers, find out what they need, and branch out to like-minded new customers. If you build an audience to serve that audience, monetization will present itself. You don’t need to chase it. You don’t even need to accept it if you don’t want the added responsibility. But the opportunity will eventually arrive if you give your readers enough time and attention. *Check out the rest of this month’s posts on* [*creating email newsletters*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/daily-posts-newsletters/)*.* ### Meet your subscribers. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/meet-your-subscribers/ Last updated: 2020-02-23T13:45:00.000Z If you want engagement, you have to be engaging. Get to know as many readers as possible one-on-one. Skype with them, have conversations on social media, and, yes, meet them in person. I’ve always wondered why it’s considered normal for podcasts to hold meetups, parties, and other live events, but not newsletters. I’ve always conversed with my readers, and met them in person. It’s created lifelong readers and genuine friendships. When you meet readers in person, you get a better understanding of how what you do fits in their world. It shapes the way you publish, as well as what you publish. *Check out the rest of this month’s posts on* [*creating email newsletters*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/daily-posts-newsletters/)*.* ### Automate when it makes sense. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/automate-when-it-makes-sense/ Last updated: 2020-02-22T14:30:00.000Z All parts of the newsletter process can be automated, not all should be. Years ago, I use to write essays weeks ahead of time. I'd plug them into Mailchimp and schedule them to go out at regular intervals. When published, the final version of that newsletter (sometimes I'd jump in and make small edits at the last minute) would be captured by email automation in Evernote, tagged and filed appropriately. That was a pretty sensible automation for the time. Now, just about anything is possible. Each reader can have a different experience based on their preferences. You can publish to RSS and have your posts pulled into the newsletter, summarized, and formatted with a template you touch once. The reader can subscribe via RSS and read the newsletter in any way they want. A signup form can identify where a reader signed up, offer them a different welcome message based on that interest, time of day, region of the world, etc. You can set your newsletter to arrive in an inbox at the exact time in the correct time zone when a specific segment of readers is most likely to read. You can bookmark an interesting link in a web app, add a comment on the fly, and it will automatically trigger an automation that appends that link and commentary to your newsletter. I can go forever, and so can the automations. But a good newsletter is human, relatable, and trustworthy. There's an uncanny valley that far too many newsletters enter with complex automation schemes. Plus, the more complex the scheme, the more you begin to rely on apps to tell you who your readers are, rather than your conversations. It's best to keep it simple for as long as possible. In fact, as paper and television journalism becomes more and more automated, cutting out more humans every year in the creation process, two of the most popular journalistic newsletters, [NextDraft](http://nextdraft.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) and [Reliable Sources](https://us11.list-manage.com/subscribe?id=e95cdc16a9&u=47c9040f6ff957a59bd88396e&ref=cjchilvers.com), are famously hand-made, one day at a time. They're both researched, written, edited, and published over the course of a single day, in the voice of their creators. And their readers love them for it. Properly-placed automations should occur to you over time and should never come at the cost to the relationship you have with your readers or the quality of the content. *Check out the rest of this month’s posts on* [*creating email newsletters*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/daily-posts-newsletters/)*.* ### The Smartest Things Ever Said About Email Newsletters URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-smartest-things-ever-said-about-email-newsletters/ Last updated: 2020-02-21T14:46:28.000Z “To all my talented friends: please think about going back to a simple blog or newsletter that you update at a regular frequency. It would be so nice to meet your thoughts and words and images on your own turf, in a simple, peaceful context again. This site is no place to be.” — [Austin Kleon](https://twitter.com/austinkleon/status/1227980537287061504?ref=cjchilvers.com) “I shifted to more curating then creation because the world needs trusted editors, and if you can become a trusted editor, that is a media brand.” — [Brian Clark](https://overcast.fm/+E44UV1tr8/29:19?ref=cjchilvers.com) “You can’t kill email! It’s the cockroach of the Internet, and I mean that as a compliment.” — [Cameron Moll](https://twitter.com/cameronmoll/status/515498000484167681?s=21&ref=cjchilvers.com) “I want the newsletter to feel like a LETTER with news!” — [Jason Fried](https://twitter.com/dhh/status/555061106532548608?s=21&ref=cjchilvers.com) “Want someone to read the whole thing? Write half as much.” — [Jason Fried](https://twitter.com/jasonfried/status/1151976121459773440?s=21&ref=cjchilvers.com) “I only care about one subscriber and it is my wife.” — [Brian Stelter](https://twitter.com/selenalarson/status/972250386567516160?ref=cjchilvers.com) “How many eyeballs are passing by is a useless measure. All that matters is, ‘how many people want to hear from you tomorrow?’ Don't try to convert strangers into customers. It's ineffective and wasteful. Instead, focus on turning those momentary strangers into people eager to hear from you again and again.” — [Seth Godin](https://seths.blog/2012/08/converting-viral/?ref=cjchilvers.com) “For my money, email newsletters remain the digital world’s single most efficient source of ideas, information, and insight.” — Daniel Pink “Email newsletters are totally underrated. Social media, bookmarks, and RSS can all be ignored—email has to be deleted.” — [Austin Kleon](https://tumblr.austinkleon.com/post/55973090263?ref=cjchilvers.com) “People come for the topic and stay for the voice.” — Merlin Mann “We simply cannot trust the social networks, or any centralized commercial platform, with these cliques and crews most vital to our lives, these bands of fellow-travelers who are – who must be – the first to hear about all good things. Email is definitely not ideal, but it is: decentralized, reliable, and not going anywhere – and more and more, those feel like quasi-magical properties.“ — [Robin Sloan](https://www.robinsloan.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) “These newsletters are the most backed up pieces of writing in history, copies in millions of inboxes, on millions of hard drives and servers, far more than any blog post. These might be the most durable copies yet of ourselves. They’re everywhere but privately so, hidden, piggybacking on the most accessible, oldest networked publishing platform in the world.“ — [Craig Mod](https://craigmod.com/essays/newsletters/?ref=cjchilvers.com) “The best newsletters feel like nice letters from smart friends.“ — Craig Mod “Aside from cockroaches and Maroon 5’s catalog, newsletters will be the only thing to survive (what seems like a more and more impending) nuclear catastrophe. “ — [Dave Pell](https://medium.com/@davepell/newsletters-are-immortal-9887b1a5dc6a?ref=cjchilvers.com) *Check out the rest of this month’s posts on* [*creating email newsletters*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/daily-posts-newsletters/)*.* ### Attracting Readers: Social Media URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/attracting-readers-social-media/ Last updated: 2020-02-20T14:09:51.000Z I won’t go into the usual ways to promote your newsletter on social media, because there’s too many strategies to name: automations, DMs, who to follow, etc. I’ll just tell you about two strategies that have worked for me more than any others I’ve done (and I haven’t done everything — some popular social strategies feel creepy to me). The first is to announce your latest newsletter while tagging anyone mentioned or linked to in it. You can provide context as well if you like, but just tagging them is extremely helpful. Everyone likes to see their work being promoted by someone else, and it’s a great excuse for a retweet to their followers or a follow from that person directly. When I do this well, I get several new subscribers. That’s not why I do it. I do it because it’s a nice thing to do. But the byproduct of doing nice things is that sometimes nice things happen back to you. This is so much better than the creepy social media strategies. I also might highlight individual links or quotes used in my newsletter and post them throughout the week with a link back to the latest issue of the newsletter. Sometimes this leads to someone discovering my newsletter for the first time. Sometimes it leads to discussions with additional links and ideas I can use in my next newsletter. It’s also just a nice thing to do. Not every social media strategy needs to be creepy. Add value without expecting anything in return. That’s usually when people take notice. *Check out the rest of this month’s posts on* [*creating email newsletters*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/daily-posts-newsletters/)*.* ### Have a personality. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/have-a-personality/ Last updated: 2020-02-19T13:50:00.000Z It’s easy to replicate a business model. It’s really hard to replicate a personality. Chances are, whatever your newsletter will be about, there will be many others sharing the same ideas and links. The only thing that separates you is personality. Be vulnerable. Be honest. Be real. People are really scared to be those things online, which makes your story (and how you tell it) so unique. It’s also at the heart of what’s entertaining. *Check out the rest of this month’s posts on* [*creating email newsletters*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/daily-posts-newsletters/)*.* ### Get started. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/get-started/ Last updated: 2020-02-18T13:42:00.000Z I’ve received and responded to dozens of great questions the past few weeks, but most of them have a common theme, like this one from Kevin: > ”This month’s theme about newsletters is a daily kick in the groin. I’ve wanted to start a newsletter for a really long time. Trouble is, I don’t know what it would be or what it should be like. I don’t know if it’s too late to try. And I don’t know how to get started.” The answer to all of these unknowns is to start with anything. It’s impossible to learn or iterate from nothing. What does that mean practically? 1. Sign up for a [Substack](https://substack.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) or [Buttondown](https://buttondown.email/?ref=cjchilvers.com) account (two of the simplest newsletter services). 2. Post your opt-in everywhere. You don’t even need a topic in the beginning, just a name. 3. **Schedule** an hour or two per week to write in a place conducive to writing. 4. Write whatever is on your mind. The easiest newsletters to start are personal columns/essays. Just spill your guts and link to cool stuff. No judgements are allowed for the first several issues. Don’t worry. Nobody is going to care for a while. 5. Publish. 6. Iterate. After a few attempts, you’ll notice what’s working for you and your reader. Maybe you’ll change formats, topics, or frequency. But you’ve started. And starting is where these answers show up. They don’t show up in planning. Remember, newsletters are all about establishing relationships (with readers or customers), then strengthening them. You can’t establish relationships if you’re not out there. You can’t know how to strengthen them if you’re not out there. So, whatever it takes, get out there now. *Check out the rest of this month’s posts on* [*creating email newsletters*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/daily-posts-newsletters/)*.* ### Attracting Readers: Forwards URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/attracting-readers-forwards/ Last updated: 2020-02-17T14:00:00.000Z Email newsletters allow for a kind of discovery not possible with other mediums: the forward. If someone loves your newsletter enough to forward it to a friend or colleague, it becomes both a method of discovery and a testimonial in one. It's word of mouth that actually includes the product! It's the most flattering and powerful form of marketing for your newsletter. It's the hardest to obtain as well. You have to produce really valuable content and you have ask for the forward to get enough of them to make an impact. Brian Clark, one of the founding fathers of content marketing, has a newsletter called [Further](https://further.net/?ref=cjchilvers.com). He puts two requests in his newsletter dealing with forwards: one after his signature addressing new readers the email was forwarded to and one in his footer asking current readers to forward. Here's how it look in the signature after his commentary: > — Brian Clark > P.S. Did someone forward this issue of Further to you? We'd love to have you join us by signing up here. In the footer: > Please forward this issue of Further to a friend. Thank you! You don't get what you don't ask for. *Check out the rest of this month’s posts on* [*creating email newsletters*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/daily-posts-newsletters/)*.* ### New Newsletter: Creating Your Newsletter Week 2 URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/new-newsletter-creating-your-newsletter-week-2/ Last updated: 2020-02-16T15:51:04.000Z I go on a bit of a rant this morning in my personal newsletter about the controversial “spy pixel” manifesto and add a bunch of links that don’t show up on this blog. I just wanted to let you know that there’s more going on in my newsletter than on this blog for a reason: I take your invitation to your inbox very seriously and I want to add value with every issue. Also, I want you to reply. I want to hear what you think. Here’s a direct link to [this week’s issue](https://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/issue-246-creating-your-newsletter-week-2?ref=cjchilvers.com). Please consider [subscribing](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe). ### Go headless. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/go-headless/ Last updated: 2020-02-16T14:00:00.000Z For years, I had a masthead my personal newsletter. That small step (which often took quite a while to decide on) was something I thought looked pretty good and made the newsletter more pleasant to read. I may have been wrong. I'm not a designer, but I do follow some great designers through their blogs and newsletters. I've been noticing a trend in recent years among these designers to simplify and clarify their newsletter designs. Instead of the elaborate mastheads and illustrations we've come to expect from corporate newsletters, they're opting for plain text or very simple images. This makes sense. In fact, I remember research, 10 years or more ago, stating how much better text emails performed vs. html emails. It perplexed business owners who wanted the fanciest, newest designs that "popped." But readers don't care about "pop," they care about value. That research often went ignored at the cost of subscribers and sales. The strategy behind the new wave of minimalistic newsletters to better communicate to the reader: - I'm a real person. - This is a letter to you. This is not an ad. - You can respond to this email. Designer/Entrepreneur Tobias van Schneider put it perfectly when discussing [his popular newsletter](https://medium.com/mailchimp-for-agencies/dont-call-it-a-newsletter-tips-from-tobias-van-schneider-afcef8a799d7?ref=cjchilvers.com): > "I’ve only done 1 major redesign of my weekly email. And, to be honest, I sometimes think it’s a bit too nice. I like to keep it simple; I want it to look less like a newsletter and more like a personal email. I tried keeping a balance between something designed, but also not too designed." > > "My email is more personal, more raw. It’s not as polished. It should feel like I’m with you in the room, telling you what’s on my mind." Designer/Author Frank Chimero wrote recently about [header vs. footers in web design](https://www.frankchimero.com/blog/2020/raccoon-king/?ref=cjchilvers.com): > "I’m a caboose guy—I will happily design footers all day. But headers? I would prefer not to. More hassle than they are worth. Let a young, eager designer who wants glory and visibility have at it. Navigation at the top of the page turns a lack of conviction and corporate incohesiveness into a real estate problem. What a nightmare." After reading that, I started notice headless design really taking off in newsletters. Of course, if you're using [Substack](https://substack.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) or [Buttondown](https://buttondown.email/?ref=cjchilvers.com), this is probably nothing new to you. As a long-time MailChimp user, it's a newer idea to me, even though the MailChimp guru himself, [Paul Jarvis](https://www.cjchilvers.com/recommended-chimp-essentials/), is also sporting a headless newsletter design. My last two emails have been headless, and I think I love it. We'll see if the readers agree. *Check out the rest of this month’s posts on* [*creating email newsletters*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/daily-posts-newsletters/)*.* ### Put your best link forward. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/put-your-best-link-forward/ Last updated: 2020-02-15T15:05:00.000Z Back in the days when bands sent demo tapes to record companies, they were told to forget about creating a "flow" between your songs. They were told to put their strongest song first, second-strongest second, and so on. If not, the listener would bail in the beginning of the first song and never make it to the second. This is the case whether a consumer is presented with free content. Value must be made apparent quickly. If you're writing a curation-style newsletter, you may be tempted to run analytics on what your readers are clicking on to gauge their interest. In most cases, you'll only learn one thing: what gets linked to first, gets clicked on the most. It seems obvious. But it’s not what I see reflected in the design of most curation newsletters. Most seem too concerned with looking good, or being organized by subject or style of link. If you concentrate on presenting the best of the best up front, each issue of your newsletter will be considered valuable from the start. *Check out the rest of this month’s posts on* [*creating email newsletters*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/daily-posts-newsletters/)*.* ### Add your newsletter link to all the things. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/add-your-newsletter-link-to-all-the-things/ Last updated: 2022-08-06T00:59:25.000Z Add it to every social media profile you have. Add it to every email you write (maybe develop a good PS line or just link it to your name). Add it to every piece of content you create across any medium. Still use business cards? Sure, put it there too. I once left 100 cards scattered around a rock concert with a link to a list for my Van Halen book. Make your newsletter landing page the center of your online universe, because it’s where relationships are built. Add testimonials, social proof, and personality to the page. Be proud of it. Then spread the word. If you build a newsletter of value, it’s your duty to expose it to as many readers as possible. *Check out the rest of this month’s posts on* [*creating email newsletters*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/daily-posts-newsletters/)*.* ### Recommended: Newsletter Ninja URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/recommended-newsletter-ninja/ Last updated: 2020-02-13T14:15:00.000Z There are dozens of email marketing books, but they tend to either be too shallow (all feels, no tech) or too deep (all tech, no heart). But sometimes, there’s a book that bridges that gap, like [Newsletter Ninja](https://amzn.to/3bAuoLu?ref=cjchilvers.com). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579335174-S13CEYKIVP6ZM8RQQIP6/image-asset.jpeg) The book is meant for authors with newsletters, but a lot of the concepts hold true for most information-based businesses or hobbyists. In a way, it picks up where a book like [Do Open](https://www.cjchilvers.com/recommended-do-open/) leaves off, giving you a little more about the how-tos involved in building a community around your newsletter. Plus, it’s just a really fun little book. If [Do Open](https://www.cjchilvers.com/recommended-do-open/) gets you to dip your toes in the water, this book will get you waste-deep. From there, you can decide if you want to make the plunge into the deep end with the tech-heavy books and courses. *Check out the rest of this month’s posts on* [*creating email newsletters*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/daily-posts-newsletters/)*.* ### Be consistent. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/be-consistent/ Last updated: 2020-02-12T13:28:00.000Z I’ve been terrible in this department with my own newsletter, so I’ll let some others do the talking: > “Once people forget about you or forget to expect you, it can feel more like an intrusion when you reappear. Regularly delivering what people signed up for makes you more welcome.” — [Abby Reckard](https://us7.campaign-archive.com/?id=2f6524301b&u=cc11276e0af3cd3f833d3e2d1&ref=cjchilvers.com) > > “A good newsletter is usually: 1\. Consistent in frequency 2\. Consistent in format 3\. Endlessly repeatable with new content.” — [Austin Kleon](https://twitter.com/austinkleon/status/1226550422812405761?ref=cjchilvers.com) People are creatures of habit. That’s why consistency works. Become a part of their routine. *Check out the rest of this month’s posts on* [*creating email newsletters*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/daily-posts-newsletters/)*.* ### Don't call it a newsletter. Don't ask readers to subscribe. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/dont-call-it-a-newsletter/ Last updated: 2020-02-11T13:31:00.000Z Over the years, unscrupulous businesses have given “subscriptions” and “newsletters” are bad name among many readers. A good way to combat newsletter fatigue and separate yourself from the crowd is to name your newsletter something more fun, honest, and relatable. You can own a day, like [Sunday Dispatches](https://pjrvs.com/signup?ref=cjchilvers.com). You can own a time, like [Morning Brew](https://www.morningbrew.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com). You can own a benefit, like [Further](https://further.net/?ref=cjchilvers.com) or [Roden Explorers Mailing List](https://craigmod.com/explorers/?ref=cjchilvers.com). A good way to beat subscription fatigue is not ask your reader to “subscribe.” Language like “join us” is more direct and human. They’re joining a tribe, not adding their names to a long list. *Check out the rest of this month’s posts on* [*creating email newsletters*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/daily-posts-newsletters/)*.* ### Attracting Subscribers to Your Newsletter: Lead Generators URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/attracting-subscribers-to-your-newsletter-lead-generators/ Last updated: 2020-02-10T15:20:04.000Z How do you get more people to sign up for your newsletter? The best way is one of the oldest: offer the reader something useful, valuable, and closely related to the subject matter of newsletter for their subscription. Some call this a lead generator, although that term is only really applicable to newsletters with sales-based goals. Author Tammi Labrecque (whose writing on newsletters we’ll refer to in the future) calls them “cookies” because they’re used as an enticing treat to reward readers and attract new ones. Coming up with the perfect lead generator for your audience is an art. No audience is the same. You’ll have to dig to find what works best for yours. For instance, fiction authors often offer the first chapter of a book or the first book in a series. Business newsletters have found that offering a short, one-page list of the best resources in their industry often works better than offering entire books. Newsletters in the education industry offer downloadable worksheets and posters for teachers to use in their classrooms. The goal should be to attract readers who will stay for the long term. This is why contests are usually frowned on. They tend to attract readers who unsubscribe right away or never open newsletters after the first issue. In fact, some writers stay away from lead generators, so they will only attract long-term readers who love their work enough to subscribe with no other incentive. I’m going to assume that’s not you just yet. I’m going to assume you want a lot of new subscribers. If that’s true, lead generators are the place to start. Provide value in your offer and you’ll get subscribers. Back it up with consistent value in your newsletters and you’ll get long-term readers (and customers). *Check out the rest of this month’s posts on* [*creating email newsletters*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/daily-posts-newsletters/)*.* ### Recommended: Chimp Essentials URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/recommended-chimp-essentials/ Last updated: 2020-02-09T14:17:00.000Z If you’re using MailChimp, you need to take Paul Jarvis’s course [Chimp Essentials](https://chimpessentials.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com). It paid for itself within a few months and has since saved me even more money and time. I’m not an affiliate. I’m not being paid to say this. It’s just a really good course (that should have been bought by MailChimp long ago and provided to all new customers). *Check out the rest of this month’s posts on* [*creating email newsletters*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/daily-posts-newsletters/)*.* ### Subject lines don’t matter as much as your From line. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/your-from-line/ Last updated: 2020-02-08T14:00:00.000Z There’s a debate about what kind of subject line works best for newsletters. Do you craft each one individually, or do you make one, uniform subject line for your newsletter that never changes (except maybe the issue number). I do both. The following two examples are subject lines on corporate emails I’ve sent out to large audiences that have had extraordinary results vs. typical subject lines: - Customer Service and Purple Cakes - The Scoop: Issue XXXX They’re equals as far as the stats are concerned. After creating newsletters for 20 years, I can say with certainty that when it comes to newsletter subject lines: I don’t know and neither do you. It all depends on your industry, readership, amount of competition in your space, and your willingness to stress over a subject line. The author of the [book I recommended](https://www.cjchilvers.com/recommended-do-open/) a few days ago chooses to use unique subject lines and spends as much time coming up with them as he spends on the content within the newsletter. This is probably because he’s in a very competitive industry (with teams of marketers) vying for the same eyeballs. Than again, I’ve seen the opposite work in competitive industries. So, does it matter? I think the overlooked, more important line is the From line. Companies that spam people all day, and try to put out a newsletter will see that From line working against them. If you see my From line you can be sure it’s either my newsletter or a personal email. Either way you know if it’s worth opening without seeing the subject line. If you find that you can’t decide about your subject line format, a easy answer is to A/B test. That’s another subject I’ll be posting about soon. That’ll give you a clear answer in the short term. In the long term, ultimately, you select (and cull) your readers by publishing in your own style. So, pick the style that works best for you and change it up when/if you need to. The most important thing is keep publishing and keep that From line populated with a name that the reader knows and trusts. *Check out the rest of this month’s posts on* [*creating email newsletters*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/daily-posts-newsletters/)*.* ### Conquer Newsletter Obesity URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/stop-newsletter-obesity/ Last updated: 2020-02-07T14:38:03.000Z Over time, your list of subscribers will become bloated with the no-longer-interested, no-longer-reading, or no-longer-with-us. This decreases your open rate, bleeds your wallet, and makes you look more like a spammer to email providers. For personal newsletters and small business newsletters, the solution is to simply prune your list of readers from time to time, to keep it healthy and cost-effective. For bigger businesses, pruning can be controversial, because one customer can come back after years of inactivity to provide a single, high-profit sale. There’s a balance to be struck depending on your desired open rate and the amount of revenue a single, returning customer can provide. But for the majority of newsletters, pruning is essential maintenance. Last year, I posted about how [I had to cut 400 subscribers](https://www.cjchilvers.com/why-i-just-unsubscribed-400-of-you/) from my newsletter. If you hadn’t opened the last ten issues or so, I removed you from my subscriber list. I received a few emails from bewildered readers about how they didn’t know I could tell they’d opened previous issues. Apparently, this is still not widely known among email readers. Yes, pretty much every email you read reports back about whether it’s been read, at the very least. The truth is, open and click-through rate reporting isn’t 100% reliable. There are ways to read email newsletters without triggering the open or click report. That’s why, before I cut anyone from my list, I send them an email with a button that allows them to click and stay on the list if they want (how or if you can do this depends on your newsletter host). In this case, only 5 people opened the email and none of the 400 replied or clicked the button. So, a few days later, I unsubscribed them. The point is to not be afraid to delete subscribers to keep your newsletter healthy. This isn’t social media, where your follower count is a source of pride for some. In newsletters, it’s all about the quality of relationships you’re building. I’d rather have a newsletter with 100 regular, involved readers than 1 million readers who scan and delete each issue. Just as an example from my experiences: a typical one-off marketing email from a big company might have a 3-4% open rate at the top end. Your newsletter should have a 50%-80% open rate, depending on when you last pruned your list. Newsletters are all about quality. *Check out the rest of this month’s posts on* [*creating email newsletters*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/daily-posts-newsletters/)*.* ### Don’t personalize. Write like a person. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/dont-personalize-write-like-a-person/ Last updated: 2020-02-06T15:14:14.000Z Every newsletter has a different idea about how you should greet a new reader, and keep in touch with funnel-ized “personalized messages.” I don’t agree with most of them. It’s true, if you’re a business, using a person's name in any email will probably increase your clicks and sales. But to some readers, it’s also a tip-off that this is an automated message you can ignore. There’s a movement now in copywriting towards something I’ve been advocating for at least a decade: email like a real person. The movement is growing, because (get ready to be shocked) it works. Real people don’t punctuate or titlecase their subject lines. Real people don’t address you as “Hey !” Real people don’t link words or phrases. Real people write emails like they’re talking to you. For newsletters, I believe the welcome message is first big opportunity to surprise and delight a reader. My number one goal from any newsletter, or email in general, is to get a response. I know there’s a lot of accepted wisdom that the welcome message is a great places to makes sales. That will never matter as much to me as establishing a relationship. Until I started writing multiple newsletters, I made a point of greeting every new reader from my personal email address to try to prompt more responses. I’d write something like this: > “Thanks for signing up. I like to know who my readers are, so if you don’t mind too much, please tell me a little something about yourself and why you joined. Thanks again.” If they responded, I started a conversation, or simply thanked them. At least once a week, someone would respond to my response, shocked that there was a real person behind the newsletter that they could talk to. Or, I’d often see a reply like this: “I don’t know how you’re automating this, but it’s genius.” People would try to figure out my automation schemes, when the truth was, I was just emailing them from my phone. The response is everything. The back-and-forth establishes a relationship with the reader, while giving you a better understanding of who your reader is and how you’re being found. It also establishes a relationship with the reader’s email provider. It proves that you're wanted in their inbox and not spam. If you think, “This can’t scale,” you’re dreaming of problems that are wonderful to have, but few obtain. If your audience becomes too enormous to talk to as a real person, that’s a problem. I’ve ghost-written emails for executives with audiences in the hundreds of thousands. They love getting feedback from individual customers and they spend hours making sure the customer is happy, while capturing their thoughts. You’d be incredibly lucky to have such problems. As for the other items most books and courses tell you to include in your welcome message (pick whatever works best for your readers): - A plea to whitelist your newsletter with instructions on how - Your social media information - A thank you - A list of what they can expect and when - An upsell - A link to a “start here" page on your site to get them caught up on everything you have to offer *Check out the rest of this month’s posts on* [*creating email newsletters*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/daily-posts-newsletters/)*.* ### Recommended: Do Open URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/recommended-do-open/ Last updated: 2020-02-05T13:56:05.000Z If you don't know where to start in creating a newsletter, the book [Do Open](https://amzn.to/39gfesV?ref=cjchilvers.com) is what I always recommend. In fact, I give it out to anyone I work with on a new newsletter. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579351199-IMJ6FORMG60EO2VW4WBB/image-asset.jpeg) It's the perfect, easy-to-read, back-to-basics start for anyone's newsletter journey. It’s particular good at the “why’s” behind newsletter publishing. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579352318-FN34FYOL5SN82CLHALQF/image-asset.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579353457-IETZ1354M6S80EOH92NX/image-asset.png) Author David Hieatt just launched [a giant course on email newsletters](https://www.dolectures.online/email-for-growth?ref=cjchilvers.com) (along with a ***PRINT!!*** workbook). It's expensive, meant for businesses, and already closed for the year, so it’s probably not something for you yet. But get the book for a taste of what you could expect in the course. If you're dying for more detail, keep it in mind for next year's registration. And subscribe to one of his company’s newsletters ([DO Lectures](https://www.thedolectures.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) and [Hiut Denim](https://hiutdenim.co.uk/?ref=cjchilvers.com)). The techniques they recommend will also appear there. *Check out the rest of this month’s posts on* [*creating email newsletters*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/daily-posts-newsletters/)*.* ### Introduce Yourself! URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/introduce-yourself/ Last updated: 2020-02-04T13:55:49.000Z Wondering why email newsletters are starting to introduce themselves with every issue lately? It’s a practice that goes back years, but was recently popularized (and templatized) by Craig Mod in his post, [On Being a Good Newsletterer](https://craigmod.com/essays/on%5Fwriting%5Fgood%5Fnewsletters/?ref=cjchilvers.com). He offers the following examples as introduction paragraphs he uses in his newsletters: > Hi, I’m Craig Mod and you’ve signed up for Humidity Monthly, a monthly newsletter on all things humid. Just kidding. (Although I could very easily write such a thing.) You’ve signed up for the Roden newsletter, which has no explicit theme and threatens only to inspire you to one-click unsubscribe > > I’m Craig Mod and you (in theory) signed up for this weekly letter on walking — yes, walking (you know: the literature of walking, walking experiments, publishing and walking, talking-and-walking; the permutations of walking abound, and we are here to drill down into them all). > > I’m Craig Mod and this is the Ridgeline newsletter about walking, mostly walking in Japan. You signed up on my website. If you’d like to unsubscribe, just click that link or the one at the bottom. One click, all done, good bye. Since that article, Paul Jarvis updated [his newsletter](https://pjrvs.com/signup?ref=cjchilvers.com) with the following intro: > Oh hi, I’m Paul Jarvis. You’re getting this email because you signed up for the Sunday Dispatches, a weekly newsletter on working and living online. If you’d like to hop off at any time, simply unsubscribe. I appreciate you being here. There’s many others, but I’ll be referring mostly to Craig and Paul in the next few weeks as examples, since they have written so much in the past few years on newsletters. They’re worth subscribing to just for the newsletter best practices alone (I also bought and recommend Paul’s course, [Chimp Essentials](https://chimpessentials.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com)). These intros matter. As a publisher you want to foster two primary relationships: the most important is with your reader. A distant second is with the email host/providers. By reminding the reader of who you are and what you’re doing, you strengthen the publisher/reader relationship (read [Craig’s article](https://craigmod.com/essays/on%5Fwriting%5Fgood%5Fnewsletters/?ref=cjchilvers.com) for more on that). Also, it’s just a nice thing to do. By making it easy to unsubscribe up front, you’re making it easier for readers to go away (and feel good about coming back) whenever they feel like it. This increases your open rate, which allows you stretch your dollar as a newsletter publisher, and helps you look better to services like Gmail. Low open rates and a lack of responses/interactions with your newsletter can quickly land you in the spam folder, never to be seen again (even though you're spending the same amount of money to be seen). Why haven’t you seen this in corporate newsletters yet? Corporate newsletters tend to lag behind the indies in terms of best practices by years. They also pay to play sometimes — you can pay for higher delivery rates regardless of your open rate. There are several caveats about how that’s done, but no one outside of a big company should be concerned with it. Just be good to your readers. Keep an eye out for your favorite newsletters and how their intros have changed/magically appeared this month! *Check out the rest of this month’s posts on* [*creating email newsletters*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/daily-posts-newsletters/)*.* ### Finding Your Favorite Newsletter Format URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/finding-your-favorite-newsletter-format/ Last updated: 2020-02-03T16:19:00.000Z If you have a personal newsletter, the structure of newsletter should not be much a struggle. Personal newsletters tend to train their audiences in how they should be read. So, the goal here is to find the format that not only attracts and keeps your ideal reader, but fits your style of working well enough that you won’t burn out. The best reaction you can hope for from an audience is if your newsletter doesn’t come out on time and fans start asking where it is. Your doing something very right if that happens (minus the inconsistent scheduling). Professional newsletters have it a bit tougher. Often there’s an existing audience with existing preferences for both subject matter and format. The bigger the company, the more audience feedback (and tracking) usually come into play. Serving the customer and establishing the appropriate relationship is the highest goal. The newsletter is shaped over time by its readers. I could break down the most popular formats, but [Paul Jarvis](https://chimpessentials.com/how-to-start-your-own-newsletter?ref=cjchilvers.com) did it better: > **The longform**. This newsletter is an example of the longform, mostly because I’ve never met a word-count I didn’t want to demolish, so this is the style mine obviously falls into. [**Cait Flanders**](https://caitflanders.com/newsletter/?ref=cjchilvers.com) writes a spectacular longform newsletter, as does [**Jessica Abel**](https://jessicaabel.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com). > > **The curated roundup**. Roundups are a nice way to provide value to an audience without having to write 1,000+ word articles each time. By sharing only the best links on a related subject, you save people time so they get the information they need without having to dig. [**Joceyln Glei**](https://jkglei.com/newsletter/?ref=cjchilvers.com) writes my favourite and [**Dense Discovery**](https://www.densediscovery.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) is a close second. > > **The news**. Similar to a curated roundup, the news style of newsletter is more focused on topical or breaking information, instead of just evergreen content. My favourites here are [**Charged**](https://char.gd/?ref=cjchilvers.com) and [**NextDraft**](https://nextdraft.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com). This style of newsletter requires a lot of work because you’ve got to digest current events quickly and then share the best content while it’s still timely. Most of my favorite newsletters are hybrids of these formats. My newsletter has been longform essays and columns at times, and is now a curated roundup that includes my writing. I prefer to write longform, but my audience has told me (over many years) they prefer curation. I can foresee a mix of both in the future, but I do listen the audience more than most personal newsletters do. Corporate clients almost always prefer curation. It means the company has a voice more than the individual writer, which makes sense — the writer can always move on and take the trust and authority with them. The company wants to retain that trust and authority, with a mix of authors and designers they can change up at any time. Don’t know which one you prefer? Try them out. There’s no reason you need to publish the first version, or even the fourth. Keep drafting until you find something you can publish consistently and be proud of. *Check out the rest of this month’s posts on* [*creating email newsletters*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/daily-posts-newsletters/)*.* ### Define Your Audience URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/define-your-audience/ Last updated: 2020-02-02T14:55:00.000Z Although you don’t have a say in the make up of your audience on social media, email newsletters give you the freedom of defining your own constraints. What’s the goal of your newsletter? Establishing a better relationship with your existing audience? Growing that audience? Selling a product? Segmenting different kinds of customers and readers into their own audiences to deliver more relevant information? All these things are possible in ways no other form of media allows (at least not without paying and playing in the awful world of surveillance advertising). Define your newsletter in human terms. Who is your ideal reader? Personal newsletters tend to train their readers how to read them. Professional (customer)-based newsletters are trained by the audience they seek to serve. But there’s a lot of overlap. There are many successful, personal newsletters that also serve business needs. The point is: there’s an opportunity for you to speak to exact audience you prefer in the way you prefer — especially if you’re just starting. In a good newsletter, the audience always comes first. Building relationships is always the goal. But you get to define the audience and relationship, not the middle man (the social media and search companies). Pretty cool, right? *Check out the rest of this month’s posts on* [*creating email newsletters*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/daily-posts-newsletters/)*.* ### Why You Need a Newsletter in 2020 URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/why-you-need-a-newsletter-in-2020/ Last updated: 2020-02-02T04:00:00.000Z You are publisher now, whether you asked to be or not. You’re either telling the story of your work and life, or someone else is. Even if you never post anything anywhere on the internet, your life story is being exchanged by companies and governments. At the other extreme, if you’re in the public eye, you’re probably used to others controlling your narrative. Maybe you’re on top of your social media mentions, but struggle to increase or maintain an audience to get your story out there. And even if you’re not struggling, you know about the preventive measures you need to take to keep your story, at the very least, accurate. I’ve worked with Fortune 100 companies who are hanging on by a thread to their narratives, so don’t feel too bad. It’s hard. [The band I wrote a book about](https://www.cjchilvers.com/the-van-halen-encyclopedia/) 20 years ago is having their entire history rewritten by disgruntled executives and former members. They don’t yet understand that unless they publish, their truth will likely perish. Those are the extremes. You are likely in the middle. You’ve posted things. You have a hobby, career, product, or service you’d like to promote and shine the best light on. The medium you choose to use to promote your ideas can be text, audio, or video, but it will be served best by email. Email newsletters don’t require a podcast, blog, social media presence, or YouTube channel to thrive. But blogs, podcasts, YouTube channels, and your social media presence will increasingly require email if you want to keep (and better serve) your audience. You will have a medium that best speaks to your style (maybe audio is what keeps you excited), but email speaks to the consumption style of most. Audiences are becoming reliant on algorithms and silos for their access to you. The last place this is isn’t true yet is email (although Gmail is trying). Email is universal. Email is understood by all. This is not true of any other delivery mechanism. Simply put, a well-done email will get a better response than other medium, (according to McKinsey, 40X the response of social media). It’s still the king of online media. And the best way to represent yourself in email is with a newsletter. Why? People recognize spam. People can recognize a sales pitch better than ever. People can also recognize honest, direct communication. This is the newsletter. This is best way to tell your story in 2020. Newsletters can transform the corner coffee shop into an indispensable bulletin board for the community. Newsletters can transform a graphic designer into the voice of a new movement in design. Newsletters can connect those with similar health conditions, favorite movies, or jobs to create entirely new communities and opportunities. For the next month, I will posting daily about email newsletters. It’s no secret, [I love them](https://www.cjchilvers.com/i-love-newsletters/). I’m biased. But I’ve written newsletters for giant corporations, small non-profits, rabid online communities, and even myself. I’ve seen the power they have to tell a story and I need to pass it along! We’ll dive deep into the history, design, and how-to’s of newslettering. Of course, all it will also appear in my newsletter, so [join us](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe/)! *Check out the rest of this month’s posts on* [*creating email newsletters*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/daily-posts-newsletters/)*.* ### Month of Daily Posts 2: Newsletters URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/daily-posts-newsletters/ Last updated: 2022-08-06T01:02:12.000Z I loved [the last time](https://www.cjchilvers.com/30-practical-tactics-to-decrease-your-anxiety-intro/) I tried blogging daily for a month on one topic, so I'm trying it again. This time it's about something you all should be creating: newsletters. I'll explain why and how. You can refer back to this page for an index of the posts, or just subscribe to [the newsletter](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe) and get it delivered direct to you. 1. [Why You Need a Newsletter in 2020](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/why-you-need-a-newsletter-in-2020/) 2. [Define Your Audience](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/define-your-audience) 3. [Finding Your Favorite Newsletter Format](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/finding-your-favorite-newsletter-format/) 4. [Introduce Yourself!](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/introduce-yourself/) 5. [Recommended: Do Open](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/recommended-do-open/) 6. [Don’t personalize. Write like a person.](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/dont-personalize-write-like-a-person/) 7. [Conquer Newsletter Obesity](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/stop-newsletter-obesity/) 8. [Subject lines don’t matter as much as your From line.](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/your-from-line/) 9. [Recommended: Chimp Essentials](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/recommended-chimp-essentials/) 10. [Attracting Subscribers to Your Newsletter: Lead Generators](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/attracting-subscribers-to-your-newsletter-lead-generators/) 11. [Don't call it a newsletter. Don't ask readers to subscribe.](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/dont-call-it-a-newsletter/) 12. [Be consistent.](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/be-consistent/) 13. [Recommended: Newsletter Ninja](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/recommended-newsletter-ninja/) 14. [Add your newsletter link to all the things.](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/add-your-newsletter-link-to-all-the-things/) 15. [Put your best link forward.](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/put-your-best-link-forward/) 16. [Go headless](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/go-headless/). 17. [Attracting Readers: Forwards](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/attracting-readers-forwards/) 18. [Get started.](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/get-started/) 19. [Have a personality.](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/have-a-personality/) 20. [Attracting Readers: Social Media](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/attracting-readers-social-media/) 21. [The Smartest Things Ever Said about Email Newsletters](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-smartest-things-ever-said-about-email-newsletters/) 22. [Automate when it makes sense.](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/automate-when-it-makes-sense/) 23. [Meet your subscribers.](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/meet-your-subscribers/) 24. [Strategize long before you monetize.](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/strategize-long-before-you-monetize/) 25. [Pick a day, any day.](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/pick-a-day-any-day/) 26. [Ask for testimonials.](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/ask-for-testimonials/) 27. [The Future of Privacy in Newsletters](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-future-of-privacy-in-newsletters/) 28. [Examples of Newsletters Doing It Right](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/examples-of-newsletters-doing-it-right/) 29. [Further Reading](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/further-reading-on-newsletters/) ### Can you publish a guitar? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/can-you-publish-a-guitar/ Last updated: 2023-05-20T18:53:08.000Z Blank canvases products are everywhere. Pens, watches, cars, guitars — there are certain objects that attract artists to create. I love digging into why. In a way, it’s just a different form of publishing. It seems like all the same rules apply: create, edit, integrate, and ship. Repeat until death. January is Winter NAMM month. It’s the time of year when music merchants all over the world fly to the U.S. to see the latest product designs, especially the guitars. It's when we all get to see what the artists behind each guitar company have shipped. My favorites this year? [Yvette Young’s new signature model](https://youtu.be/4vfFqL5KsIw?ref=cjchilvers.com) sports a color I want on everything! Kramer’s [embrace of the 80s](https://allthatshreds.com/kramer-guitars-announce-new-collection-ahead-of-namm-2020/?ref=cjchilvers.com) is the equivalent of watching Predator, Roadhouse or any one of a dozen buddy-cop movies. It’s unapologetically brazen. I remember it was impossible to find a Kramer at any reasonable price back then. They’re all within reach now. So strange. Fender, as usual, brings the [high-ticket art objects](https://youtu.be/QmGc4jvcHuk?ref=cjchilvers.com). But their [jewel-encrusted, Fabergé egg $560,000 guitar](https://newatlas.com/music/fender-custom-shop-coronation-saleen-broadcaster/?ref=cjchilvers.com) is an eyesore meant for someone with more dollars than sense. See that? It's art. It's publishing. It's shipping something that in the words of Seth Godin, "might not work." You're going to miss more than you hit, so you have to take a lot of shots. I've published thousands of posts and newsletters. I could maybe count a few dozen that I think are great. But it took the rest of those misses to get me there. And, by the way, the best guitar for the money wasn’t even new at the show, it was announced two months earlier: the “Texas tea”-finished [Fender Tele Ultra](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMArlSre2to&ref=cjchilvers.com). Last year if you told me I’d even “like” a Telecaster, I’d laugh in your face. This year it’s the only new guitar I'd really want. That’s how good it is. ### The Year in Review URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-year-in-review/ Last updated: 2020-01-12T13:15:36.000Z I usually can't reflect on a year until well into the next, but I'm going to give it a try here. I want to get clear about what is worth focusing on more in 2020. ## What worked ### Daily blogging in November I loved it. I grew my network. It made me dig for thoughts. It made me establish a writing habit and schedule it. Weird fact: for the past two years, [the most popular post on my blog](https://www.cjchilvers.com/seth-godin-explains-why-you-should-blog-daily/) has been about daily blogging. ### My physical health I went keto in May and lost 50 pounds. It's no fad, it just has a fad title. My dad has been on essentially the same diet since 1995 and I credit it for his longevity (he has a masters in physical education and 35 years of football coaching under his belt — he knows about fitness and he was all in early on this “fad”). I've never been this healthy in my life. I dropped from biking 10 miles a day in 2018-2019 to 5 miles a day by the end of 2019\. This is because I added some strength exercises and meditation to the schedule in the same time slot. Well worth the exchange. ## My mental health I tried neurofeedback therapy and a full psychological/physiological examination of my brain in 2019. They tell me the left side of my brain yielded “exceptional” results. My right brain is a dummy. It was one of the most remarkable differences this doctor had ever seen. In a memory test, I was able to recall more information after 30 minutes of distractions than after 5 minutes of no distractions. That's also remarkable. It (combined with other tests) meant I have ADHD. I had never been diagnosed with that before, as I'm the opposite of hyperactive. They say that doesn't matter, it's all about how you process information and the tests don’t lie. I kept this all a secret during my month of blogging on anxiety. I was experimenting with new medications all the time and didn't want to encourage the same of my readers (I’m not Tim Ferris). I'm a mentally different person now than before my tests. It hasn't cured my anxiety, but it's improved my life about 20%. I would recommend anyone with good insurance get tested and find out how strange their brain really is. ### Journaling I continued my almost-10-year streak of daily journaling. Try it. It's good for you. ### My family I'm very lucky. ### Travel I completed my life-long tour of the U.S., finally [visiting my 50th state](https://www.cjchilvers.com/alaska/). ## What failed ### Book sales My book sales took a major dip compared to the previous years. This wasn't unexpected. I had little time to promote them and I used the time I did have to build newsletters, email campaigns, and websites for others. What made it a “failure” was the amount of money and time I spent to make the books beautiful and more available to libraries and bookstores. It was humongous effort compared to the return. Silver lining for 2020: I realize they will earn it back eventually and they are something to be proud to have in a library or bookstore. ### Daily blogging after November I didn't return to daily blogging. I know why: perfectionism. In the past I've blogged in different styles from Swiss Miss to Seth Godin to John Gruber. But I feel awful when I don't provide enough value in small posts. I know that’s crazy. Nevertheless, I usually stop posting small and try to post in a James Clear or Leo Babauta style for a while. My belief in the power of brevity eventually stops me or burns me out. I end up nowhere — hating my writing, not posting for weeks. It happens year after year. Solution for 2020: realize no one reads blogs anymore and just do whatever you feel like. Blog like you did in 1997 (yes, I blogged back then and it was a very different style), then save your best for [the newsletter](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe). ### Independence This is the ultimate goal of every writer I know. This year I planned how to become more independent, but I didn't schedule enough time to make any of it a reality. Solution for 2020: name this independence project and schedule it twice weekly. ### Patreon I dislike Patreon as a service for so many reasons, but that's not my failure. This is: I love my patrons, but I haven't shown them enough love because I so dislike Patreon. My plan was to bring it all in-house, building patronage into my website and providing every book, podcast, video, etc. I've ever done to my patrons. Instead, I only focused on producing more new words. My focus in 2020 must be more on people, not just creating text. I’ll quit Patreon and bring it all here, giving extra attention to those who care. ### My podcast I recorded a few shows for a corporate podcast I pitched this summer. It met with decent reviews internally, but due to budget constraints, it was shelved. Solution for 2020: either release these under my own podcast, or concede that I'm a writer and my interviews should probably be in newsletters/blog posts. ### Music My guitar got little play this year. This is a form of fun I need to reclaim. That's it for now. I'm sure the list is longer, but I clearly need to get to work on some stuff. Thanks for listening if you made it to the end. Do you have review like this? Let me know. ### A Month of Blogging about Anxiety: The Results URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/a-month-of-blogging-about-anxiety-the-results/ Last updated: 2019-12-06T00:43:41.000Z I’m guessing a fair amount of you with blogs or platforms are wondering what the results were of focusing intensely on [one subject for a month of daily blogging](https://www.cjchilvers.com/30-practical-tactics-to-decrease-your-anxiety-intro/). Since I was writing up a note-to-myself about it, I thought: why not share? ## Results - It helped several people. I received a few emails from people who tried and liked the techniques. Some were inspired to take action. That alone makes the project a success. - I learned more about what I really thought. This is true of any public writing. - The posts strengthened relationships I had with some bloggers who linked to me, and established at least one new relationship. - There were a handful of new subscribers to [my newsletter](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe/) (the thing I care about most) and a handful of unsubscribers who probably wanted me to stay in my lane. Fair enough. - Traffic to my blog went up 100%. This isn’t a surprise. Switching to daily blogging is bound to increase traffic. It’s what you do with it that matters. - It seeded the content needed to create a book or course on the subject. I’ve been talking with a doctor about providing a lot more content on the topic of anxiety, and November proved there’s both amble supply and demand. - For the first time ever, daily blogging didn’t burn me out. I attribute this to a few things. It had constraints: one topic. I had scheduled writing time each week to pound out 4 posts at a Starbucks while waiting for one of my son’s after school activities (the rest came naturally over the week, usually late at night). But most of all, I didn’t stop to care about perfection. - I realized how much I hate the platform I have for blogging. The design and function are terrible, because blogging just isn’t a thing anymore to the masses, and hosts/CMS’s don’t need to care about it to make money. I appreciate the simplicity of newsletters so much more (stop trying to suppress them Google!). - It woke me up to the possibility of doing this multiple times and seeing which topics you respond to the most. What people say they want, and what they actually read, are very different things. ## Which posts were the most popular? It’s cheating a bit to look at the numbers now, since the first posts will naturally have higher numbers just because they’ve had more time to collect views. But it’s really all we have. Here’s the top five posts in terms of page views (not counting the intro): 1. [Radical Acceptance](https://www.cjchilvers.com/radical-acceptance/) 2. [Journal for What’s Now](https://www.cjchilvers.com/journal-for-whats-now/) 3. [Try Neurofeedback](https://www.cjchilvers.com/try-neurofeedback/) 4. [Stop Scheduling Your Anxiety](https://www.cjchilvers.com/stop-scheduling-your-anxiety/) 5. [Put “You” Away for a While](https://www.cjchilvers.com/put-you-away-for-a-while/) ### Survive URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/survive/ Last updated: 2019-11-30T15:00:00.000Z Simply [getting](https://www.anxiety.org/remission-of-anxiety-symptoms-may-occur-as-you-grow-older?ref=cjchilvers.com) [older](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3263387/?ref=cjchilvers.com) is probably the best cure for anxiety. Some of the reasons: 1. You learn how to deal with triggers better. 2. You experiment more. 3. You realize more and more that you’re not alone. 4. You care less about what others think. 5. You learn to turn your weaknesses into strengths. So, my last practical tip this month for anxiety is just to keep going and keep experimenting. Don’t give in and wallow in your anxiety. Your life is a gift. Believe it or not, your anxiety can be a [gift](https://amzn.to/2L8joZZ?ref=cjchilvers.com). As for the tactics I’ve left out of this month’s posts, like hypnosis, acupuncture, and supplements, they may work for some, but they’ve never worked for me. That’s the advantage of persisting with 20+ years of experiments: there’s never an end and you’re bound to find something that works a little bit eventually. Did you find anything this month that worked for you? [Let me know](https://www.cjchilvers.com/contact) and [join us](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe) for updates on future anxiety tips. ### Play URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/play/ Last updated: 2019-11-29T15:00:00.000Z Kids used to play a lot more [than they do today](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/parenting/wp/2016/05/19/4-ways-to-get-kids-to-play-more-and-to-enjoy-it/?ref=cjchilvers.com). I think the same is true of adults. Remember how it was so common, as to be a cliche´, that every dad was part of a bowling league and an Elks or Moose (or some-excuse-for-drinking-with-friends) Club? On my last big [sabbatical](https://www.cjchilvers.com/be-alone-without-being-lonely/), I read the book[*Play It Away*](https://amzn.to/2Ougscv?ref=cjchilvers.com), which suggests that a return to play is exactly what we need to relieve anxiety, no matter what your age. It’s also what we need to build stronger communities. The books [*The Coddling of the American Mind*](https://amzn.to/2OwPLnv?ref=cjchilvers.com) and [*Antifragile*](https://amzn.to/2OurRcf?ref=cjchilvers.com) would agree. Here’s one of the authors of [*The Coddling of the American Mind*](https://amzn.to/2OwPLnv?ref=cjchilvers.com), Dr. Jonathan Haidt, giving [a talk](https://youtu.be/87%5FiQMiZ09g?ref=cjchilvers.com) on why anxiety has skyrocketed in young people and how reintroducing play, among other things, is the solution: First, define what is play for you. Sports? Entertainment? Hanging out with friends? Come up with a long list. Then, schedule it. It’s as important as anything else you’d schedule. ### Eliminate Extra Inboxes URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/eliminate-inboxes/ Last updated: 2019-11-28T15:00:00.000Z There’s a lot of productivity advice out there about what to do to organize and process your many inboxes. But the best rule is often forgotten: have as few of them as possible. Inboxes are input. Every added inbox is a new firehose of information for people already drowning in information. Anxious people usually become anxious because of overwhelm and/or overthinking. There may be underlying reasons, but the overwhelm can sometimes be treated practically by cutting back on sources of input. For example, we nerds like RSS. It’s an easy way to organize and process all the blogs and publications we love, and be completionists at the same time. But RSS is also an added inbox in our lives. Dave Pell, creator of [the ultra-popular newsletter NextDraft](https://medium.com/thoughts-on-journalism/how-dave-pell-created-one-of-the-most-successful-newsletters-of-the-internet-2dfff4725ba7?ref=cjchilvers.com), reads news sites all day to compile his daily newsletter summarizing the news. Everyone assumed he did this using RSS to be as efficient and productive as possible. But he doesn’t. He just visits each site, one-by-one, takes in the info he finds interesting and moves on. It’s his job to scour news sites, and even he doesn’t need RSS. It turns out, the old-fashioned bookmark does a pretty great job of keeping track of what you want to see without filling yet another inbox in your life. How many inboxes do you have? How many could you eliminate today? *This is part of a 30-day challenge to blog about anxiety.* [*See all the posts*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/30-practical-tactics-to-decrease-your-anxiety-intro/)*.* ### Get Lost in Music URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/get-lost-in-music/ Last updated: 2019-11-27T15:00:00.000Z Poppy music sends me into a rage. Raging music makes me happy. Why is that? And why does music have such a profound effect on our brains? Just this week, a Harvard study, published in [*Science*](https://science.sciencemag.org/content/366/6468/eaax0868?ref=cjchilvers.com), found that [music is indeed a universal language to all humans](https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-friday-edition-1.5369737/is-music-universal-scientists-who-spent-years-trying-to-find-out-now-have-an-answer-1.5369745?%5F%5Fvfz=medium%3Dsharebar&ref=cjchilvers.com) and: > “Music does appear to be tied to specific perceptual, cognitive, and affective faculties, including language (all societies put words to their songs), motor control (people in all societies dance), auditory analysis (all musical systems have signatures of tonality), and aesthetics (their melodies and rhythms are balanced between monotony and chaos).” It makes sense that there’s an entire field of therapy devoted to using music to shape mood. I can’t tell you which songs will cure your anxiety, although [some claim to know](https://www.inc.com/melanie-curtin/neuroscience-says-listening-to-this-one-song-reduces-anxiety-by-up-to-65-percent.html?ref=cjchilvers.com). But I can tell you that, just like everything I’ve written about this month, whatever *reliably* takes you “out of your own head” is a good (at least temporary) cure for anxiety. If I have a long car ride ahead of me, I know I can sit next to my anxiety for the whole trip, or I can put on an album from my [era of influence](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/10/opinion/sunday/favorite-songs.html?ref=cjchilvers.com) and disappear into it for the next hour. When I arrive, I can’t even remember the ride, just the songs. I like to think that podcasts and audiobooks do the same thing, but they rarely do. They’re not a *reliably* good story in the way that music is. Play an instrument? Even better. But let’s stick to what’s immediate and practical for most people: just make music more a part of your life. *This is part of a 30-day challenge to blog about anxiety.* [*See all the posts*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/30-practical-tactics-to-decrease-your-anxiety-intro/)*.* ### Declare Independence URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/declare-independence-1/ Last updated: 2019-11-26T15:00:00.000Z One of the themes this month has been the role of independence in anxiety. The more agency you have over areas of your life, the less likely you are to experience anxiety in those areas. Yes, luck is involved. That’s no excuse not to seek greater independence in your life, even if you never reach your goal. More independence is the point. Total independence is probably not possible, nor desirable. How many areas of your life could greater independence affect less anxiety? - Financial independence: the stress of making your monthly nut is probably what causes the most stress in adults. - Political independence: don’t let a single political party tell you what to believe. They never get 100% right, which is proven by their constant waivering. Remaining politically independent can reduce your Twitter stress, holiday party stress, and Election Day stress immensely. Decide what you believe and who you believe on a case-by-case basis. - Product independence: you’re not an Apple fanboy, a Ford guy, or a Coach girl. You’re an odd combination of traits and ever-changing beliefs. You can’t and shouldn’t be pinned down. That’s when company’s start making your buying decisions for you. - Opinion independence: You don’t have to have an opinion on everything. And you don’t have to share your opinion on anything. This one will reduce your stress by huge amounts, but don’t expect anyone to understand why that’s more valuable to you than joining their opinion tribe. There’s so many more, but you get the idea. Independence is a worthy goal to work towards, and the byproduct is less anxiety. “We happily give up our freedom and our income in exchange for having someone else take responsibility for telling us what to do next.” — Seth Godin “The great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.” — Walter Bagehot “Economic independence is the foundation of the only sort of freedom worth a damn.” — HL Mencken “I was no party man myself, and the first wish of my heart was, if parties did exist, to reconcile them.” — George Washington “Real wealth is never having to spend time with assholes.” — John Waters “Everything popular is wrong.” — Oscar Wilde “It’s more fun to be a pirate than to join the navy.” — Steve Jobs “Nothing is more conductive to peace of mind than not having any opinion at all.” — GC Lichtenberg “Once in a while it really hits people that they don't have to experience the world in the way they have been told to.” — Alan Keightley *This is part of a 30-day challenge to blog about anxiety.* [*See all the posts*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/30-practical-tactics-to-decrease-your-anxiety-intro/)*.* ### Go Camping URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/go-camping/ Last updated: 2019-11-25T15:00:00.000Z I know, I know. This is not the time of year to bring this up, but camping really has a way of ending my anxiety from the moment I step foot in a tent or cabin. There’s several reasons you should give this a go: 1. It’s all about independence and self-reliance. You can’t be anxious, there’s wood needed for the fire. 2. You’re in control. No one is telling what to do and there are no rules. 3. It’s fun. 4. There’s no outside world. For all you know the outside world ended hours ago. So what? Gotta get that fire going for the marshmallows. 5. If you bring kids, it’s just about the best thing you could do for them. Cut off (just like you) from screens, they’re forced to run around, be in nature and be bored. There’s nothing better for your creativity than to be bored. Kids are built for it. 6. It’s totally OK to do nothing. Your life could use a pause button. But even on vacation, we feel the need to run errand after errand to keep family and/or friends happy. That’s not needed with camping. You’re expected to hang out on a hammock for a few hours, getting up only for food, drinks, or something fun. Even at resorts, someone is always trying to interrupt this real fun, for their idea of fun. No thanks. 7. The night sky. Finally seeing it without city lights puts you in your place. Perspective is key. You’re nothing in the grand scheme, and you need to be reminded every once in a while. 8. It’s really nice to hold long conversations with family and friends. It rarely happens unless there’s literally nothing else to do. There’s so many other reasons, but I think it comes down to the mindset you have to be in while camping. There’s just no room for what causes anxiety out there. It’s a shame we rarely take the lessons above and apply them to our regular lives. *This is part of a 30-day challenge to blog about anxiety.* [*See all the posts*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/30-practical-tactics-to-decrease-your-anxiety-intro/)*.* ### Add and Remove Automations URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/automation-anxiety/ Last updated: 2019-11-24T15:00:00.000Z Sometimes you can take away small stressors by automating a process. For example, these blog posts are not written day-by-day. They're written in batches, then scheduled to go out with social media alerts triggered the minute they're published. Each article is then captured, tagged, and catalogued for future reference. All of this happens without me lifting a figure. I just write the post. Automations (I don't use) also exist to take these posts straight from this blog and gather them in a newsletter once a week, change the subject line, and send it out to my subscribers. I haven't done this kind of automation at least five years, because I feel that newsletter subscribers deserve more in return for them giving me the privilege of placing something in their inbox. What does this have to do with anxiety? My wife could probably tell you the extreme stress I was under in the past to meet deadlines for posts and newsletters (I've gotten much better). "I have to get the newsletter out," would piss off my wife to no end, which in turn ruined both our days. Flipping a switch to end those ruined days was well worth it at one point. Removing automation can create just as much happiness, though. Take this famous story from Kurt Vonnegut: > “\[When Kurt Vonnegut tells his wife he's going out to buy an envelope\] Oh, she says, well, you're not a poor man. You know, why don't you go online and buy a hundred envelopes and put them in the closet? And so I pretend not to hear her. And go out to get an envelope because I'm going to have a hell of a good time in the process of buying one envelope. I meet a lot of people. And, see some great looking babes. And a fire engine goes by. And I give them the thumbs up. And, and ask a woman what kind of dog that is. And, and I don't know. The moral of the story is, is we're here on Earth to fart around. And, of course, the computers will do us out of that. And, what the computer people don't realize, or they don't care, is we're dancing animals. You know, we love to move around. And, we're not supposed to dance at all anymore.” – Kurt Vonnegut on NOW (PBS) Today, we can order anything from Amazon, but I suppose that means we stop to smell the roses less. It's the same for my newsletter. The automations removed me another step from having real relationships with readers, which is what this newsletter thing is all about. Automations aren't good or bad. They're a powerful tool that can make your life more livable, or take the life out of life. *This is part of a 30-day challenge to blog about anxiety.* [*See all the posts*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/30-practical-tactics-to-decrease-your-anxiety-intro/)*.* ### Paint with Light URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/paint/ Last updated: 2019-11-23T15:00:00.000Z I have no idea if painting eases your anxiety, because I have no experience in painting. But I can recommend taking up photography as a hobby. It’s such an effective anxiety killer, some people simply cannot live without it. Think about what you’re doing when you’re photographing for the fun/art/experience of it. 1. You’re studying light. 2. You’re studying the environment. 3. You’re studying expressions. 4. You’re focused. You’re focusing. 5. You’re composing and approaching the present moment from multiple angles and techniques. 6. You may be envisioning a scene in black and white, infrared, and a dozen different color palettes. 7. You could be in a new place, or surrounded by new people. 8. You could be in a breathtakingly beautiful place you’d never visit if not for photography. 9. You’re placing creation over consumption. The point is you’re present and focused in way you can’t be in normal life. Photography strips away the distraction-laden veneer of the modern world if you let it. ### Quit Your Presidential Campaign URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/quit-your-presidential-campaign/ Last updated: 2019-11-22T15:00:00.000Z It’s a cliche´ that politicians resign or stop campaigns to “spend more time with family.” This is a lie, of course, but it’s really good advice when it comes to anxiety. [Study](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21200073?ref=cjchilvers.com) [after](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16905719?ref=cjchilvers.com) [study](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2822182/?ref=cjchilvers.com) shows that being happy and healthy in life means spending more time with family and friends. It’s an anxiety killer. But wait, I thought [solitude](https://www.cjchilvers.com/be-alone-without-being-lonely/) was the answer? Both are effective in their proper amounts. It’s the strong bonds you build that keep you living longer and happier, able to spend time alone in the healthy way. As much as you spend time improving yourself, spend time building stronger bonds to your closest allies, for both your sakes. Make date nights with your spouse. Have a family movie night. Have a girls/boys night out. Our parents knew about the benefits of these things long before Netflix and social media filled our non-working hours. It’s time to reclaim this invaluable face-to-face time. And don’t forget to [schedule it](https://www.cjchilvers.com/stop-scheduling-your-anxiety/)! *This is part of a 30-day challenge to blog about anxiety.* [*See all the posts*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/30-practical-tactics-to-decrease-your-anxiety-intro/)*.* ### Notifications Can Go Straight to Hell URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/notifications-can-go-straight-to-hell/ Last updated: 2019-11-21T15:00:00.000Z How many notifications do you need? As many as you **need**. I need to hear from my family and son’s teacher in case of emergency. All other notifications are costly. Some are needed to earn a living, but they still come at a cost that must be factored. If you’re not budgeting for notifications, you’re letting others spend your time and attention. If you’re letting others spend your time and attention, no wonder your anxiety increases. It would be astonishing if it didn’t. Plus, you’re making it harder on yourself to find the time and attention to deal with your anxiety. Put your notifications under a microscope. Make them rare. *This is part of a 30-day challenge to blog about anxiety.* [*See all the posts*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/30-practical-tactics-to-decrease-your-anxiety-intro/)*.* ### Put "You" Away for a While URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/put-you-away-for-a-while/ Last updated: 2019-11-20T15:00:00.000Z Anxiety is all about turning inward. It can be narcissistic. The more you worry, the more you worry about being worried. The only room you make for others in a panic attack is when you worry about what they’re going to think about you. I didn’t fully realize that for most of my life. I thought that because I didn’t think much OF myself, that I couldn’t be thinking all that much ABOUT myself. Truth is, you can be self-involved and self-hating at the same time. In fact, the two are made for each other. Today, I’m going two recommend two activities that combat this way of thinking. First, do something charitable for others that involves your time and effort, not just money. I’ll admit, the last time I went to volunteer I had a panic attack so bad on my way that I had to pull over. But once I got there, I started working and I didn’t have a single anxious moment. I was thinking about the people being helped, not myself. Second, be grateful. This is lifelong skill. Combine this with [journaling](https://www.cjchilvers.com/journal-for-whats-now/) to get the full effect. Every night, instead of cycling through failures and wish-I-could-have-saids before drifting off, briefly write out what you're grateful for. There’s more than you can list, even on your worst day, because you’re alive and that’s statistically [almost impossible](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/probability-being-born%5Fb%5F877853?ref=cjchilvers.com). Being grateful has pulled me out of so many holes. It’s the ultimate in putting “you” away for a while. It can be done anywhere. It’s a habit that should be repeated for rest of your life. And it helps with a lot more than anxiety. *This is part of a 30-day challenge to blog about anxiety.* [*See all the posts*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/30-practical-tactics-to-decrease-your-anxiety-intro/)*. Wondering why I put “you” in quotes? That’s because it’s likely there is* [*no*](https://youtu.be/fajfkO%5FX0l0?ref=cjchilvers.com)[*you*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/self-awareness/) *to worry about in the first place.* ### Break Up with Social Media URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/break-up-with-social-media/ Last updated: 2019-11-19T15:00:00.000Z Did you know that [the worst social media app for your mental health is Instagram](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/19/instagram-ranked-worst-social-network-young-peoples-mental-health/?ref=cjchilvers.com)? Did you know that Facebook has hired [a large group of employees with backgrounds in social psychology and anthropology](https://www.cjchilvers.com/facebook-is-delusional/) to advocate for more engagement? Did you know that Twitter seems to have no idea what’s it’s doing and [its number of real, active users is very low](https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/7/18213567/twitter-to-stop-sharing-mau-as-users-decline-q4-2018-earnings?ref=cjchilvers.com)? Did you know that [YouTuber is the job U.S. kids most want when they grow up](https://www.businessinsider.com/american-kids-youtube-star-astronauts-survey-2019-7?ref=cjchilvers.com)? I’m in marketing, so I can tell you that if you want to target specific people and bombard them with A/B tested information tailored to their psychological profile, you can do that pretty cheaply and effectively in Facebook (Instagram). That’s where you go if you want results. They have real experts in psychology working on how to get you to read more ads and like them. That’s exciting to marketers. It should be a warning to consumers. That’s why I gave up consumption of Facebook and Instagram years ago. I knew that as someone who already had anxiety issues, these platforms would only play to those issues, manipulate me, and make me worse person. I knew how dangerous those platforms were becoming. They’ve only gotten worse since. Plus, what a waste of time. *This is part of a 30-day challenge to blog about anxiety.* [*See all the posts*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/30-practical-tactics-to-decrease-your-anxiety-intro/)*.* ### Laugh URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/laugh/ Last updated: 2019-11-18T15:00:00.000Z The second date ever with my wife, 11 years ago this month, was at Zanies. The headliner was painfully unfunny that night, but the opener (Hannibal Buress) rescued the night and seeing comedians remains one of our favorite date night plans. One of the highlights of my pre-wife life was being in George Carlin’s last HBO special from New York (I’m the in the balcony, first row). I took my family, but I don’t think my parents were quite prepared for how blue George had gotten in his old age. Last week, I went to see Bert Kreischer here in Chicago. For that 90 minutes or so, I felt no anxiety. There’s just something about a great comedian, or entertainer of any kind, that completes removes your inner dialogue and replaces it with joy. You have to make room to laugh more. It can be in your everyday work, in a movie theater, or at once-in-a-lifetime events, but you have make room for it. Anxiety doesn’t let it in naturally. It’s easy to see the world as pretty sick these days. It’s so much harder and more rewarding to seek out what’s funny about it. *This is part of a 30-day challenge to blog about anxiety.* [*See all the posts*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/30-practical-tactics-to-decrease-your-anxiety-intro/)*.* ### Cut the Stimulants URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/cut-the-stimulants/ Last updated: 2019-11-17T15:00:00.000Z Stimulants and anxiety love each other. It’s a match made in hell. If you’re complaining about anxiety and holding a giant coffee, there’s a disconnect there. Caffeine is an amplifier of anxiety, not to mention the narcotics some take to deal with anxiety that only make it worse. The process of getting your caffeine (and sugar) can be addictive as well. It took me years to break with my routines. But I had to be honest with myself: caffeine is really bad for people with anxiety and it’s looking like [sugar may much worse than we thought](https://amzn.to/32T2mVG?ref=cjchilvers.com). *This is part of a 30-day challenge to blog about anxiety.* [*See all the posts*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/30-practical-tactics-to-decrease-your-anxiety-intro/)*.* ### Collect Your Testimonials URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/collect-your-testimonials/ Last updated: 2019-11-16T15:00:00.000Z We all have those moments when we feel like imposters, like we aren’t qualified for our work or lifestyles. Anxiety amplifies this. It’s a quick trip from there to procrastination and depression. I keep a “testimonials” folder for these moments, where I save the *very* occasional accolade I get. I forget about them all the time. There’s even some minor celebrities in there. How could I forget? Anxiety does that. The world’s greatest rock guitar player, Eddie Van Halen, used to vomit before his concerts from anxiety. If anxiety and imposter syndrome took over *that guy’s* mind each night, what hope is there for us? Not much if you don’t time to reflect on your successes and realize how valuable you are to your community, family, and clients. *This is part of a 30-day challenge to blog about anxiety.* [*See all the posts*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/30-practical-tactics-to-decrease-your-anxiety-intro/)*.* ### Apply Constraints URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/apply-constraints/ Last updated: 2019-11-15T15:00:00.000Z We know [creativity thrives with constraints](https://hbr.org/2013/01/how-intelligent-constraints-dr?ref=cjchilvers.com). But what does it have to do with [anxiety](https://www.cjchilvers.com/30-practical-tactics-to-decrease-your-anxiety-intro/)? Have too much information and too many options when making decisions is great trigger for your anxiety. This is why minimalism is so popular — maybe more in thought than practice. This is why I prefer to apply constraints to alleviate specific problems, rather than applying entire philosophies to my entire life (which is in itself a lack of constraints). What are some easy wins constraints can bring to your daily life? - Pick a favorite breakfast, lunch, dinner, or meal plan and stick to it. - Pick a favorite brand and size of t-shirt, buy a dozen in different colors and always have something to wear when you don’t want to think about it. - Giveaway or sell a bunch of stuff you haven't used in a few years. Clutter is information too. - Schedule activities for a regular time on a family calendar that are usually a struggle (dinner, baths, homework, etc.). Reduce your options and you'll reduce the overthinking that comes with too many options. *This is part of a 30-day challenge to blog about anxiety.* [*See all the posts*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/30-practical-tactics-to-decrease-your-anxiety-intro/)*.* ### Have a Drink URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/have-a-drink/ Last updated: 2019-11-14T15:00:00.000Z *This one is going to get me into some trouble, but it's an important lesson my doctor taught me that actually works on my anxiety, thus meeting the exact criteria for this* [*30-day challenge*](https://www.cjchilvers.com/30-practical-tactics-to-decrease-your-anxiety-intro/)*. If you have a problem with alcoholism, please ignore this. This was for me.* I once told my doctor that one of my favorite things about the winter is that I cook for the family, sometimes elaborately. I enjoy a beer or two, or a glass of wine (since going carb-less) while prepping the dinner. It's how I wind down from stressful, gray, cold work days. In the dead of winter, I can do this almost every weekday that I’m at home. This worked so well on my anxiety and made my family so much happier to be around me, that it started to get me worried: what if I made a habit of this and became dependent on this small vacation every day of my life? I went on to overthink it and talk for 10 minutes about the worst possible outcomes. He stopped me. "Does it help your anxiety?" Yes. "Then have a drink." He went on to explain that (at least in my case) worrying about it was worse than any likely issues I would face. My wife backs him up regularly, "You need a drink." Your mileage may vary. You may be depressed and less likely to obsess over the repercussions of such things, and adding alcohol to that situation is a disaster. And all those studies about moderate drinking being healthy [are bunk](https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/23/health/global-alcohol-study/index.html?ref=cjchilvers.com). But, if you're like me, anxiety is the primary beast and nothing settles that beast for me quite like slow-cooked, braised pork shoulder on a frigid day with a spicy Malbec. ### Stop Scheduling Your Anxiety URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/stop-scheduling-your-anxiety/ Last updated: 2019-11-13T15:00:00.000Z You’ve read me say it several times in these [anxiety posts](https://www.cjchilvers.com/30-practical-tactics-to-decrease-your-anxiety-intro/): you must schedule all these tactics. This stems from one of the most effective tactics I’ve ever used on my anxiety: using my calendar. I could write an entire course on this (and I probably will), but I’ll go over some of the key concepts here, so you can put this to work for yourself as soon as possible. Your brain’s active memory can handle about [4 items](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121128093930.htm?ref=cjchilvers.com). That’s all. We weren’t build for all the information flooding our heads. I don’t see the anxiety epidemic as an unexplained malady of this generation. It’s perfectly understandable. We are simple creatures trying to juggle unreasonable complexities. I borrow from two philosophies on how to handle all the information flowing into my life: [GTD](https://gettingthingsdone.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) and the calendar teachings of [Patrick Rhone and Garrick van Buren](https://garrickvanburen.com/product/the-power-of-when-with-garrick-van-buren-and-patrick-rhone/?ref=cjchilvers.com). 1. Have a trusted capture system. Have an inbox where everything task or piece of relevant information goes, so it can be sorted later. Never trust your brain for this. This place can be physical or digital, but it has to be always-available, trusted to never fail, and reviewed regularly. 2. Review regularly. This means deleting liberally, clarifying next actions, assigning contexts, and determining what will deliver the greatest returns in your life, family, and career. Say no to everything you possibly can. 3. Anything that’s just a reminder, save to your Reminders app (or your reminder app of choice). 4. Put whatever survives the above on your calendar, batching as many tasks as possible by context. Can’t fit it all? You’ve just identified a life problem, not a calendar problem. Time is the least common denominator in all our lives. You can’t reason with it. You have it or you don’t. Sometimes it moves when higher priorities arise. Fine, then shift things. Sometimes you don’t have the agency to control all of your time. Again, this is not a calendar problem. Your calendar is just reflecting the truth of your agency – fix that. 5. Refine your calendar. It’s a reflection of your life. If you’re not having fun, or not getting something important done, it’s all about what you have or haven’t scheduled. You can change your life by making a few changes to your calendar. Stop making time for anxiety and you’ll probably experience less anxiety. More on scheduling: - [Kill Your To Do List](https://www.cjchilvers.com/kill-your-to-do-list/) - [Schedule Your Creativity](https://www.cjchilvers.com/schedule-your-creativity/) - [Chris Ducker on Scheduling](https://www.cjchilvers.com/chris-ducker-on-time-management/) - [David DuChemin on Scheduling](https://www.cjchilvers.com/david-duchemin-on-productivity/) ### Exercise Your Brain URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/exercise-your-brain/ Last updated: 2019-11-12T15:00:00.000Z No this isn’t about brain teasers and it’s not about priests ridding you of demons. You can literally exercise a lot of your anxiety away by exercising your body. I did this twice in my life. The first time was in the 90s, when I first was diagnosed with IBS. The panic attacks were becoming unbearable. There was little known about the disorder back then, so you were either given anti-depressants or told “good luck with all that.” I started running five miles a day. It didn’t take away all the panic attacks, but it did decrease them. It did something else as well that isn’t talked about as much. It helped me feel like at least one area of my life was under control. Just like when you clean your closet and feel like all is right with the world, even when it definitely is not. No matter how screwed up you are in your life, there’s always two things the rest of the world respects: fitness and money. Just ask Instagram. Well, I didn’t have money, but the fitter and more in-control I became of my body, the easier social situations became. These days, I do the stationary bike for 10 miles per day, and it probably takes away 20% of my depression and 5% of my anxiety. It’s not a bad way to spend a half hour. Plus, it’s where I do all my TV/video watching for the day. I’ve stopped caring about what the world respects, but that’s something that comes with age. It felt vital in my 20s, and sometimes that’s all that matters to your brain. These days, I just want to live a little longer and a little better. Regular, scheduled exercise gets me there. More on exercise and the brain: - Psychology Today: [Why Exercise Is Good for Your Brain](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-fifth-vital-sign/201901/why-exercise-is-good-your-brain?ref=cjchilvers.com) - Mayo Clinic: [Depression and Anxiety: Exercise Eases Symptoms](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/depression-and-exercise/art-20046495?ref=cjchilvers.com) - Psychology Today: [Hunter-gatherer Ancestry May Be Why Our Brains Need Exercise](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201706/hunter-gatherer-ancestry-may-be-why-our-brains-need-exercise?ref=cjchilvers.com) - Scientific American: ### Go Outside URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/go-outside/ Last updated: 2019-11-11T15:00:00.000Z Taking a walk, [especially in a forest](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19568835?ref=cjchilvers.com), has been shown to reduce cortisol levels (a hormonal measure of stress) and depression. It’s no mistake that [the human eye can discern more shades of green](https://www.cnn.com/2017/06/05/health/colorscope-green-environment-calm/index.html?ref=cjchilvers.com) than any other color. We were made to be outside. Take a walk. Look at nature in action: that's the real world, not this screen. It's grounding. It's an anxiety killer. ["Forest bathing"](https://www.webmd.com/balance/news/20190611/forest-bathing-nature-time-hot-health-advice?ref=cjchilvers.com) is very popular right now for a good reason: it’s touchy-feely, but backed up by science. It works. More on the health benefits of being outdoors: - [Study: Kids Who Spend Time in Nature Become Happier Adults](https://www.adventure-journal.com/2019/02/study-kids-who-spend-time-in-nature-become-happier-adults/?ref=cjchilvers.com) - London School of Economics: [Sea and sun equals happiness](http://www.lse.ac.uk/website-archive/newsAndMedia/news/archives/2013/06/seaandsunequalhappiness.aspx?ref=cjchilvers.com) - New York Times: [How Walking in Nature Changes the Brain](https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/07/22/how-nature-changes-the-brain/?ref=cjchilvers.com) - WebMD: [Forest Bathing, Nature Time Are Hot Health Advice](https://www.webmd.com/balance/news/20190611/forest-bathing-nature-time-hot-health-advice?ref=cjchilvers.com) ### Create a Morning Pages Habit URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/create-a-morning-pages-habit/ Last updated: 2019-11-10T15:00:00.000Z This one is kind of related to [journaling](https://www.cjchilvers.com/journal-for-whats-now/), in that it clears your head of recurring thoughts (open loops) that often lead to increased anxiety. Every morning, set aside some time to start your day by writing in a stream-of-conscience way. No editing. No censoring. Just keep the pen moving (pen and paper tend to work better for this). Write for 20 minutes or 3 pages (depending on [which](https://amzn.to/36S5Cnx?ref=cjchilvers.com) [method](https://amzn.to/36HN7SK?ref=cjchilvers.com) you prefer). People who have been doing this for a while report a flood of ideas they didn’t know was in their head. Remember, this happens in the morning before any emergencies have caught your attention (do it *before* picking up your phone in the morning). This can be a source of inspiration, or a way of identifying problems that need solving. It was during these sessions that I discovered that the obstacles to a lot of my goals were mostly imagined. Sometimes it just takes seeing your excuses on paper to realize how flimsy they really are. It also led to around 200 business ideas. Maybe 2 of those could profitable in reality, but that’s 2 more than I would’ve have otherwise. ### Journal for What’s Now URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/journal-for-whats-now/ Last updated: 2019-11-09T15:00:00.000Z I started journaling in 2010 for all the wrong reasons. I did it mostly for legacy — so there'd be some record of my life after I'm gone. That wasn't a good reason. 1. No one will want to read it. 2. No one reads anymore (except you). 3. No one cares. 4. [Legacy](https://www.cjchilvers.com/legacy-is-a-sales-tool/) is a sales tool. In the grand scheme it's meaningless. 5. What does that mentality do to improve my life now? Despite these somewhat obvious reasons not to start journaling when I did, I did anyway. And I haven't missed a day since 2010. Why? Because it's a form of thinking, problem-solving, and meditation that works out your problems in the most practical way possible. It's like free talk therapy. You think about what's on your mind. You ask questions. You answer some. You plan. You work things out. It's a non-public blog with no rules. Never journal for legacy. Journal because it helps you right now. Journal as if the pages (or bits) will be shredded as quickly as you fill them. It's not about word count. It's about problems solved...or discovered. ### My Hero on Halloween URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/my-hero-on-halloween/ Last updated: 2019-11-08T15:00:00.000Z I’ve always had a hard time at parties. My social anxiety disorder would have me worrying for days before the party. When I got there, I’d put on a happy face and try to say all the right things. Then, I’d go home and collapse, exhausted from days of energy building up and emptying. This Halloween, I went to a party with my wife and son. A dozen or so other families showed up and the house was decked out in fake corpses, zombies, and the occasional jump-scare contraption. It was an impressive setup the host was well-known for. At the party was a teenage girl, sitting alone in a corner. She was the only one not wearing a costume and she was reading. She came to the party with her mom, who explained to me that she was afraid of social gatherings, so she had opted out of being social at this gathering. It seemed that the outside world did not exist to her. She was going to read unapologetically and none of that party was get between her and those words. She was not nervous. She was focused and engaged, just not on the party. In that moment, she became my hero. I wish I had the guts to pull that off as a teenager. That’s real rebellion. That’s real non-conformity. So here’s the practical takeaway I learned: engross yourself in books whenever you get the opportunity. Get lost in the story and your anxiety vanishes. ### You Need to Sleep More URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/you-need-to-sleep-more/ Last updated: 2019-11-07T15:00:00.000Z I don’t think there’s a single anxiety fix that will work if you don’t sleep enough. It’s foundational. It’s so important to your health, you should schedule it. I’m not kidding. My calendar has 8 hours earmarked for sleep. I get an annoying notification if I’m still awake when the appointment is near. It’s also a way to block anything from entering my calendar during those hours. Everyone underestimates the importance of this one. Sleep is non-negotiable. More on sleep: “The shorter your sleep, the shorter your life.” — Matthew Walker, Director of the Sleep and Neuroimaging Lab at UC Berkeley and author of *Why We Sleep* Matt Walker’s TED Talk: [Sleep Is Your Superpower](https://www.ted.com/talks/matt%5Fwalker%5Fsleep%5Fis%5Fyour%5Fsuperpower?ref=cjchilvers.com) From Wired: [Scientists Now Know How Sleep Cleans Toxins From the Brain](https://www.wired.com/story/scientists-now-know-how-sleep-cleans-toxins-from-the-brain/?ref=cjchilvers.com) “Sleep is the interest we have to pay on the capital which is called in at death; and the higher the rate of interest and the more regularly it is paid, the further the date of redemption is postponed.” ― Arthur Schopenhauer “Instead of a hackathon, try a sleepathon. You’ll be better off.” — Jason Fried “Never waste any time you could spend sleeping.” — Frank Knight “The best productivity hack is getting 8-9 hours of sleep every night. Second best is exercising 30-60 minutes each day. Both are obvious and overlooked, and yet make a more meaningful and immediate impact on the quality of your thinking than 99 percent of productivity tips.” — James Clear ### Be Alone Without Being Lonely URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/be-alone-without-being-lonely/ Last updated: 2019-11-06T15:00:00.000Z I believe solitude is critical for the mind. I try to work and think alone as often as I can (which isn’t often). Last year, my doctor told me that I needed some real solitude to reset myself – no family, no computer. He said, “Don’t let anyone talk you out of it. It’s doctor’s orders!” He knew, left to my own devices, I’d find an excuse not to do it. So I planned it a month in advance. I would take a week off of work, head up to Door County, Wisconsin, in middle of summer and enjoy some alone time. My wife was on board, and even looking forward to some time alone with my son. The week passed like a few hours. I hiked. I photographed. I wrote. I tried new restaraunts and a brewery. I just walked around for a while. I meditated. It was the reset I needed. I was free from anxiety most of the time, and when it showed up, I would just do something else. I was free. Solitude is freedom from anxiety for me. It’s also an amazing catalyst for creativity. So many ideas flooded out when I gave my brain a chance to breath. “Good,” my doctor said. “Now do the same a few times a year.” **More on solitude:** [Spend More Time Alone](https://www.calnewport.com/blog/2017/09/24/spend-more-time-alone/?ref=cjchilvers.com) by Cal Newport “I hold this to be the highest task of a bond between two people: that each should stand guard over the solitude of the other.“ — Rainer Maria Rilke “Conversation enriches the understanding, but solitude is the school of genius.” — Edward Gibbon “Loneliness is failed solitude. If you don't teach your children to be alone, then they will only know how to be lonely.” — MIT professor Sherry Turkle “The No. 1 Creativity Habit: In a word: solitude. Creativity flourishes in solitude. With quiet, you can hear your thoughts, you can reach deep within yourself, you can focus.” — Leo Babauta in Zen Habits “The mind is sharper and keener in seclusion and uninterrupted solitude. No big laboratory is needed in which to think. Originality thrives in seclusion free of outside influences beating upon us to cripple the creative mind. Be alone, that is the secret of invention; be alone, that is when ideas are born.” — Nikola Tesla ### Test Your DNA URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/test-your-dna/ Last updated: 2019-11-05T15:00:00.000Z Did you know your doctor could test your DNA to find out which psychiatric drugs might work best on your anxiety? Now you do. Next time you see your doctor ask about [DNA testing for medications](https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/10/17/766473930/dna-tests-for-psychiatric-drugs-are-controversial-but-some-insurers-are-covering?ref=cjchilvers.com). It’s still in its infancy, but it was accurate in my case, and it may save you years of frustrating trial and error. ### Meditate URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/meditate/ Last updated: 2019-11-04T15:00:00.000Z Meditation has helped me more as an approach to reality than just an anxiety treatment. Oh, it can also work wonders on anxiety, but the scope of meditation is so much grander. But where to begin? It’s such a huge topic and to relay a practical tactic you could accomplish in a reasonable amount of time seems impossible. So, how about this…read the two best modern books on the topic. These two books really shook my world and forced me to meditate daily, as the most important habit in my life. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579425198-TPFI02QMXT40KQBNKXQG/image-asset.jpeg) [10% Happier](https://amzn.to/2PFJs1N?ref=cjchilvers.com) by Dan Harris is an introduction to meditation from a skeptical ABC News anchor who had a panic attack on air in front of 5 million viewers and sought ways to come to grips with the frantic nature of his mind. He questions everyone and everything in the process and has laughably horrible results at first. He stumbles into some successes and has become “10% happier,” which is a pretty good return. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579426316-DQY1RIWFE5B3YAOJBH7Q/image-asset.jpeg) If [10% Happier](https://amzn.to/2PFJs1N?ref=cjchilvers.com) is your introduction, [Waking Up](https://amzn.to/2N82NXO?ref=cjchilvers.com) is your deep dive. Written by neuroscientist-turned-podcaster Sam Harris (no relation to Dan Harris, but they are friends), this book will wake you up to the benefits of a lifetime of meditation. What I love about the book is how allergic it is to the woo-woo nature of some meditation advocates. Sam gets deep into the science. This is straight-up facts, provable benefits, and contemplation on what the human brain is really capable of doing/healing. I’ve read this book twice and I subscribe the [Waking Up app](https://wakingup.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com), which is loaded with lessons and continually updated. Between these two books, you’ll be a meditation expert in just a few reading sessions. There isn’t much to meditation besides sitting still in a room, but the effect it has is so far beyond the time invested. ### Breathe URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/breath/ Last updated: 2019-11-03T15:00:00.000Z For about a year, I was able to stave off anxiety and IBS attacks (especially while driving) by pulling the hair out of my legs. Sounds weird, right? But it worked. Why? It was a pattern interrupt. We may get more into pattern interruption later this month, but what’s makes it so effective is that whatever you’re worried about, the brain simply can’t hold “I’m panicked,” and “that’s a really sharp pain in my leg” together at the same time. The pain always wins. The problem with this kind of interruption is that the practitioner really doesn’t want to do this during positive, non-anxious times in life, because that would be self-destructive and really unpleasant. So, over time, the pulling of leg hair gets associated with panic attacks. Pretty soon, you can’t even touch your leg without triggering anxiety. As creatures, we’re very trainable. Enter breathing. The first thing most therapists treating anxiety will teach you is breathing exercises. It interrupts patterns. It introducing lots of oxygen into the body, which causes a positive rush. The long exhales are extremely calming. But most of all, you’re taught this technique because it’s easy to do during positive, non-anxious moments. Breathing is a practice. Schedule it so it happens during good and bad times, or it will become a trigger, just like anything else. Properly practiced, breathing techniques are an effective anti-anxiety tool, but it requires diligence on your part. More on breathing and anxiety: - Harvard Medical School: [Relaxation techniques: Breath control helps quell errant stress response](https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/relaxation-techniques-breath-control-helps-quell-errant-stress-response?ref=cjchilvers.com) - Scientific American: [Proper Breathing Brings Better Health](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/proper-breathing-brings-better-health/?ref=cjchilvers.com) - Psychology Today: [Can You Reduce Anxiety and Stress by the Way You Breathe?](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mindfulness-in-frantic-world/201806/can-you-reduce-anxiety-and-stress-the-way-you-breathe?ref=cjchilvers.com) ### Radical Acceptance URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/radical-acceptance/ Last updated: 2019-11-02T14:00:00.000Z The first thing my Cognitive Behavioral Therapist taught me was the concept of “radical acceptance.” I simply had to accept whatever might happen and repeat over and over to myself, “Who the fuck cares?” It turns out that very few people give a fuck about anything outside of their own heads, let alone what you are doing. Anxiety is often caused by our perceptions of what other’s think about us, or will think if the worst happens, whatever that may be. When we obsess over that perception and worry ourselves into panic, it’s a form of narcissism. Your narrative becomes 100% about you. Saying, “Who the fuck cares” is an act of kindness to yourself and others. You’re saying, “I’m not all that important in the grand scheme and I’m not going to make this all about me. Even if the worst happened in this situation, the world will keep spinning...for a few billion more years. Everyone will forget about me and be forgotten themselves in time.” Time is a great equalizer. That’s comforting, isn’t it? ### Try Neurofeedback URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/try-neurofeedback/ Last updated: 2019-11-01T14:00:00.000Z This is where I am currently on [my journey to decrease my anxiety](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/30-practical-tactics-to-decrease-your-anxiety-intro) — trying neurofeedback therapy. What’s neurofeedback therapy? It relies on the notion that positive feedback can train your brain to correct itself using audio-visual rewards. Practically speaking, it means you sit in front of a TV with electrodes on your head, headphones on your ears, and glasses flashing lights in your eyes for about 30 minutes per session. Behind the scenes, your brain’s activity is being monitored. When a “bad” trend is recognized from the electrodes, a computer reacts in real time, sending signals that makes what you’re watching TV disappear (among other things you probably can’t perceive). In response, your brain tries to counteract the disappearance by firing up the “good” processes in the brain and the image reappears. OK, that’s a very simplistic explanation of a complex therapy that takes doctors months of training to understand. But I’m a writer, not a doctor. I just see flickering lights and nature documentaries fading in and out. In theory, this is all training the brain to stop firing up those “bad” processes so often in daily life. Over time, this is said to relieve a number disorders, including anxiety. I’m on my 20th session or so right now, and I don’t have much to report other than it feels pretty good. I might put a stamp of approval on it in a while, but for now, I just wanted to let you know such a cool thing exists. Also, I wanted to start out this 30-day blog posting spree with something a little unexpected. ![This is me getting my first brain scan in May before starting neurofeedback therapy. I am now 40 pounds lighter and much happier. Does it have anything to do with the therapy? I don’t know, but I’m thinking it may have helped to put me in a better h…](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579433186-2Q67TESAP0F8MLD0PV5H/image-asset.jpeg) This is me getting my first brain scan in May before starting neurofeedback therapy. I am now 40 pounds lighter and much happier. Does it have anything to do with the therapy? I don’t know, but I’m thinking it may have helped to put me in a better headspace by 10% or so, and maybe that played some role in kicking my butt into starting new, healthy habits. ### 30 Practical Tactics to Decrease Your Anxiety (Intro) URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/30-practical-tactics-to-decrease-your-anxiety-intro/ Last updated: 2019-11-01T13:00:00.000Z **I am not a doctor.** The first step in this journey is to seek medical attention if you suspect that anxiety, depression, or any other disorder is negatively affecting your life. *Seriously*. It’s easier than you think and it’s necessary. We’re talking about your health here. There’s nothing more important. Plus, getting an accurate diagnosis means your treatment options can be targeted to exactly what you need. No one but a doctor can do that. **See a doctor.** I’m just a guy who’s had 21 years worth of anxiety fixes tried on him by doctors and cognitive behavioral therapists. I’d like to share with you which ones have worked for me over the next 30 days. Thanks for reading! Subscribe by [RSS or newsletter](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe) to keep up with the latest. **The posts so far:** 1. [Try Neurofeedback](https://www.cjchilvers.com/try-neurofeedback/) 2. [Radical Acceptance](https://www.cjchilvers.com/radical-acceptance/) 3. [Breathe](https://www.cjchilvers.com/breath/) 4. [Meditate](https://www.cjchilvers.com/meditate/) 5. [Test Your DNA](https://www.cjchilvers.com/test-your-dna/) 6. [Be Alone Without Being Lonely](https://www.cjchilvers.com/be-alone-without-being-lonely/) 7. [You Need to Sleep More](https://www.cjchilvers.com/you-need-to-sleep-more/) 8. [My Hero on Halloween](https://www.cjchilvers.com/my-hero-on-halloween/) 9. [Journal for What’s Now](https://www.cjchilvers.com/journal-for-whats-now/) 10. [Create a Morning Pages Habit](https://www.cjchilvers.com/create-a-morning-pages-habit/) 11. [Go Outside](https://www.cjchilvers.com/go-outside/) 12. [Exercise Your Brain](https://www.cjchilvers.com/exercise-your-brain/) 13. [Stop Scheduling Your Anxiety](https://www.cjchilvers.com/stop-scheduling-your-anxiety/) 14. [Have a Drink](https://www.cjchilvers.com/have-a-drink/) 15. [Apply Constraints](https://www.cjchilvers.com/apply-constraints/) 16. [Collect Your Testimonials](https://www.cjchilvers.com/collect-your-testimonials/) 17. [Cut the Stimulants](https://www.cjchilvers.com/cut-the-stimulants/) 18. [Laugh](https://www.cjchilvers.com/laugh/) 19. [Break Up with Social Media](https://www.cjchilvers.com/break-up-with-social-media/) 20. [Put "You" Away for a While](https://www.cjchilvers.com/put-you-away-for-a-while/) 21. [Notifications Can Go Straight to Hell](https://www.cjchilvers.com/notifications-can-go-straight-to-hell/) 22. [Quit Your Presidential Campaign](https://www.cjchilvers.com/quit-your-presidential-campaign/) 23. [Paint with Light](https://www.cjchilvers.com/paint/) 24. [Add and Remove Automations](https://www.cjchilvers.com/automation-anxiety/) 25. [Go Camping](https://www.cjchilvers.com/go-camping/) 26. [Declare Independence](https://www.cjchilvers.com/declare-independence-1/) 27. [Get Lost in Music](https://www.cjchilvers.com/get-lost-in-music/) 28. [Eliminate Extra Inboxes](https://www.cjchilvers.com/eliminate-inboxes/) 29. [Play](https://www.cjchilvers.com/play/) 30. [Survive](https://www.cjchilvers.com/survive/) ### Coming in November: 30 Practical Tactics to Decrease Your Anxiety URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/coming-in-november-30-practical-tactics-to-decrease-your-anxiety/ Last updated: 2019-10-28T13:45:00.000Z November is traditionally [NaNoWriMo](https://nanowrimo.org/?ref=cjchilvers.com) month, when writers try to write a novel in a month. Since I don’t do fiction (not yet anyway), I’m using November for something different and I'm hoping you'll join me. I’m going to post every day to this blog for the entire month of November on one subject: **anxiety**. More specifically, I’m going to post **30 practical tactics to decrease your anxiety**, one per day. Summaries of these posts will appear in [my newsletter](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe). ## What brought this on? A while back I started asking my readers about their needs/problems/concerns. Since most of my readers are in creative professions, I figured the problems would center around creativity. But one problem stuck out: anxiety. It stuck out because of all the problems they shared, anxiety was the problem stopping them from getting to solutions for the other problems. It was the root issue. They felt overwhelmed all the time. Anxiety one of the few things I’m an expert in. I’ve had 21 years worth of experiments tried on me. Some were complete failures, which will not appear on my blog. I’m only posting about the fixes that worked — and by “worked” I mean they provided some relief. Even if any single technique brings you just 5% or 10% relief, multiplying that by 30 options should really make a difference in your life. I’ve asked a doctor to participate in some of the ideas I’ll be presenting. I want expertise from both sides of the treatments (the doctor and the ginea pig) to be represented. ## What to Expect Some posts will be very brief, especially if the information available elsewhere eclipses my experiences. But some will be substantial ideas I’ve been working on for years with doctors of several disciplines (and therefore even shorter — well-thought-out ideas tend to work like that). I really hope this will convince readers to share their stories too. I’ve come up with a list of around 50 practical tactics to choose from, but if you have a great idea, or book recommendation, I might use it to replace one of my suggestions. Please send it in. ## Don’t miss a post. Stay tuned in [my newsletter](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe) and/or by [RSS](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe). See you in November! ### Do You "Take" Photographs or "Make" Photographs? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/do-you-take-photographs-or-make-photographs/ Last updated: 2019-10-20T14:49:39.000Z I use to default to writing “make” photographs, because of the endless rants I used to hear back in my darkroom days (the 90s). Of course, as photographers who took their craft seriously, we painstakingly “made” photographs, we didn’t just “take” them willy-nilly. It’s even in [my book](https://www.cjchilvers.com/a-lesser-photographer) as “make.” Now, I think that’s mostly false for a handful reasons: 1. Photography is the “study of light.” We’re literally taking from the light and if we’re doing any editing (which as a group we’re not — the vast majority of photographers don’t edit), we’re usually just manipulating the light we’ve taken. A small fraction of a percentage of photographers will “make” something with their photos. Fine. They don’t get to determine the language used industry-wide. 2. The truth is that snapshots are the most important photographs to us personally, which makes them the most important photographs. So the less pretentious and rule-following we can make photography seem, the more snapshots get their due respect. Snapshots are “taken.” 3. 99.9% of photographers are amateurs and that’s the best thing about photography. Amateurs are risk-takers and rule-breakers. They don’t need to please clients. They’re the vast army of artists that pushes photography forward. Amateurs “take” photos. They are not just the heart of the photo industry, they are almost the entire industry. 4. The most popular camera on Earth (the iPhone) is built for “taking” photos. It automates most of “making.” It’s made for snapshots. I won’t be changing it in the book any time soon, because I really don’t think “make” vs. “take is that important. The important point is to lower the pretension around this form of art, get over ourselves, and invite more people in. ### New Newsletter: Who Has the Best Personal Website URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/who-has-the-best-personal-website/ Last updated: 2019-10-07T19:56:18.000Z Laying low in Minnesota, what to do with old social media posts, and to quote or not to quote: it’s all in the [latest newsletter](http://eepurl.com/gFBTvv?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### Digitizing My Van Halen Archives URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/digitizing-my-van-halen-archives/ Last updated: 2019-09-20T16:44:42.000Z I have boxes full of research from previous books and articles, especially from my days as a music journalist (I still own MusicJournalist.com if anyone is interested). I was putting off digitizing my mountains of articles, documents, letters, and manuscripts until I had a good high-speed scanner. It’s been many years, but I finally broke down recently and bought a [Fujitsu ScanSnap ix1500](https://amzn.to/2LImg0F?ref=cjchilvers.com). It’s incredibly fast. I love it. This opened a can of a hundred projects. One of them is the scanning of my Van Halen archive. It’s full of rare articles and documents. It’s part of a plan I have to create the largest, searchable text database of Van Halen information (at least that I know of). Why? If you’re updating a Van Halen book, or working on any kind of new Van Halen project (I have a dozen in my back pocket), you might want to search everything that has been written or said about a certain song in the last 30-40 years. You might even be able to build a day-by-day timeline of everything we now know (as was done for The Beatles). Up until now, that was not possible without years of research. Making it possible involves not just the scanning I’m doing, but the mining of the email archives of the Van Halen mailing lists. That’s not easy either. There used to be scripts for it, but they stopped working long ago. If you know your way around scraping info off sites, let me know, because this is a part of the project I could use help with. If I could get the permissions of all involved, I’d just post it all online in one place. That’s probably the biggest hurdle. But until then, the database will be used to update the [Van Halen Encyclopedia](https://www.cjchilvers.com/the-van-halen-encyclopedia) as well as other projects I dropped in the past because of the level of research needed. I’ve already started the scanning, and the OCR is working great. There’s so many possibilities. Another reason I’m doing this: it’s practice. I’m going to use this base of knowledge about something I find interesting to build skills in areas of publishing I’ve long wanted to try out. If any of them turn out to be good, I’ll release them here. Have no doubt, this is crazy. But it’s also fun. ### A Lesser Photographer Now Available in Libraries and Stores URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/a-lesser-photographer-now-available-in-libraries-and-stores/ Last updated: 2019-09-05T13:35:53.000Z The second edition of A Lesser Photographer is now available somewhere besides Amazon! You can get the physical version through any book store or library now upon request, and (very shortly) through Apple Books and Google. Sorry it took so long to get this book out in wide circulation, but there were technical issues with the cover that I put off dealing with while life got busy in other ways. I’ll add all the new ebook links to the book’s [main page](https://www.cjchilvers.com/a-lesser-photographer) as soon as I get them. But for now, ask your local librarian to stock the book if you’d like to read for free! Thanks for reading! ### Why keep old tweets? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/why-keep-old-tweets/ Last updated: 2019-09-04T14:00:00.000Z I decided to delete my first 10,000 tweets. More will be deleted in time. Why? The more important question is “why not?” I see no advantages in keeping an archive on any social media platform, and lots of potential disadvantages. ### New Newsletter: Your Habits Create You URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/new-newsletter-your-habits-create-you/ Last updated: 2019-09-01T13:38:46.000Z Images from Alaska, lessons in marketing and creativity, and how daily habits create who you are — it’s all in [the latest newsletter](https://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/issue-238-your-habits-create-you?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### How One Music Retailer is Beating Amazon URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/how-a-music-retailer-is-beating-amazon/ Last updated: 2019-08-29T01:28:00.000Z Anderton’s is a music gear store in England, focused mostly on guitars, that really gets social media. Their YouTube videos feature really good musicians having a really good time experimenting with the equipment they sell. Their [best videos](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQXro2VDjyIxWBfcR7jzOeB16hHItI3QY&ref=cjchilvers.com) involve the two primary hosts, a guitar maker/pro musician and his friend, the owner of the shop, as they’re blindfolded and handed various guitars. They’re asked to guess whether they’re playing cheap guitars or expensive guitars — custom handmade guitars or factory-churned guitars. Often they have a hard time. Sometimes the differences between a $500 guitar and a $5,000 can’t be heard at all by one or both. They need to look to know for sure. It’s not that every guitar sounds like a $500 guitar, but rather that they’re so skilled, they can make any guitar sound like a $5,000 guitar. I see parallels here to every creative hobby/profession. So much emphasis is placed on tools, when the listener/viewer only cares about the output. Who cares what camera you used to produce that photo, or what app you used to write your book? Was the book any good? Did the photo evoke any emotions? Another lesson: the success of their videos has turned them into a huge, thriving music retail company in the age of Amazon. It’s because their videos are so honest. They’re willing to trash a bad piece of gear even if they make a lot of money selling it. Imagine the trust that builds with an audience. ### A Lesson from the 90s in Finalizing Projects URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/a-lesson-from-the-90s-in-finalizing-projects/ Last updated: 2019-08-26T13:49:00.000Z I spotted this uploaded to YouTube and had to share it. It’s from a 1995 documentary called *Reel Satriani* on the making of Joe Satriani’s seventh, self-titled album. There’s several cool things about this: 1. It’s from the end of the analog age. Everything in it is legal pads, 2-inch tape, and physical instruments. 2. It’s Joe’s first attempt at recording a totally live-in-the-studio rock album, like albums used to be made decades before. Everything is final. You can’t go back and fix anything, and when it’s done, it’s done. 3. It was never released on DVD or Blu-Ray, only VHS. It’s probably one of those soon-to-be-lost music documentaries. 4. This part linked to [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=32m23s&v=wFbVSpjV2po&ref=cjchilvers.com) (at 32:22ish), shows the writing and recording of a song from the moment of concept. It’s pretty much everything I wanted my life to be in the 90s. I was very young. But I did eventually save enough to buy the guitar he writes the song with (an Ibanez JS700). ### Library Tourism: Vancouver URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/library-tourism-vancouver/ Last updated: 2019-08-25T12:40:15.000Z On the way to [Alaska](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/alaska), we had to check out Vancouver, especially the library. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579457146-ZDKU4JAMHPFGFVXHMKA5/image-asset.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579458363-8T8W0CN5WSJHOQR9DQXE/image-asset.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579459700-I9KVM09BRRY65A0SD0ZK/image-asset.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579461108-T9B4K62XKUW350E4YONN/image-asset.jpeg) ### Your Habits Create Who You Are URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/habits/ Last updated: 2019-08-24T19:11:00.000Z Sean McCabe posted the following on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/cjchilvers/status/1165090933001658368?ref=cjchilvers.com) last night: > To those over 40: What advice would you give a 30-year-old today? I [responded](https://twitter.com/cjchilvers/status/1165090933001658368?ref=cjchilvers.com): > Your daily habits will create who you are at 40, 50, etc. What you do daily compounds, just like interest on an investment. This can be used to foster the best or worst in you. If you want to be a professional writer in a decade, start writing every day now. Posts, articles, books, courses, films, podcasts, and relationships with your audience will eventually emerge. Same goes for any creative pursuit. Maintaining a habit is not easy for me, because I'm very habitual. Wait, what? We all tend to embrace what’s least painful in our lives — comfort. It's extremely difficult to habitualize something that may cause short-term discomfort and very easy to habitualize the opposite. [James Clear](https://amzn.to/31TkBdM?ref=cjchilvers.com) addresses many ways to help sustain habits, but at a minimum I need rewards, reinforcement, clarity, some margin, and *daily* consistency (this one is just for me — many don't need this). I started stationary biking 10 miles per day a year and a half ago. I've kept that up by doing it daily (needed for my brain to keep a streak), doing it early (before anyone wakes up), with a reward (I allow myself to watch whatever I want on an iPad while peddling — trash YouTube — whatever), and with clarity and margin (when I hit 10, I stop no matter what, sit down and meditate for 10 minutes). This spring I started another habit. I kicked sugar (every kind) out of my diet. I followed my criteria above. I haven't had sugar, or grains of any kind, since. This is what happened: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579463636-0XO1Z37QKI2L3AIQROW3/image-asset.jpeg) Habits are incredibly powerful. They shape your life. The one I’m trying next may be the most difficult one I’ve ever attempted — writing daily in public. That's harder than it seems. I write every day for my job, about 8-10 hours per day, and I journal nightly (a habit I started in 2010 and haven't missed a day since). Adding another writing habit, even if it's the one with the greatest long-term return, may be the hardest habit I could aspire to. But that's why it's so important. It means more. It might not work (which is Seth Godin’s definition of “art”). But I am so looking forward to this. ### Images from Alaska URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/alaska/ Last updated: 2019-08-19T13:59:00.000Z I’ve been off in Alaska for the past few weeks with the family. Cutting myself off from the internet for a while was healthy. I have a renewed love of writing and creating in general, with dozens of new ideas. I plan on concentrating a lot of energy on the newsletter, so [sign up now](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe) if you haven’t already. Here’s a few of my favorite images from the trip, and one lesson: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579467239-IMMHRXLVY0Q2OJS1KTS1/image-asset.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579468799-SDUQ0FQ1IM5VDHPLQ2ON/image-asset.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579469958-DLIH0K4DPXTEJ1PIUTZ8/image-asset.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579471263-ABPA3DTOREAH12YIVVZ7/image-asset.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579472347-CSBZUHELLPDRFQSLFEXF/image-asset.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579473937-SMFWO4PL3EBLXXVA9ZKR/image-asset.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579475051-0ZCXQ52BYPHV1DJHJHZW/image-asset.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579476270-XWH0CHK5JRQO8F10H8J0/image-asset.jpeg) The lesson for me: as beautiful as the Alaskan scenery was, the pictures I loved the most were still the snapshots. [The snapshot is still king](https://www.cjchilvers.com/the-snapshot-is-king/). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579477406-8V4T86PGTF9V5NKU995Q/image-asset.jpeg) ### New Newsletter: There’s no such thing as vegetables or continents. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/new-newsletter-theres-no-such-thing-as-vegetables-or-continents/ Last updated: 2019-08-02T15:54:24.000Z Good news about tech for a change, the ever-reoccurring newsletter moment, and why you’ll never hear Shakespeare the same way again. It’s all in [the latest newsletter](https://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/theres-no-such-thing-as-vegetables-or-continents?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### I Love Newsletters URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/i-love-newsletters/ Last updated: 2019-07-23T17:32:29.000Z It’s no secret. [My newsletter](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe) is my favorite creative outlet. What is a secret (to the public) is that for the past few years I’ve been creating and editing newsletters at a big education company. I’ve always wanted to help others with their newsletters, so the fact that it became a big part of my career is something I’m very proud of (and hope to expand on in the future). The company isn’t a household name to consumers, but publishers know it as one of the largest distributors and software companies in the publishing and education business. If you check out a book at a library, or if your kid picks up any book in a school, it likely came from this company. I just got this from a co-worker who manages one of the newsletters I worked on: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579483211-YV928BY8P2ZWOO7X2AWN/image-asset.jpeg) This means more to me than any paycheck. Advocating for quality in an email newsletter is easy when it comes to small companies, but it takes a lot of effort in a bigger company (I could go on for hours about why, but see any Seth Godin book). Jenny immediately understood the need for creating and maintaining her newsletter the right way. I keep asking her to include a photo and bio of herself in each issue to personalize it more, but I’m not sure that’s going to happen anytime soon — even I haven’t been that brave yet in my own newsletter. There’s a new newsletter I’m working on now with this company that should be out in September, but I’ve also been planning some new personal newsletters. I get that as a “generalist” writer, I often write about topics that half my audience doesn’t care about. After all, my two biggest selling books were about [photography](https://www.cjchilvers.com/a-lesser-photographer) and [Van Halen](https://www.cjchilvers.com/the-van-halen-encyclopedia). There’s not much of a Venn diagram to work with here. So, I decided that maybe it’s time for separate newsletters for separate audiences, as well as some new newsletters on completely different topics. I’m testing it out now. But, if it isn’t sock-worthy, I’m not publishing it. Many will start, few will finish. Stay tuned for details. As usual, they’ll be in [my newsletter](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe). ### After You’ve Mastered the Craft URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/after-you-master-the-craft/ Last updated: 2019-07-09T18:06:10.000Z David Lee Roth on [Marc Maron](http://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episode-1034-david-lee-roth?ref=cjchilvers.com): > “Once you’ve mastered the craft of it, that'll take you about 10,000-20,000 hours, then we can begin to create a composite of things you’ve heard before. The guy with the most tricks is going to be the most inventive and last the longest. So start listening. Start with A. Let me know when you get to Z. See you in two decades. > > And you’re going to come and you go, “I did it.” And I’ll go, “What category?” You’ll say, “Country and Western.” I’ll go, “See you at Folk music in ten.” ### New Newsletter: Consider Writing URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/new-newsletter-consider-writing/ Last updated: 2019-07-06T00:04:14.000Z Greetings from Utah, free will in a nutshell, and one of the secrets of life. It’s all in [the latest newsletter](https://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/consider-writing?ref=cjchilvers.com). Subscribe [here](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe). ### A Few Seconds in Utah URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/a-few-seconds-in-utah/ Last updated: 2019-06-24T15:14:01.000Z _No content available._ ### Free Will in a Nutshell URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/free-will-in-a-nutshell/ Last updated: 2019-06-22T14:24:00.000Z [Annaka Harris ](https://annakaharris.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com)(who has a great new book on the mystery of [Consciousness](https://amzn.to/2Y9X2vW?ref=cjchilvers.com)) quoting [Galen Strawson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galen%5FStrawson?ref=cjchilvers.com) on the [Making Sense](https://samharris.org/podcasts/159-conscious/?ref=cjchilvers.com) podcast: > “What you do follows from what you are.’ That is why free will is an illusion in a nutshell.” I struggled for years to first understand this biological fact, upon which neuroscientists and philosophers seem to find common ground. Annaka’s husband may have [the definitive book](https://amzn.to/2WVfiMI?ref=cjchilvers.com) on the subject at the moment. The ramifications of this acknowledgment are what trip most people up. What are we to do with all the violent criminals if their actions are essentially pre-programed? My favorite analogy about this comes from [Robert Sapolsky](https://www.vice.com/en%5Fus/article/mbqwjx/you-have-no-free-will?ref=cjchilvers.com): > “The analogy I always use, which is so difficult for people to swallow when it comes to the criminal justice system, is that if a car has faulty brakes, you fix the breaks. If the brakes are not fixable, you put the car in the garage for the rest of the time, and your primary responsibility is to make sure this car with the faulty brakes doesn't hurt anybody. But nobody is saying you're punishing the car. Nobody is accusing your car of having a moral failing. Somehow, we have to reach that mindset.” ### Violinists are Lazy URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/violinists-are-lazy/ Last updated: 2019-06-21T13:47:00.000Z I’ve spent the past week at my son’s violin camp in Salt Lake City, Utah. It’s an incredible opportunity for him to learn from the best violin teachers in the world. 681 students work with 184 teachers for a solid week of classes. The camp started with a speech by [Koen Rens](https://suzukiassociation.org/news/author/koen-rens/?ref=cjchilvers.com), a teacher’s teacher from Belgium with a gift for public speaking. As luck would have it, my son scored a one-hour-a-day class with him on technique. ![Koen Rens](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579493241-SU364EEJAOM1DTBGAPYM/image-asset.jpeg) Koen Rens I’ve never seen such a natural teacher, and judging by the amount of “observers” in the class, I’m not alone. I recorded some of his teachings, and I hope he doesn’t mind me sharing one of the lessons here, because I think all artists can learn something from it: > “Violinists are lazy. You play every day, because if you skip one day of practice, you have to work more the next day. > > You hold your violin on your collar bone with the weight of your head. That’s lazy. If you want to be a hard-working person, keep it up with your arm. You’ll get really tired. > > When you use your bow, don’t fight gravity. Gravity is your friend. Gravity is like love. If you go against it, life becomes more difficult.” In another lesson, when a young student suggested he must be making a lot of money, he responded, “I don’t do money. It doesn’t interest me.” Which is exactly the kind of thing a highly-valued person with a singular focus would say. Check out his [keynote](https://suzukiassociation.org/media/koen-rens-keynote-suzuki-music-education/?ref=cjchilvers.com) at the 2018 Suzuki Association of the Americas conference for an idea of how contagious enthusiasm can be in teaching and public speaking, even if you’re not a musician. My favorite takeaway from the keynote as a guitar player: > “String players…we work with resonance. We make the string move. The string moves the air. And the air moves people around us. The more resonance we have, the happier we are.” ### New Newsletter: Build Your Personal Library URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/new-newsletter-build-your-personal-library/ Last updated: 2019-05-28T22:00:07.000Z Retro web publishing, legacy is a sales tool, and how much news is enough? It’s all in [the latest newsletter](https://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/build-your-personal-library?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### Nobody ever says on their deathbed... URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/nobody-every-says-on-their-deathbed/ Last updated: 2019-05-15T17:41:20.000Z I see lessons about life couched in deathbed terms all the time. Just search “deathbed” and you’ll see endless lessons about what’s really important in life. It got really ramped up with the beloved 2012 book, [The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing](https://amzn.to/2HjCICa?ref=cjchilvers.com). The regrets (as recorded by a nurse) were: 1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. 2. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard. 3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings. 4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends. 5. I wish that I had let myself be happier. What problem could I possibly have with a lesson like this? I think you’ll have these same regrets to some degree no matter how much more you “live your best life.” (Not to mention that you probably shouldn’t be interrogating someone about their regrets while they're dying.) Regret is a cancer. But so is worrying about your future regrets. Living as close to the present as you possibly can and being grateful is how you guard against regret. It’s an inward journey untied to external accomplishments (the “I wish I would have…" regrets). It helps if you start today, but it also helps if you start on your “deathbed.” And it’s really all we have. Of course, be with friends more and work less. That’s smart. But don’t expect immunity from regret afterwards. If you want something “deathbed”-proof, gratitude and being present are about the best tools we have. If you want something death-proof, you’ll have to talk to [Tarantino](http://collider.com/quentin-tarantino-death-proof-worst-film-interview/?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### Newish Newsletter: An Unlikely Fix for Media URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/newish-newsletter-an-unlikely-fix-for-media/ Last updated: 2019-04-29T20:30:07.000Z I forgot to post this last week, but there’s a new newsletter out. [Check it out](https://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/an-unlikely-fix-for-media?ref=cjchilvers.com) and subscribe [here](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe/). ### The Resurrection of DVDs URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-resurrection-of-dvds/ Last updated: 2019-04-19T15:48:26.000Z I will admit to laughing at people who collect DVDs. I’ve considered it a giant waste of money and space. But now I’m started to wonder if I was wrong. Samsung announced recently that [they’re done producing new Blu-Ray players](https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/17/18228584/samsung-stops-producing-blu-ray-players?ref=cjchilvers.com). It was seen as the first domino to fall in the inevitable death of physical media for film. This set off a panic among some DVD and Blu-Ray enthusiasts, but it delighted others who have kept DVD collections, or make a living off of selling rare DVDs. Why? There’s a perceived scarcity coming and streaming advocates may be on the wrong side. There are advantages to DVDs and Blu-Rays we give up when we rely on streaming services: - They often include commentary, documentaries, and bonus features unavailable on streaming services (or even in later releases of the same DVD). These features are sometimes suppressed by studios if the latest batch of executives didn’t care for the originals. - You own the film and can watch it whenever you like (as opposed to whenever Netflix decides you can watch it). Even when you “buy” a movie online, it’s really just a license to access it, totally dependent on the whims of studios, streaming companies, the market in general, and new/changing laws. - You can watch the version you prefer. Movie and television studios are constantly tinkering with their releases, removing songs, editing endings, and changing who shot first. Typically there’s only one version of a film available for streaming or buying online, and it’s probably not the best — it’s the most palatable to the masses. - They allow small, indie studios to make money when they are ignored by streaming services. - They make classic films more accessible. Classic films are rarely available on streaming services and cable. When they are, what’s available is often the most well-known, and doesn’t include the smaller films you may love (if you got the chance). The DVD craze of 20 years ago gave re-birth to many classic films that might have been totally lost without the profits possible from a physical form of media. - You can sell, trade, or pass them along. Again, you own them. Rare and out-of-print DVDs are actually a blossoming business right now. What will happen when they grow even more scarce? - You can get them real cheap, new or used, for now. On Black Friday, Blu-Rays are dirt cheap. At thrift stores, they’re practically free. Parents know how much milage can be had from a Pixar DVD, proving they can be dirt cheap even at full price. - They’re free to rent at your library. - They don’t rely on a connection. - They’re privacy-friendly. Netflix, Hulu, Google and Amazon are watching you while you watch that movie. - They allow for more and better bootlegs. If your film has enough fans, it will spawn new versions, or foster the environment needed for the “release” of studio versions that the public was never meant to see. These versions may be downloadable with some effort, but they will probably never be streamable from a legitimate service. - They encourage and preserve music documentary and concert footage. My favorite concerts and musician’s videos are being removed or copyright-stricken from YouTube by the labels. These artists (even the big ones) have no intention of ever releasing streaming versions of this material and the streaming services have no interest anyway. We’re probably losing access to performances every day we’ll never see again. Some were only released in the first place due to the music VHS gold rush of the late 80s/early 90s and music DVD gold rush of the late 90s/early 2000s. This doesn’t even include the bootleg concerts I’ve loved watching on YouTube. I hope someone is capturing them somewhere before it’s too late. - They can be superior in quality to the streaming version. I put this as the last reason, because (to me) it’s the least important reason. Some of my favorite films never made it to Blu-Ray, let alone 4K discs or Netflix. If the film isn’t even available, quality doesn’t matter. The best quality version a concert film from the 80s may be on VHS. That’s better than nothing. I’m not going to kid myself. Streaming is the (near) future of media. And I may be too old to care by the time it all shakes out. But if recent history has taught us anything, from books to vinyl, physical media will always have a market. [Cassettes are even making a comeback!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMTpvr9HXeI&ref=cjchilvers.com) Maybe in 20 years there will be enough nostalgia for all the points I made above to trigger a resurrection in physical media for film along with boutique, retro playing devices sold by Shinola. As for my like-minded minimalist friends who embraced streaming media to cut down on their physical libraries, I pose this question: Is spending more money on less enjoyable things really minimalist? If you have a favorite movie, or TV show, I recommend grabbing the physical version you love on the cheap while you can. It will last you for at least the rest of your lifetime. It’ll look good on a shelf next to your favorite books, and in a few decades you’ll have the jump on the next generation of hipsters. ### New Newsletter: Be a Librarian URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/new-newsletter-be-a-librarian/ Last updated: 2019-03-28T15:10:48.000Z The Austin Kleon interview, personal user manuals, why newsletters rule, and weeks worth of great quotes. It’s all in the latest issue of [the newsletter](https://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/be-a-librarian?ref=cjchilvers.com). Subscribe [here](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe). ### Revisiting Ulysses URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/revisiting-ulysses/ Last updated: 2019-03-27T18:54:18.000Z Lots of writers I know and trust recommend [Ulysses](https://ulysses.app/?ref=cjchilvers.com), but I was pretty tough on it in [my giant post](https://www.cjchilvers.com/which-note-taking-app-should-i-use/) about note taking/writing apps. Since that post, Ulysses released a big [update](https://www.macstories.net/reviews/ulysses-15-review-split-view-on-the-mac-remote-images-improved-ipad-multitasking-and-more/?ref=cjchilvers.com) addressing one of my big complaints, The Sweet Setup overhauled their [course](https://thesweetsetup.com/ulysses/?ref=14) on Ulysses (adding new videos and lessons), and those trusted writers have compiled lots of new articles on their love for the app. OK, maybe it’s time to revisit Ulysses. I’ve started spending more time with the app and I dove back into the [course](https://thesweetsetup.com/ulysses/?ref=14) this past week, which I recommend to anyone investing this much time and love into the (digital) place where they work. I’ll post updates to [my giant post](https://www.cjchilvers.com/which-note-taking-app-should-i-use/) about what’s changed. ### Be a Librarian to Your Readers: An Interview with Austin Kleon URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/austin-kleon/ Last updated: 2019-03-25T14:00:00.000Z Austin Kleon is the New York Times Bestselling author of [Steal Like an Artist](https://amzn.to/2U953Cn?ref=cjchilvers.com), a guide to help you “embrace influence, school yourself through the work of others, remix and reimagine to discover your own path.” His follow-up book [Show Your Work](https://amzn.to/2UUfDKO?ref=cjchilvers.com) was heralded as how-to manual for creating and sharing steal-worthy work. His latest book [Keep Going](https://amzn.to/2HDBvqN?ref=cjchilvers.com) completes the trilogy, providing a path to continue these methods of creation and sharing for the rest of your life. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579511661-GJ9KGU36GYS0JIW8IQ9Z/image-asset.jpeg) Austin and I have always written about the same topics, so we’ve crossed digital paths and linked to each other many times. I’ve never spoken to him directly, though. So, we had a lot to discuss. We could have gone on for hours. As parts of this conversation may appear in a podcast for teachers and librarians, you’ll notice we come back to those topics repeatedly. Please subscribe to Austin’s newsletter [here](https://austinkleon.com/newsletter/?ref=cjchilvers.com). And, if you haven’t already, subscribe to mine [here](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe). **CJ: Tell me about your library past.** Austin: When I was right out of college, I got a job at a public library in a suburb of Cleveland. It was the Cuyahoga County system, which is fun for me, because I’m giving a talk for them coming up next month. It was a great job. It was a wonderful job. It was 20 hours a week and I had benefits. I went in three days a week and worked like three or four days a week. I worked pretty reasonable half day shifts. Sometimes I would do a full day on the weekend and then the rest of the time I just hung out my apartment and read and wrote. It was like one of those jobs that I’m not even sure exists anymore. It was great for having time to write and read. But it was also a tremendous education for somebody who wanted to be an author because you learn skills that aid you wonderfully in the writing process. You learn research skills, so I’m able to track down stuff pretty quickly, which helps my job tremendously now. Also, when working with the public and seeing what they need and what they read, it was just a tremendous wake up call because I realized that the kind of books that I really love don’t circulate. The books that I sort of had a chip on my shoulder about were going out endlessly. I spent a lot of time grabbing James Patterson and Danielle Steel books. **Now you realize that’s where the gold is. It’s in those uncirculated books and you can draw from them.** Well, that’s an excellent point. If you want to be read, there are genres and you have to sort of play along with genres sometimes in order to have a readership. I never in a million years thought I would ever put out a book that would be shelved in the self help section, but what was interesting was I discovered that there was a self help section, and a certain subset of self help called creativity, and then figured out that there was such a thing as an illustrated gift book. I think about working in those genres that I would have never chosen for myself when I was like in my early 20s and one of the cool things about working on them now as I’m able to do the kind of weird books that I love, but just in that genre. I feel really lucky that I found that kind of niche because I think my books are kind of weird, especially in format. I love that trick of working in a popular genre but still having weirdness and pushing against the form. There were just so many wonderful things that I learned working the reference desk. **It’s like a mental cross training.** Yeah. I know some other authors who started out as librarians and they all kind of say the same thing. It’s just this wonderful training. It’s interesting being a librarian, because you have to do so many different things now. You’re working with the public. So it’s part teacher, part coach, part policeman, part social worker. Working in a public library, you really get a skill set that’s incredible. I mean, librarians just have to do a lot of different things. I think a lot about what my life had been like if I had just gone to library school and just stayed in the library. **You mentioned Cleveland. You just went back there for the winter and you chose quite a winter.** Yeah, my wife’s family lives up here in Cleveland and so for this next book tour we thought maybe we’ll move north for a little while and see how that goes and have family support. But you know, a funny thing happened in the past dozen years. Somehow we became Texans. I have a feeling we’ll probably be headed back down south once this tour is over. **I remember seeing your tweets from the past few years in the winter in Texas and just imagining what it was like to be in the sun in the winter.** The grass is always greener. You can you can see how I’m doing in Texas in August and I’ll check in on you in February. **You’re not going outdoors in August.** Exactly, there’s a winter everywhere in some form, but you don’t have to shovel the heat. **I was going to ask you as a joke, “**[**what’s next?**](https://austinkleon.com/2018/05/14/whats-next/?ref=cjchilvers.com)**”** (laughs) **How does Keep Going fit in with Steal Like an Artist and Show Your Work?** I think Keep Going is actually the best entry point if you’re coming in cold to my work. I think Keep Going is a book that will resonate with people whether they think of themselves as creative or not. Keep Going is more of a general life book than the other two, although I think it’s obviously written for writers and artists first. I think it can apply to anyone doing any kind of creative work or anyone who needs to be more creative in their work. I think of it as the third in a trilogy as far as how it fits in. Steal Like an Artist is the book you give to somebody who’s just starting out and needs a kickstart or a boost or something. Show Your Work is for the person that has found their thing but they haven’t been found themselves yet — people who need to self promote or need to get their work out there. Keep Going, while it can also work for the beginner too, is really the book for people who are trying to make a career out of creative work — people who are trying to be in it for the long haul. It was a funny because Steal Like an Artist was such an unexpectedly huge hit with readers that I think a lot of the Indiana Jones trilogy. No one’s ever going to love anything as much as that first Indiana Jones movie. I think that Show Your Work is probably my Temple of Doom. I think it’s a little bit more enjoyable than Temple of Doom, but it’s a harder book for people because it actually gives them hard work to do. **Well, it’s ripping their hearts out.** (laughs) Yeah, some people say that. It’s funny, some readers are like, “Oh, I read Steal Like an Artist that made me all happy and then I read Show Your Work and it sounded like work.” But I was thinking of The Last Crusade when I did Keep Going. I wanted to do something that sort of echoed the first book but also kind of lived on its own. So I’m hoping that this is the trilogy. I mean I don’t necessarily think I want to do my Crystal Skull. **Crystal Skull is something you’d be kind of forced to do. It doesn’t occur to you.** Right, someone dangles dollar bills in front of you or something. I really think I love the way these books kind of work together and I could see them in a box set. I just am really excited. We joked before about the “what’s next” question and I really hope that the next book can be maybe in the same genre but I’m hoping to go somewhere else. I can do something else now — something un-square maybe. **Speaking of un-square books, what books are you into right now?** I’m trying really hard to diversify in my genres with reading too. I try really hard during the day to read nonfiction. Just because that’s when I can make notes and underline. I try at night to read fiction or comic books. I really like to read graphic novels and comics at night and then maybe poetry, but often something more narrative to enjoy and then knock me out at the end. I’m reading Andrew Sean Greer’s [Less](https://amzn.to/2TZfpVr?ref=cjchilvers.com), just like everyone else. It’s about an author who’s about to turn 50 and he just broke up with his lover. He decides to take every speaking gig that he’s been offered and travel the world. It’s just really funny and really well written. So I’m really enjoying that. I just read Susan Orlean’s [The Library Book](https://amzn.to/2YajuoW%5C?ref=cjchilvers.com). Funny enough, I took a trip to Los Angeles with my family. And if you’re a former librarian or current library and you’re going to Los Angeles that’s the perfect book because it’s about the LA Public Library fire and the 80s. But it’s also kind of a love letter to libraries. And, in particular, if you’re flying from Cleveland to Los Angeles, it’s the perfect book because Susan Orleans is actually from Shaker Heights. Cleveland plays a little role in that story. The other book I really love this year is [Werner Herzog: A Guide for the Perplexed](https://amzn.to/2HxaTHP?ref=cjchilvers.com). It’s a series of interviews he did with Paul Cronin that Paul Cronin assembled into this book-long interview. It took me forever to finish that book because every page is full of like Herzog’s wild poetry, or some sort of unbelievable story. Elizabeth McCracken’s [Bowlaway](https://amzn.to/2YehfB5?ref=cjchilvers.com) is like a good old fashioned *novel* novel with just awesome sentences. I just love that book. And she’s an Austinite. We ran into each other at a festival in Albuquerque recently and she’s just a great. Her and her husband Edward Carey, who also put out a really good book last year called [Little](https://amzn.to/2JtPBfX?ref=cjchilvers.com), are one of the most interesting couples in Austin. They’re really a dynamic duo. I got to see them together at the Boston Public Library recently, and it was just a wonderful night. I know you’re a music guy. I thought Jeff Tweedy’s memoir [Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back)](https://amzn.to/2U0pkKl?ref=cjchilvers.com), once he gets over his “aw-shucks I’m writing a book” (laughs), that book is really good. I mean, it has a lot of the things that preoccupy me like parenting, the creative process, imitation, what it’s like to go from being a fan to having fans. I thought the way he handled his drug addiction was actually intelligent and heartful. I love his message about how art doesn’t have to come from pain and suffering, but artists are lucky in that they have something to do with their pain and suffering. I thought his perspective on creative work was really great. I’d really love to read a book about his relationship with his two sons because I know Spencer and Sam are both creative guys. Spencer plays the drums and has a career going, and I’m interested to see what those kids do. **That’s always really interesting — the kids of creative people and how parenting even gets done.** I’m obsessed with this question right now because I have a six and a four year-old. I feel like I got really lucky that I either knew personally, or knew of, creative dads, and moms for that matter. There have been so many good creative mom memoirs lately like artists memoirs like [Sally Mann’s memoir](https://amzn.to/2JJl2Dp?ref=cjchilvers.com). Amazing. Maggie Nelson’s [The Argonauts](https://amzn.to/2U030Ay?ref=cjchilvers.com) is amazing. It’s a fiction book but it’s insightful. Jenny Offill’s [Dept. of Speculation](https://amzn.to/2CwhnT3?ref=cjchilvers.com). Those kind of mother books and art books helped me think a lot about being a dad too. I feel like I got lucky and had these creative dad role models who I was able to kind of look up to tell me that, “Hey you can be an involved dad and a good writer or a good artist.” **If you’re a writer and you get deeply involved in your work and your creative process, that’s setting a great example for your kids.** I think so. I think every writer has to deal with that awful Cyril Connolly line, “There is no more sombre enemy of good art than the pram in the hall.” You know, the stroller in the hall is the enemy of art. I think we’re still kind of battling that as a culture. **That’s only true time-wise. It can definitely expand your horizons. I think you start to see things as a kid again.** I think it was JG Ballard who said exactly that. He was a widower and an alcoholic. I mean he had his own problems, but he was a dad who talked about how he just thought the pram in the hall thing was the biggest load of crap. He felt like being around his kids gave him a whole different perspective and that’s exactly what has happened to me. I want to echo to other parents to see their kids as not just vampires of time and energy, which they definitely are (laughs). They crack your whole perspective open and they make you vulnerable and they make you re-learn things and they really can show you a different perspective. Just to be perfectly concrete about that, taking a five year old to an art museum, for an artist, it’s just a wonderful education in what captures the eye — how you look at art, what is art or isn’t art. My kids used to look at the building itself and find it sometimes more interesting than the art on the wall. They would look at like the air conditioning grates. One time I was in the Art Institute in Chicago and I was just like blown away. I think it was maybe my second trip to the Art Institute. I was walking around and I was just blown away by all the work. I had that kind of euphoric moment where I was just walking around like, “Wow, isn’t this great?” I saw this really strange sculpture in the corner. It looked like some sort of futuristic space device that some artist had made and put in the corner. I kept looking at it and I couldn’t find a museum label for it. I just kept looking at it. I was like, “Wow, this is really interesting. I wonder what this is.” I asked the guard, I said, “What is this piece? What Do you know about this piece?” She looked at it. She looked at me with this pitying look. She said, “That keeps the paintings from melting.” (laughs) It was the air conditioning. That is exactly what the art museum is supposed to do. It’s supposed to make you look at the world in a new, different way, and to notice things that you would not notice before. That’s what I think kids can do. **You have one of the most interesting newsletters out there. What drew you to that format and keeps drawing you to that format?** I have a friend named Hugh MacLeod, and Hugh’s alter ego online is [Gaping Void](https://www.gapingvoid.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com). Hugh told me at least half a decade ago or maybe even 10 years ago… **During his** [**Ignore Everybody**](https://amzn.to/2Ogb4aW?ref=cjchilvers.com) **days?** Yeah. At one point he told me that his mailing list was the size of SXSW. He had this brilliant format where he would he put out this newsletter for free, but then he always had a piece of art to sell at the end. Hugh was always a step ahead. He saw that blogs were going to come back. People were going to get tired of social media. Even if they didn’t come in the \[same\] numbers, people were going to start blogging again, because there’s a freedom in blogging. There’s something beautiful about having your own turf. I know you know that and I know that you’ve written about it, but newsletters felt a lot like what blogs used to feel like. I think I started my newsletter back in 2013 right after Steal Like an Artist came out and right before Show Your Work came out. You know, you’re like, “Oh, well maybe I’ll start a newsletter and that’ll move more books.” But pretty soon, because my books were lists of 10, I thought maybe I should just do a list of 10 every week. Once I found that particular format, the newsletter sort of took off. It became something like what my old blogs used to be like. If you go back in my archives to 2006, my blog was a lot like all blogs were back then. It was just a list of links to cool stuff. So the newsletter, in a way, became what the blog used to be, which was a way to collect all my interests in one place and point people towards them. Then this funny thing happened where I went back to daily blogging again. Well, a couple of things happened, but the newsletter really happened as a kind of like, “Oh, here’s an interesting format that everyone hasn’t tried yet that could be really powerful because it’s not social media and you own all the addresses.” It turned into its own interesting format and now it’s my favorite thing to do. Thursday is my favorite day. That’s the day I put together the newsletter. I know there are people who read my newsletter that probably haven’t read my books. It’s only a matter of time till I get them (laughs). **At the bottom of the newsletter, like Hugh, you have something to sell them, although I have to wonder why you haven’t gone into things like courses.** I’m lucky because I make a really decent living off my book sales and speaking, so, in some ways, it’s just to keep my life uncomplicated. I don’t sell a bunch of merch, which would be an easy thing for us to do. I don’t do online courses yet simply because I like the uncomplicated. It just seems like a lot of work (laughs). My wife and I live below our means and I really try to maximize my time with the kids because they’re so little. We’re just kind of waiting for the kids to ease up a little bit, but I also have the feeling that if you wait they’ll be off to college, so we’ll see what happens. I’m also really old school. Probably laziness has something to do with it. I’m fundamentally a lazy person. I really don’t want to work very hard. I want to read a lot and I want to write a lot and that’s pretty much it. **Is the daily blogging mostly for you? Or are you trying to build an audience for too?** I have a critical mass now of audience members. I do believe that people have natural-sized audiences. I’m never going to have The Rock’s audience. No one will. There are levels in which you feel like, “Yeah, this is about the right size.” I mean, I would love a bigger audience. Who wouldn’t? But I’m also just willing to be patient and let it play out. I started daily blogging in, I think it was October of 2017 when I went back again. I was like, “Okay, I’m doing this, I’m formally doing this.” What happened at the beginning of 2017 was I started diary-ing. I kept I started old fashioned diary again, and I do like three to five pages of an old school diary. I write about my day. I write about what I’m reading. I write about what the kids are doing. Sometimes I’ll make collages and sometimes I’ll draw so it’s my notebook. It’s a daily notebook. But it really functions as a diary. Doing that was such an amazing. It just got my chops back up, you know, because it had been three years since I’d done a book and I knew I was out of practice with writing. So the diary was the first part. **And that “what’s next?” is eating at you.** Yeah, exactly. The “what’s next” question was eating at me every single day. I just thought that things really went well for me when I used to just sit down every day and try to write a blog post. I was like, “Let’s just do that again.” I’ve sort of been doing that ever since. I have missed a few days but I’ve sort of done that ever since. The combination of those two things led directly to Keep Going. Now I am the biggest proponent of daily writing — some kind of daily habit. I just think that you cannot beat it. I think there were two people that inspired me the most, and they seem like odd fellows to put next to each other, but I think they actually work really well. The first is Thoreau. Here’s a guy whose life’s work really was his journal. What Thoreau would do is he would just go on these epic walks. He would walk for half the day. He’d walk for four or five hours at a time and then he’d come back and he would write about his walks. He would keep a notebook on him and scribble ideas while he’s walking around and then come back and write about his walks in his journal. Then he would take those journals and turn them into lectures. Then he would turn those lectures into his books. What was interesting about Thoreau for me is that he really felt like, “If I could just give my journals to people, that would be the best expression of my life, because that’s what my life is.” So reading his journals was a big deal. The other person who inspired me, who has Chicago roots, is David Sedaris. His system is actually very similar to Thoreau’s. Their days are just reversed. What Sedaris does is he keeps a pocket notebook all day, like Thoreau, but when he wakes up in the morning, for a couple hours, he’ll work on his diary. He’ll take a look at his pocket notebook and whatever is interesting in there — that’s what he’ll write about. For the rest of the day after he writes in the morning, he’ll walk around and pick up trash by the side of the road for eight hours. That’s what he does with his time when he’s not on the road. He just walks around all day and picks up trash. I was just like stunned. Here’s one of our most famous American writers who’s, by his own admission, wealthy and spends half his day picking up trash so much that he’s known in his village as the trash-picker-upper guy more than an author. His village named a garbage truck after him. I thought about it and that trash-picking activity is a lot of what he’s done with his own work. If you think about it, what Sedaris, in a lot of his pieces, does is he sort of picks up the debris of life — those things that most people either overlook or toss out — and he weaves them into stories. The thing I found out about his practice that I didn’t know is that he is a graduate of the Art Institute of Chicago so he actually has a visual training. He’s trained in the visual arts. His diaries are actually all hand-made. He has somebody bind them together. Every season, he prints all of his diaries out from the from the computer. Then he binds them. Then he illustrates them with all this ephemera he’s collected from a trash walks. He’s actually a very visual guy, and I found that really fascinating. I found Thoreau and Sedaris together gave me this repeatable formula for producing work. If you keep a notebook constantly throughout the day, just write down anything that’s interesting. The next morning, you just look through your notebook, and you’re like, “Oh, yeah, I want to write about that.” Then when you’re done writing in your diary, usually you have something to blog about, or you pick up something else in your notebook that you want to mention. What those two writers gave me is a way to keep going indefinitely with my own practice, because that was really what I was missing as a writer. I was missing this kind of infinite system for producing work. I think that’s what every artist needs. They need some sort of system that will pull them through their days and through their career. Now my creative life is very simple. I keep my notebook and I keep my diary and I go to my blog every day. Then I put out my newsletter every week. Things happen out of that. Having a system is what I’ve always needed. That’s what I have now. **Is there a line you draw in what you share?** Oh, that’s a really good question. Um, **I’m asking because having read Show Your Work again, it seems that there is a line there that you draw. I just can’t figure out where it is for most people.** Well, I think it’s personal. I think the fundamental thing that was misunderstood about Show Your Work is it felt like people who read it were like, “Oh, I need to share everything.” Some people who read it thought it was a call for being completely open and setting up a webcam on your desk and broadcasting 24-7\. That was not what that book was supposed to be about. That book was supposed to be about intentional sharing, thinking about what you share and doing it in little bits and pieces over time so it could turn into something interesting. That was my intent anyway. As far as what I will share and what I won’t share, there are definitely some things now because I write about being a dad a lot and my oldest son Owen and I, he’s six, do a lot of collaborating. I’m really sensitive about how much of him I share online. I don’t share my son’s faces anymore. I don’t. I think they deserve privacy. **He should be allowed to determine what his digital life is.** Exactly. I share a lot of what Owen makes and I wonder about that sometimes. He’s into it. He sort of understands right now, but I’m sure at some point it might come back around to bite me. The thing that I’m really sensitive about right now is that I show my son’s bodies online. I show them from behind, working on something, or from an angle where you would never be able to recognize them. You can tell they’re my sons and they’re working on something. I had an experience recently that made me rethink a lot about sharing with them. As I mentioned before, I’m very lazy. There needed to be a book trailer for Keep Going for whatever reason, and I was thinking about this handwritten book trailer. I thought to myself, you know, Owens fingerprints are sort of all over this book. I should just get him to write these cue cards that I want to show up at the beginning of the trailer. We did it in 10 minutes at the kitchen table with an iPhone. I just cut it together with iMovie and the laptop while he was taking a bath. He would give me his input and that was it. I shared it online. Most people thought it was cute and really liked it but one or two teachers mentioned how Owen was holding his marker. Owen holds his marker in this really strange way where it’s as if you made a fist. If you extend your fingers and just put your thumb with your index finger. He holds his pencil like that. You can watch the book trailer if you want to see it, but he holds his pencil in this very particular way. It looks like it would be uncomfortable except his handwriting is like better than most adults that I’ve seen, so I never felt the need to correct him. There were all these comments from people about, “You know, you will need to fix that because later he’ll….you should see a doctor because that might cause him…” It’s all this false interest. **They don’t really care and they may not even believe what they’re saying.** They’re saying they just want to say something, right? There’s [a piece](https://www.ftrain.com/wwic?ref=cjchilvers.com) by Paul Ford that I go back to over and over again. He coined this phrase for the internet and it’s “Why Wasn’t I Consulted (WWIC).” I think of this all the time now when I interact with strangers. Paul writes about how that’s the fundamental question online. Why wasn’t I consulted? I had this moment where I thought, my six year old is this wonderful, brilliant, creative, interesting kid. The idea that there were strangers online commenting on the way he held his marker just sent me into this rage for a day. I’ve never wanted to destroy a stranger so much. They were teachers, some elementary school teachers in my Instagram comments, but I was so upset. I thought it was so benign. I thought showing his handwriting would be like cute and benign. **Because it is.** Because it is. But the internet found a way to turn it into something that was kind of awful. I thought it was a really good lesson. You simply should not share things that you cannot deal with being picked on online. The things that are closest to you, you should probably keep them close to you. Some things just can’t be exposed to the caustic online air. Now would I do it again? I don’t know. That was one really mundane instance and it could have been so much worse, when you compare that to the awful stories of what women or people of color or queer people have to deal with every day online. It does not compare it all. But for me, it’s an illustration of how something you think is so benign can just turn into this personal, ickiness online. **Another great argument for newsletters and blogs.** Yeah, exactly. Right? An argument for an audience that is more intimate or invested. **Is there anything you want to say to teachers or librarians that we haven’t covered?** I was raised by teachers. My mom was a Home Ec teacher and then she became an administrator. All my aunts were teachers. My dad was an associate professor for Ohio State. So I kind of was raised…I think teaching is in my blood. But libraries have always been a natural haven for me. I think that the librarian perspective has been a lot more influential in my life than your traditional teaching perspective. What I mean by that is, I try to parent like a librarian. I really feel that my role as a parent is less about having a lesson plan or things that are going to be on the test later. I’m not saying that this is what teachers do. I’m saying that this is our cartoon of teaching. My mental map of what I do as a parent is not that I have all this knowledge in my head that I want to transfer to my kids. The map I have in my head is that I see myself as a kind of resource for them. I like to think of myself as their librarian. That can be as simple as having a bunch of books in the house. I’m creating a space in which they can learn for themselves, or I create experiences in which they can access what they need to access. I really do think things go better for me when I think of myself more as a librarian and less as kind of authoritative teacher if that makes sense. **That makes nothing but sense. That’s going to be a huge takeaway for me.** Just to kind of blow it open a little bit more, I want to be more like a librarian for my readers than a teacher too. That might be one reason why I haven’t done online courses yet. I want people to feel like I’m just a fellow student. I’m just someone who’s on this trip with you. I’m just sharing what I’ve learned. Take it or leave it. I’m trying to create this resource for you that you can take as much or as little as you want. I don’t have a lesson plan or anything I’m trying to divulge. I’m just trying to blow up in the world for you a little bit. I’m just trying to give you a world that you can step into and take as much or as little as you want. **That might be the new philosophy behind my blogging. Thank you so much.** You’ve given me a lot to think about. There are a couple of libraries on this tour. So hopefully I can hopefully I can take a little bit of that… **Library tourism?** That is my favorite thing. Yes. Well, I have a feeling, CJ, that we can talk forever. **Good luck on your tour.** Thank you. *Read more from Austin Kleon on his* [*site*](https://austinkleon.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com)*, in his* [*newsletter*](https://austinkleon.com/newsletter/?ref=cjchilvers.com)*, and in his* [*books*](https://austinkleon.com/books/?ref=cjchilvers.com)*.* ### New Newsletter: Why I Unsubbed 400 of You URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/new-newsletter-why-i-unsubbed-400-of-you/ Last updated: 2019-02-25T14:57:00.000Z The ability to look stupid, the best note taking app, and how to keep going — it’s all in [the latest newsletter](https://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/why-i-unsubbed-400-of-you?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### Which Note Taking App Should I Use? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/which-note-taking-app-should-i-use/ Last updated: 2019-02-11T15:32:00.000Z Everyone takes and uses notes in in their own way. It’s very personal. No one way works for everyone. In fact, readers who only use paper should skip this article altogether. I admire your lifestyle and hope to have it some day, but for now I rely on the efficient recollection of a robust digital system to get my job done. These are the principles and apps that work for me. I do not expect all of this to apply to you — thus the title. But maybe it can be a little helpful to you if this is a question you ask of yourself. Before we get into the apps themselves, I need to define some subjective terms. **Definitions** Your notes are the reference section of your life. It’s not necessarily the project management (or action-taking) part of life for me, though it has that potential. For my purposes, notes are all about reference. I define reference as any piece of information you are *likely* to use and want to keep. The word *likely* is intentionally vague. How you define that word could define the app you use. For example, if you’re likely to use 90% of what you save as reference, you are likely to save very few notes, and something like Apple Notes or Google Keep will be fine for you. If you’re a writer like me, the word *likely* could include notes, blog posts, and book chapters you wrote a decade ago. Even a small percentage chance of future usefulness makes a note valuable. I have a huge amount of reference, so simpler apps usually don’t work out well. For my purposes, everything I create or research is reference of some kind that could be useful in future work. That includes text, photos, and audio that currently constitute around 4000 “active” notes. A text-only notes app would not work for me. Some writers separate their notes from their published writing. This doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. Reference is reference whether or not it’s published. **What a Note Taking App Should Do** Note taking apps need to be good at three key things: 1. Capture. How easy is it to get reference material into the app? 2. Organization. How easy is it to place the reference material in the app with the correct metadata and tags? 3. Recovery. How easy is it to find what you’re looking for? That’s it. Plenty of notes apps are good at other things, but most fail at some or all of those three corner stone functions. **Pros and Cons of Popular Note Taking Apps** I’m not going to cover every app, only the ones I’ve spent years with as (primarily) a Mac and iOS user: Apple Notes, [Evernote](https://evernote.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com), [Ulysses](https://ulysses.app/?ref=cjchilvers.com), and [Bear](https://bear.app/?ref=cjchilvers.com). **Apple Notes** Pros: - It’s in the Apple ecosystem, so it’s very friendly Siri and automation. - It’s well designed for system app, though I wish they’d let go of that paper background. - It’s very easy to use. - It’s free. - It’s fun. - It’s fast. - It’s file handling is totally within the Apple system without duplication, so photos and attached documents do not add to the size of a note. - There’s no feature bloat. - It has the best Apple Pencil support. - There’s easy import/export options available. - The developers work only on Apple platforms (as opposed to most note apps). - The link capture card is more elegant and useful than any other app. - It always pastes in plain text (as opposed to rich text notes apps). - It defaults to smart quotes, which is nice for a rich text editor. - The future is more iOS-centric and this plays better with iOS than any other note app. - There’s better privacy than in other notes apps. - Apple Notes fits well with a one-thing-well philosophy. Use notes for notes, bookmarks in Safari, contacts in Contacts, etc. - Pogue seems to [adore it over Evernote](http://yahoo.com/tech/why-i-ditched-evernote-for-1286074947960886.html?ref=cjchilvers.com). - MacSparky’s experiments with it [looked good](http://macsparky.com/blog/2015/12/using-apple-notes?ref=cjchilvers.com). - Federico Viticci of MacStories [seemed to love it for a while](https://www.macstories.net/ios/ipad-diaries-optimizing-apple-notes?ref=cjchilvers.com). [Ryan Christoffel too](https://www.macstories.net/stories/dispelling-the-apple-services-myth/?ref=cjchilvers.com). Cons: - It doesn’t handle a lot of notes. There were anecdotal reports that after the app’s last big update, sync broke down if you had 2000 small notes or 500 big notes. Pogue says it works with his 1600 notes just fine, though. - Sync has historically been [iffy](https://twitter.com/cjchilvers/status/913121037730172929/?ref=cjchilvers.com) for me. - I use tags. They’re essential. Notes may not ever support them. Average people don’t care about tags and Apple designs for the average person. - Notes isn't well suited to archiving reference articles and other materials for the long term (stuff that doesn't work as files, but does as reference). - You can’t edit dates on notes. **Evernote** Pros: - It’s the most automated. It’s the only thing I tested with both simple web automation and system automation. No matter what I write or where I write online, Evernote captures and files it without me needing to see anything. I believe this may be coming to Bear, but for now, Evernote is the gold standard for automatic capture and organization. - It’s the most flexible. - It’s the most reliable. I’ve lost data on every iCloud notes app I tried. In a decade, I’ve never lost a single note on Evernote. A good reference system is about trusting that things are going to be properly in place when needed. The point is to not have it on your mind. Evernote has proven itself trustworthy to me. - It syncs the fastest of these apps. - It’s cross-platform. - It captures everything. - It includes URLs automatically in the note’s metadata. Nothing else does this. - It has versioning. - It indexes text within photos and graphics for search. - It’s offers a plain text option for individual notes. If you don’t want plain text, but don’t want a bunch of crazy HTML formatting either, it offers a “simplify formatting” option. - It has bulk tagging and untagging, which no other app tested could do without crashing. This saves immense amounts of time. - When importing/exporting, Evernote was the most robust tool, processing images like it was nothing. - It’s the only app tested that allowed for changing created and modified dates. This is huge if you’re importing old writing/notes and you want them to properly sort. - [Shane Snow](http://evernote.libsyn.com/s2-e4-dream-teams-with-shane-snow?ref=cjchilvers.com) uses Evernote to write his books so that his collaborations and research can be easy shared and be device agnostic. - YouTuber Carl Pullein says, “[You should be using Evernote in 2019.](https://youtu.be/Tbx15CNhU94?ref=cjchilvers.com)” He re-iterates everything I’ve written for years about notes (except he uses the terms collect, store, and search, instead of my capture, organize, and recover). Cons: - Evernote has an Android team and a Windows team. How much will they innovate for MacOS and iOS? At least they disbanded their Backberry team. - It’s not well designed. - It’s expensive. - My blog posts and newsletters are not always captured well through Evernote automation. They look ugly. - The iOS version has never captured anything well (without Shortcuts). - The newest versions on iOS seem to move away from tags. This is crazy. - The constant reversals/upheavals at Evernote bother me. From the ever-changing, whacky UI to the not knowing what crazy business model will come next, I’m left in a state of perpetual confusion about the future of my notes. - It’s unlikely they’ll roll back what they already have done in the way of feature creep. Why lose even more business? - Privacy: Apple Notes are encrypted by default and no one can see them. Anyone at Evernote or in law enforcement can see your Evernote notes unless you individually encrypt each one. - Evernote has had sync issues recently, although I haven't experienced them personally. - Sometimes I think I save too much to Evernote because it’s too easy. There may not be enough constraint here. **Bear** Pros: - It works the way I think. - Importing and exporting is super fast. - It’s the best at tag handling. It actually makes tagging fun. - Organization happens in the note. This means exports will include that data no matter where you take them. - It’s fast. - It’s relatively inexpensive. - The company seems stable, helpful, and fun. - The design is the best of the apps tested. - It exports to everything, including JPEG for social sharing. - It’s so easy to clip from the web and the clipper is even better than Evernote’s (both on Mac and iOS). - It’s great as a writing tool (not the best, but great). No other app tested does the combo of notes and writing as well as Bear. - Check out The Verge's article on [replacing Evernote with Bear](https://www.theverge.com/2017/3/2/14785264/evernote-replacement-bear-app?ref=cjchilvers.com). Cons: - It does not import all images from other apps. Each note needs inspecting. - There’s no web automation like Evernote: no email forwarding, no email address, no automatic archiving blog posts or newsletters (no IFTTT without extra work and no pictures if setting up workflows through dropbox). This could be fixed with their future web version. Until then, it’s all manual. - It does not have versioning. - You can’t edit dates on notes. - There’s no inbox in Bear (but you can search by “untagged” to find notes that have not been processed). - Exports from Bear did not include all the metadata needed. - You cannot bulk tag or untag like in Evernote. **Ulysses** Pros: - I’m much more likely to write on iOS if I use this app. - It treats writing as different from reference and concentrates on being the best at writing, while have secondary note taking capabilities. This forces creation over consumption. - It has versioning. - It has an inbox. - It has “goals” which are very useful when writing to reach a certain number of words. - I can finally incorporate my books into my reference a meaningful way. - It can combine notes (I refuse to call them sheets) like [Scrivener](https://www.literatureandlatte.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com). - It can compile ebooks like in [Scrivener](https://www.literatureandlatte.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com), though neither are as good as [Vellum](https://vellum.pub/?ref=cjchilvers.com). - It can be used for very basic journaling. - Lots of nerds love it, which means lots of Shortcuts and resources are available for it. - Ulysses also offers the ability to separate and filter types of notes in a search by all kinds of detailed criteria. - It’s trusted by Ben Brooks, Shawn Blanc and so many others who are known for considering the tiniest details of design in software. - You can even take notes about your notes. - You can post to Wordpress and Medium, if that’s your thing (it’s not mine). Cons: - It is not really a notes app, and doesn’t handle automated reference well. - It’s iOS swiping doesn’t do what I want it to do. Swiping to delete isn’t a thing. It’s frustrating. - It’s terrible at capture compared to the rest. - It’s the only app that couldn’t handle importing notes without spinning up the fans like crazy on MacOS and straight up crashing over and over on iOS. - Syncing can be iffy, and take days at first. - Every time I open it in iOS it takes a while to load and populate the inbox. It doesn’t inspire confidence. - Apple Notes and Evernote just got out of my way and let me capture in any way I want. Ulysses is picky and requires more of my time to capture anything. - It doesn’t seem to be able to handle large amounts of notes well. - You can’t change the dates on a note, even though it’s one of the few ways you can sort your notes. - It’s not fun to use. - It’s not easy to use. - I don’t like using it for anything but writing. - When importing/exporting, Ulysses was the worst tested. Its bulk export is barely present. Note-by-note individual exporting is needed if images are in a note. - It cannot collect the text of web pages on its own. - It’s slow. It takes forever to process changes. - Notes, chapters, newsletters, and blog posts are not “sheets.” It may seem nitpicky, but this bothers me. **Rules for Switching Apps** For years I’ve been collecting my experiences with these apps. The one I’m using changes about every six months. Why? As you’ve seen above, every app has major cons. These cons force me to get fed up enough to do something different every once in a while. This leads me to a notes app switching principle: **Fix your roof when it’s sunny.** Switching apps is often a sign that your overwhelmed by something. Fix that something before you fix your apps. Another useful rule: **When you switch, do it all at once.** I didn’t, which led me to find flaws in both Bear and Ulysses, but it made switching back extremely difficult. First, realize that importing to any app will have huge flaws, but do it all at once and keep the original app as reference for what broke. **What Am I Using Right Now?** I’ve switched back to Evernote for now. The flaws in Evernote are mostly design-based, which beats the functional flaws in other apps. I do have high hopes for Bear, though. When they get their web app up and running, it’ll be hard to argue against them. I love that Ulysses has a bias for creation, but the hoops required to jump through for capture make it really hard to use for me. I’ve wasted a lot of time trying to get the app to work with my writing, which kills its primary benefit: focusing on creation. And as much as I love using system apps, Apple Notes just can’t handle the amount of notes I take. I hope this changes, but I’m not holding my breath. Damn you Evernote. Why can’t I quit you! (h/t [Cortex](https://overcast.fm/+E7b6Vif1g/1:11:49?ref=cjchilvers.com)) *Updated in 04/2019 to reflect Ulysses updates to bulk tagging.* ### "Sources of Personal Competitive Advantage" URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/sources-of-personal-competitive-advantage/ Last updated: 2019-02-06T15:00:00.000Z Shane Parrish is collecting a list on Twitter of [sources of personal competitive advantage](https://twitter.com/farnamstreet/status/1090810681383780352?ref=cjchilvers.com). Readers soon joined in and now it’s a long thread that received the following response from business author Kevin Kruse: > “If he doesn’t turn this into a book, I will.” Here’s what the list started with (I bolded my favorite — I could probably write an entire book just on this one point): - Delayed gratification - Capital - Network (who you know) - Unique skills or combinations - Platform - Ability to suffer - Family/home life - Speed - Ability to change your mind - Ability to learn/adapt - Ability to persuade others - **Ability to look stupid** - Advanced Pattern recognition - Focus - Ability to say no ### Marie Curie's Notebook URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/marie-curies-notebook/ Last updated: 2019-02-05T14:57:00.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579521262-NA3KXH4WGU25A61DTNEJ/image-asset.jpeg) A look inside a notebook, on experiments from 1899-1902, still radioactive today (and will be 1500 years from today). This reminds me that paper notebooks are still the best format for archiving notes, and handwriting adds humanity to everything — including data collection. (via [The Nobel Prize](https://twitter.com/nobelprize/status/1079020972341108742?ref=cjchilvers.com) and [NinjaEconomics](https://twitter.com/NinjaEconomics/status/1091599600052404224?ref=cjchilvers.com)) ### Why I Just Unsubscribed 400 of You URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/why-i-just-unsubscribed-400-of-you/ Last updated: 2019-02-04T15:46:23.000Z The goal of my newsletter is to connect with my readers. It’s a simple, clear goal, but it’s not easy to maintain. Higher open rates on fewer emails are worth vastly more to me than lower open rates on many emails. Because of this, I periodically unsubscribe large numbers of readers from my newsletter who haven’t opened an issue in a long time. This time it was around 400 people. This is something businesses almost never do. If there’s even a microscopic chance someone will open an email and buy something, that person stays subscribed. Here’s why I do what most businesses don’t: 1. I’m not a business, I’m a person. My goal is connecting with other real people. Most good things in my life have come about because of connections I’ve made online. No joke — even my family. 2. It costs more to maintain a large list. Each non-reader, or not-interested reader, is a cost incurred with nothing to show for it. 3. Gmail hates it. Unfortunately, Gmail is what most of my readers use for email (please consider something like [Fastmail](https://www.fastmail.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) or [Hover](https://www.hover.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) — don’t let an ad company host your email). Google knows your open rate. If they deem your emails lower quality because of a lower open rate, your emails can end up in the promotions tab or spam folder. You become invisible. You’d be shocked how many big name newsletters I find in the spam folder of my old Gmail account. I give these subscribers a chance to stay subscribed if they want. I send out an email with a button or link they can click to stay. If there’s no response, they’re unsubscribed from the list. If you’d like to learn more about how to weed non-readers on Mailchimp, check out [this thread](https://twitter.com/vanschneider/status/1007678500994764800?ref=cjchilvers.com) from Paul Jarvis (you can dive even deeper into these topics in his course [Chimp Essentials](https://chimpessentials.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com)). ### Keep Going URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/keep-going/ Last updated: 2019-01-31T20:28:34.000Z Austin Kleon and I tend to write about very similar subjects, but to completely different audiences. I follow his [blog](https://austinkleon.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) and read his [books](https://austinkleon.com/books/?ref=cjchilvers.com). More than once I’ve deleted drafts of posts, because he just posted the same thing. So, I look forward to reading new books from Austin. His latest, [Keep Going](https://amzn.to/2WzJHMH?ref=cjchilvers.com), did not disappoint. If you follow him, the book is a distilled and clarified version of the best concepts he’s written about over the past few years. If you don’t follow him, this book is the the last book in a trilogy about living a life filled with creativity, and it leaves you on a high note. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579527192-ENDXIV8WNELAC6CMP2CC/image-asset.jpeg) My favorite chapters involve being creative while also being a parent. His experiences learning from his children’s creativity mirror my own. His evangelization of [bliss stations](https://austinkleon.com/2016/07/21/the-bliss-station/?ref=cjchilvers.com), furthered in the book, prodded me to make one of my own. ![Yes, this is really what my home office looks like (there’s rows of books behind the desk above a “digital desk”). I keep it this clean because I’m a neat freak, and because my brain can’t get as crazy as I want it to if I’m distracted. Neat and ord…](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579528354-E2DRXLXGAL65YMZAI7V5/image-asset.jpeg) Yes, this is really what my home office looks like (there’s rows of books behind the desk above a “digital desk”). I keep it this clean because I’m a neat freak, and because my brain can’t get as crazy as I want it to if I’m distracted. Neat and orderly on the outside creates a bundle of sparking neurons on the inside. Everyone’s different. This is what works for me. While the first book encouraged you to create by taking from your influences, and the second book encouraged you to share things worthy of taking, the third book encourages you to maintain and enrich that symbiosis throughout the rest of your life. I’ll save any spoilers for the countless interviews Austin will be doing on podcasts in the next few months. Until then, go pre-order the [book](https://amzn.to/2WzJHMH?ref=cjchilvers.com) (or books). You’re going to love it. And if you see Austin, be sure to ask him, “[What’s next?](https://austinkleon.com/2018/05/14/whats-next/?ref=cjchilvers.com)” ### New Newsletter: Why do some people hate positive news? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/new-newsletter-why-do-some-people-hate-positive-news/ Last updated: 2019-01-28T20:48:05.000Z Positive news, “Now” pages, and Craig Mod on what makes a good newsletter: it’s all in the latest issue of [the newsletter](https://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/why-do-some-people-hate-positive-news?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### It's Getting Better All the Time URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/its-getting-better-all-the-time/ Last updated: 2019-01-15T20:10:20.000Z I receive the most criticism when I post about positive things happening in the world. I find that fascinating. It could be because a lot of people rely on negative outlooks to fuel their jobs, hobbies, or identities. Steven Pinker experienced this himself on a grand scale when he published[Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress](https://amzn.to/2CodIWC?ref=cjchilvers.com) one year ago. He has since been called every name in the book, even though his work is based on science and math, and should be considered a rather sober account of the progress of humanity. Yesterday [he published a long article](https://quillette.com/2019/01/14/enlightenment-wars-some-reflections-on-enlightenment-now-one-year-later/?ref=cjchilvers.com) examining the strange reaction to book. > “The question of whether progress has occurred is matter not of “optimism” but of what Hans Rosling calls “factfulness”: calibrating our understanding of the world to empirical reality. If measures of well-being, such as health, prosperity, knowledge, and safety, have increased over time, that would be progress. In fact, they have. > > Since progress does not mean that the world is perfect, only that it is better, acknowledging progress does not mean being indifferent to the very real suffering of people today, nor to the very real threats that humanity continues to face.” It’s a long, thoughtful look at why you publish about progress at your own peril, and why you should do it anyway. ### Craig Mod on What Makes a Good Newsletter URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/craig-mod-on-newsletters/ Last updated: 2019-01-11T19:30:17.000Z Craig Mod, prognosticator of publishing, recently [tweeted](https://twitter.com/craigmod/status/1062225639619551232?ref=cjchilvers.com) about newsletters: > “There's a tendency to over-design newsletters as of late. I think this misses the point, the \*power\* of a newsletter is from its intimacy. You can design intimacy out of an experience by scrubbing voice, grit. > > The best newsletters feel like nice letters from smart friends. > > My favorites newsletter either: > > 1) have a super strong voice, and therefore I don't care how long they are, will joyfully follow them to the end of the world > > 2) are mega concise, and serve to highlight just a handful (3? 4?) of gems” This isn’t the first time I’ve heard about under-designing a newsletter. [Tobias van Schneider](https://medium.com/mailchimp-for-agencies/dont-call-it-a-newsletter-tips-from-tobias-van-schneider-afcef8a799d7?ref=cjchilvers.com) has also talked about this with his super-successful newsletter **about design** (which he refuses to call a “newsletter”): > “To be honest, I sometimes think it’s a bit too nice. I like to keep it simple; I want it to look less like a newsletter and more like a personal email.” [Tinyletter](https://www.tinyletter.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) makes this kind of personal style easy, but if you’re looking to do this with a more fully-featured service, good luck. It can often be harder to make a newsletter look under-designed than over-designed. ### Get Published Podcast Episode 169: CJ Chilvers URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/get-published-podcast-episode-169-cj-chilvers/ Last updated: 2019-01-02T00:00:30.000Z Paul G. Brodie had me on [his podcast](https://player.fm/series/get-published-podcast-2350290/cj-chilvers-engaging-your-email-list?ref=cjchilvers.com) to discuss [A Lesser Photographer](https://www.cjchilvers.com/a-lesser-photographer) and how I chose quality of audience over quantity with my email newsletter. We had a great discussion after the show too about alternative business models for writers, which I’ll be following up on in time. ### Thanks, Hamish! URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/thanks-hamish/ Last updated: 2018-12-31T13:20:45.000Z Hamish Gill wrote a wonderful review of *A Lesser Photographer* at [35mmc](https://www.35mmc.com/31/12/2018/the-lesser-photographer/?ref=cjchilvers.com): > “I suppose you could call it tips, or maybe advice, but that feels like an injustice to it. It’s more sage than those words sum up – it feels more wise, less contrived, less derivative and much less prescriptive than most of what you’ll otherwise read about photography.” Those are kind words coming from such an influential voice in the analog photography community. If you haven’t been to his site yet, [check it out](https://www.35mmc.com/31/12/2018/the-lesser-photographer/?ref=cjchilvers.com). If you’re a reader of his, please [subscribe](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe) to this site to keep up with the latest. Thanks for visiting! ### I Finally Made a "Now" Page URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/i-finally-made-a-now-page/ Last updated: 2018-12-27T15:20:00.000Z I don’t know why I waited so long to make a “now” page (Derek Sivers). I read them all the time. If you’re new to the concept, here’s the inventor [Derek Sivers](https://sivers.org/nowff?ref=cjchilvers.com): > “It’s a nice reminder for myself, when I’m feeling unfocused. A public declaration of priorities. > > (If I’m doing something that’s not on my list, is it something I want to add, or something I want to stop?) > > It helps me say no, too. When I decline invitations, I point them to that page to let them know it’s not personal.” After reading yet another now page update from [Patrick Rhone](https://www.patrickrhone.net/now/?ref=cjchilvers.com), I figured it was time to finally put up my own. So, [here it is](https://www.cjchilvers.com/now/). I’ve set a reminder to update it regularly. Hold me to it! ### New Newsletter: Talent, Hard Work, or Luck? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/new-newsletter-talent-hard-work-or-luck/ Last updated: 2026-06-27T15:02:33.000Z The value of a newsletter, the mechanization of knowledge, and the ubiquity of smartphones. It’s all the latest issue of [the newsletter](https://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/talent-hard-work-or-luck?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### Consistency URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/consistency/ Last updated: 2018-11-15T14:41:43.000Z This is one of the sentences I say regularly that drives people crazy: > “Consistency is great, but we don’t want to be consistently wrong.” Consistency really is great when it reinforces good habits in your readers (weekly newsletters, daily posts, etc.). It’s terrible when it’s used as a crutch to keep making the same mistakes over and over, because trying something new and different (or “weird”) is scary. It’s akin to saying, “That’s how we’ve always done it,” which is the last wheezing breath of a dying business. ### The Value of a “Good Old Newsletter” URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/-the-value-of-a-good-old-newsletter/ Last updated: 2018-11-14T16:49:00.000Z From [Kai Brach](https://click.densediscovery.com/recipients/dd6f7cc0-7dae-460e-8cf6-cc6766b6b381/web%5Fview?ref=cjchilvers.com), Publisher of Offscreen magazine and the Dense Discovery newsletter: > “Funny enough though, the good old email newsletter is currently experiencing a bit of a comeback. Perhaps as a reaction to the bottomless, anxiety-inducing social feeds, the email sits patiently in your inbox until you deem it worthy of your attention. Not able to read it now? No problem, come back to it later, it's right there where you left it. > That's why I've always loved email as a medium. Sure, I spend a lot of time reading and writing them – which arguably is not the most creatively productive time of my day – but it's still the one digital medium that abides by my rules (or filters). No sudden change in algorithm; no YOU-NEED-THIS product plugs; no strangers chiming in with rude comments. I decide what and when to read. Perhaps best of all: I can have constructive, civilised conversations with other people. Imagine that?!” Amen. And it’s a really good time to [subscribe](cjchilvers.com/subscribe) to mine. ### The Mechanization of Knowledge URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-mechanization-of-knowledge/ Last updated: 2018-10-22T14:30:06.000Z > “Improvements in communication make for increased difficulties of understanding.” — [Harold Innis](http://www.roughtype.com/?p=8557&ref=cjchilvers.com) This quote messed with my head for a while, yet it accurately describes the point we're at with some forms of online publishing. Breaking the barriers and killing off the gatekeepers was supposed to be freeing. But what if it wasn't compatible with our brains? Also, this quote is from 1950. ### New Newsletter: The New Edition of A Lesser Photographer URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/new-newsletter-the-new-edition-of-a-lesser-photographer/ Last updated: 2018-10-03T18:32:00.000Z Check out the new book, think about not listening to podcasts, and learn about a great new photography 101 class. It’s all in [the latest issue of the newsletter](https://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/the-new-edition-of-a-lesser-photographer?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### A Lesser Photographer Second Edition Is Out! URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/a-lesser-photographer-second-edition-is-out/ Last updated: 2018-10-02T17:32:36.000Z The new edition of the *A Lesser Photographer* book is finally out on Amazon in [ebook](https://amzn.to/2y3m6IQ?ref=cjchilvers.com) and [paperback](https://amzn.to/2P1rMdW?ref=cjchilvers.com) formats (more stores and platforms will have it soon). This edition is all about refining the message of the first edition and producing a book I’ll be proud of 20 years from now. Here’s some of the major changes since the first edition: 1. Formats: the first edition was only available in PDF format (and a year later in Kindle). This edition will be available all formats, including print, with designs made for optimum readability for each format. 2. The cover for the second edition ebook was designed by renown minimalist book designer [Daniel Benneworth-Gray](http://danielgray.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com). The paperback was designed by [Liam Relph](https://reedsy.com/liam-relph?ref=cjchilvers.com), whose prior work includes titles from Penguin Random House and HarperCollins. I hope to detail the months-long process of creating these covers in future posts. 3. Each chapter (or essay) was re-edited for a total of 3 editing rounds by 3 different professional editors. It’s as tight as a book can get. 4. A few additional chapters and ideas were added. My hope is that they’ll blend in so well no one will even notice what’s new. In short, a lot of care and money were poured into this edition. Most of it should be invisible to the reader — there’s just fewer obstacles in front of the message. ### Should We Stop Listening to Podcasts? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/should-we-stop-listening-to-podcasts/ Last updated: 2018-09-17T15:13:19.000Z When you mention time and attention theft, most creators think of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (which I call Facebook II). They usually don’t think about Youtube or podcasts, which have the same issues: the ad model and all its abuses to the listener, and the lack of quality in favor of burn-out-inducing “consistency” and quantity (something that is also tied to the ad model). I didn’t give too much thought about it until recently. I quit Facebook and Instagram years ago. I became the lightest of Twitter users. I hadn’t cared that podcasts were robbing just as much of my attention. Then, while wondering why I was using two apps to manage them (each does something better than the other and both block ads in their own way), I saw this post from [Ben Brooks](https://brooksreview.net/2018/05/castro-podcasts/?ref=cjchilvers.com): > “Isn’t the entire point of a podcast that the entire podcast is relevant and entertaining? Why are people paying to get these “features” instead of demanding better content?” Then this from [Matt Thomas](https://twitter.com/mattthomas/status/1000014190818545664?ref=cjchilvers.com): > “The podcast is free but your time isn’t.” Both were painful to read, because they were totally true. We’re just numb to the Buzzfeed-ification of podcasts, even (especially?) in outlets like NPR. Then came popular YouTuber CGPGrey (one my favorite podcasters) and his [Project Cyclops](https://overcast.fm/+B1qzR7TJI/1:08:29?ref=cjchilvers.com). In short, this is a well-known, well-liked podcaster who is now advising people to stop listening to podcasts. He has promised to stop listening himself as well — he will only create. He followed up his announcement of Project Cyclops with [an episode](https://overcast.fm/+B1qw00QSY/1:11:02?ref=cjchilvers.com) questioning why we’re letting attention seekers (arguably the last people we should encourage) have access to so much of our time. He refers to them as the kids from Drama club (nice people, but with a dire need for our constant attention). To cap it off, Grey posted [this excellent video](http://www.cgpgrey.com/blog/cyclops?ref=cjchilvers.com) to begin Project Cyclops. If you’d like to dive into the science and philosophy behind such projects, check out Nicholas Carr’s [The Shallows](https://amzn.to/2xopcaj?ref=cjchilvers.com) and Cal Newport’s [Deep Work](https://amzn.to/2xlMmxU?ref=cjchilvers.com). Funny that I haven’t heard much about this on the podcasts I listen to...or on Twitter. These people usually adore Grey and his projects. It’s almost as if they’re chained to a business model that won’t them be open and honest. ### Finally! A Photography 101 Course I Can Recommend URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/finally-a-photography-101-course-i-can-recommend/ Last updated: 2018-09-14T18:47:39.000Z Most mainstream photography courses focus on what matters to professional photographers and ignore the 99.9% of us who are hobbyists. Their advice is misguided at best, and scammy at worst. My book and blog are an antidote to most of these courses. If you’re here, you know the basics, and probably want to *unlearn* the rules to get to core of what makes you most creative. Think of it as Photography 301: Unlearning Photography. So when I do get inquiries about where to go for Photography 101: The Basics, I don’t have many places to link to that I know I can trust. That changes now with The Sweet Setup’s new course [Mobile Photography](https://thesweetsetup.com/photos/?ref=14) (The Sweet Setup was kind enough to provide this affiliate link after I first posted this). I checked out the course and I like where it takes its students. The examples used are examples actual hobbyists might encounter, which is rare in a photography course. But most of all, I’ll recommend this to beginners because it comes from a trusted source: Shawn Blanc. ### Using Ulysses as a Database for The Van Halen Encyclopedia URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/using-ulysses-as-a-database-for-the-van-halen-encyclopedia/ Last updated: 2018-09-13T15:58:31.000Z My 1999 book, [The Van Halen Encyclopedia](https://amzn.to/2NDrtsg?ref=cjchilvers.com), was put together using Microsoft Word and stacks of research material. Back then, I wanted nothing more than the skills to put together a database to update each entry, then publish it as a whole book every year or two. The technology existed back then, thanks to the endlessly hackable Microsoft Access, but I didn’t have the time or expertise to put it together. I could make the database, but I couldn’t compile to save my life. Almost 20 years later, I’m finding that [Ulysses](https://ulysses.app/?ref=cjchilvers.com) can serve as simple version of this database. I started by breaking the book down by chapter (or letter): ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579561277-JTX1ZD24HI3YBJNAAXGZ/image-asset.png) Then I broke the chapters down into individual entries. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579562290-MAOK82OVISV9FY7QVYHF/image-asset.png) Here’s the best part: You can add updates, citations and images to the entries in the note field. This makes future updates much easier, plus the tags (keywords) make organizing and indexing the book much easier. For the most contentious part of the book (The Tours chapter), I can upload ticket stubs and tour itineraries as evidence of show dates. It was difficult to convince some fans that their bootlegs were not dated correctly, and that the book had the correct date and location of a show. Now, I can have proof at the ready. In the future, I can also connect all of this to a website, thanks to Wordpress’s integration with Ulysses, and update the book in real time for readers. I’m still struggling to adjust my writing to the Ulysses way, but I love the direction the app is taking my organization of the material. I’m not planning on publishing a new version of the book any time soon. It would take years of hard work at this point to update every entry with all that’s been discovered about the band in the last two decades. But it’s nice to know it’s much more doable now. My future wishes: [Vellum](https://vellum.pub/?ref=cjchilvers.com) and [Squarespace](https://www.squarespace.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) integration. ### Brian Koppelman: “Go Do the Thing.” URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/brian-koppelman-go-do-the-thing/ Last updated: 2018-09-06T18:13:29.000Z Brian Koppelman (a fellow Van Halen fan) is the co-creator of the hit Showtime series [Billions](http://www.sho.com/billions?ref=cjchilvers.com), one of my favorite shows. This week, the cast and crew of Billions is back at work on a new season and Brian had [some words of encouragement](https://twitter.com/briankoppelman/status/1036918165077458944?ref=cjchilvers.com) for all creators: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579565313-3O2WCKIMGEB28PXWBNXS/image-asset.jpeg) > “This is the call sheet for the pilot of Billions. Note the date we started: Jan 19, 2015\. Fifteen months before, I really thought my career might be over. Or radically smaller. Because in October of 2013 a (bad) movie we wrote bombed and we were fired from an HBO show we were hired to run. Our agents at the time told us we were basically un-hirable. Or that the demand for our services had shrunk. I remember walking New York City in a lost daze. It was a dark time...I believed the agents that there might never be another opportunity. And then, somehow, David and I remembered we were writers. That no agent or executive could stop us from the work itself. So, along with Andrew, we wrote the pilot to Billions, on spec, without a deal. I’ve detailed that experience before but just know this: doing it felt like rebirth. And a regaining of power and self determination. Right now, I’m on my way to set for the first day of shooting season four. Never let them tell you you’re dead. You’re not. You’re alive. And you have way more control than you think. Go do the thing. Love.” ### I Launched a Book on Patreon URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/i-launched-a-book-on-patreon/ Last updated: 2018-08-30T18:03:04.000Z I finally did it. I set up a [Patreon account](https://www.patreon.com/cjchilvers?ref=cjchilvers.com). I don't expect a lot of people to sign up, because I've yet to launch much of what is planned for the coming year, but those who do join this early will get a free advance copy of the second edition of the A Lesser Photographer ebook, with a limited edition cover by renowned minimalist designer [Daniel Benneworth-Gray](http://danielgray.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com)! ### New newsletter: What if you have nothing more to say? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/new-newsletter-what-if-you-have-nothing-more-to-say/ Last updated: 2018-08-30T14:28:44.000Z Anti-optimizing your life, I finally go Patreon, and the ugly side of photo contests. It's all in the the [latest newsletter](https://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/what-if-you-have-nothing-more-to-say?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### When You Have Nothing More to Say URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/when-you-have-nothing-more-to-say/ Last updated: 2018-08-14T21:01:49.000Z Patrick Rhone appeared on [Anthony Ongaro’s podcast](https://www.breakthetwitch.com/podcast003/?ref=cjchilvers.com) and right away the conversation focused on why Patrick Rhone ended his blog, Minimal Mac, when he did after 5 years and about 3000 posts: > Anthony: “And then you stopped.” > Patrick: “I stopped at almost the very height of its popularity.” > Anthony: “Why did you stop?” > Patrick: “I had nothing more to say.” This is also why I stopped blogging at A Lesser Photographer. I had said it all and I felt that to say any more would be to dilute what the site had taught me and my readers about photography. I curated the best essays from the site into a book. Patrick did the same for his blog. Now we have neat little packages of what we learned on the topics we studied. This is important, because people need to hear the solutions to complex problems over and over until it sinks in. Concise, clear books fulfill this need better than blogs. We both went on blogging at our personal sites. That doesn’t mean we never write about the niche topic again, but it does mean we approach it from different (healthier?) point of view. After months of work, I’m about to click publish on a new edition of A Lesser Photographer at Amazon and a few other places. I’ve sent review copies out to several websites, so you may see those articles soon. The book has been out of print for a while, which has given me a lot of time to contemplate its value. I love being able to say that I have nothing more to say about a topic, and this book will make that possible once again. ### Does It Get Any Better than This? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/does-it-get-any-better-than-this/ Last updated: 2018-07-31T14:18:00.000Z I’m usually overwhelmed, but this time it was in a good way. I took a nature break last week to remind myself I’m human. I highly recommend it and so do [scientists](http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2015/06/23/1510459112?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### New newsletter: How to be the dumbest person in the room URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/new-newsletter-how-to-be-the-dumbest-person-in-the-room/ Last updated: 2018-07-22T12:13:34.000Z The news and social media is killing you, solitude can save you, so you probably need an untouchable day. It's all in [the latest newsletter](https://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/how-to-be-the-dumbest-person-in-the-room?ref=cjchilvers.com). Subscribe [here](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe). ### How to Be the Dumbest Person in the Room URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/how-to-be-the-dumbest-person-in-the-room/ Last updated: 2018-07-11T19:44:24.000Z James Altucher recently posted about [the smartest piece of financial advice he'd ever received](https://jamesaltucher.com/2018/06/smartest-financial-advice/?ref=cjchilvers.com): > "Everyone has to be smarter than me for me to get involved." The whole post is a great story of ups and downs that's all about having a beginner's mind at all times. Read the post, then watch Jeremy Irons perform this very idea below. In this scene, from the movie Margin Call, he's the CEO of a large investment bank on the brink of the housing collapse a decade ago. In my career I've dealt with many high-level executives in banking and other industries. The best of them approach meetings exactly like this (even with very small problems). ### New Newsletter: Find a Better Problem to Solve URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/new-newsletter-find-a-better-problem-to-solve/ Last updated: 2018-06-23T18:28:58.000Z The creativity bubble, Seth and Hugh love blogging, and my home screen madness. It’s all in [the latest issue of the newsletter](https://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/find-a-better-problem-to-solve?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### The Creativity Bubble URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-creativity-bubble/ Last updated: 2018-06-12T17:52:56.000Z It’s never been easier to find better system for solving our problems. What we should be doing is finding better problems to solve. Anything requiring intense thought and risk is naturally avoided for easy answers, safe bets, and “clever” strategies. “Clever” doesn’t change things. It’s a pat on the head. We’ve made a bubble for ourselves of courses, books, and gurus to guide us through the lowest risk creative endeavors. It’s time to place more value on the things that might fail in spectacular ways. ### Seth Godin to the World: You’re Still Not Blogging Daily?! URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/seth-godin-to-the-world-youre-still-not-blogging-daily/ Last updated: 2018-06-07T11:50:45.000Z Seth Godin has moved to Wordpress, which has prompted him once again to tell us about the importance of blogging daily on his [podcast](https://art19.com/shows/akimbo/episodes/3313d002-186c-46f9-9afa-646889bd57ef?ref=cjchilvers.com). > “I’m encouraging each one of you to have (a blog). Not to have a blog to make money, because you probably won’t. Not to have a blog, because you’ll have millions and millions of readers, because you probably won’t. But to have a blog because of the discipline it gives you, to know that you’re going to write something tomorrow. Something that might not be read by many people—it doesn’t matter—it will be read by you. If you can build that up, you will begin to think more clearly. You will make predictions. You will make assertions. You will make connections. And there they will be, in type, for you to look at a month or a year later. This practice of sharing your ideas to people who will then choose or not choose to share them helps us get out of our own head, because it’s no longer the narrative inside. It’s the narrative outside, the narrative that you’ve typed up, that you’ve cared enough to share.” To find this even more inspirational, you may have shrug off the fact that Seth spends hours every day coming up with a single post to publish (no one I know has that kind of free time). But what really gets to me after hearing this podcast a few times is that thought about the “narrative." I can’t deny the truth in that. Nothing has been healthier for my idea generation than to throw out ideas. Once they’re in the public, they feel completely gone. I’m free to come up with new and better ideas. And I do. When I don’t put those ideas out into the public, they fester. They cause uncertainty and anxiety. They kill the possibility of new and better ideas. Maybe I need to create the time, even at great cost, to blog more often if it means I can regularly free my brain of festering ideas. Maybe I shouldn’t say maybe: it seems like an invitation for this idea to fester. ### My Home Screen URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/my-home-screen/ Last updated: 2018-06-06T19:36:18.000Z Last week I was on vacation when the chance to write something for [Club MacStories](https://club.macstories.net/?ref=cjchilvers.com) popped up. Needless to say, I left my wife and son at the beach and found a suitable office to write 1400 words about the most hallowed ground for any geek, my home screen. Here’s the example published: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579587615-JC9TU8X1C3U9J2K7JBHH/image-asset.png) Here’s the “office” I used to write the article: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579589474-VUEG6ZMMJJZYFN63ZXO1/image-asset.jpeg) If you’d like to know about the hows or whys behind my home screen, think about joining up with Club MacStories and you’ll get their full archive of goodies. MacStories is one of many publications and creators I support through subscriptions and/or patronage. I think this form of support is becoming incredibly important as “traditional” forms of publishing continue to fracture. It’s something I haven’t implemented for myself yet, but I’m thinking more about it now. ### New newsletter: ​Make useless things URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/new-newsletter-make-useless-things/ Last updated: 2018-05-18T16:44:38.000Z You’re probably not a visual learner, artists being entrepreneurs, and photo book designers on creating stories from images. It’s all in [the latest newsletter](https://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/make-useless-things?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### Remember Photoblogging? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/remember-photoblogging/ Last updated: 2018-04-27T17:16:56.000Z Best practices for newsletters, constraints improve your photos, and proving there’s no need to change your mind. It’s all in [this week’s newsletter](https://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/remember-photoblogging?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### Best Practices for Newsletters URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/best-practices-for-newsletters/ Last updated: 2018-04-24T22:47:32.000Z I've had a [personal newsletter](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe) since around 1999\. I've found it to be the most effective means of communication the internet has yet to produce. It's portable, open, universal, and personal. I was asked recently to compile a list of best practices for newsletters, and this is what immediately came to mind (many updates to come): 1. [The best call to action is “reply.”](https://www.cjchilvers.com/the-most-important-call-to-action-for-your-readers/) 2. Test everything. No audience is the same. 3. Never let any test impede other best practices. To a certain extent, you shape your audience as much as they shape you. This is more true in editorial newsletters than e-commerce newsletters. 4. Try not to publish when everyone else does. Tip: test [Sundays](https://twitter.com/cjchilvers/status/920771669580566528?ref=cjchilvers.com). 5. Personalize everything you create and be more honest than what’s comfortable. “People come for the topic and stay for the voice.” — Merlin Mann 6. Realize what your goals are. If it’s sales, your approach will be different than editorial. But your purpose is the same across all newsletters: to build relationships with the readers. 7. Optimize for the reader, not for your workflow. 8. Spend time on the subject line. Nothing matters if it’s not opened. This doesn’t mean to be clever — many newsletters experience higher open rates by simply using the same boring subject line every time, because they have loyal readers who just want to know when their favorite newsletter has arrived. How do you know if this will work for you? Test. 9. Always opt-in. Double opt-in. 1 active reader is worth 50 luke-warm readers and a million inactive readers. 10. Readers recognize quality. The hours of work you put in will be noticed. A half-assed newsletter is also noticed. Reputation is the most valued currency in publishing now. 11. You will never understand what goes viral. This is why you need to put content out consistently. Your readers will tell you what they like. Same goes for products. 12. Create and curate. There’s value in both. Information overload has created a need for editors that may be eclipsing the need for content creation. In fact, the most financially successful editorial newsletters are from content curators. And remember: no one cares about your goals, products, or services anywhere near as much as you think. Give them a reason to keep coming back that goes beyond you. 13. Put your opt-in link everywhere. Put it front and center in your social media profiles, about pages, email signatures, and the front page of your website (as well as every other page on your website). 14. Personally greet every new reader, if possible, to understand who they are and how they found you. Meet with as many as possible throughout their time as subscribers. 15. Weed non-readers from popular email services if you’re editorial. Although some readers do open after long periods of time not opening, and make a difference to e-commerce newsletters, email hosts look at how much your newsletters are read, and you risk being seen as spam if you have too much unopened email. Plus, every inactive reader costs you money, so make them count. 16. Make unsubscribing easy. Remember, it’s relationships and reputation that matter most. Uphold these principles and unsubscribers may return. Don’t and they never will. 17. If you want engagement, be engaging. 18. [Don’t over-design it, and don’t actually call it a “newsletter.”](https://medium.com/mailchimp-for-agencies/dont-call-it-a-newsletter-tips-from-tobias-van-schneider-afcef8a799d7?ref=cjchilvers.com) 19. Be consistent. It builds trust and it’s [the opposite of spam](https://us7.campaign-archive.com/?u=cc11276e0af3cd3f833d3e2d1&id=2f6524301b&ref=cjchilvers.com). 20. Give way too much before you ask for anything. 21. Study those who are getting it right, like [Dave Pell](https://nextdraft.com/current/?ref=cjchilvers.com), [Brian Clark](https://further.net/?ref=cjchilvers.com), [Austin Kleon](https://austinkleon.com/newsletter/?ref=cjchilvers.com), [Hugh MacLeod](https://www.gapingvoid.com/daily-email/?ref=cjchilvers.com), and [Jocelyn K. Glei](http://jkglei.com/newsletter/?ref=cjchilvers.com). I subscribe to many more, but these appeal to a more general audience (sorry to friends I left out). ### How to Not Die in the Next 10 Years URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/how-to-not-die-in-the-next-10-years/ Last updated: 2018-04-12T19:33:05.000Z Photography is saving lives, speed still matters, and the most pathetic job. It’s all in [this week’s newsletter](https://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/how-to-not-die-in-the-next-10-years?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### Speed Still Matters URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/speed-still-matters/ Last updated: 2018-04-04T01:49:52.000Z At today’s [An Event Apart Seattle 2018](https://aneventapart.com/event/seattle-2018?ref=cjchilvers.com), Aaron Gustafson presented on why website performance is still so important. From attendee [Jake Kronika](https://twitter.com/jkronika/status/981220371880906754?ref=cjchilvers.com): > A 1s delay in page load can reduce conversions by 7%. Users are more concerned with speed than reliability. > 53% of users abandon sites that take longer than 3s to load. > Hallmarks of UX: streamlined flow, clear/concise copy, low cognitive load, fast performance. A site called Hooked on Code has more [in-depth notes](https://hookedoncode.com/2018/04/performance-as-user-experience-aaron-gustafson/?ref=cjchilvers.com) on the talk. What struck me is how all these years later, designing your website for the user still comes down to the most basic elements: speed, clarity, and ease of use. And just like 20 years ago, it seems like the opposite of what most websites are (or even want to be). ### Artist or Imbecile? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/artist-or-imbecile/ Last updated: 2018-03-25T17:43:12.000Z The best of “Delete Facebook,” newsletters to the rescue again, and resources for creating your own book covers. It’s all in [this week’s newsletter](http://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/artist-or-imbecile?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### Any Imbecile URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/any-imbecile/ Last updated: 2018-03-22T15:29:28.000Z “Photography is a marvelous discovery, a science that has attracted the greatest intellects, and art that excites the most astute minds—and one that can be practiced by any imbecile.” — Nadar (1910) via [Andy Adams](https://twitter.com/PhotoHistorian/status/976454128271437825?ref=cjchilvers.com) ### Questions URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/questions/ Last updated: 2018-03-22T15:24:37.000Z “I would rather have questions I can’t answer than answers I can’t question.” — [Max Tegmark](%28https://overcast.fm/+Ic2hP3AZs/42:01) ### Destroy a Hotel, Blame It on Journey 🎸 URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/destroy-a-hotel-blame-it-on-journey-/ Last updated: 2018-03-19T15:51:21.000Z The return of RSS, the freedom of discipline, and a productivity apology. It’s all in [this week’s newsletter](https://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/destroy-a-hotel-blame-it-on-journey?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### Van Halen Destroys the 7th Floor of the Sheraton Inn URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/van-halen-destroys-the-7th-floor-of-the-sheraton-inn/ Last updated: 2018-03-08T21:01:56.000Z The VHND [just posted](http://www.vhnd.com/2018/03/07/van%5Fhalen%5Fsheraton%5Finn/?ref=cjchilvers.com) an account of one of rock's most infamous moments of pure destruction. On my "book tour" for [The Van Halen Encyclopedia](https://www.cjchilvers.com/the-van-halen-encyclopedia) in 1999 I made a point of staying at this hotel in Madison, Wisconsin. Unfortunately, I was not allowed on the 7th floor (VIPs only). I did get to meet Susan Masino from this article and we did an hour on the local rock station promoting the book. ![Me (in the middle) in 1999 on Madison radio. That's Ron Higgins to my right (Van Halen historian and all-around good guy).](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579611164-R8J5SI23LZYCOH0SXHD1/image-asset.jpeg) Me (in the middle) in 1999 on Madison radio. That's Ron Higgins to my right (Van Halen historian and all-around good guy). ![Logan, the host. You can tell this is a midwest radio station, overalls included.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579612209-DMC3QWXWCXW93RO9QILC/image-asset.jpeg) Logan, the host. You can tell this is a midwest radio station, overalls included. ![Susan Masino with a few copies of The Van Halen Encyclopedia, an issue of Inside magazine and the original article mentioned in the VHND story.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579613403-BIAY8XO8WSTMDEN5T3Z7/image-asset.jpeg) Susan Masino with a few copies of The Van Halen Encyclopedia, an issue of Inside magazine and the original article mentioned in the VHND story. ### Getting More from Your Calendar URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/getting-more-from-your-calendar/ Last updated: 2018-03-08T20:40:50.000Z Chris Bowler at [The Sweet Setup](https://thesweetsetup.com/get-more-from-your-calendar/?ref=cjchilvers.com) writes this week about the benefits of using a calendar to manage your life: > “While most people still stick to the use of task or project management tools, there is a growing community of people who are turning to the calendar. The value of using one is that it forces you to consider the limited resource of time. You only have so much of it (the same as every other person on the planet).” Most of the article is great (as usual from Chris — here’s his [newsletter](http://chrisbowler.com/newsletter?ref=cjchilvers.com)), but I disagree with this statement: > “It’s tempting to hyper-schedule — to fill in every available 30-minute increment of the waking day — but that is folly and only leads to burnout and the desire to throw everything out the window. > What is needed is spontaneity and time to do things you enjoy. A calendar that is full of colored blocks is a problem. When I see my week getting too full, I pull back and re-evaluate. Leaving some empty spots that give you the freedom to do whatever feels right at the time is downright peaceful.” I hear this sentiment a lot, but I think this is the wrong way to approach scheduling (and, sorry David Sparks, I just hate the term hyper-scheduling). If your week is full of work blocks in your calendar, then it’s up to you to add blocks for play. In fact, if I don’t schedule fun things in my life, they never happen. Blank spaces on my calendar tend to make me revert to the couch, or worse, the couch + Twitter. Schedule date nights, field trips with your kids, vacations, meditation time, photography hikes, real rest, or whatever defines play for you. Make them repeating entries so you don’t have to think about scheduling them in the future. These appointments are more important than work and should be treated at least as seriously on your calendar. ### Productivity Addiction URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/productivity-addiction/ Last updated: 2018-03-06T18:21:19.000Z “I’m sorry if I got you hooked on productivity stuff. I think I was good at what I did. I think 43 Folders was a very good site and most of what I posted was pretty good. With that said, I did know that it was addictive. The exact kind of tick and personal deficit that leads you to need all of these lifehacks is same thing that’s going to keep you from ever knowing when to stop.” — [Merlin Mann](https://overcast.fm/+HfJgGIxUs/57:12?ref=cjchilvers.com) ### This Week’s Newsletter: The Key to a Happy Life URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/this-weeks-newsletter-the-key-to-a-happy-life/ Last updated: 2018-03-05T19:04:56.000Z The kids care more about prints than the olds, the key to happiness, and brain exercises all in [this week’s newsletter](http://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/the-key-to-a-happy-life?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### Facebook is Delusional URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/facebook-is-delusional/ Last updated: 2018-02-21T00:43:42.000Z Moira Burke, Facebook Research Scientist, via [No Agenda](https://overcast.fm/+BVlAvM7c/44:57?ref=cjchilvers.com): > “People are often surprised to learn that we have a large group of researchers here at Facebook with backgrounds in fields like social psychology, communication, and anthropology.” > “Writing a comment on a friend’s post or sending each other messages, these are the kinds of actions that can boost well-being. It’s a lot like being at a party. **You can’t just sit in the corner.** You need to interact with people that you care about in order to have a meaningful experience.” This is how you justify using your degree in psychology to keep people coming back to a website that makes them miserable. ### The Book Hiding in Your Blog URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-book-hiding-in-your-blog/ Last updated: 2018-02-20T20:35:27.000Z [Patrick Rhone](http://www.patrickrhone.net/theres-a-book-in-your-blog/?ref=cjchilvers.com): > "Derek Sivers is writing a book about surviving in the music industry right in plain sight. Every post he’s made to his blog in the past several weeks is a chapter around this topic. > I not only have done this as a writer but I support it as a reader. I love the idea of being able to purchase a nicely curated and packaged collection of ideas. I don’t have to dig through a blog’s archive or skim through a category to get to the stuff I want. The author has done if for me and that is work worth paying for." Obviously, this is also what I do, but not in the same way. I don't think in chapters. Some people do, and maybe it's a skill I could learn, but most bloggers I've seen who try this end up posting structured, formulaic chapters that look like chapters for a book (not self-contained ideas). Derek, Patrick, and Austin Kleon don't have that problem. They are the exceptions in my experience. Here's the struggle as I see it: If you think in short posts, like I do, there's an enormous amount of work to do to piece together a book from all the random thoughts. The upside is that your readers will tell you which of your ideas resonates with them. Just look at your stats once in a great while. It's throwing spaghetti against the wall and seeing what sticks. I recently spent six months thinking about a post, drafting several versions, and finally posting it. It got a spattering of replies, but most of my audience yawned and moved on to a post they loved that took an hour to write. You never know what they'll love until it's posted, so it's become important to me to get all those ideas out there as quickly as possible. I wasted six months on that lousy post! Posting in chapters makes the end product very easy to create, but if it doesn't resonate with the reader, no one will buy your book or your buy into your message. It's a riskier model, with the potential for burn out (single topic blogging can do that) or wasted time (time taken from projects you care about that would resonate with readers). I don't think there's a right/wrong path here, though. As long as you're creating something, you're doing better than the majority. Try both, see what fits, then do the other anyway. It's just blogging, and it's not going to hurt anybody. You might even like it! *I wrote this in 15 minutes. But I don't see it going in any book. Was it wasted?* ### A Free Mini Scheduling Course URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/a-free-mini-scheduling-course/ Last updated: 2018-02-18T00:26:29.000Z > "As soon as I have a schedule, I can fail." Amen. This is the best reason/admission I've ever heard from someone scared about scheduling. It's also the best reason I've ever heard to make scheduling a part of your life. [Francis Wade](https://twitter.com/fwade?ref=cjchilvers.com) turned me on to this series of videos on time management for ADHD sufferers. I don't have ADHD, but I found a lot of answers to basic questions about scheduling I often see in my email. ### This Quote Scares the Hell Out of Me URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/this-quote-scares-the-hell-out-of-me/ Last updated: 2018-02-15T21:11:57.000Z > "Nothing has a stronger influence psychologically on their environment and especially on their children than the unlived life of the parent.” — Carl Jung This quote freaks parents out. Google it and read about heads exploding. Parents love to beat themselves up about their choices. Couple this with the book everyone is talking about right now [Lost Connections](https://youtu.be/DQUgd9GQtoQ?ref=cjchilvers.com), and it's renewing the entrepreneurial longing in me. I first got this advice from [Patrick Rhone](http://www.patrickrhone.net/?ref=cjchilvers.com) in person years ago (in his own words) and I didn't follow it. I'm doing something about it this year, and I'm doing it on deadline (with real accountability), so I have no choice. ### Being Accountable for a New Habit URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/establishing-new-habits-without-apps/ Last updated: 2018-02-15T17:02:07.000Z I wrote at the beginning of the year about establishing habits instead of making resolutions (you don't hear much about resolution anymore do you?). I wrote that because I started a habit back then and wanted to see if I could keep it going six weeks. Why six weeks? I was misinformed about how long it takes to establish a habit. I thought it was six weeks before it becomes a habit that's hard to break. [It's probably longer](http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ejsp.674/abstract?ref=cjchilvers.com). But six weeks is a good start. My habit was to ride a bike 10 miles a day. It's a stationary bike — this is winter in Chicago after all. The goal wasn't see if I could, over the six weeks, increase the speed or decrease the time. It was just to ride a bike 10 miles every day. No other restrictions. The overall objective wasn't really even to ride the bike. It was to make a break in the day to be more active and healthy, which can have a cascading effect on the rest of your life. But the activity itself had to be clear and measurable, or I couldn't hold myself truly accountable. There's all kinds of schemes about how to keep yourself accountable while you're establishing habit. The most popular seems to be tracking in apps like [Streaks](https://streaksapp.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com). I decided not take that route. Instead, I took a photo every day as the bike crossed the 10 mile mark and texted it to my wife. Sometimes she would send back encouragement. She even promised a dinner at my favorite restaurant if I made it a month. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579631812-CT713Z6HYD3H6ERJ2U78/image-asset.jpeg) Here I am at the end of six weeks and I haven't missed a day. There's just something more real about allowing human interaction to keep you accountable. Apps have never done it for me, but this worked. Here's to another six weeks! ### Evaluating Apps for My Next Book URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/evaluating-apps-for-my-next-book/ Last updated: 2018-02-13T02:39:12.000Z I wrote [a few years ago](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/new-book/) about the apps I was using to build the A Lesser Photographer book. The challenge was compiling the 400 or so blog posts into one book. Since then, I've posted another 500-ish blog posts. That makes about 900 blog posts to edit and compile for the next edition of A Lesser Photographer. Is there an app for that? The problem is that there's too many apps for that. And I've been testing them all. I gave the most attention to [Ulysses](https://ulyssesapp.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com), since that's what all the cool kids are using, including Shawn Blanc who created [a great course](https://thesweetsetup.com/ulysses/?ref=cjchilvers.com) on the app that I happily took twice. Unfortunately, Ulysses still lacks a lot of the powerful features of another app, [Scrivener](https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/overview?ref=cjchilvers.com), that made editing all those posts into a book so easy years ago. Scrivener just went through a major overhaul making it even easier to juggle all the addition posts. My app for editing the book is clearly Scrivener. Designing the book is less of a struggle. I used a young app named [Vellum](https://vellum.pub/?ref=cjchilvers.com) last time, and since then it has grown into the default app for indie ebook publishing (especially fiction authors with high volumes of books). Vellum may be the best app ever created for self-publishers. The fact that they’ve stated [they’re not coming iOS](https://help.vellum.pub/purchasing/?ref=cjchilvers.com#system-windows) means I may never be able to escape old fashioned computers. I swear, if my current laptop died, I’d buy a new MacBook just to use Vellum. It’s that good. So, the tools for the next version of the book this spring will look a lot like the old tools. But I’ll keep experimenting with new apps (because it's fun) and report back if anything changes. ### The Ad Model Reckoning Is Upon Us URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-ad-model-reckoning-is-upon-us/ Last updated: 2018-02-10T17:19:59.000Z [Newsweek editor Gersh Kuntzman](https://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek-editors-blast-executive-to-his-face-what-youre-doing-is-bullshit-you-dont-understand-journalism/?ref=cjchilvers.com) to Newsweek Media Group interim Chief Content Officer Johnathan Davis: > “So you should be honest with everybody in this room: Are we running a money laundering operation? Are we evading taxes? You need to tell us that because we can’t work here if you’re a liar.” This is what the ad model does to content of all kinds: blogs, podcasts, Youtube, etc. It's a broken model. I think it's also safe to say that online ads have become malware. At the very least they eat up massive amounts of your data plan and track your movements across the web. At most, they are traditional malware trying to install something on your devise to do god knows what. What's in question with Newsweek is whether they're gaming the numbers to overcharge advertisers. This is a common practice. The ad model doesn't work for the advertiser either. Everyone is being screwed here. The reader is taking the brunt of it, though. This is just the beginning of the reckoning for publishers. Install a good ad blocker on your devices (I like 1blocker) and don't visit sites from desperate publishers willing to compromise anything to save a buck. ### In the Unlikely Event of Whitespace URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/in-the-unlikely-event-of-whitespace/ Last updated: 2018-02-09T13:25:05.000Z I'm learning to schedule better. One of the things I've learned is to build in enough space to compete a task and then add a little padding. I should almost never be surprised by something taking longer than I thought, and often be surprised by something taking a shorter amount of time. What should I do with those extra scraps of time? OK, maybe they're just 5 or 10 extra minutes here or there. But when you're not counting on them, they're heavenly. My first reaction is the correct one: do nothing and enjoy the moment. But sometimes you really *feel* like doing something. Mike Williams, of Zappos.com, came up with his own [chart of small practices](https://twitter.com/GTDmw/status/949401638791348224?ref=cjchilvers.com) he performs throughout the day. Maybe this could be a good guide on how to handle unexpected white space as well (if you really *must* do something): ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579639335-MLFS29M1X0PEM0G9WUO5/image-asset.jpeg) I still prefer #5. ### "We Need Publishers" URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/we-need-publishers/ Last updated: 2018-02-05T23:56:52.000Z Seth Godin in his *other* blog, [The Domino Project](https://www.thedominoproject.com/2018/01/shift-real-forever-books-numbers.html?ref=cjchilvers.com): > “As always, books have always been a long tail business, but now more than ever. The bestselling book of the year will likely be read by fewer than 1% of the people in the US. There’s no other form of media that’s even close to that low. In exchange, though, there are millions (not a typo) of books hanging out at the long tail. Which is fine if you’re a reader, but tough if you’re a writer. > Most of all, it’s worth noting that book sales are lumpy. The overall trends don’t matter to a single book or a single author… you only need 10,000 devoted readers to make a living. I expect there will be bestselling hit books for another twenty years. But, we’re now living in radically different times, and it doesn’t pay to act as if the world hasn’t changed. > > What does this mean for publishers? > **We need publishers.** We need them because most authors need financial and moral and organizational support to do the year or five of work necessary to create an important book. And we need them because most authors aren’t interested in doing all the hard work necessary to build a permission asset and promotion engine necessary to make it as an author. Readers need them too, because many want a curated, thoughtful book when it’s time to buy something.” True. I've preached that [we're all publishers now.](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/be-a-publisher/) I meant primarily for ourselves. But if you have a voice, an audience, and the resources, being a publisher for others makes a lot of sense right now. ### IBS Saved My Life URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/ibs-saved-my-life/ Last updated: 2018-02-04T12:55:06.000Z I’m a mess. I don’t know anyone, who’s honest, who isn’t a mess. It’s the mess that forms us far more than any successes. Like about 10% of males my age, I have [IBS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irritable%5Fbowel%5Fsyndrome?ref=cjchilvers.com). I’ve been told my case is entirely brain-based and severe. It’s an affliction I’ve had since the age of 10 and it’s kept me from getting jobs I wanted, getting good grades, keeping friendships going, and even doing simple things sometimes like picking my son up from school. I have panic attacks almost daily, despite having a team of great doctors, and a regimen of regular exercise and meditation. I tell you this because I need a post I can send to people to better explain why I couldn’t go to that party, why I missed that family vacation, or why I insist on mostly working from home. I’m telling you this to let you know I’ve been working on the problem for over 20 years. I’ve been on too many treatments to count, and I continue to experiment with new treatments and new doctors. I have the support of a wonderful family. Sometimes I get better, sometimes I regress. I’m trying. I’m learning. I’m telling you this because I want to start sharing what I’m learning, though I'm not sure of the venue for it yet. I’m also telling you this because I want you to know there’s always good to find in a bad circumstance. A few years ago a new doctor decided to run every test in the book on me, just in case he could find some physical anomaly that explained why (then at the age of 39) my symptoms were getting worse with age. What he found was a cancerous tumor that had nothing to do with my IBS. But if I had waited the 11 more years before the recommended age for a man’s first colonoscopy, I’d be in serious trouble. Or just dead. My IBS had a role in saving my life (along with a great doctor). My IBS also takes from my life a little every day. A messy life can be a great alternative sometimes. I have a large obstacle to concentrate on and a lot of luck. The rest I’m still just learning, like you, as I go. Now, I’m going to try to be more open and honest about it to see what happens. ### You Don't Need to Start a Podcast URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/you-dont-need-to-start-a-podcast/ Last updated: 2018-02-01T15:14:19.000Z With [all](https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/podcasts/starting-a-podcast/?ref=cjchilvers.com) [the](https://www.inc.com/paul-jarvis/podcasting-for-entrepreneurs.html?ref=cjchilvers.com) [cheerleading](https://www.wired.com/story/apple-podcast-analytics-first-month/?ref=cjchilvers.com) for podcasting, including some I've done myself, it can seem like you're really missing out if you haven't started one. Which is why I enjoyed getting a little of the opposite perspective from two great writers I follow, who have chosen not to podcast: > “A few people have asked me why I don't host a podcast. 1) too much work 2) I would only host a podcast as an excuse to record the background music (see #1).” — [Austin Kleon](https://mobile.twitter.com/austinkleon/status/956986109711577090?ref=cjchilvers.com) > “I didn't start writing books as a back way to get into the radio business.” — [Ryan Holiday](https://mobile.twitter.com/RyanHoliday/status/957037670043193344?ref=cjchilvers.com) Get better at what makes sense for you. At this point, no one is going to get excited for your podcast if you're not absolutely dying to make one. Plus, the project you do really love could use the extra hours. ### An Update on My Most Important Daily Writing Assignment URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/an-update-on-my-most-important-daily-writing-project/ Last updated: 2018-01-31T15:07:00.000Z I'm still [doing it](https://www.cjchilvers.com/my-most-important-daily-writing-assignment/). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579649239-6BMKA44GNS4KLFI5MT71/image-asset.jpeg) And [I'm not alone](http://jorgeq.com/jorgeqfolio/2017/12/19/my-most-important-daily-writing-assignment?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### Welcome Back Blogging? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/welcome-back-blogging/ Last updated: 2018-01-30T14:24:56.000Z From the [iA blog](https://ia.net/topics/web-trend-map-2018/?ref=cjchilvers.com) (I really wish they had included the writer’s name): > “There seems to be a weak undercurrent of old and young bloggers like us that feel sentimental or curious and want to bring back blogging. Blogging won’t save the world. But, hell, after two weeks now, we can confirm: it feels great to be back on the blogging line. If you are one of those old or young bloggers, please join in. Drop Facebook, drop Twitter and drop Medium for original thought. Own your traffic. You can use them to engage in discussion. But don’t get lost in there. Write daily. Publish as often as you have something to say. Link to other blogs.” The why is clear: social media is messing us up as people and as a society. But the how is a little more complex, especially if you’re new to blogging (this includes photo bloggers too). There seems to be two camps in the blogging world right now about what "works." The pros advise that long-form writing (going deep into a subject) is the best way to get any real attention and deal with the way Google, Facebook and Twitter have transformed how information is consumed online. You post something epic once in a great while, and promote over and over. Attention spans are shorter and readers aren’t using RSS anymore. If you want attention and sales, you have to go out and grab the attention, then offer something with extreme value to get the authority to sell something. They’re correct. The hobbyists (and one prominent pro — Seth Godin) profess that it’s the opposite that has the most positive impact on your life and mental health: short-form writing, and just getting your ideas out there. They’re correct. I’ve been thinking about this in my own life and career for the past month and I think I’ve come up with a theory: **one is a business model, one is a life model.** ### Schedule Your Creativity URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/schedule-your-creativity/ Last updated: 2018-01-18T23:58:30.000Z Author/entrepreneur [Joanna Penn](https://overcast.fm/+PM0kwT6M/37:02?ref=cjchilvers.com) on scheduling: > "When people ask me how I get everything done my answer always involves scheduling. I schedule my time way in advance, and that includes my writing time as well as business meetings, social events, holidays and more. I use Google Calendar but the tool is less important the actual planning and blocking out of time for creative tasks as well as the rest of life. Don't feel guilty about not having time for writing. If you feel that sense of guilt while you're doing other things, get out your calendar and block out some time when you will write. Then, let that guilt go and when that time comes, actually show up for that appointment with yourself and the blank page." Joanna's [podcast](https://www.thecreativepenn.com/podcasts/?ref=cjchilvers.com) is one of the few I never miss. ### The Continued Rise of Indie Magazines URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-continued-rise-of-indie-magazines/ Last updated: 2018-01-17T19:36:37.000Z I really love the business model Offscreen magazine has built for itself. They've taken the book publishing model and married it to the magazine model in a tasteful and profitable way. Their idea (introducing you to the people who build great stuff on the web) could have been a book, a Youtube channel, or a podcast. But they made it a magazine. They made it valuable by considering, in minute detail, the quality of the content, then actually printing it. It sells for $20, but also takes a few sponsors. The sponsors are featured in a small section, designed by the editor of magazine. They're not ads, nor are they obtrusive. This is a great idea. Check out the video above for how it's done. Once this model is established, you can sell back issues, ancillary products and sponsorships on publications about your publication (your blog, your email newsletter). Much of this is done with book publishing as well, but with magazine publishing you can sell a single idea over and over to your fans. In book publishing, it's usually one and done. Come up with a new idea and write another book if you want another $20. Magazine publishing is still a very risky model that requires lots of hard work (I know more people who left the business purely due to the shipping headaches than people who started new magazines), but the pay off is so tempting, indie magazines like Offscreen are popping up everywhere. In fact, Offscreen's weekly email newsletter just featured [33 indie magazines](http://mailchi.mp/offscreenmag/20-1569285?e=e1aad96852&ref=cjchilvers.com) and asked readers to click on their favorites (3 readers will get 3 issues of each magazine, 99 issues total). I thought I knew how niche a niche magazine could get, but I was wrong. Some of these ideas are insane and I love it! ### Resolve to not resolve this year URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/resolve-to-not-resolve-this-year/ Last updated: 2018-01-15T15:47:00.000Z In this week's newsletter: The secret of book covers, new optimism, and your blooper reel. Check it out and subscribe [here](http://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/resolve-to-not-resolve-this-year?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### The Camera is the Next Keyboard URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-camera-is-the-next-keyboard/ Last updated: 2018-01-02T14:53:14.000Z In this week's newsletter: Reversing entropy, flipping the funnel, and ice age art. Check it out [here](http://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/the-camera-is-the-next-keyboard?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### Does Google Miss Google Reader? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/does-google-miss-google-reader/ Last updated: 2017-12-31T00:11:03.000Z Every year at this time I take a look at what’s changed in online publishing, dedicate myself to taking advantage of what I’ve learned, and then realize I’m better at things like [newsletters](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe) and [books](https://www.cjchilvers.com/books) than whatever is trendy. It’s fun to watch, though. The biggest question I have right now is whether Google wishes it hadn’t killed Google Reader. When Google started their social network, they (like Twitter) had Facebook envy. Google Reader was shut down likely because Google wanted it’s own walled garden for advertisers, especially after ad blockers made their ad agency buyouts less effective for tracking. This crushed indie blogging and propped up big polarizing publishers and bots, leading to 2016’s messed up media landscape. It only surprised those who weren’t paying attention (so most of the public). After dealing with the political fallout from these changes, now Facebook’s strategy has [changed again](https://twitter.com/broderick/status/942711023500451840?ref=cjchilvers.com) and the walls are closing in, crushing indies who grew up within the walls. Google built AMP as its latest attempt to wall us in, trying to [embrace the web again](https://www.recode.net/2017/12/11/16748026/google-facebook-publisher-traffic-2017-increase?ref=cjchilvers.com) (a web that would’ve been much more vibrant had it not killed Google Reader). All of this means, we get to watch talented bloggers [get creative](https://kottke.org/17/12/in-tech-and-media-you-cant-remain-neutral-on-a-moving-train?ref=cjchilvers.com) about how to thrive in this new publishing world. Readers should [get creative](http://mashable.com/2017/12/27/browser-bar-url-facebook-bad/?ref=cjchilvers.com#4jzF%5FWCS8mqH) too. ### There's Nothing Magical about Creativity URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/theres-nothing-magical-about-creativity/ Last updated: 2017-12-10T02:57:20.000Z I've been preaching about how creativity is really just problem solving. There's nothing magical about it. Give your brain enough room and it will be creative. You could even schedule it. You *should* schedule it. Neuroscientist Sam Harris has spent the past few years studying artificial intelligence and how it relates to the human mind. He would probably agree with me, but took it up a notch during [a recent episode of his podcast](https://overcast.fm/+BSCB2CohY/1:28:30?ref=cjchilvers.com): > “A.I. is already doing \[creative things\] in rudimentary ways...I don’t think there’s anything magical about our wetware as far as creativity goes. I think we’ll recognize it in our intelligence systems in so far as they become intelligent.” That statement is a lot more substantial than it sounds at first. He's saying if you throw enough intelligence at a system at it can be creative. Consider that for decades we've been telling people to focus on creativity to avoid having their jobs taken by automation. Now, it looks like automation will have that covered without breaking a sweat. He doesn't commit to saying consciousness is merely a function of intelligence, but hints that may be the case as well. The future is looking more interesting for sure. Not secure, but interesting. I'd still place my bets on creative pursuits being the last to go professionally. But for hobbyist artists, I'd stress even more to be creative because it makes you happier and healthier. It shouldn't matter that an app may do what you do better and faster some day. Any app today could write more legibly than I do, but I still write with a pen because it's more fun. I still take instant photos just because it's fun. I think the "just because it's fun" thing will be the last thing A.I. attempts after conquering the professional world, and maybe then we'll get along just fine. ### Why Tumblr Was the Best URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/why-tumblr-was-the-best/ Last updated: 2017-12-09T13:14:01.000Z [Shawn Blanc](https://shawnblanc.net/?ref=cjchilvers.com) (in his newsletter): > "Tumblr encouraged you to post anything and everything: quotes, links, conversations with friends, photos, videos, articles, etc. > On the one hand, this led to tons of Tumblrs being the online equivalent of an angsty teenager’s messy bedroom. But on the other hand it also encouraged folks to put stuff out there day after day. > For the most part, I am an advocate for the idea that constraint breeds creativity. But sometimes the constraints need to be removed so you can just get unstuck. > And that’s something Tumblr got absolutely right. Because Tumblr had all sorts of various post types, there was no right or wrong thing to publish. You could share anything you found to be interesting or special or unique or funny or helpful, no matter the format. It all counted. You didn’t even need to have a title." Shawn is absolutely right. I've tried every major consumer CMS and several (universally horrible) enterprise CMSs. Tumblr is the best CMS I've ever used for sharing anything online. It isn't even close. I miss it constantly. I don't feel like I left it as much as it left me. I was willing to pay whatever they were willing to charge. But instead of going after millions by charging for their product, they went after billions by turning their users into their product. Just like Twitter. How's that working out? As for the part about constraints, I've always stressed constraints in creating art, not necessarily sharing art. There were certainly design and function constraints all over Tumblr, so I wouldn't say it was free of constraints. It just made the sharing frictionless, which is something desperately needed outside of the social network walls today. ### Why Tumblr Was the Best URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/why-tumblr-was-the-best-1/ Last updated: 2017-12-09T03:51:43.000Z Shawn Blanc: "Tumblr encouraged you to post anything and everything: quotes, links, conversations with friends, photos, videos, articles, etc. On the one hand, this led to tons of Tumblrs being the online equivalent of an angsty teenager’s messy bedroom. But on the other hand it also encouraged folks to put stuff out there day after day. For the most part, I am an advocate for the idea that constraint breeds creativity. But sometimes the constraints need to be removed so you can just get unstuck. And that’s something Tumblr got absolutely right. Because Tumblr had all sorts of various post types, there was no right or wrong thing to publish. You could share anything you found to be interesting or special or unique or funny or helpful, no matter the format. It all counted. You didn’t even need to have a title." Shawn is absolutely right. I've tried every major consumer CMS and several (universally horrible) enterprise CMSs. Tumblr is the best CMS I've ever used for sharing anything online. It isn't even close. I miss it constantly. I don't feel like I left it as much as it left me. I was willing to pay whatever they were willing to charge. But instead of going after millions by charging for their product, they went after billions by turning their users into their product. Just like Twitter. How's that working out? As for the part about constraints, I've always stressed constraints in creating art, not necessarily sharing art. And there were certainly design and function constraints all over Tumblr, so I wouldn't say it was free of constraints. It just made the sharing frictionless, which is something desperately needed outside of the social network walls today. ### Photo Safari URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/photo-safari/ Last updated: 2017-12-07T22:37:55.000Z The [podcast](https://www.cjchilvers.com/the-creative-bar-podcast/) I just did with Jon Wilkening brought up a lot of topics centered around photography in the 1990s. Why the 90s? I consider the 1990s the golden age of film photography. The amounts and variety of new film, film cameras, paper and chemicals would never be better. Something that was missing, though, was the amount and variety of instructional and inspirational video content we enjoy today. There was no YouTube back then. But there was Photo Safari. Photo Safari was a weekend morning, half-hour TV show that changed networks and formats multiple times. It started as a way to tag along, through video, with icons of nature and wildlife photography, like Art Wolfe and Robert Glenn Ketchum, as they worked in the field. They would pass along tips to the camera or to guests. Gear-wise, it was anything goes. You really got a feel for how professional photographers at the top of their game were just using rugged, reliable (even constraining) gear, not the latest Leica. I tuned in (or taped on my VCR) for the inspiration of watching a master at work. Then, I'd grab my camera, call a friend and find a good place to shoot, emulating the masters. I did this for years back in my 20s. Eventually, ratings reality caught up with Photo Safari and the niche show changed its name to Canon Photo Safari, as its sponsor transformed it into little more than a weekly infomercial. All the photographers were required to use Canons, which left out all my favorite photographers, who had endorsement deals with Nikon and Pentax (not to mention the large format shooters). Celebrity photographer guests, like William Shatner and David Allen Greer, became more of a distraction on the show. In an effort to gain a wider audience, the show lost its devoted, hobbyist fans. I love that Youtube and Vimeo have brought us a new universe of photography knowledge, but I miss that weekly hit of inspiration I got from the masters on this tiny, quiet show about my favorite hobby. I tried to dig up some episodes of Photo Safari's early years, but only managed to find a few clips from Canon's version of the show on Youtube. I guess I'll need to dig through the VHS tapes piled at my parents' house if I want to relive this part of the golden age of film. ### The Creative Bar Podcast URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-creative-bar-podcast/ Last updated: 2017-12-07T14:47:39.000Z I went on Jon Wilkening's wonderful podcast The Creative Bar to talk about creativity, constraints and obscure 1990s photography topics I had bouncing around in my head. Check out the episode [here](http://jonwilkening.com/blog/2017/12/7/the-creative-bar-38-cj-chilvers?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### Has Photography Gone from an Introvert to Extravert Hobby? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/has-photography-gone-from-an-introvert-to-extravert-hobby/ Last updated: 2017-11-22T20:55:33.000Z Great observation from [Guy Tal](https://guytal.com/wordpress/2017/11/20/the-traditions-of-photography/?ref=cjchilvers.com) on the mindset of analogue (or traditional) vs. digital (or modern) photographers: > “It used to be that photography was the favored avocation of introverts, allowing unquestioned solitary time in a darkroom—a private world behind a closed door where magic unfolded in development trays under the eerie glow of a safelight, and where one could be alone with their thoughts, disconnected from society, without having to explain. The photographer then was an eccentric, an alchemist, an observer. Today’s mainstream photographers seem almost the opposite: bold and outspoken and public; no longer experiencing, observing, and reacting, but planning and executing, broadcasting and marketing not only their photographs and thoughts but also their travels, corporate sponsors, and lifestyles, and even their most trivial accomplishments, to the widest audience they can reach.” ### Chris Hardwick on Scheduling and Note Taking URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/chris-hardwick-on-scheduling-and-note-taking/ Last updated: 2017-11-22T20:43:03.000Z The [Evernote podcast](https://blog.evernote.com/blog/2017/11/14/how-chris-hardwick-keeps-life-nerdy-and-funny-with-evernote/?ref=cjchilvers.com) recently interviewed Chris Hardwick about his productivity habits. How did he go from unknown stand-up comic to the guy who seems to be the go-to nerd representative on TV? First, he puts a priority on scheduling and organizing his calendar: > "There’s no trick to getting better at stuff, you just have to do that stuff. In order to do that, you have to organize your time." > "I think color-coding your calendar is really important because if your calendar is just full one color, it’s going to look like an overwhelming mess. Color helps you realize that your events are modular. The color is going to tell you what emotional importance it has, so you can make better decisions about how and where to put things and balancing out your days. Like, “oh I have all green this one" Then, he stresses writing EVERYTHING down. > It’s important to write everything down. Whether it’s a notebook or Evernote or whatever, keep track of all that stuff because it allows you to manipulate it, like in your color-coded calendar, to make that information into modular bits of useful data that you can move around and use in more effective ways. > In the same way that you would organize a closet, and have everything stacked and put exactly where you know where everything is, it allows you to do that emotionally with your life in all the intangible things that you can’t see, but you experience. And it allows you to create so much better of an emotional flow for work and your personal life. But you can’t do that unless you really start tracking all that stuff. ### Austin Kleon on Blogging Daily URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/austin-kleon-on-blogging-daily/ Last updated: 2017-11-22T20:31:25.000Z Austin Kleon has been trying to make daily blogging a habit. He's been on a streak since October 1st, and he just posted about [why he's doing it and the results so far](https://austinkleon.com/2017/11/20/a-few-notes-on-daily-blogging/?ref=cjchilvers.com): > "Maybe most surprising, is that my posts have gotten, in my opinion, much deeper and more interesting. I used to scramble on Thursdays, trying to come up with a good blog post so I could post it at the top of Friday’s newsletter. Often I would cop out, write something quick and pat, and move on. Once I started daily blogging, not only did I have more to link to, it’s actually better stuff — some weeks I have a tough time deciding which post gets top billing in my list of 10." Lots of great links in this post too. ### Old Advice is New Advice: There Are No Rules URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/old-advice-is-new-advice-there-are-no-rules/ Last updated: 2017-11-22T20:28:24.000Z “If you let other people’s vision get between the world and your own, you will achieve that extremely common and worthless thing, a pictorial photograph...there are no short cuts, no formulae, no rules except those of your own living.” — Paul Strand, The British Journal of Photography in 1923 via [Guy Tal](https://guytal.com/wordpress/2017/11/20/the-traditions-of-photography/?ref=cjchilvers.com) ### My Most Important Daily Writing Assignment URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/my-most-important-daily-writing-assignment/ Last updated: 2017-11-18T22:48:24.000Z I write all day and have for as long as I can remember. Some of it is for pay, but I journal every day as well and take an insane amount of notes about everything. But the most important thing I write all day happens around 5:30am when I'm packing my son's lunch. Every day I write a new note for him. At 5-years old, he's as sensitive as I was at his age...extremely. A little pick-me-up half-way through the day makes a real difference. ![He returns the notes to me at the end of the day. I photograph the ones that survive every week.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579683373-F7URBL54RVM9M45QL294/image-asset.jpeg) He returns the notes to me at the end of the day. I photograph the ones that survive every week. ![I tell him our dog wrote his notes (thus the paw prints). He plays along, but reminds me dogs can't write notes.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579684938-SA1NDTBHFX7JI8QEX6KK/image-asset.jpeg) I tell him our dog wrote his notes (thus the paw prints). He plays along, but reminds me dogs can't write notes. The funniest thing about it is how much I stress about making each day's note different and positive for him. But when it's done, it feels like I can take on the writing day with some momentum. It's so strange that such a little thing can carry so much emotional meaning and have such a impact on the rest of both our days. ### David DuChemin on Productivity URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/david-duchemin-on-productivity/ Last updated: 2017-11-17T02:57:17.000Z Photographer and Publisher David DuChemin [describes his process](http://davidduchemin.com/2017/11/how-to-get-sht-done/?ref=cjchilvers.com) and it sounds familiar: > “On a smaller scale my productivity has gone way up as I’ve transitioned from keeping a TO DO list to just putting stuff – even the smaller tasks – straight on the calendar. Putting it on a list says 'do this at some point' putting it on my calendar says 'do it now.' I still keep the list because that’s where things go before I put them on the calendar. But if I sit down on Sunday and think about what I need to do in the coming week, the stuff comes off the list and goes onto the calendar. I schedule it.” With this system, he's written 9 books and 20 ebooks, while running a publishing and photo business, traveling around the world, and hosting workshops. This is the kind of stress test on a productivity system I could not duplicate. Remember, worthwhile productivity systems exist to help you to work **LESS** and stress **LESS**, while making greater progresstowards a better life, whatever that means to you specifically. It's not about just getting more done. I may sound like a broken record on this topic, but it appears I'm in good company. ### The Future of A Lesser Photographer URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-future-of-a-lesser-photographer/ Last updated: 2017-11-15T15:41:47.000Z Craft and Vision Publishing [has just announced](http://mailchi.mp/craftandvision/save-30-on-resources-cv-wont-ever-be-selling-again?ref=cjchilvers.com) they’re moving to a new business model. They’re having one final sale on 50 books, including A Lesser Photographer. After Friday, A Lesser Photographer will no longer be sold on their site. What does this mean for A Lesser Photographer? All rights to the books they publish will revert to their authors in six months. We will be free to update and sell our books however we want. My plan is to add several chapters to the book and publish it in print for the first time. I’m looking into designers and printers now. I’ve been dying to update the book and this opportunity is like an early Christmas gift. I thank David DuChemin for believing in the book and spreading the message to all his fans. I wish Craft and Vision all the luck whatever new business model they choose. They won’t need it. They’re smart cookies over there. ### Ignorance is Bliss URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/ignorance-is-bliss/ Last updated: 2017-11-14T03:50:01.000Z Having an "external brain" in the form of a smartphone appears to be making us stupider: > "Scientists have begun exploring that question — and what they’re discovering is both fascinating and troubling. Not only do our phones shape our thoughts in deep and complicated ways, but the effects persist even when we aren’t using the devices. As the brain grows dependent on the technology, the research suggests, the intellect weakens." - [Nicholas Carr](http://www.roughtype.com/?p=8248&ref=cjchilvers.com) At the same time, having an "external brain" in any form appears make us calmer and less overwhelmed. > "Because the number of items we can attend to is limited, we need to get things out of our head into the external world, so we can allow our brains to think clearly. The brain evolved exquisite place memory and mechanisms for reminding us of things. And that reminding mechanism ends up today as a bunch of chatter in your head. If you write it down, your brain knows that you've written it down, and it can stop reminding you." - [Daniel Levitin](http://gettingthingsdone.libsyn.com/ep-23-gtd-and-the-organized-mind?ref=cjchilvers.com), Professor of Psychology, Cognitive Scientist, and author of [The Organized Mind](http://amzn.to/2AKzuCj?ref=cjchilvers.com) Ignorance is bliss? ### How to Balance Creativity and Productivity URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/how-to-balance-creativity-and-productivity/ Last updated: 2017-11-10T15:20:12.000Z A post over at [Kottke.org](https://kottke.org/17/11/the-tension-between-creativity-and-productivity?ref=cjchilvers.com) about the struggle between creativity and productivity is getting a lot of attention today. I don't usually link to trendy articles, but this is right up my alley: > "I get more done in less time than I ever have, but sometimes I feel like there’s nothing creative about my work anymore. Sure, I make the doughnuts every day but am not inventing the cronut. How do you accomplish your work but also leave ample time for letting your creative mind off the leash?" Short answer: embrace the calendar. Long answer: I wrote several articles about the tug-of-war between creativity and productivity 5 years ago. I went on podcasts to defend my anti-productivity rants. The debate got as far as David Allen himself mentioning it on a podcast (though not me by name), where he quickly dismissed the issue. He claimed this struggle is well covered in the [Getting Things Done](http://amzn.to/2hqHiUV?ref=cjchilvers.com) philosophy. I'd like to say I've come a long way since then, but the truth is this has always been a struggle and always will be. The philosophy behind GTD is more solid than I gave it credit for back then. This is mostly because the foundation of GTD is at the intersection of buddhism and neuroscience. There's essentially thousands of years of research into the mind, backed by new scientific discoveries, that went into GTD. It's a good system. It's the implementation of GTD that's the issue. It's intended to be different for every user, but it's usually not practiced that way. If you don't have enough white space in your life to create, either build that white space into your life or, if you don't have that agency over your time, be OK with where you are until you do. Stop being so hard on yourself. The anxiety of not getting something done is far worse for you than not getting something done. After a decade, I still use GTD, but I use it as an inbox - a place where I capture all my actionable ideas. But [the calendar is where I organize my life now](https://www.cjchilvers.com/kill-your-to-do-list/), because [time is the common denominator](https://www.cjchilvers.com/chris-ducker-on-time-management/) for all these struggles, tasks, and projects. Your life can be filled with endless tasks and the anxiety of not knowing whether you'll have the time to complete them, or you can ensure there's whitespace for the balance between play and work by building it into your habits and calendar. You just have to learn to be OK with the concrete fact (obvious on a calendar) that the less important tasks will have to fall away. Let them go. Be healthy. Build more play into your life. Don't expect it to happen on its own. ### The Most Important Call to Action for Your Readers URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-most-important-call-to-action-for-your-readers/ Last updated: 2017-11-09T20:09:52.000Z From the Mailchimp for Agencies newsletter, [issue #60](http://mailchi.mp/mailchimp/issue-60-an-unapologetically-human-approach-to-e-commerce?e=d77ed54e63&ref=cjchilvers.com): > “When I’m doing a newsletter for Small Biz Triage, there’s only ever one call to action,” Rasmussen says. “That is ‘Reply.’ Write back with a question, ask to meet up for coffee, I just want you to hit ‘Reply.’” > “Now, e-commerce clients don’t necessarily want that,” Rasmussen continues. “They want to move some product. But there’s real value in getting direct feedback and for your customers to know that if they do reply they’re going to be talking to a real person.” Well said. So much of what's said in this article is smart and logical, but I've never seen this in the wild. These guys understand modern publishing. It's small, responsive, and human. I personally respond to each new subscriber and encourage as many replies to my newsletter as possible, because it's the most important thing I do online: connect with people. It's the whole reason I have a blog and a newsletter. For a business, it's even more important. If you're not talking to your customers regularly, how will you know what they want next? If they don't know there's a human on the other end of that email, why would they want connect with you? I have a lot of improvements to make to the design of my newsletter, but the most important design change will be to highlight the role of the reply. ### An Inbox for Your Time URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/an-inbox-for-your-time/ Last updated: 2017-11-08T17:45:41.000Z This week's dive into using scheduling instead of task management (see [previous](https://www.cjchilvers.com/kill-your-to-do-list/) [articles](https://www.cjchilvers.com/inspiration-is-scheduled/) [here](https://www.cjchilvers.com/chris-ducker-on-time-management/)), involves the step I get the most questions about: how do you track all the actionable stuff in your life that you can't schedule. There's two somewhat shallow answers to this (with more nuance below): 1. You're trying to track things you do not have time for and you need to ruthless about cutting stuff out of your life. Have a direction and eliminate anything you can that doesn't advance you in that direction. 2. Stick to the fundamentals. Have a trusted capture system you can evaluate weekly. Process the most important actions into your schedule and eliminate everything else. Option #1 works well when you have a greater amount of agency over your time. Most people don't. Those who teach about productivity topics are usually self-employed to some extent and do have the agency to employ option #1\. Understand how much agency you have. Option #2 is where most of us fit. I believe we should all strive to have as much agency over our time as possible, but if you have an employer and/or children (also known as employers), you will likely not be in full control of your time. You will have openings of time in which you can squeeze important actions. It's critical to identify those times. That's the power of scheduling for those with little agency. [Look at what happened](https://m.signalvnoise.com/wait-you-dont-control-your-calendar-3a40f8f642fe?ref=cjchilvers.com) when CEO of Basecamp Jason Fried found out that he's a rare option #1 guy surrounded by option #2 readers. There's a real disconnect between the two types and it's all about agency. The tactic I recommend for those solidly in option #2 is to have a [GTD](http://amzn.to/2yiJ25Q?ref=cjchilvers.com)\-style inbox. Most proponents of scheduling do keep inboxes, whether they admit it or not. This could be a notebook, a series of lists in an app, or an assistant. For example, Richard Branson uses a pocket notebook, then passes the info along to several assistants. Several writers I know use paper journals. I use lists as described in [GTD](http://amzn.to/2yiJ25Q?ref=cjchilvers.com). The important thing is to have a place you totally trust to unload and maintain those actions outside of your head. > “Cognitive science has now validated that if you try to keep more than four things in your mind at once, you’ll lose objectivity about their relationships with each other and denigrate your performance. Less important things will bother you more than they should, and you won’t give the tactical and strategic stuff the objective attention it deserves...Similarly, if you don’t fully trust your personal systems, you are likely to be dedicating inappropriate and unnecessary mental attention to details and content, often with a resultant negative emotional component. You’ll feel pulled, overwhelmed, and often like you’re close to losing control.” - [David Allen](http://mailchi.mp/davidco/gtd-newsletter-speeding-up-by-slowing-down-456013?ref=cjchilvers.com) Some may see this as an excuse to run fully back to to-do lists with no scheduling component. That's OK. Having a trusted capture system in place is an important first step. If you don't have a trusted capture system, get that first. Time is the common denominator of all tasks and projects, though. To be honest about what we can really do in a day and what's really important to us, we must work toward taking control (or at least a full accounting) of our time. ### The Value of Attention URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-value-of-attention/ Last updated: 2017-11-07T19:37:56.000Z I see it all the time. A big-name author or rock star enjoys the adulation of millions of fans, but takes home a fraction of the income of a C-level executive or investor. Both envy each other, but I don't know anyone who would honestly take fame over money. In fact, the truly wealthy pay more to keep their lives as private as possible. We're told every day as creators online that attention = prosperity. But no one's attention online lasts long enough for that to be true anymore (if it ever was). I recently saw two posts on different social networks, one from a writer and one from a photographer, pleading with their tens of thousands of followers to help them pay their bills because one lost a gig and the other dropped his camera. This can't be where we're going. At 16, I was into two things: guitar playing and starting a small business. They were my two passions, and I quit all sports and extra curricular activities to practice and plot. If I were giving advice to myself from the future it would be: go all in on the business, then use the freedom that affords to pursue any kind of art you want. That sounds like old man advice, and being a teenager I would have probably ignored it. Now, it's the advice I'd give any young artist who had even the slightest interest in business. > "Attention is the ultimate form of currency." - [Sally Hogshead](https://twitter.com/SallyHogshead/status/927588141824954368?ref=cjchilvers.com), advertising guru At one time I would have agreed with this quote. Now, I think currency is the ultimate form of currency. Attention is one path of many to get where you want to be, and increasingly, it's a less desirable path. ### My Favorite Newsletter URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/my-favorite-newsletter/ Last updated: 2017-11-06T13:59:42.000Z As an evangelist for email newsletters, I'm often asked for examples of the best. The problem is, the best are often niche newsletters that only a few hundred or a few thousand specific readers care about...but they REALLY care about them. That's exactly where you want to be as a publisher. I can't tell you who's best for you, but I can tell you about my favorite. My favorite newsletter isn't really a newsletter as most would define it in 2017\. But I've read every issue for almost two decades, because it's the most useful email publication I receive that's specific to my interests. Many of you know, I wrote a book in 1999 called [The Van Halen Encyclopedia](https://www.cjchilvers.com/the-van-halen-encyclopedia/). I kept updating that book until around 2003, when the crush of new information coming from online detectives forced me to decide between spending all my time updating the book or having a real life. I chose to have a real life, and have since written more books, had two jobs in professional writing, and started a family. Good choice. My interest in the information never waned, though. I think Eddie Van Halen is a musical talent who only comes along once in a generation (if you're lucky). I want to know what he and his band are up to, but I don't want to put in the work I used to. That's why my favorite newsletter is the [All Van Halen Announcement List](https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/allvh/info;%5Fylc=X3oDMTJjZGx1b200BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE1BGdycElkAzMxOTYzMgRncnBzcElkAzE3MDUwMjU5NTUEc2VjA2hkcgRzbGsDaHBoBHN0aW1lAzE1MDgyMDgwNDg-?ref=cjchilvers.com). It was started on Yahoo! back in 1999 when the idea of internet mailing lists had lost its popularity. Since then, Ron Higgins has faithfully published every major media mention about Van Halen on this list, which shoots me an email digest. I know everything that's happening without having to subscribe to countless websites and social media accounts devoted to the band. I also have a searchable text archive of every major article and news piece written about the band since 1999\. That's incredible. If I did decide to do another update to the book, this archive would be the primary source of information for it. Only 192 people still subscribe to the All Van Halen Announcement List, yet Ron continues to maintain it in a thoughtful, easy to read, all-text format. It's a shame. I wish all our media resources were as unobtrusive and utilitarian as Ron's emails. I'm sure, if I got all my news in this calm, collected way, I'd be healthier for it. ### The Message vs. the Book URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-message-vs-the-book/ Last updated: 2017-11-03T13:46:56.000Z Being published by a big time publisher does not mean you’ll be read by a lot of people. You could probably reach more people with your message through a blog or podcast. Actually, you could probably reach even more people through someone else’s blog or podcast, or even Youtube channel (which is getting huge, but as a closed, monopolistic system, I urge a bit more caution). I believe in the gravitas of books. I believe it changes perceptions about an idea and the person behind it. But I don’t believe it spreads a message best. Neuroscientist Sam Harris (author of 5 New York Times bestsellers) recently stated that it would take him years of marketing his books to equal the same audience he gets every week on his podcast. The reach isn’t even close. But he doesn’t stop making books. The ability of the book to clarify a topic in the writer, photographer, and reader’s mind is still without parallel. It’s just not where you go for an audience. Podcaster Pat Flynn [encourages people to get into podcasting](https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/podcasts/starting-a-podcast/?ref=cjchilvers.com) no matter how small the listenership: > “If you were to create a podcast and you only have 200 people listening for example — imagine a room full of 200 people, that you’re standing in front of, and they’ve come there to see you and listen you and listen to your message. And this happens every single week. That really puts that 200 people in perspective." Blogging and podcasting are great at spreading a message. The book is still the best home for the message. ### Behavioral Economics and Creativity URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/behavioral-economics-and-creativity/ Last updated: 2017-11-02T18:11:18.000Z I believe most the readers of the [A Lesser Photographer book](https://www.cjchilvers.com/books) understood and agreed with the basic message of the book: constraints foster creativity. Yet, some of the book’s biggest fans don’t follow that message. They know what they should be doing to create better photos (or art in general), but they’d rather justify their latest purchase. This behavior is common. I’ve received hundreds of emails from readers about how they wholeheartedly agree that imposing limitations on themselves works, except when it comes to the fancy camera they just bought. That camera is special. It's a total disconnect with logic we agree on. On the latest episode of NPR's [Planet Money](http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2017/11/01/561421807/episode-803-nudge-nudge-nobel?ref=cjchilvers.com), Jacob Goldstein was explaining that this phenomenon is not only known to economists, it was a part of the reason why Richard Thaler won the Nobel Prize in economics this year. As Goldstein puts it: > “The discovery was that simply having a thing makes you overvalue that thing.” I'm not exempt from this phenomenon. When I write on paper, I use fancy pens and pencils. I even go to pen shows and listen to the [Pen Addict podcast](https://www.relay.fm/penaddict?ref=cjchilvers.com). I don’t practice my own philosophy when it comes to my writing tools. I know what I should be doing. I keep this quote around from an interview with writer/director Morgan Evans at [Usethis.com](https://usesthis.com/interviews/morgan.evans/?ref=cjchilvers.com) to remind me of what constraints looks like for a writer. He only writes with the cheapest, most plentiful (while durable) tools. He puts all the concentration on what's being written, not on how it's being written: > “When I write I use regular yellow legal pads you can get at Staples and [Skilcraft government pens](http://amzn.to/2z85Zdi?ref=cjchilvers.com). I can't emphasize how wonderful these pens are. They write for a literal mile and are built to give tracheotomies to the President. I'm not kidding. Google it. I write longhand first usually. I always have tons of legal pads all over the place. They're the only thing I can fill up. I'd take a shitty legal pad over a Moleskine any day.” But my new pen is soooo nice. Right? ### Why You Should Work in Silence URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/why-you-should-work-in-silence/ Last updated: 2017-11-01T13:48:47.000Z I read this a while ago in [The Atlantic](https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/12/the-best-music-for-productivity-silence/509948/?ref=cjchilvers.com) and didn't want to believe it: > "Studies show that for most types of cognitively demanding tasks, anything but quiet hurts performance.” The whole article is good, but that's the main idea. I love listening to music while working. I can usually remember what I am working on by the song that was playing at the time. I remember working in the darkroom on a print that won contest back in 1995\. How did I know it was 1995? Three new albums were playing on repeat while I was printing: [Astro Creep 2000](http://amzn.to/2h3a1PF?ref=cjchilvers.com), [Balance](http://amzn.to/2zXKqLP?ref=cjchilvers.com), and [Waiting for the Punchline](http://amzn.to/2zoPKLR?ref=cjchilvers.com). These days I have instrumentals or thunderstorms playing while I'm working. But, after reading this, I tried silence for a while. Then, I went back and forth comparing the quantity and quality of my work. Turns out, at least for me, the article is accurate: I work better in silence. But I have more fun with sound. I suppose the answer is to weigh your priorities at the time (heavily biased towards fun), and never ever work in an open office. ### Chris Ducker on Time Management URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/chris-ducker-on-time-management/ Last updated: 2017-10-31T13:14:42.000Z Chris Ducker has spent years studying and implementing time management techniques, and writing about what he's learned. He agrees with a growing number of my peers that schedules beat to do lists. In fact, in a [recent episode](http://www.chrisducker.com/podcast/5-simple-steps-to-instantly-become-more-productive/?ref=cjchilvers.com) of his podcast, he broke down the top 5 things he's done over the years to get more done AND increase his free time. His rules: 1. Track your time. 2. Give yourself less time than you actually need. 3. Schedule everything. Literally everything. 4. Speed up your consumption time. 5. Save email until after lunch. Why schedule everything? He explains: > "It’s only since I’ve been scheduling everything that I’ve had more free time than ever. When I left my calendar open and clear, I worked probably 16, 17 hours a day. I never saw the bloody finish line, because I always had something I could be getting on with, because my calendar wasn’t dictating what I should and shouldn’t be doing. Now, however, that I schedule every little thing into some block, I work a 6-hour day. I never work a Friday. I haven’t worked a Friday for almost 4 years now. So, not only am I more relaxed and more productive when I’m at work, but I get to spend more time with the people I truly love and cherish.” As for tools: > “I don’t use any sexy to do lists...I just use my Calendar on my iPhone.” As a content marketer (let's just say writer/podcaster), this guy is way more successful than 99.9% of all writer/podcasters. I think we can learn from his example, and the examples of other evangelists for this method, like [Garrick van Buren and Patrick Rhone](https://garrickvanburen.com/product/the-power-of-when-with-garrick-van-buren-and-patrick-rhone/?ref=cjchilvers.com). The calendar may be the most important and underused tool on your phone. ### Legacy is a Sales Tool URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/legacy-is-a-sales-tool/ Last updated: 2017-10-30T19:15:24.000Z An article appeared recently on [dnainfo.com](https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20171005/beverly/world-war-i-monument-dan-ryan-woods-forgotten-moving-rebuilt-reimagined/?ref=cjchilvers.com) about a World War I era monument, sponsored by the Chicago Council of Gold Star Mothers, being dismantled and "stored" because no one can figure out exactly what it commemorated, or even what it originally looked like. It's just a pile of rocks now, used as a toilet by those waiting for the bus. That's summarizes the idea of legacy to me. Anyone trying to tell you it's something you can control is either selling you something or trying to justify their life's decisions (often to themselves). Even the most famous humans are rarely remembered more than 100 years or so. No humans will be around to be remembered when the next large asteroid hits (or super volcano, etc.). Mass extinctions are real events that happen with regularity on this planet. Even if those things didn't occur and humans somehow live for millions or billions of years, scattered throughout the universe, the universe itself has an expiration date. Legacy happens outside of your control, and always expires. Don't think of that as a downer. It's a wonderful equalizer. It's also a great reminder that all we really have is now. ### The Hierarchy of Online Consumption URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/online-media-mental-health-hierarchy/ Last updated: 2017-10-23T22:58:05.000Z [Nothing](https://www.cjchilvers.com/we-need-to-get-comfortable-with-the-idea-of/) \> [Newsletters](https://www.wired.com/2016/05/rise-of-the-newsletter/?ref=cjchilvers.com) \> [RSS](https://fieldguide.gizmodo.com/why-rss-feeds-still-beat-facebook-and-twitter-for-track-1800722740?ref=cjchilvers.com) \> [Social](https://www.cjchilvers.com/is-it-unethical-to-publish-to-facebook/) [Media](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-smartest-things-ever-said-about-facebook/) ### How to Podcast Daily URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/podcasting-daily/ Last updated: 2017-10-20T18:53:50.000Z A collection of Seth Godin quotes I put together on [why you should blog daily](https://www.cjchilvers.com/seth-godin-explains-why-you-should-blog-daily/) has started making the rounds again on social media. Great! I love the idea of blogging daily, and admire anyone actually attempting it. But, what if you did the same with podcasting? [Kevin Kruse](https://leadx.org/leadership-podcast/?ref=cjchilvers.com) and [Chris Guillebeau](https://chrisguillebeau.com/announcing-side-hustle-school/?ref=cjchilvers.com), among many others, host daily podcasts (weekdays in Kevin's case). I think all the Seth Godin reasons for blogging daily apply to daily podcasting. Maybe even more so, as blogs decrease in readership and podcasts increase in listenership. It's where your audience is going...and they're looking for a deeper connection with you than just words on a screen. That's the why. But what about the how? How do you find the time to podcast daily? I don't know how Chris manages his time, but Kevin is pretty open about how he does it. He wrote about it in [Forbes](https://www.forbes.com/forbes/welcome/?toURL=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinkruse/2015/07/10/to-do-lists-time-management/2/&refURL=&referrer=&ref=cjchilvers.com): > "Do you really think Richard Branson and Bill Gates write a long to-do list and prioritize items as A1, A2, B1, B2, B3, C1 and on and on?" > "In my research into time management and productivity, I’ve interviewed over 200 billionaires, Olympians, straight-A students and entrepreneurs. I always ask them to give me their best time management and productivity advice. And none of them have ever mentioned a to-do list." > "Ultra-productive people don’t work from a to-do list, but they do live and work from their calendar."' It's a lesson I can't share enough. Time management is what you're after, not task management. Time is the common denominator underlying any task or project. With proper time management (and enough agency over that time) you can create anything you want daily, whether you communicate with readers or listeners...or both. **Update:** Kevin Kruse emailed a link to a post explaining step-by-step [how he does his daily podcast](https://leadx.org/marketing-sales/how-to-make-podcast-step-by-step/?ref=cjchilvers.com). Thanks! ### Amateurs vs. Pros URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/amateurs-vs-pros/ Last updated: 2017-10-16T18:49:07.000Z Amateur bashing is back in season. [Shane Parrish](https://www.farnamstreetblog.com/2017/08/amateurs-professionals/?ref=cjchilvers.com): > “Amateurs are scared — scared to be vulnerable and honest with themselves. Professionals feel like they are capable of handling almost anything.” > “What’s holding you back? Are you hanging around people who are amateurs when you should be hanging around professionals?” I like a lot of what Shane Parrish publishes, but this is just nonsense. The points made do not stand up to scrutiny. Yet, another favorite of mine, Paul Jarvis, [piled on this week](https://pjrvs.com/a/pro/?ref=cjchilvers.com) with: > “While amateurs complain, make excuses and blame others when their work doesn’t work out the way they want it to, pros accept situations, take responsibility and own every situation that arises, good or bad.” This a terrible way to look at amateurs. I'm not even sure "amateur" is the word Paul is looking for there. Most professional artists I know would rather have remained amateurs and independent. They lost their love for art by turning it into their job. Now, they’re pros and they do what they’re told, not what they want. There’s a lot to be said for professionalism in some jobs, of course. I don't want my doctor to be an amateur. But, don’t ever think that means being an amateur (even in some professions) is a bad thing. As an artist, I believe it's something to aspire to, and most careers involve some level of artistry (in the Seth Godin definition of artistry: "This might not work."). As I’ve stated in the past: > “For a professional photographer, the photograph is a **product**. For an amateur photographer, the photograph is a **byproduct** of a life well lived.” As others have said better than I could: > “It's about time we started to take photography seriously and treat it as a hobby.” - Elliot Erwitt via [Andy Adams](https://mobile.twitter.com/FlakPhoto/status/905783909480325120?ref=cjchilvers.com) > "Art suffers the moment other people start paying for it. The more you need the money, the more people will tell you what to do. The less control you will have. The more bullshit you will have to swallow. The less joy it will bring. Know this and plan accordingly." - Hugh MacLeod in [Ignore Everybody](http://amzn.to/2gJiqV2?ref=cjchilvers.com) > “We’re all terrified of being revealed as amateurs, but in fact, today it is the amateur - the enthusiast who pursues her work in the spirit of love (in French, the word means ‘lover’), regardless of the potential for fame, money, or career - who often has the advantage over the professional.” - Austin Kleon in [Show Your Work](http://amzn.to/2gIWERe?ref=cjchilvers.com) > “That’s all any of us are: amateurs. We don’t live long enough to be anything else.” - Charlie Chaplin via Austin Kleon in [Show Your Work](http://amzn.to/2gIWERe?ref=cjchilvers.com) I don’t have anything against pros. I do have a problem with bashing amateurs. They deserve [far more respect](https://petapixel.com/2015/03/14/go-pro-maybe-what-you-need-is-to-go-amateur/?ref=cjchilvers.com) than they’re getting. They *tend* to generate more interesting art, if less technically proficient. And what [art-based industry](https://www.cjchilvers.com/professional-photographers-are-the-1/) could survive without them? The real difference between amateurs and pros in art *tends* to be the difference between independence and dependence. I'm more excited for the art created by the independent. Neither side needs bashing. ### Field Notes HQ URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/field-notes-hq/ Last updated: 2017-10-16T18:08:59.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579719275-0072VN1DPWUWM4978VZO/image-asset.jpeg) Thanks to everyone who came to the podcast recording and meet up at Field Notes! It was great to finally meet some of you in person and thank you for your support. ### New Newsletter & Meetup: How is Film Like a Sailboat? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/new-newsletter-how-is-film-like-a-sailboat/ Last updated: 2017-10-12T20:26:34.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579723992-HDKX0P5Y462XQL6JWQQI/image-asset.jpeg) I’ll be at Field Notes headquarters in Chicago tomorrow for the Pen Addict podcast and meet up. I've been a fan of, and occasional guest on, Relay FM's podcasts since long before they were called Relay FM (or 70 Decibels). The Pen Addict is one of their best shows and I'm happy to help welcome them to Chicago. Stop by, say hi, and have a beer! Check out the announcement on the [Field Notes website](https://fieldnotesbrand.com/dispatches/2017/upcoming-events?ref=cjchilvers.com), and let them know you're coming on their [Facebook event page](https://www.facebook.com/events/144216686316665/). This week's newsletter includes some great quotes and the secret to life (at the bottom). [Check it out](http://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/how-is-film-like-a-sailboat-2617417?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### Constraints work (on experts too) URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/constraints-work-on-experts-too/ Last updated: 2017-10-04T14:08:32.000Z “As soon as I decided that the format of books was really constraining me, the ideas I've had for new books have gone up dramatically. There's definitely a correlation there.” - [Seth Godin](https://overcast.fm/+E44U-e58s/26:29?ref=cjchilvers.com) ### Every Age is a Golden Age URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/every-age-is-a-golden-age/ Last updated: 2017-09-28T18:57:05.000Z "Leaving aside quality, people have never written or read more, or even nearly as much, as they do now. This is the golden age of the written word." - [Crispin Sartwell](https://www.wsj.com/articles/texting-and-twitter-make-this-a-golden-age-for-the-written-word-1506119348?ref=cjchilvers.com) "Leaving aside quality, every age is a golden age." - [Nicholas Carr](http://www.roughtype.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) ### My Dad Sees in Real Color for the First Time in 74 years URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/my-dad-sees-in-real-color-for-the-first-time-in-74-years/ Last updated: 2017-09-27T18:23:48.000Z For his 75th year and his first trip overseas (to Ireland), I chipped in with my siblings to get my dad Enchroma glasses to correct for his red-green color blindness. Youtube is filled with [Enchroma videos](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtd8%5FWwSF9wqufdhMEscjOAoMJcb0Z%5FVU&ref=cjchilvers.com), in which the wearers of these glasses have incredibly emotional reactions to seeing real color for the first time. Some weep. Some scream. I could watch them all day. My dad is a stoic, a football coach from the south side of Chicago, so I didn't expect a huge reaction. I just wanted my dad to have the experience, whether or not he reacted outwardly. Loving photography as much as I do, the gift of vision is one I don't take lightly. This was probably a lot more emotional for me than him. ### 3 Courses I Bought This Year Even Though I Hate Online Courses URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/3-courses-i-bought-this-year-even-though-i-hate-online-courses/ Last updated: 2017-09-25T15:55:18.000Z Generally, I’m anti online courses. Most of them are just poorly edited books translated into web videos and WordPress trickery. But, on rare occasions, an online course comes along that’s worth every penny. These are the courses even I, the biggest course curmudgeon, could not resist this past year: [Chimp Essentials](https://chimpessentials.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) Paul Jarvis shows you how to get the most out of MailChimp. There’s lessons in here that will save you money on your MailChimp subscription within minutes. If you use MailChimp for your lists, I don’t know what’s wrong with you if you’re not taking this course. It should have been bought by MailChimp and used as an intro for all new customers. [Learn Ulysses](https://thesweetsetup.com/ulysses/?ref=cjchilvers.com) Shawn Blanc and his crew at The Sweet Setup put together a course for using the writing app Ulysses. I don’t even use Ulysses, but I signed up because the course was inexpensive, The Sweet Setup does great work, and I wanted to see what I was missing (I’m a sucker for any tools that will help with my writing). I still don’t use Ulysses, but I did incorporate ideas from this course into other tools that have the same features (more on that in a future post). I seem to be the exception in the circles I travel in, though. Most writers I know love it. If you want to become an overnight expert in Ulysses, this is the course. [Copyblogger Certified Content Marketers Course](https://www.copyblogger.com/certified-content-marketers/?ref=cjchilvers.com) This course is a bit different than the others. First, it’s the most expensive at $1000\. Second, it’s an ongoing course - you never really finish. You learn all the basics about content marketing, set up a content marketing business, meet the requirements of certification (demonstrate your work to their editors - not everyone gets certified), and then you must keep up that quality work to remain certified. In exchange, you get help from the best in the industry and promotion from their website to potential clients based on the reputation of Copyblogger Media (they vouch for you essentially). I took the course, and I started on the certification, then abruptly stopped when I got hired to do content marketing (not related to the course). In other words, I was too busy as a Content Marketer to finish getting certified in content marketing. I’d recommend this course to anyone looking to establish themselves as content marketers and get a head start on acquiring clients. It was a healthy goal to have after I retired from my last job. I’m not any less of a skeptic now when it comes to online courses. I still see the majority as unrefined money grabs. But the more bad courses there are, the more courses like these stand out. ### This Week's Newsletter: 🍁 Goodbye Summer, Hello Again 🍂 URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/this-weeks-newsletter-goodbye-summer-hello-again-/ Last updated: 2017-09-24T12:15:35.000Z 35mm film returns, real heroes you should know, and why I disappeared for a month. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579735801-AQAVWAO2AS1D24SMYFL4/image-asset.jpeg) ### This Week's Newsletter: Move Near Water. Get Up Early. URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/this-weeks-newsletter-move-near-water-get-up-early/ Last updated: 2017-08-19T20:26:05.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579739153-EEJ0ZB9SXDQLUHNZYIQM/image-asset.jpeg) In [this week's newsletter](http://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/move-near-water-get-up-early?ref=cjchilvers.com): Eclipse advice, beautiful prints of terrible advice, and zero-based time budgets. Subscribe [here](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe). ### Stay Up? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/stay-up-late/ Last updated: 2017-08-15T14:05:00.000Z [Frank Chimero](https://twitter.com/frank%5Fchimero/?ref=cjchilvers.com) recently tweeted this illustration, a poster he made called "Midnight Oil": ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579741155-Z21I70SX3ZGQ5UA414JU/image-asset.jpeg) It reminded me of [this print](http://www.bigplastichead.com/2010/01/stay-up-and-make-something/?ref=cjchilvers.com) from years ago: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579742356-5CLF55RCX29B3VOBFPPB/image-asset.jpeg) Both prints I love and I want hanging in my office. But, to be honest, when I am in my office working into the night, it's usually not my idea and it's never a good idea for my health. So, I look to this illustration from [Margot Field](https://society6.com/product/stay-up-late-get-up-early%5Fprint?ref=cjchilvers.com#s6-2798190p4a1v45): ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579743517-UDR78SWNYVOXHH4XJQTE/image-asset.png) Get some sleep. ### This Week's Newsletter: The Excitement of Being Dull URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/this-weeks-newsletter-the-excitement-of-being-dull/ Last updated: 2017-07-17T17:19:18.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579747220-SEQJG4RPWB0B39XCBN41/image-asset.jpeg) The Dull Men's Club, the hidden benefits of podcasting, the "Turd Principle" of time management, and why it's OK to publicize your email address. It's all in [this week's newsletter](http://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/the-excitement-of-being-dull?ref=cjchilvers.com). [Subscribe](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe) to catch future editions. ### Copyblogger Certified Content Marketer Course Review URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/certified-content-marketer-course-review/ Last updated: 2017-07-10T18:58:16.000Z I just completed the [Copyblogger Content Marketing Certification course](http://www.copyblogger.com/certified-content-marketers/?ref=cjchilvers.com). I haven't submitted my articles for certification yet, but that'll happen soon enough. Having over 1000 to choose from helps. I took the course to find out if I really knew everything I thought I knew about what I'd been practicing for 20 years, or if I had a lot more work to do. The answer is: both. I knew everything in the course, but I hadn't always been practicing what I knew. My excuse on this blog has always been that a personal site is your playground to post whatever you want. It's a place where the rules of content strategy don't apply. So, I wouldn't publish here the same way I published to A Lesser Photographer, The Van Halen Encyclopedia, or at HSBC. But that misses the fact that we are all businesses of one now, whether we like it or not. Unless you're independently wealthy, you must sell yourself and your ideas to someone. Some ways of selling your ideas work better than others. That's what this course is about. The art of content strategy is in the balancing of what works for an audience with what makes you different and interesting. This is where I will always be in a state of learning. The course won't help with that, but it does help with how to determine what an audience cares about and how to best serve that audience. ## Was the Course Worth It? Yes. It's a foundation. It won't make you a great content strategist, but without this foundational knowledge, you're going to struggle more than necessary. I went into the course knowing the subject very well, and still learned quite a bit about where the industry is today compared to when I started. As a refresher, I doubt I could find a better course. For those hoping to use the certification as a selling point to future clients, I have no knowledge yet about how well that works. I'll try it out and report back if/when I get the actual certification. ### The Two Most Stress Relieving Sentences in the English Language URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-two-most-stress-relieving-sentences-in-the-english-language/ Last updated: 2017-07-09T19:05:39.000Z To yourself: “It’s OK." To others: “No thanks.” ### This Week's Newsletter: What is Free Speech? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/this-weeks-newsletter-what-is-free-speech/ Last updated: 2017-06-21T15:11:11.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579753408-X5OQ6FW5E2EI4H0OVOZP/image-asset.jpeg) This week, I examine the state free speech in the U.S., putting family before your art, the benefits of boredom, and why Google wants your photos so bad. [Subscribe](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe) and [view this issue](http://mailchi.mp/cjchilvers/what-is-free-speech?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### Is It Unethical to Publish to Facebook? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/is-it-unethical-to-publish-to-facebook/ Last updated: 2017-05-30T13:12:37.000Z Last month, Harvard Business Review published an article titled [A New, More Rigorous Study Confirms: The More You Use Facebook, the Worse You Feel](https://hbr.org/2017/04/a-new-more-rigorous-study-confirms-the-more-you-use-facebook-the-worse-you-feel?ref=cjchilvers.com). It stated: > "Overall, our results showed that, while real-world social networks were positively associated with overall well-being, the use of Facebook was negatively associated with overall well-being." It was followed up this month by the Wall Street Journal reporting on further research in an article titled [Does Facebook Make Us Unhappy and Unhealthy?](https://www.wsj.com/articles/does-facebook-make-us-unhappy-and-unhealthy-1495729227?mod=e2tw&ref=cjchilvers.com) (spoiler: yes it does). It stated: > "Using Facebook was tightly linked to compromised social, physical and psychological health." It seems clear now, just like when the early research was completed on cigarettes: Facebook is addictive and harmful to our health. And just like the early research on cigarettes, the addiction delivery company is arguing that the harm doesn't exist, while employing experts to make it even more addictive. In fact, [another study](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/9054243/Facebook-and-Twitter-more-addictive-than-tobacco-and-alcohol.html?ref=cjchilvers.com) found Facebook to be more addictive than cigarettes. So, what's our responsibility as photographers or writers (the publishers Facebook depends on to fuel its future)? Facebook dominates social media. [Pew Research Center](http://www.pewinternet.org/2016/11/11/social-media-update-2016/?ref=cjchilvers.com) reported last week: > "Facebook continues to be America’s most popular social networking platform by a substantial margin: Nearly eight-in-ten online Americans (79%) now use Facebook, more than double the share that uses Twitter (24%), Pinterest (31%), Instagram (32%) or LinkedIn (29%)." > "Roughly three-quarters (76%) of Facebook users report that they visit the site daily (55% visit several times a day, and 22% visit about once per day)." Facebook is where your audience is. What happens when publishing to them, in the place they gather, harms them? ### All Creative Projects Are 365 Projects URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/all-creative-projects-are-365-projects/ Last updated: 2017-05-26T15:44:28.000Z Because your creativity doesn't begin and end when a project does. It's a daily practice. 365 projects are a byproduct of a daily practice, as are books, blogs, and careers. ### Random Positive Reinforcement URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/random-positive-reinforcement/ Last updated: 2017-05-25T14:42:32.000Z From [David Allen on the GTD Podcast](http://gettingthingsdone.libsyn.com/ep-30-david-allen-gtd-keynote-in-milan-part-two?ref=cjchilvers.com): > “One of the factors of creating addiction is random positive reinforcement. If you’re trying to train your dog…you don’t want a treat every time. The more random, the more powerful the addiction to the behavior. There is hardly anything that has more random positive reinforcement than email and social media. Any of you golfers out there: one good stroke, one good drive, will keep you coming back to hit 400 crappy ones.” The golf analogy perfectly describes the addiction to photography we experience. Combine the random positive reinforcement of social media with the random positive reinforcement of photography and you get the success of Instagram. ### The Self-Imposed Deadline URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-self-imposed-deadline/ Last updated: 2017-05-24T14:22:10.000Z Yesterday, my doctor told me I need to slow down. In short, I'm overwhelmed with work. It's not the first time I've been told this. He said something else that stuck with me, though. He said that we've become a society obsessed with self-imposed deadlines that are ultimately meaningless. He said we'd all be a lot healthier if we dropped them. He was talking about social media, personal projects, and the daily urgencies that don't stand up to measurement against what really matters – family. I'm sure he was talking about himself as well. After all, being a doctor has probably meant he has spent way more time away from his family than he would have liked. His emergencies are real emergencies and make ours seem trivial, but the fact he still believes we all have some reassessing to do, makes it somehow more comforting and motivating. Figuring out how to drop self-imposed deadlines seems like a daunting task in itself. The rewards may be worth it, though. ### An Argument Against "Deep Work" URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/an-argument-against-deep-work/ Last updated: 2017-05-23T14:30:43.000Z [Deep Work](https://www.cjchilvers.com/book-review-deep-work/) is all the rage, and has been for a few years. It's refreshing to have some push back against it, if at least to have some diversity of opinion. Tiago Forte, a productivity consultant, was recently interviewed for the [Evernote podcast](https://blog.evernote.com/blog/2017/05/22/podcast-productivity-tiago-forte/?ref=cjchilvers.com). He opposes the concept of deep work: > "You know, I get it. People are feeling frazzled and just scatterbrained and all these things. But I really think this idea that you’re sort of this monastic knowledge worker, that you’re going to enter your chambers and just think deeply for hours and hours and hours on end, is a holdover from that freelance specialist mindset. And following up on that idea of a generalist as a freelancer, to do that effectively you need a portfolio. You can’t have just one narrow skill that you do." > "If you look at the history of manufacturing, one of the great, great insights that took decades and decades to discover was small batches, right? That was one of the key breakthroughs to better quality, to speed, to more throughput, to more profitability in manufacturing. And then you go to knowledge work and you have the deep work thing, which is another way of saying big batch sizes. Deep work, spending hours and hours in deep flow, is a big batch size. So it’s like we’ve completely gone against decades of experience in manufacturing." I think I understand what he's saying, but I'm not sure it opposes deep work as much as he thinks. Plus, I think Cal Newport was arguing that small batching was a good thing for "productivity," but a bad thing for deep human thought, which in turn became scarce and, therefore, more valuable. I could spent hours crafting a single, long weekly blog post that would serve me better in terms of Google SEO and, later, compiling easy ebooks to sell. That would be deep work. It would take hours of concentrating. It's what every expert says I should be doing (and they may be right). Or, I could write short blog posts (like this one) that get an idea that's churning in my head out into the world quickly. Done daily, it gives the reader much more variety in subject matter to read, which it seems, the reader does prefer. It's a process. It's a habit. It's what Seth Godin would recommend. It's not necessarily deep work. I could still compile ebooks or courses from shallow work (or any long-form material), but it would require deep work at the other end. For instance, I put the last 400+ posts from this blog into Scrivener. It will take weeks (maybe months) to combine posts by subject matter and edit them into chapters. That's a huge amount of deep work, but it happens all at once and it's based on many small batch tasks. This obviously works for someone like Seth Godin. Not so much for me. As an aside, that project isn't going so well, as it's creating something like 12 small books of no consequence, rather than a cohesive compilation like [A Lesser Photographer](https://craftandvision.com/products/a-lesser-photographer?ref=cjchilvers.com). That's OK. It's more data. It's tells me that what I did in those 400 posts didn't work as well as the previous 400\. Maybe I'm more of a generalist now, like Tiago. Or, maybe it's time for a change. He may also be saying that the work really isn't just the product. It's everything that goes along with it. It's the dozens of tasks that have to happen to make the posts and books happen. None of that is deep work, nor should it be. It's great food for thought. But, I wouldn't want to small batch the thought. ### If You Could Only Photograph One Subject... URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/if-you-could-only-photograph-one-subject/ Last updated: 2017-05-22T18:02:21.000Z [Artifact Uprising interviews Photographer Tim Coulson](https://www.artifactuprising.com/stories/photographing-what-matters?ref=cjchilvers.com): > "If I could only take photos of one thing for the rest of my life, it would be my family. I've had the privilege to travel to the ends of the earth, taking pictures of the world's most amazing locations. And if I could just take photos of Kesh and the boys — of us being us — I would choose that over anything." > "A deep lesson I've learned is that there's a really fine line between documenting the essence of something and over-documenting to where you become withdrawn from what you're really doing. I want to be here, actually here, for all of it, and I want to document our life in a true way. But, as important as it is to document life, what is by far more important is to be in your life." Yep. This is the essence of the A Lesser Photographer philosophy. Photography is one of the greatest things in my life, but it must make way for *the* greatest thing. ### Listen Up! URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/listen-up/ Last updated: 2017-05-18T15:00:00.000Z When big name politicians run for office, they start by announcing a "listening tour." This is bullshit. It's really about determining if they have the financial support and popularity to viably run for the office. What if it wasn't bullshit, though? What if you could start a listening tour for what you do (or want to do better)? Where would you go and who would you talk to? Starting in June, I'm doing a listening tour through the midwest. It's going to be about connecting with target readers I've known mostly online. I want to listen to them in person to find out what they need. It's the world's first *real* listening tour! Nothing beats meeting people in real life to find out what the online surveys won't tell you. ### Eric Kim Quits Instagram for Blogging URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/eric-kim-quits-instagram-for-blogging/ Last updated: 2017-05-17T14:39:27.000Z From [Eric Kim's blog](http://erickimphotography.com/blog/2017/05/16/why-i-deleted-my-instagram/?ref=cjchilvers.com): > "Why? I realized it was a major distraction in my life. Rather than focusing on what I do to create real value (blogging) I wasted my precious energy on how to optimize my follower count." Generally, I don't like to announce when I quit doing things or change up my publishing formats anymore. It's not interesting or applicable to most readers. I just do it and move on. But, Eric's post is an exception to this rule, because he's helping people. It may sound counterintuitive to leave Instagram for blogging, when most photographers have done the opposite, but that's the point. "Different is better than better." Zig when everyone else is zagging. He's focused on a goal and he's eliminating anything that gets in his way. Instagram was getting in the way of creating (both in terms of time and mental health), so he's eliminating from his life. Eric posts way too many blog posts everyday for me to keep up with. I couldn't read them all if I wanted to. But 1 out of a 10 resonate with me. And if he publishes 50 posts a week, that's 5 posts every week that reach me in a personal way. That's way more than any photo publication I can think of. It's no wonder he says he now makes about $200,000.00 from his ideas about photography (most of it coming from workshops). He becomes more influential and valuable with every blog post and he knows it. Eric invited me a few years ago to dinner with one of his workshop classes. I can attest they were having a great time. I suspect there would be twice as many people this year trying to get into that workshop class. ### Book Review: Do Open URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/book-review-do-open/ Last updated: 2017-05-16T16:45:55.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579773322-D8XV0ZTMG4JK45GH93BC/image-asset.jpeg) I believe the email newsletter is the most effective form of communication available online. As popular as they are, I believe they are still incredibly under-used. Nothing brings a return, whether in terms of money or relationships, like the email newsletter. My focus has been solely on relationship building, but the new book [Do Open: How a simple email newsletter can transform your business (and it can)](https://thedobook.co/products/do-open-how-a-simple-email-newsletter-can-transform-your-business-and-it-can?ref=cjchilvers.com) aims to teach you how to apply the best practices of effective newsletters to your business. The book is an easy-to-read overview of how to publish a no-nonsense, useful, shareable newsletter. It doesn't get bogged down in stats or jargon. It shouldn't. Successful newsletter publishers realize every audience is different and they are no easy templates. There are principles, however. Even though I've been publishing newsletters since the 1990s (1980s if you include paper newsletters) and have been studying the industry since the late 90s, I still need to be reminded of the basics sometimes. The book served me well in that regard. For example, when I switched the focus of my personal newsletter, I never came up with a new name or masthead. This is pretty basic stuff the book recommends. I was following the example of some of my favorite author-based newsletters without considering the basic principles of publishing I knew so well. Without a masthead and a solid name for the newsletter, there's less for a reputation to stick to. There's less recognition of what this is in my inbox. There's less of a reason to share. There's less reason to open. It may not have caused me to lose any readers, but it certainly doesn't help when attracting new ones. My pitch to new readers should be, "read X, because Y." Instead, I've been asking them to just "read because." If you're looking for a great reminder about the basics or looking to start your first newsletter, [Do Open](https://thedobook.co/products/do-open-how-a-simple-email-newsletter-can-transform-your-business-and-it-can?ref=cjchilvers.com) is a solid foundation. ### I Was Wrong About Landscape Photography URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/things-i-was-wrong-about-landscape-photography-longevity/ Last updated: 2017-05-12T12:55:50.000Z I made the argument in the [A Lesser Photographer book](https://craftandvision.com/products/a-lesser-photographer?ref=cjchilvers.com), and here in this blog, that photographers should chase what's scarce if they want to capture something with longevity in meaning. At the top of the list of examples, I'd include photojournalism and people-centric photography. These types of photography capture moments, people, and events who will change over time, thus making the photographs more valued over time. Landscape photography always struck me as something perfected by the zone system masters from Ansel Adams up through John Sexton and Clyde Butcher. When digital photography democratized technical capabilities, old school mastery seemed to matter less and there doesn't seem to be a place on earth where an ordinary person can't travel with a perfectly capable camera. This is more true every year. Soon, technique may not matter at all. The camera will do it all for you. Only location will matter in landscape photography. And there are fewer places every year not covered by humans with cameras. Landscapes take a VERY long time to change significantly. There's no scarcity in capability or location anymore, so there's little value. This revelation hit me in the 1990s when I saw the first real consumer digital camera. It discouraged me from pursuing my obsession with landscape photography. Judging from two decades of email I've received, it probably discouraged millions of others as well. At least once a week I get an email about how a reader still loves photography, but hasn't done much with their own since the "death" of film. I think our problem is not with the death of film or the death of mastery of the landscape, however. We've improperly framed the problem as one of our hobby not mattering to the world anymore. We need to re-frame the issue around how it matters to ourselves. I just read the following in one of my favorite email newsletters, [Further](http://further.net/nature/?ref=cjchilvers.com): George MacKerron, an economist, wanted to find out what made people happy. He studied 20,000 people in the UK, mapping their locations over time with their reported emotions. He found: > "On average, study participants are significantly and substantially happier in outdoors in all green or natural habitats than they are in urban environments." This is not a new idea. Psychologists have known for ages that getting back to nature is helpful for easing depression and anxiety. It may also help with physical ailments that either stem from mental ailments or cause them. Among the many reasons I love landscape photography is that it gives me a great excuse to visit beautiful landscapes. It gives me a reason to slow down and appreciate the landscape from angles I would never otherwise consider. Capturing them with film gives me even more of an excuse to slow down. When I shot with a 4x5 camera, I was forced to slow down and wait until the landscape gave me exactly the light I was looking to capture. Reloading can be tricky and the film is expensive, so you have to get it right the first time. You really have to know your craft and you have to see differently. Clyde Butcher has been known to wait all day with his 8x10 camera for a single exposure. If he doesn't see exactly the light he wants, he comes back the next day and waits all over again. This is the form of meditation I was enjoying in the 1990s that I've missed so much since. This is what's scarce. This is what's valuable. I didn't realize it was meditation at the time. It just felt like fun. Caring about the [myth of legacy](https://www.cjchilvers.com/let-go-of-legacy/) or the value photographs may hold for others held me back for two decades from my passion (yes, I used the "p" word - deal with it - it just means an obsession with positive side effects). Landscape photography is healthy. You hike miles. You look at gorgeous things. It feels good. It makes others looking at the results feel good too. Few things create such positive results for all involved. I need to start thinking of landscape photography more like I think of fishing. Sure, there are professional fishermen. But, that doesn't stop millions from taking to the water every day to fish for fun, even if they sit all day on a pond and catch nothing. It's not about the fish. I need to stop making it about the fish. ### How to Enjoy a Vacation URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/how-to-enjoy-a-vacation/ Last updated: 2017-05-10T18:55:39.000Z Summer is coming. For creatives who have the good sense to take vacations, this can present a paradox. How do we relax and let go of the work, while retaining our daily creative practices? There are several schools of thought on this: 1. It's a vacation. Don't do anything. 2. Continue your creative practices no matter where you are. After all, if this is what compels you, why do you need a vacation from it? 3. Do as little or as much as you feel like. If you're a parent, none of these is probably your reality. You're going to do whatever it takes to make your kids happy (or at least quiet). However, the time may come when you enjoy some real time off too (let's just imagine it). I'm solidly in the #3 camp. The key to a successful vacation day for me seems to be to keep what you want to do every day down to one thing of no great importance. Nothing needs to be done, but getting one thing out of the way in a different environment feels really good. That sense of accomplishment can carry you through a day, giving you enough excuse to truly slack off. I try to fill my calendar up when I can, so that I'm determining as much of my day as possible. I try to block others from making me do things. That never works, but the day it does, it'll be worth it. Realize that trying too hard to enjoy yourself is work. We all want to squeeze as much "fun" into our days off as possible. This is not possible, because all that managing is not fun. See some movies, read some books, and visit more places. This is what stirs ideas all on its own. No work required. ### Self Awareness is Underrated URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/self-awareness-1/ Last updated: 2017-05-09T14:06:26.000Z Of all the "Letters of Note" I've read, none of have come closer to my world view of than [this one from H.L. Menken in 1931](http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/01/on-meaning-of-life.html?ref=cjchilvers.com): > "I go on working for the same reason that a hen goes on laying eggs. > The precise form of an individual’s activity is determined, of course, by the equipment with which he came into the world. In other words, it is determined by his heredity. I do not lay eggs, as a hen does, because I was born without any equipment for it. For the same reason I do not get myself elected to Congress, or play the violoncello, or teach metaphysics in a college, or work in a steel mill. What I do is simply what lies easiest to my hand. It happens that I was born with an intense and insatiable interest in ideas, and thus like to play with them. It happens also that I was born with rather more than the average facility for putting them into words. In consequence, I am a writer and editor, which is to say, a dealer in them and concoctor of them. > ...like any other realtively poor man, I have longed to make a lot of money by some easy swindle. But I became a writer all the same, and shall remain one until the end of the chapter, just as a cow goes on giving milk all her life, even though what appears to be her self-interest urges her to give gin. > What the meaning of human life may be I don’t know: I incline to suspect that it has none. All I know about it is that, to me at least, it is very amusing while it lasts." The whole letter is worth a read. Self awareness is an underrated trait. Without having the proper foundation of realizing who you are, making changes in your life is like (paraphrasing David Allen) putting the ladder you're climbing on the wrong wall. ### The Bayles Exercise URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-bayles-exercise/ Last updated: 2017-05-08T14:59:44.000Z Brooks Jensen, in his [1018th podcast](http://daily.lenswork.com/2017/05/podcast-1018-the-bayles-exercise.html?ref=cjchilvers.com), describes a technique he can't believe he hasn't mentioned yet...in 1018 podcasts. It's a technique he learned from David Bayles in the 1980s for coming up with projects for your photos **after** you've printed them (or nowadays, have them in your photo app of choice). The technique may be familiar to designers. He told Brooks to take his stack of prints and divide them in two by any arbitrary means (composition, subject matter, color, etc.). If a pattern emerges you hadn't previous seen, you have a new project (photo essay, book, article). If no pattern emerges, do it again using another arbitrary means of dividing in two. Keep doing this over and over until patterns do emerge. What this is doing is forcing the brain to see in new ways. Out of 100 photos you took this week, there may be 3 photo essays you could post. You won't know that just by staring at your screen and thinking really hard. You have see them in a new contexts. There may be an opportunity here for an app to come along and intelligently suggest hundreds of patterns you can't detect due to your own biases. But, I'm willing to bet, nothing beats the human brain (and probably physical prints) for coming up with unique ideas based on your personal experiences. Thanks to Brooks for sharing this technique. Listen the full episode [here](http://daily.lenswork.com/2017/05/podcast-1018-the-bayles-exercise.html?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### Why Relationships Matter More Than Products URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/why-relationships-matter-more-than-products/ Last updated: 2017-05-05T23:23:42.000Z I've been listensing to [Brad Dowdy's podcast](https://www.relay.fm/penaddict?ref=cjchilvers.com) and reading his [blog](https://penaddict.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) for years. So, when he has a [product](http://nockco.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) to sell, I buy it. I like him and I like his product. It's a no brainer. Even if I didn't like the product, I'd probably buy it as a fan. A nameless software developer, who creates a superior app I have used the hell out out of, is not a nice person. He regularly bad mouths people and ideas I like on his podcast. He blocks me on Twitter for some reason (I don't think I've ever tweeted anything to him directly). Even though his product is superior, I've uninstalled it and use one of his competitors. Relationships are everything. ![Brad and I today at the Chicago Pen Show. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579783204-UHA1XFNOCILYR1SQBSGI/image-asset.jpeg) Brad and I today at the Chicago Pen Show. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579784427-IOXYMESRX8OGCWM2GBBR/image-asset.jpeg) Brad's company makes the best pen cases and notebooks you'll find. Get yours [here](http://nockco.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### How to Stop Creative Paralysis URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/how-to-stop-creative-paralysis/ Last updated: 2017-05-04T14:35:39.000Z First, realize that you're probably putting unnecessary expectations on the quality of your creative output. Yes, you'd show off a better body of work if you only showed your absolute best. But, then, no one would know you and few would care. Sharing your work is all about building relationships, not respect or admiration. Stop comparing yourself to others. You have a unique take on the world that is not up for debate or criticism. That incredible photographer on Instagram you follow because you want your work to be just like hers? You have no idea what's behind those photos. That person could be in a bad state mentally or physically with photography as their only crutch (I hear about it almost daily in my inbox). The photos themselves could be stolen. The lifestyle portrayed is more often fake than not. Never compare. Aim to have a better life, then document that life. Second, realize your creative pursuit is 99% about you. It's there to improve your life and your way of looking at the world. Never apologize to anyone, especially yourself, for creating things just because they appeal to you. You only get one shot at this life. Examine the hell out of it, whether by camera or pencil. You are an artist. You are what most the world wishes it could be. It's a privilege and an opportunity. Go create. ### Book Review: Designing Your Life URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/book-notes-designing-your-life/ Last updated: 2017-05-03T14:28:46.000Z [Designing Your Life](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1101875321/ref=as%5Fli%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1101875321&linkCode=as2&tag=cjchilvers-20&linkId=1687117c342b0e6fef4ac5a36bd113aa&ref=cjchilvers.com) is everywhere right now. It's a course at Stanford, it's a book, it's an online course, and it's all over podcasts and blogs. So, what's the big deal? I had a class like this in high school (early 1990s). The exercise that defined the class was to complete a workbook of detailed questions about where your life was at the moment and an essay about where you wanted your life to be in X number of years. Sounds simple. But the freedom (given by a teacher or by ourselves) to deeply explore these questions is a rare thing. Our teacher explained that the completed workbooks were among the most prized possessions of graduates he had talked to. Designing Your Life takes that kind of exercise and applies "design thinking" to it. Design thinking is a process designers use to create logos, products...everything. Everything is designed. But to design it well, having a process helps. First, you must know where you are. An honest and open examination of your current life is the foundation. Next, you must figure out your "compass." You have to determine what your basic life and work beliefs are that will guide you in your plans for the future. Designing your life for the future means creating multiple possible paths for your life. Imagine wildly different careers, different cities, and different types of people you may want in your life in the future. None of these variables are the one correct one path. And a designer should never go with their first idea. Instead, just as the Apple design team creates countless test versions of a new iPhone before producing the best, your encouraged to "prototype" your life. In other words, try out several of the best paths until your life is changed a little for the better. Then, iterate. These ideas are nothing new, but the combining of design thinking with the self-help genre is newish and refreshing. The details about how to ideate, evaluate, and iterate are in workbook form, make getting the [paper version](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1101875321/ref=as%5Fli%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1101875321&linkCode=as2&tag=cjchilvers-20&linkId=1687117c342b0e6fef4ac5a36bd113aa&ref=cjchilvers.com) worth the money. I also bought the Audible version to hear the professors explain the process in their own words. I'm not sure I'd pay the premium for the video-based course. Having read the reviews, the book seems to have everything. It never hurts to know yourself better and maybe even have a options for a path forward (before someone else decides that for you). This book is one of the best small investments of time I made this year. ### Love for 16mm URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/love-for-16mm/ Last updated: 2017-05-02T15:10:41.000Z A wonderful take on why film is still very useful for motion pictures: I shot one reel of 16mm film in my life. It was Tri-X I believe. I shot it through an antique 16mm camera I bought on Ebay for $75. I developed the film myself. I do not recommend doing that. However, if I was considering making an actual movie, the arguments in favor of film seem outweigh the arguments in favor of digital. That may change over time, but since some of the arguments have nothing to do with image quality or grain, there will always be some advantages for film. For example, [Martin Scorsese argues](https://www.cjchilvers.com/what-directors-can-teach-photographers/) delayed viewing for actors and himself is absolutely necessary for properly reviewing footage and keeping the most important decisions in his hands. Just like with still photography, however, it seems as though it's a luxury for the few who still care. ### My Personal Newsletter One-Year Review URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/personal-newsletter-one-year-review/ Last updated: 2017-05-01T01:40:39.000Z It's been over a year since I made my main email newsletter a purely personal newsletter, not tied to any specific product or service. I did this after realizing whenever one of my books was getting attention somewhere, people were searching for more information by author name, not by book title. This was obvious to some, but coming from a product-based mindset, this was news to me. I've done a lot of experimenting with the newsletter in the past year, trying something different with almost every issue to get a better understanding of what my readers want (or at least respond to). ![The past year at CJChilvers.com in terms of page views (light gray), visits (medium gray), and "audience size" (dark gray). This chart says less than you think. It's just fun to look at.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579793191-YRA5J81HOMCG5CUVO8VD/image-asset.png) The past year at CJChilvers.com in terms of page views (light gray), visits (medium gray), and "audience size" (dark gray). This chart says less than you think. It's just fun to look at. In short, headlines matter. They seem to be the only thing that matters in terms of open rates and click rates. Strong subject lines got slightly more opens and strong link titles got slightly more clicks. Basic stuff, right? Changing formats from blurbs with links to full essays had no effect on open rates or subscribes/unsubscribes. In fact, no formatting changes made any effect on open rates or subscribe/unsubscribe rates. The format of the newsletter only had an effect on how many readers came back to the blog to read full stories (as reflected in the page view spikes above), which doesn't matter unless you're running advertising, which I don't. Notice that April 2017 saw a doubling of visits to the blog over March. That's because I wrote in essay form in March and moved to blurbs with links in April. In other words, all my formatting experiments didn't matter. I could switch to a new format tomorrow and no one would care. If I showed you a chart of the newsletter opens, you'd see a flat line all year. This is great news. It means my focus on being an author-based instead of product-based was correct. People read the email newsletter based on who wrote it, not how it was written. I expected around a 20% loss of subscribers when I went with the personal (or "author" style) newsletter. I only lost around 5%. The rest stuck around and read at a constant rate no matter what experiment I annoyed them with. Sorry about the annoyances and thank you for sticking around! What does this mean for the future? Since it doesn't seem to matter what form the newsletter takes, I need to get down to what works best for me. The hope is that I can find a flow that allows for the creation of new newsletters and publications that have been waiting in the wings for some time. I need to get better at growing the subscriber rate as well, which I've kept intentionally low during this process. I didn't want influxes of low quality readers I'd have to pay for monthly, while having nothing besides a $2.50 book to recoup the costs. This means I'll have to release new products and show up on more on podcasts and outside blogs in the future. It's time to take the message to the masses! The masses demand a clearer pitch to get them to subscribe than the one I have, though. That's my first real challenge. This is incredibly difficult when it comes to personal newsletters. No one's life or work is entirely clear and I have no interest in faking that it is. As always, I'll share the results of all these future experiments right here. ### The Romance of Photojournalism URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-romance-of-photojournalism/ Last updated: 2017-04-28T18:30:03.000Z From Columbia Journalism Review on [what freelance photographers face](https://www.cjr.org/b-roll/heres-what-freelance-photographers-face.php?ref=cjchilvers.com): > “Places that are trying to put up a slideshow that you almost got killed for and worked on for 3 years, for $1,500, which at the end of the day it’s just not a fair value of the work.” This is a great article for a little bit of honesty in an industry filled with follow-your-passion nonsense. Yes, it's possible to make a living as a professional photojournalist. Some make a good living. But, it's much harder than most will tell you. After all, if you knew the truth, you'd be less likely to buy more equipment or services to chase a passion. ### The Importance of Curators URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-importance-of-curators/ Last updated: 2017-04-27T17:33:01.000Z I posted about the [The Gruber Model](https://www.cjchilvers.com/the-gruber-model/) last week as a theory for how news could be made more profitable and ethical through the filter of a good “curator.” I theorized the current ad model is just a race to the bottom. I didn’t grasp just how close we are to the bottom, though. This week Politico's Jack Shafer, a respected, veteran journalist, posted a data-backed article about just how polarized the environment has become among journalists, titled [The Media Bubble Is Worse Than You Think](http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/04/25/media-bubble-real-journalism-jobs-east-coast-215048?ref=cjchilvers.com): > "Today, 73 percent of all internet publishing jobs are concentrated in either the Boston-New York-Washington-Richmond corridor or the West Coast crescent that runs from Seattle to San Diego and on to Phoenix. The Chicagoland area, a traditional media center, captures 5 percent of the jobs, with a paltry 22 percent going to the rest of the country.” That’s a shockingly small number of people who can relate to what an entire nation is dealing with outside of its largest cities. And the trend is only towards greater clustering within the bubble. It’s not just about politics. It’s about getting the facts straight, which may not be possible from a cubicle a thousand miles away. Michael Moynihan of Vice News Tonight put it this way on [The Fifth Column podcast](https://overcast.fm/+GUo8KTPkY/42:29?ref=cjchilvers.com) (quickly becoming one of my favorite podcasts): > “There’s a problem that happened rather recently…journalism now requires more people doing 24 hour jobs…and at the same time, journalism is making less money. How do you pay cheaper rates and get more content? You get 23-year olds...They come out of college newspapers in which these identity politics battles are all they know…at the same time, nobody has money for these people to go out and report...So, once you put an ass in the seat in New York City, the confirmation bias that envelops you of all these people and all these opinions, that are all very uniform...and you just got out of college, which is a very ideological and uniform place for the most part, and someone says, ‘alright, write me a piece for tomorrow.’ What is that piece?” It makes sense that the news is getting stupider. This is why I love a good “curator.” Yes, I do wish there was a better title for these people. “Aggregator” isn’t any better. When I first started blogging in the mid to late 90s, most typical blogs (they weren’t called “blogs” yet) were what we’d call curators today. They were usually run by someone who had an obsession with a specific topic, an eye for good writing and design, and a distinct point of view. They’d post links to a few good articles they found every day to their front page (blogging software wasn’t a thing yet) with a little commentary. We grew to trust the best ones. These curators are still around, but a bit harder to find thanks to Facebook, Twitter, and Google algorithms that tend to favor anything but a good curator. They're worth seeking out. It's certainly worth becoming one, in my opinion, if you do have an obsession with a topic. As automation creeps into every area of content, real human expertise will become what's valued. New ideas are popping up all the time on how to eliminate “fake news” through algorithms or teams of poorly paid editors, but for systemic problems in reporting real news, a good curator is the best check against faulty journalism right now. ### Trust Is Scarce URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/trust-is-the-scarcity/ Last updated: 2017-04-26T14:10:06.000Z How is it that a lowly email newsletter has become one of the most trusted news outlets in America? Ask Dave Pell, the creator of NextDraft, [one of the most successful newsletters on the internet](https://medium.com/thoughts-on-journalism/how-dave-pell-created-one-of-the-most-successful-newsletters-of-the-internet-2dfff4725ba7?ref=cjchilvers.com): > "It is no surprise as to why Dave has done so well with NextDraft. In this day and age of fake news and clickbait nonsense, people recognize the lack of quality content and the trust between the reader and publications is slowly fading away. That’s why someone who personally has made it his mission to provide only high-quality, carefully assimilated materials and does it in an engaging way has managed to become a modern day news hero. This builds up a very special relationship with audiences." This is what I've strived for in my newsletters since I started sending them out in 1990s. I started with paper newsletters, and when technology allowed, moved to digital formats (making them on 3.5" floppies and sending them by snail mail). Email newsletter technology was a godsend. With every iteration of format and subject I learned more about how little mattered next to trust. I stopped stressing over design, delivery methods and even sometimes topics (if a story is good, it often applies across several subjects). Starting in the late 90s, I focused on totally on trust. But, trust takes years of proving yourself to your readers. It means rejecting the early, easy money for the long-term hope of relationship building. That's hard. It's why it's so extremely rare. It's easy to feel overwhelmed by our inboxes. But, a trusted, well-"curated" email newsletter is a thing of beauty. It saves you huge amounts of time and protects you from the throngs of hustlers vying for your attention every minute of every day. It's my favorite form of publishing online. I hope you [subscribe to my personal newsletter](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe) and stay tuned for something new in the near future. ### Day One Revisited URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/day-one-revisited/ Last updated: 2017-04-25T14:00:59.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579806300-8BN3TAOTD8C3U8O81H41/image-asset.png) [Back in 2011](https://www.cjchilvers.com/day-one/), I wrote about a new journaling app called [Day One](http://dayoneapp.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com). Since then, I've written something in that journal every day. For a few years I even included a daily photo. There have been some hiccups along the way. When they switched to a new syncing system, I lost about 10 day of entries, which needed to be re-written. When I tried to export a PDF years ago, it choked under the weight of my photos and couldn't do it. This has taught me to always be cautious enough to make multiple types of backups (not just Time Machine or online backup) and PDF more often (now that it works). It may sound like I'm not so impressed by the service, but there's no such thing as a perfect app. It's been two years since I've had any syncing issues, and it's been a solid otherwise. I always wanted an app for blogging just to myself, and Day One proved to be that app. Nothing else even comes close. Recently they announced [Day One Books](http://dayoneapp.com/book/?ref=cjchilvers.com), an easy way to publish your journals. The books seem well designed and if my journals weren't so private, Day One Books would be a much better alternative for creating my family photobooks than the typical options from Apple, Blurb or the local photo printer. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579807342-8LY6GF8GOAKS17IS7IWT/image-asset.jpeg) Shawn Blanc and the gang at The Sweet Setup did a deep dive into Day One in their ebook [Day One In Depth](http://thesweetsetup.com/dayone/?ref=cjchilvers.com). I haven't read it yet, but Shawn always does quality work. Check it out if you want quickly learn the ropes, instead of spending years in it like me. I still recommend Day One after six years of use. It's the gold standard in personal publishing. And, until our photo programs wise up and incorporate mixed media (or at least text) to tell full stories and provide context, Day One is really the only game in town. ### The Extraordinary Can't Exist Without the Ordinary URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-extraordinary-cant-exist-without-the-ordinary/ Last updated: 2017-04-24T14:26:46.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579812121-4HDW6P5PDMDJM003IADU/image-asset.jpeg) Most photographers and writers I know live in the suburbs, despite what stereotypes would have you believe. Most do not live in studio apartments in New York, nor could they afford it if they wanted to. They live what would probably be considered "boring" lives to an art student. The most successful artists I know have routines and habits they rarely stray from. This affords them the time and headspace to create in extraordinary ways. In fact, if there's one habit I've seen most often in successful artists, it is the embrace of habits themselves. If you can count on creating everyday for a set amount of hours, without it upending your world, it creates in a much more calm and contemplative place. Not to mention, the accumulation of work from a practice is much greater than the romanticized notion of the once-in-a-great-while writer and artists retreats (which are loved precisely because of their scheduled, non-disruptive nature). You should be experiencing a retreat in small way daily. Make it a habit. Make it regular. Make it boring. Make it as ordinary as possible, so your creations can be extraordinary. ### A List of Reasons to Pick Up a Film Camera URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/a-list-of-reasons-to-pick-up-a-film-camera/ Last updated: 2017-04-21T14:27:00.000Z John Crane has [many reasons](http://emulsive.org/interviews/i-am-john-crane-and-this-is-why-i-shoot-film?ref=cjchilvers.com) for sticking with film during his career, but this is one of my favorites: > "I spend so much time in front of the computer that when the time comes to get away and enjoy photography – the last thing I want to do is pick up another computer." That's a new one to me and I love it. His photos are wonderful too. I've been dipping my toes back into analog photography for a year or two now. It's more than a nostalgia trip. Forcing your brain to think more about what you're shooting really helps. And it's fun. Who says this can't be about fun? Unless you're a pro, fun is the only reason you ever need to justify using film. ### Content Omnivores URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/content-omnivores/ Last updated: 2017-04-20T15:06:52.000Z I wrote yesterday about not being precious with the work you release online. I followed it up with an apology on Twitter of how precious I've gotten with my work since leaving Tumblr. Tumblr was built to kill preciousness about creative work. It made posting content of any length or type almost trivial. Tumblr understood something about the way we consume online that no other CMS or service I've used has: we are content omnivores. Google looks for original content of significant length to rank higher in searches. Content marketers swear by long reads with significant research for successful promotion of their businesses. So, it's taken for granted that if you're a reader, you want a long read on a blog. It's also taken for granted that if you're a watcher, you want a 6-12 minute Youtube video (so I've been told by Youtubers). If you're a photography lover, you want a quick hit on Instagram. If you're a podcast listener, you want a short, highly edited podcast or a long, conversational podcast with people you care about. But none of us fit these descriptions. We all read. We all watch videos. We all listen to something at some point. That was the real innovation Tumblr discovered: a mix of media is best and that mix should be easy to create and fun to experience. I left Tumblr because instead of charging for their service, they went with an ad model. Then, they sold out to Yahoo and became just another acquisition to be ignored by their parent. Tumblr has since become the back alley of Yahoo, more known for its porn than for the creators who still post there, like [Merlin Mann](http://www.kungfugrippe.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) and [Austin Kleon](http://tumblr.austinkleon.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com). I want to become less precious again. Doing it without the ease of Tumblr makes it more difficult technically, but the real difficulty is in being brave enough to just post a quote or a photo because I like it, not because it says something profound. ### Let It Out URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/let-it-out/ Last updated: 2017-04-19T17:48:25.000Z How many of us create every day in journals, on our phones, and in our photo databases? Probably all of us to some degree. How much of it do you let out? What if you publicly released just a fraction more of what you've been creating for yourself? Would it make the idea of a daily blog or a weekly podcast seem like a less daunting task? I think you'd find you're already doing much of the work. The real hurdle is overcoming our own preciousness about what we release. ### If You Still Haven't Started that Blog... URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/if-you-still-havent-started-a-blog/ Last updated: 2017-04-18T14:16:02.000Z Here's a little more inspiration to get you started. First, realize the purpose of a creative person telling their day-to-day story: > "When you communicate your inspiration and efforts behind your pieces, you allow viewers to see your art through your eyes. This gives the viewer something tangible to share with others in conversation – something that a two-dimensional piece rarely can do on its own terms." - [Jacqueline Lara](http://99u.com/articles/54098/why-every-artist-should-be-a-great-storyteller?utm%5Fsource=99U&utm%5Fcampaign=10a0972552-Weekly%5F8%5F25%5F16&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fterm=0%5Fbdabfaef00-10a0972552-&utm%5Fsource=99U&utm%5Fcampaign=10a0972552-Weekly%5F8%5F25%5F16&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fterm=0%5Fbdabfaef00-10a0972552-148001737) Then, realize the infinite number of ways you can put that blog to work for you. I love Gary Vaynerchuk in small doses. There's something unbalanced in his brain that creates a drive no normal human should have. But, every once in a while he produces something I totally endorse. In this video, he explains why you need to get started on that blog now and the incredible possibilities that open up for you when you do: There's so many actions I'm taking away from that video. I feel my next manifesto coming on. ### The Gruber Model URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-gruber-model/ Last updated: 2017-04-17T13:53:32.000Z Every time I see [an article about the last gasps of newspaper journalism](https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/great-local-reporting-stands-between-you-and-wrongdoing-and-it-needs-saving/2017/04/16/e763803e-1ba1-11e7-9887-1a5314b56a08%5Fstory.html?utm%5Fterm=.e3f5bd1284e0&ref=cjchilvers.com), I think about the Gruber model. For those who don't follow tech blogs, John Gruber is the blogger behind [Daring Fireball](https://daringfireball.net/?ref=cjchilvers.com), arguably the most successful and trusted Apple-related blog ever. I agree with pretty much everything he has to say about Apple, and almost nothing he has to say about anything else. He's opinionated about a lot of things (the Yankees and politics comes to mind), which is great for creating rabid fans (and critics). What I really respect about Gruber is the publishing model he created. A decade ago, through trial and error, John discovered that instead of jamming as many ads and trackers as possible into every article, as newspapers do, he would have one tiny ad on the site and one RSS "native" ad per week. He focused on exclusivity and scarcity to drive up the ad price. It worked. He sold t-shirts and memberships to the site as well, for the truly devoted fans. He proved that one man on a simple, all-text, reader-friendly blog with trusted content could create a very lucrative publication. Imagine if a newspaper, filled with talented writers, set those writers loose to to create their own Daring Fireballs based on their niches. I don't think we'd have the crisis we have now. In 2014 John [gave a talk at XOXO](https://youtu.be/ufKFStaFsZs?ref=cjchilvers.com) about how his blog started and how it became such a success. It's simple: respect the reader and build your publication on trust. Everyone knows, if you want to know what's really going on at Apple, you need to read Daring Fireball. That's trust. There’s an [obesity crisis](http://idlewords.com/talks/website%5Fobesity.htm?ref=cjchilvers.com) at newspaper websites and it’s costing you money, time, and privacy. It’s all because they couldn’t figure out what John Gruber did more than a decade ago. They actively cultivate mistrust. They chose the typical ad model, which is a race to the bottom: more reader-hostile ads at cheaper prices. As we've all heard, "the problem with a race to the bottom is you might win." In the years since that XOXO talk, Gruber has found podcasting to be equally (or more) lucrative than his blog. He experimented a bit with Youtube as well. These are routes regional and local newspapers should be looking at to add to their revenue. I'm not at all confident they can pull it off with their current philosophy, however. Every local newspaper in this country should be paying Gruber a consultant's fee and watching his talk on a loop until it sinks in. ### When the Right Tool for the Job is Wrong URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/when-the-right-tool-for-the-job-is-wrong/ Last updated: 2017-04-14T14:00:00.000Z Designing a website for my wife has me thinking about this essay from from a while back, [It's OK Not to Use Tools](https://m.signalvnoise.com/it-s-ok-not-to-use-tools-f39fbb9b6995?ref=cjchilvers.com) by Jonas Downey, a designer from Basecamp. Jonas abandoned his fancy tools when he created a website for an animal shelter using plain old HTML and CSS, with friendly, clear writing: > "As builders, we like tools and tech because they’re interesting and new, and we enjoy mastering them. But when you think about the people we’re building for, the reality is usually the opposite. They need simple designs, clear writing, less tech, and fewer abstractions." It's way too easy for style to get in the way of the message. ### Family Photography URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/family-photography/ Last updated: 2017-04-13T13:10:39.000Z [The snapshot is the king of all photographs](https://www.cjchilvers.com/the-snapshot-is-king/) and the family is the king of all subjects. Before becoming a dad, I would've said that photojournalism was more important, and the master printers of the zone system age owned the gallery wall. But, now I realize that everything in this world, from the birth of a baby to global war, starts with the family. Family photographs represent what's most valuable about photography. They are of a time, context and place that's not repeatable (unlike landscapes). They pack the greatest personal punch due the people involved (unlike fine art or typical photojournalism). They are simply the most important photographs we can make. Yet, they are underrepresented in what gets the attention of the photo world. This week I spotted a newish book, [Family Photography Now](http://amzn.to/2p0D7Bo?ref=cjchilvers.com), at the library and loved the idea of treating family photos like the art objects they really are. The book is a catalogue of some of the most creative and haunting family photo projects taken on by talented photographers from all styles. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579827666-JGBC2JT4C0BLW53JXRGZ/image-asset.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579829076-LZ79HVE76HBNNWWYB3VX/image-asset.jpeg) Some of the images are meticulously printed black and white photos worthy of hanging in any museum for their technical mastery alone. Some are whimsical plays on color. Some, which deal with truly dysfunctional families, you'd rather skip than deal with. But you can't. It's a big, thick photo book. Good. It's about time more paper was devoted to this topic. It's inspiring me to up my game with my own family photos. [Check it out](http://amzn.to/2ovm9ty?ref=cjchilvers.com). I bet you'll never look at your family's photo albums the same way again. ### This is a Real Writer URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/this-is-a-real-writer/ Last updated: 2017-04-12T14:15:00.000Z I've just received several congratulations for winning a Pulitzer Prize. No, I didn't win a Pulitzer Prize. CJ Chivers did (no "l" in the last name). He's a real writer. In fact, Esquire called him the ["Best War Reporter in a Generation."](http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a37838/end-of-war-1015/?ref=cjchilvers.com) Please check out his article, [The Fighter](https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/28/magazine/afghanistan-soldier-ptsd-the-fighter.html?ref=cjchilvers.com), which did win the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for feature writing. It's important. ### What Can't Be Taught in Photography URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/what-cant-be-taught-in-photography/ Last updated: 2017-04-11T14:06:00.000Z Brooks Jensen on the [LensWork podcast](http://daily.lenswork.com/2017/04/podcast-1012-what-can-be-taught.html?ref=cjchilvers.com) argues that the most important part of photography can't be taught. You can flood Youtube and blogs with information about tools and technique, but when you try to learn about what comes next, there's a natural dead end: > “It is so easy for beginning photographers to get swept up in that initial learning curve and to think that is the great challenge in photography - mastering tools and techniques. My contention is that mastering tools and techniques is the preliminary step. It’s like graduating high school. You haven’t really done anything yet. All you’ve done is prepared to do something...OK, you have technical mastery. What are you going to say?” Some photographers give up at this point and some become artists. I'm not sure I agree that none of it can be taught, though. I think artistic expression can be taught, but by example, not through a lesson plan. I'd also prefer not to learn artistic expression from a photographer. Art includes a universe of practices outside your own. Why limit yourself? ### My New Business Cards URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/my-new-business-cards/ Last updated: 2017-04-10T13:43:00.000Z No one could be more shocked than I when I ran out of business cards at an event recently. Who still uses business cards, right? Well, lots of people. And lots of people wanted to know how to keep in touch and find out more about the things I was ranting about. In the end, I wrote out my website address on Field Notes pages and passed them out. Since that's all the information anyone really needs (and keeping in mind the motto "different is better than better"), I asked [Hoban Cards](https://hobancards.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com), my favorite letterpress printer, to make the simplest card they could for me. Here's how it looks. Good work, Hoban Cards! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579835233-RYGTH1T8WB1ENEGK4EPB/image-asset.jpeg) ### Completionism is a Disease URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/completionism-is-a-disease/ Last updated: 2017-04-07T19:06:05.000Z I admit it, I am a completionist. I read every tweet in my Twitter feed. I read every blog headline in my RSS reader. I listen to every episode of my favorite podcasts and at least read through the notes of the podcasts I half-like in case there's something really cool to hear. All of this robs me of time and attention. Sure, some of it adds value. But is the cost worth it? Some alternatives to consider, if you have the same disease: - Twitter still allows you to arrange your feed in [lists](https://support.twitter.com/articles/76460?ref=cjchilvers.com) (for now). I created a list of my "must reads" which means even after hours (or a full day) of neglect, I can catch up with my absolute favorite Twitterers in just a dozen tweets or so, instead of hundreds, cutting my reading time from 15-30 minutes down to 1 minute. - I can eliminate RSS from my blog reading all together. Dave Pell did this and his profession is reading news (he publishes the ultra-popular newsletter [NextDraft](http://nextdraft.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com)). Dave now reads his news going site-to-site, taking in design as a part of the character and content of the site. He doesn't have an inbox of headlines waiting for him and he experiences the good and bad of web just like his readers would after clicking a link in his newsletter. This is what everyone used to do. Remember the joy of just "surfing the web?" Better to experience joy than another inbox. - With podcasts, I have started eliminating the ones I like (and don't LOVE). If I run out of podcasts to listen to, I can fish through those feeds for the gems. But for now, there must be cuts. Some love [Huffduffer](https://huffduffer.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) for the ability to do away with subscribing entirely and just feed individual podcasts to your favorite app. Others like the app [Castro](http://supertop.co/castro/?ref=cjchilvers.com), which allows you to triage your episodes and download only the best of the best. - Let go. You don't need to complete any of this. That last one is the most honest, clear and simple lesson. That's why it's the hardest to implement and least likely to occur. ### Thank You URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/thank-you/ Last updated: 2017-04-06T17:15:04.000Z The proper response to a compliment is "thank you." It took me over 30 years is to learn this. Also, the proper response to "thank you" is "you're welcome." I'm still trying to learn this. ### Something We Can All Agree On (Wisconsin Supper Clubs) URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/wisconsin-supper-clubs/ Last updated: 2017-04-05T13:24:14.000Z You don't need to take a political or artistic stand to make a huge impact with a photo book. When people ask about what photo book made the most impact recently, I have a suggestion they usually never consider, because it's not for photography nuts. It's for travel and food nuts. It just happens to use photography as a tool. Here in the midwest, I don't believe I've heard more talk about any book in last decade as [Wisconsin Supper Clubs](http://amzn.to/2nDWf2X?ref=cjchilvers.com) and it's follow-up [Wisconsin Supper Clubs: Another Round](http://amzn.to/2oBEFld?ref=cjchilvers.com). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579844797-LZ2PMEI6ZYH7Z9N000WB/image-asset.png) I'm not kidding. Among retirees especially, it's become more a way of life than a series of books. I've met dozens of people in my travels attempting to visit all 100 supper clubs profiled in the books. Each book profiles in words and photographs, the author's favorite 50 supper clubs. The photos are taken by the author, who is not a professional photographer by trade. However, these photos have the power to compel travelers to spend entire summers on the road, seeking out the most quaint, eccentric or lavish examples of the Wisconsin supper club. A supper club is a very midwestern style of restaurant that is dying out in most states. But in Wisconsin, it's a source of pride, kept alive by tourists and even celebrated with its own [craft beer](http://capitalbrewery.com/beer-type/supper-club/?ref=cjchilvers.com). Here's the criteria the author provides for what makes a restaurant a supper club: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579846438-218DXM7PRCNP81RU0FFX/image-asset.png) I'm not visiting all of them. But I will visit the best. The cover of the first book was taken at Ishnala, which is the canonical example of a supper club (yes, I've already been to this one). Here's a video tour: I love that this author has found a subject that brings people together (in huge numbers) by tapping into something we can all agree on. It's easy to forget about positive impacts when we become mired in the social media oh-crap-what's-on-fire-now hype. All too often what gets our attention is what's the most shocking thing at the moment. Summer is coming. I don't know about you, but I need a break from 2017\. I'll be spending a little time on the backroads of Wisconsin enjoying the scenery, a fat steak and [Spotted Cow](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/04/21/minn-bar-busted-for-selling-spotted-cow-beer-in-best-undercover-investigation-ever/?utm%5Fterm=.ab195d79650d&ref=cjchilvers.com). Won't you join me? ### Independence Day URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/independence-day/ Last updated: 2017-04-04T14:30:00.000Z The bank I write for, and have worked at for 16 years, is finally calling it quits. My last day is May 31st. I'm lucky to have options as a writer. Not many in finance do. Automation has killed a lot of their jobs. We've heard it for years; if your job doesn't involve a lot of creativity, expect software to take over that job soon. That day came a lot quicker than many expected. Not me, though. I read Seth Godin (so should you). My immediate plans are to write and photograph like a madman, sharing everything I possibly can with you right here. I'm also helping to start a consulting business for someone else, so I hope this allows me to post as much as I'd like. Daily posting is the ultimate goal and I'd like to do a lot more books now that I have some time on my side. I'm not expecting this approach to provide my primary source of income, though. Maybe it will in 5-10 years. But for now, I just want to show up more. ### Billionaires Who Blog URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/billionaires-who-blog/ Last updated: 2017-04-03T14:00:00.000Z Whenever I hear someone decry the state of blogging, I think about the billionaires who blog from Mark Cuban to Mark Zuckerberg. Their time is worth so much at that level, each blog post could potentially cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to create. So why do they do it? And why do they write books or make YouTube videos? There’s almost no money in any of that (\~$1 per book sold or fractions of a penny per view on YouTube). It’s mostly cost. Maybe they understand is that what made them as successful as they are is their ability to form new relationships and learn new things. So, blog and vlog. Blog like no one is reading and vlog like no one is watching, because they probably aren’t right now. That’s OK. Connecting with one new person or learning one new thing could make it all worth it. ### Laugh It Up Google URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/laugh-it-up-google/ Last updated: 2017-04-01T16:33:53.000Z Today (April Fools Day) we're reminded how much time and money Google spends on [gags](http://www.theverge.com/2017/3/31/15140206/google-best-april-fools-jokes-roundup-2017?utm%5Fsource=CJ+Chilvers&utm%5Fcampaign=d3c2c58c5f-EMAIL%5FCAMPAIGN%5F2017%5F04%5F01&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fterm=0%5F14b49ec31e-d3c2c58c5f-340462493). A fraction of that money would have been enough to support Google Reader. Google Reader (2005-2013) was the [RSS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS?ref=cjchilvers.com) service most regular people used to read blogs. But RSS is an open format. At its heart, Google is an ad company, and if you didn't directly use Google Reader in your browser (if you used an app of your choosing), Google couldn't throw ads at you and trap you in a Google+ walled garden like Facebook (which Google had an obsession with at the time). So, they killed it. Private companies can do what they want with their own services. I'm not arguing that. But instead of trying to find a way to make a buck off the service, Google chased the mega bucks they knew Facebook would eventually enjoy. In short, they bet against their users to please potential advertisers. That, I can't abide. Readers had become so devoted to Google Reader, it didn't make sense to many that a popular service like this might disappear (the ad-based economy often ignores sane things like asking for money from customers). It also didn't help that the death notice appeared buried in a press release no casual reader would read, taking many by surprise. The decision to end Google Reader killed independent blogging *as we knew it*. The popular bloggers, like Seth Godin, who didn't throw in the towel, saw their readership drop by half. Readers fled to social media to get their content, where they were increasingly encouraged (and often tricked) into staying within the walls of the service with its rules about what was acceptable content. The goal was to keep you away from the open web. I still love the open web. Google can do what it wants, but the memory of what it did to my favorite writers and photographers, and its obsession with [tracking me](https://gigaom.com/2007/04/13/google-buys-doubleclick/?ref=cjchilvers.com) wherever I go has ensured I'll be using Apple products (superior privacy), [DuckDuckGo](https://duckduckgo.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) (a better search engine), and [1Blocker](https://1blocker.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) (blocks Google from tracking you through their extensive ad networks) for the foreseeable future. *This post originally appeared in [my personal newsletter](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe/).* ### The Importance of Being Small URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-importance-of-being-small/ Last updated: 2017-03-22T16:47:42.000Z I've received hundreds of suggestions about how to grow my [list](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe) (my primary publishing outlet). Dozens of people approach me about doing podcasts on everything from music to photography to self-help, so I can boost my "visibility" to the creative community. A few online course creators promise sure-fire ways to turn my books into six-figure classes. But... I don’t want massive growth of my list. My stuff isn’t for everyone and that’s fine. In fact, it’s by design. It would be boring if everyone liked it. I couldn’t afford the maintenance of a big, disinterested list. I like to greet everyone who joins my list personally and hold actual conversations with them. If I can keep doing that, it’s a success. I've talked seriously with networks and hosts about creating podcasts, but popularity on the podcast circuit doesn’t much interest me either. It seems exhausting. I started recording a new podcast two months ago. I hated the way it turned out and scrapped it. I may resurrect it in a different form, but not for money, popularity, or "visibility." Success for me in podcasting would be meeting interesting people and learning new things. If a podcast doesn't get me closer to that goal, why bother? As for courses…well, very few are done well. And the ones that are done well involve a level of work and attention that would be horrible for my health. A third full time job would kill me right now. I do have a great idea for a course that would anger every photography guru out there (which I find too hilarious not to pursue in some way), but maybe a course isn't the way. Maybe a print book? Maybe a podcast series? The best advice I've received lately, however, is from my old self, when I stumble across notes made years ago and long forgotten. When you document what you learn, you often find the best discoveries are re-discoveries. That's why I take a lot of notes. The advice I re-discovered recently was about the importance of smallness. What triggered it was this quote: > "\[T\]he man who works so moderately as to be able to work constantly, not only preserves his health the longest, but in the course of the year, executes the greatest quantity of works.” - [Adam Smith](http://www.economist.com/blogs/freeexchange/2013/09/working-hours?ref=cjchilvers.com) I realized I was no longer working small. I was planning for a year in the future, instead of today. I was trying to write 10,000 words a week, when 200 a day could produce something more interesting with greater clarity. I was wondering how to build my first photo book, instead of implementing a daily photo habit that could lead to 100 photo books. I've written before about my love of [small books](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/small-books/), but these past few days I've re-discovered a love of small blogs, small newsletters, and small products in general. Small could mean brief. There's bravery in brevity. Small could also mean minimal, a first step towards something larger. Small is habit-inducing, life changing, and within reach every day. *This post originally appeared in [my personal newsletter](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe/).* ### Being Creatively Lost is Awesome URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/being-lost-is-awesome/ Last updated: 2017-03-16T14:32:34.000Z Every six months or so I feel a little lost creatively. It leads to a lot of good things, but in the moment it feels disconcerting. This is something readers write to me about all the time. They want to know what can be done to get them back to where they were. They want a laser-like focus again on the creative pursuits that once thrilled them. I argue that's not healthy for a few reasons. First, it's good to move on. Any creative pursuit is more about personal growth and pushing past your own limits, than it is about what is keeping you in one place. Some fear a loss of income if they change focuses. OK, that's fair, but that's commerce, not necessarily art. Commerce is different animal. Art requires you to move on. You may fear your audience's expectations of you. Will they follow you in your new projects? I'll save you the suspense: some will, some won't. That's not what's important. Performing on your own terms may mean less commerce in the short term, but it leads to greater satisfaction, and perhaps greater pay days in the long term. How many artists commit suicide or drink/drug themselves to death even with a fat bank account? Too many. Making decisions about art based entirely on commerce is a recipe for regret. Second, you want something that isn't going to happen: time travel. Not only did you change over the past few months/years, the world did. You changed, because you took in new information and it re-wired your brain accordingly. You can't go back. Also, the audience changed while you weren't looking. You must constantly earn the interest of new audiences as well as yourself. Being creatively lost is normal, if you're open to new ideas. It's a good sign. Persistence and focus does matter, but when it comes to art, the persistence and focus must be tied to what furthers you as an artist. *This post originally appeared in [my personal newsletter](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe/).* ### How Good is the President's Pen? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/testing-the-presidential-pen-refill/ Last updated: 2017-03-09T15:57:07.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579860506-FKA4AZ9BI8J3Z14CDWAU/image-asset.png) Did you know there's [an official presidential pen](http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/27/politics/donald-trump-cross-pen-white-house/?utm%5Fsource=CJ+Chilvers&utm%5Fcampaign=bbe52ab4f2-EMAIL%5FCAMPAIGN%5F2017%5F03%5F02&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fterm=0%5F14b49ec31e-bbe52ab4f2-340462145)? The past several U.S. Presidents have agreed on a specific brand of pen and pen refill to use in the Oval Office. It's the [Cross Century II](http://amzn.to/2naiWg8?ref=cjchilvers.com) black and gold pen and [Cross Porous Point refill](http://amzn.to/2n3PvzN?ref=cjchilvers.com) (blue or black depending on the President). I find the pen itself unattractive, so I decided to test out just the refill against other refills in its class...you know, for fun. I tested the [Mont Blanc Fineliner refill](http://amzn.to/2nakh6J?ref=cjchilvers.com) ($9), the [Sakura Micron 05](http://amzn.to/2mpDjrl?ref=cjchilvers.com) ($5), and the [Sharpie Pen](http://amzn.to/2n3Afmu?ref=cjchilvers.com) ($5) against the [Cross Porous Point refill](http://amzn.to/2n3PvzN?ref=cjchilvers.com) ($5). All four are the same type of refill, with small differences (size of line, bleed through, smoothness, build quality, etc.). I wrote on a variety of papers both smooth and course. To my shock, the best turned out to be the Cross, the President's refill. I say shock, because Cross is the kind of pen brand usually given to graduates and bought at Staples. It isn't expected to be the best, just the best in proximity to your home or office. Nevertheless, it was the smoothest, cleanest refill of them all. So, the next time you see the president sign an executive order and wave it around in a gif, know that it was a great writing experience, no matter what you think of how it's being used. *This post originally appeared in [my personal newsletter](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe/).* ### I Like Analog Because I Am Analog URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/i-like-analog-because-i-am-analog/ Last updated: 2017-03-08T14:51:43.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579868119-WFZ3NZ6QG2E6KVJ9YVLJ/image-asset.jpeg) I've been shooting a lot with [Instax](http://amzn.to/2lYuvoV?ref=cjchilvers.com) film lately. Instax is the modern equivalent of Polaroid film, which can still be had, but I prefer Instax: - It's mass produced in a very consistent way by Fuji (mostly for kids and the Japanese market). - It comes in black and white and color, and with a variety of border options (again, mostly for kids and the Japanese market). - It's relatively inexpensive (about $1 per print). - The newer [Instax cameras](http://amzn.to/2miDkMf?ref=cjchilvers.com) look cool and are inexpensive, while offering bulb and double exposure options (arguably the most useful features for analog enthusiasts). As the iPhone becomes a more capable camera every year, I'm forced to go to analog to derive the same kind of constraints benefits I used to get from the phone. I could jump in with an expensive film camera, but that doesn't provide enough constraint for me. I stopped saying gear doesn't matter years ago. It matters. But in the opposite way most people think it matters. When your'e in a creative rut, taking automated parts of your process away stimulates creative thought, because it has to. It literally forces you to think in areas of your brain you had previously shut down. But the best thing about instant film is it's ability to create genuine one-of-a-kind photographic prints. There's no negative, no file, just a print. You either get it right the first time or you don't get it at all. It's not just a good constraint for the photographer, it's also a useful constraint for the viewer. It's inherently valuable due to built-in scarcity. I love that. At my son's birthday party last week, I took lots of photos, but the ones taken with the Instax were magical to the kids. Most had probably never seen an instant print coming to life right in front of them. I gave out prints to all the kids as souvenirs of the party. They guarded them as if they were made of gold. *This post originally appeared in [my personal newsletter](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe/).* ### Seth Godin on Why He Keeps Blogging and Creating Books URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/seth-godin-on-why-he-keeps-blogging-and-creating-books/ Last updated: 2017-02-14T21:38:11.000Z Seth Godin appeared on the [Design Matters podcast](http://designobserver.com/feature/seth-godin/39502?ref=cjchilvers.com) and got a little more personal than usual about his work and life before he became THE Seth Godin. I recommend listening to the whole thing, but I transcribed a few gems for my own notes: On why he still blogs daily (and has since at least 2002): > "By frequently and generously showing up, in front of people who wanted to hear from me, I would earn their trust. And, if I earned their trust, it would be easier for me to solve their problems. > Some people go online and measure their return on equity or their return on effort. I’m trying to maximize trust. I think we have a trust shortage. If I have more trust, I am going to be able to make more of a difference. > I’m not looking to be better known. I don’t promote stuff. I don’t show up on Facebook. I don’t work to have any followers on Twitter, because I don’t tweet. This isn’t about that. This is about: among the people who want to find me, can I show up in a way that’s trustworthy and can I do it in a way that will help other people get the joke? Because I’d rather live in a world where more people trust more people." On why he still makes books from his blog posts: > "Here’s a collectible that turns the insubstantial into substantial. That turns the temporary into the permanent. It gives you something you can point other people to, which furthers my mission of trust and change, which creates more impact. And, it’s really fun." ### Self Awareness URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/self-awareness/ Last updated: 2017-02-13T18:39:14.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579874828-23OR4BIJEM2Z42S45R4J/image-asset.jpeg) ### Home Screens as Therapy URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/home-screens/ Last updated: 2017-02-01T15:53:14.000Z I have nothing against technology. I do have a problem with using technology as a crutch to keep you from being creative. I have a big problem with my natural, sometimes destructive, tendency to consume a lot of information. Batching time to consume helps, but sometimes it's more effective to put a real barrier between you and consumption. The President and CEO of David Allen Company, [Mike Williams](https://twitter.com/GTDmw?ref=cjchilvers.com), has a unique way of dealing with this. He designs his iPhone home screen to create a "micro pause" and ask himself, "Why am I here?" I first saw one of his screenshots two years ago on the [MacSparky blog](https://www.macsparky.com/blog/2015/4/home-screens-mike-williams?ref=cjchilvers.com): ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579880458-0PN1ZJ15QBAIW78VWABO/image-asset.jpeg) He explains his reasoning: > "My home screen is intentionally very simple. I do this to minimize distractions. The distractions are all tucked several screen swipes away. It is a simple reminder to me to keep things simple. The act of intentionally finding an app helps me become conscious to what I am doing and why. I also turn off 98% of all the alerts." Apparently he has stuck with his philosophy, because [he recently posted](https://twitter.com/GTDmw/status/822876038694780928?ref=cjchilvers.com) a new screenshot to Twitter: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579882504-FWMZKLQOAI3LO982ISSO/image-asset.jpeg) I love this idea. So, as a part of my focus this year on being more mindful with my time, I've done the same with my home screen. I've added a photo that personally means something relaxing and joyful as well (something we could all use a dose of several times a day): ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579885018-Y0QWV9LTZPBTGTGXMU3F/image-asset.png) I'm not alone. [Jay Miller sent me his](https://twitter.com/kjaymiller/status/826191541093818369/photo/1?ref=cjchilvers.com), which is beautiful on another level: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579887770-AZQC3QCVFOYBXM7ML6R8/image-asset.jpeg) This kind of thing represents the best of what the [GTD](http://amzn.to/2kVNW1x?ref=cjchilvers.com) community does these days (and Mike in particular). I may disagree on some of the details of implementation (like the treatment of the calendar), but the general ideas behind [GTD](http://amzn.to/2kVNW1x?ref=cjchilvers.com) and their ties to cognitive studies as well as mindfulness philosophy are always exciting to me. I recommend this episode of the GTD podcast to get back on board with the most important aspects of the practice: [GTD and the Organized Mind](https://overcast.fm/+ErnXwKnsQ/?ref=cjchilvers.com). **Update**: Mike has posted [a TEDx talk](https://youtu.be/-CmH6fbyzZs?ref=cjchilvers.com) explaining his home screen philosophy. ### Schedule Your Thinking URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/schedule-your-thinking/ Last updated: 2017-01-24T18:37:36.000Z Tom Kelley and David Kelley in [Harvard Business Review](https://hbr.org/2012/12/reclaim-your-creative-confidence?ref=cjchilvers.com): > “Schedule daily 'white space' in your calendar, where your only task is to think or take a walk and daydream. When you try to generate ideas, shoot for 100 instead of 10\. Defer your own judgment and you’ll be surprised at how many ideas you have—and like—by the end of the week.” It sounds silly to schedule time for daydreaming, thinking or taking a walk, but if you don't schedule it, it won't happen. I know that if I schedule a few hours in a meeting room at the library, I can usually write a few posts and even plan a project or two. If I don't schedule it, none of that happens. I will respond to email, clean, get groceries - literally anything but create something worthwhile. There's always something or someone pulling at my time, with perfectly good reasons. But, if I want to accomplish anything, I need to put an obstacle (and some distance) between myself and that obligation. As for the second part, generating ideas, it works. James Altucher popularized the notion of coming up with 10 ideas a day - 20 if your struggling with 10 (just come up with lots of bad ideas and stop being a perfectionist about it). It's now a part of my morning ritual, which is also scheduled. ### Where the Herd Is URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/where-the-herd-is/ Last updated: 2017-01-20T18:55:45.000Z [Dave Winer](http://scripting.com/2017/01/14/pngwriterUpdate.html?ref=cjchilvers.com) (co-creator of podcasting and the father of blogging): > "I'm feeling very Fuck You about controlling motherfuckers. Twitter can't help its users communicate. Facebook breaks the web by not letting writers link to other websites from their posts. Google tries to force everyone to switch to HTTPS no matter what the cost. I don't have to do any of this, and neither do you. So when people tell you to fuck off tell them to fuck off right back!" It may feel like fighting a battle that's already over, but going around the increasingly strict rules of Google, Twitter and Facebook is liberating. It's also healthy. When you write or photograph or create for any reason on any medium in your own way, it's healthy. It creates a more enjoyable life. Don't let someone else's constraints dictate your art. Following the herd is the opposite of art and it's never been clearer where the herd is. ### No Worries URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/no-worries/ Last updated: 2017-01-20T18:23:01.000Z Via [Jack Hollingsworth](https://twitter.com/photojack/status/821803627111206917?ref=cjchilvers.com): > "Amateurs worry about equipment. Professionals worry about time. Masters worry about light." - Anonymous I disagree. Every photographer should **consider** their time, equipment and lighting. No photographer needs to **worry** about it. Also, why wouldn't the amateur also consider time and light? There's still a lot of assumptions, made by those who write about photography, that need busting. ### Focus on Done URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/focus-on-done/ Last updated: 2017-01-17T18:39:13.000Z Personal blogs are fertile ground for posts about what a person is **going** to do. This bores the reader and provides the blogger with the [self licensing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-licensing?ref=cjchilvers.com) to not do what they said they were going to do. If you announce it before you do it, your brain thinks you've accomplished something. This explains why changing your social media icon for a cause is a thing, when action for a cause tends not to be a thing. I have a challenging year ahead of me. I'd like to take you on that journey from cubicle monkey to independent creator. But, I don't want to promise myself or you anything I "will be doing." I hold myself accountable by what I've done. Two and a half weeks into the year, I've done the following: - Decided to take this journey (this is a bigger step when you've tried and failed as often as I have). - Compiled the last 400 posts to my blog for at least one new book. Editing will take while, but this has been my primary focus for January. I find releasing or completing a new project every month to be an intoxicating notion I can't get out of my head. - Had dinner with [Shawn Blanc](http://shawnblanc.net/?ref=cjchilvers.com). I want to see more of my "target readers" in person. These are the people I envision reading the post I'm about to publish. I don't want to necessarily "pick their brains" for new ideas. That's a waste of their time and they have their own blogs for that. I want to get an impression of what I do that works for them. To me, their views are more important than anything analytics or surveys can tell me. In fact, Shawn disagreed with what many of you expressed in the last survey and that's the best thing I took away from meeting with him. That, and, he's a nice guy (unlike many I've met in this business). I can buy and recommend his products with complete trust. - Signed up for two gatherings later in the year among like-minded people. - Woke up every morning an hour early to write more and meditate. - Met with my doctor and discussed the latest advances in anxiety and IBS research. These afflictions have held me back personally and in business for 30 years. There are no cures for IBS and the emerging treatments have been ineffective for me. Anxiety, on the other hand, is something I've learned to live with. I may write more about this if I have the time, but, for now, I consider any progress in this area a milestone towards living a better, more useful life. I came away with two new leads for treatment. - Gave the Twitter app on my phone a back seat. I've given up on consuming most forms of social media, but Twitter remains a place where the smartest people I know say the smartest things (with proper use of filtering and lists). However, those same people usually have blogs/newsletters/podcasts I can subscribe to. I don't need Twitter to be front and center anymore. It goes in a folder for now, and in the trash in due time. Baby steps. - Decided on what will be the first physical product offered on this site. I'd go into more detail, but this is all that is **done** with this project. Please let me know you've done. Keep the "what I'm doing" to a minimum and see what forces its way out through action. ![Shawn Blanc, Shawn's assistant Isaac, John Vorhees and I trying to navigate an unusual winter thunderstorm in Chicago to get to what really matters...to what we'd risk pneumonia for...the food.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579899295-1JFHXLFRGGVHRL7983ER/image-asset.jpeg) Shawn Blanc, Shawn's assistant Isaac, John Vorhees and I trying to navigate an unusual winter thunderstorm in Chicago to get to what really matters...to what we'd risk pneumonia for...the food. ### My Rules for Publishing (2017 Edition) URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/my-rules-for-publishing-2017-edition/ Last updated: 2017-01-09T16:37:00.000Z Back in 2015, I wrote a post called [My Rules for Publishing](https://www.cjchilvers.com/my-rules-of-publishing-for-2015/), which was got pretty popular (in the circles I hang out in at least). I figured it was time for an update. My updates are in red. 1. The blog is the most perfect publishing format ever made for reaching the greatest number of people. The blog is the hub. It's the house where you put your ideas. It may be shared (or re-packaged) in many places, but the blog is home. The best way to come up with great ideas is to come up with a lot of ideas. The blog is the testing ground for ideas. 2. It’s never too late to start a high quality blog. There’s very few of them. 3. Email is even better than blogging for attracting keeping high quality readers and keeping them. 4. The best email publications have a product or service attached with a point of view that gives them direction. 5. The death of Google Reader made email a must for any blogger. 6. Blogging helps determine what to create when you’re not blogging. 7. Publishing is less about money now and more about creating connection that will help you determine your next gig or idea. 8. The number of readers is never as important as the quality of readers. 9. Smart advertisers know about the importance of quality readers. In lieu of smart advertisers, be your own advertiser. 10. Being your own advertiser is always preferable. 11. Books are about clarifying your message. They are not about money or reaching new readers. 12. Write what you know. Better yet, write what you know and explain how you know it. The point of view creates the story. 13. More posts are better than less. A mix of post types and lengths keep the readers’ interest. Not everyone reads the same, but in general my readers prefer short posts. For personal sites, there are no rules about post length or type, because there are no rules at all. For professional/commerce sites, long posts with original content tend to resonate more and get shared more. 14. Get to the point. 15. There’s nothing wrong with link blogging. In fact, if you’re being honest, every blog post is a linked post at heart. People respond to honesty. 16. Keep adding to this list. 17. Most online courses are poorly edited books for at least ten times the price. A few are helpful enough to warrant the investment. Create one of those few courses, but only if your audience responds to that kind of learning better than books. 18. Own the experience. Never use products or services that take away your control of your audience's experience. 19. Physical products are a great, long-term way to get a message across due to their scarcity when compared to digital products. But they are unforgiving and financially risky in the short term. 20. Always start small. 21. Let your audience determine your products and services. Listen. 22. Video is where audiences will be made/found at large scale for the near future. But it always starts with words. A blog post becomes a podcast becomes a video. Figure out what your audience prefers. Figure out what you prefer. Do them all if you want. 23. "Different is better than better." - Sally Hogshead. This is how the smallest creator defeats the largest corporations at their own game. 24. More good can come from one dedicated reader/listener/viewer than 100,000 skimmers. Don't hold back. Don't censor yourself to please the masses. 25. Don't even start thinking about project management until you've got a handle on time management. It's how anything gets done. 26. "Document. Don't Create." - Gary Vaynerchuk. Creating content out of thin air is what gets you in trouble. Your blog posts, podcasts and video are best when they're a byproduct of your creations. 27. Connect. There's nothing more important in publishing than connecting with people. It will improve your career, your health...your life. This is the best investment you'll ever make. ### Finding Deeper Meaning in Photography URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/finding-deeper-meaning-in-photography/ Last updated: 2016-12-18T15:43:00.000Z Another question I’m frequently asked is about how to find deeper meaning in photography, specifically in a hobbyist’s body of work, which usually consist mostly of snapshots and a few attempts at "big projects." First, I think it’s great we’re even asking that question. Most hobbies gloss over such introspection and chalk it all up to “a fun way to pass the time.” Second, never consider snapshots a waste of time. In fact, they’re [the king of all photographs](https://www.cjchilvers.com/the-snapshot-is-king/). Third, the deeper meaning lies in the appreciation of the moment when you’re photographing, not your past body of work. Worries about a body of work are for professionals. Being a professional is about a life spent working for the wants and needs of the market, not of one’s self. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with being a professional photographer, but it's an entirely different approach to art and to life. We keep blurring the lines and expecting hobbyists to act and buy like professionals. That’s destructive to mental health and bank accounts. Just like the folks at [Field Notes](https://fieldnotesbrand.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) keep saying, “I’m not writing it down to remember it later, I’m writing it down to remember it now.” We’re photographing for now, not later. Whatever inhibits the appreciation of the moment must be abandoned, even if that means downgrading your gear or leaving your camera at home. Only use what helps you enjoy the present, because that’s all we’ve got. ### The Biggest Regret of My Career URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/biggest-regret/ Last updated: 2016-12-11T18:30:00.000Z Last week, I attempted to explain why it’s not always a great idea to put your work out there in any old form towards the goal of “being noticed.” Of course, this was written from my usual pro-hobbyist bias, as the great majority of my readers are hobbyist photographers or writers. This week, I’ll explain why this advice breaks down a bit (but not entirely) for professionals. The greatest regret I have in my career is that what has appeared in my blog or in my books is the tip of an enormous iceberg of professional writing the public will never see. I write, edit and/or publish the equivalent of a small book every week to an intranet only visible to the employees of a large corporation. I take no less pride in the work. It has my name on it and reputation matters. But, since it never sees the public, it does not add to my “body of work” and that’s what really hurts. It’s like it never happened. If you let your audience in on how you create what you create, you will build a bigger, better audience. Audience matters more than anything to your career. With a large enough audience, you can dictate the terms of your career entirely. With no audience, you hold no leverage. Most of us fall somewhere in the vast middle. Where you fall usually depends on your body of work and how much you've shown. I still believe a portfolio or gallery link is an awful way, even for a professional, to build that audience. But, putting your work out there is essential to building an audience. Putting your work out there in new creative ways, using narratives, is a better way to go about doing it. How? Surprise us. ### Dave & Dave Unchained: Episode 9 URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/dave-dave-unchained-episode-9/ Last updated: 2016-12-09T19:20:50.000Z I appeared on the latest episode of the Van Halen podcast Dave & Dave Unchained to discuss my 1999 book, [The Van Halen Encyclopedia](https://www.cjchilvers.com/books). Listen [here](http://www.spreaker.com/show/dave-dave-unchained-van-halen-podcast?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### Are You a Good Photographer? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/are-you-a-good-photographer/ Last updated: 2016-12-04T23:12:00.000Z The second most frequently asked question I get is something along the lines of “can you give me your honest opinion of my work?” followed by a link to a portfolio. I usually tell the person that my opinion doesn’t mean anything. I know the majority of my readers are not professionals, and I know that this question is really about being validated as a “good” photographer. But, it makes me think that the first step in becoming better at photography is really about defining what you believe a “good" photographer is. For me, it means I produce images, mostly of family and friends, that I’m happy with. I don’t need an outside observer to tell me whether the images are technically perfect or not. They’re not. But, that’s my goal. In fact, imperfection is more in line with my goal. For those asking the question, I think their goal is primarily to be noticed. Being noticed makes sense if you’re a professional (or just a hobbyist who values being noticed over all other things), but it doesn’t make much sense if it’s not a means to your goals. If your goal is simply to be noticed, you can make the most repulsive photos anyone has ever seen. That would get you noticed. If your goal is to earn the respect of those in the field you respect, don’t be surprised when they view your work through the lens of what their clients have historically wanted. If your goal is to make money, the only critique that matters is the amount your customers are paying. If you figure out your goal and it still includes being noticed or respected, I’m not sure a link to your website is the way to present yourself for critique. The web is too anonymous and ubiquitous. Your viewer will have no idea why you made the images or why you made them the way you did. Plus, they’ll bring their own biases about what worked in their little world and taint the critique further. If you live anywhere near a city, there will be photo clubs and classes that are much better suited to critiquing your work. If it really matters to you for the outside world to consider you a “good” photographer, for business or personal reasons, it won’t kill you to spare a few hours a week to join these groups and do a deep dive reflecting on your work. Get to know your critics. Understand their point of view and ask questions. Then, as always, experiment. The depth of the critique is what matters. You get a far more honest and in-depth critique in person, with some who understands your goals as a photographer. But first, you must understand your goals as a photographer. That will dictate whether any of this matters at all to you. If it doesn't, congratulations. You just freed up a huge chunk of your life to shoot more. ### Get Excited About Photography Again URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/get-excited-about-photography-again/ Last updated: 2016-11-28T16:00:00.000Z *This is the first in a series of articles where I respond to the most frequently asked questions or comments I received when I asked “How can I help you?” a few weeks ago in the [newsletter](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe). Feel free to [respond right now with your own comments](https://www.cjchilvers.com/contact).* The most frequent comment I hear among my photography readers is that they feel like they’re in a rut. They’re out of ideas or just not excited about their work anymore. I can’t give you a catch-all cure, but I can tell you what’s worked for me and I believe it can be applied to any creative work. ## Take away something. You’re too comfortable. That’s the whole point behind [A Lesser Photographer](https://craftandvision.com/products/a-lesser-photographer?ref=cjchilvers.com). The more I took away from my equipment, the more my brain had to take over. And my brain liked it. It got creative. It’s very easy to become bored if your walking down the same well-paved path for 30 years. Throw a few boulders in the path and change the scenery. Make the journey more interesting. Try analog. Film isn’t enough constraint? Try an instant camera. That isn’t enough? Try a pinhole camera. The point is, there’s a world of interesting constraints out there that you haven’t tried. Where does your brain take over from the equipment? It's worth testing. ## Productize your photography. I heard from several photographers who weren’t happy about their websites. In particular, they weren’t happy about their galleries and/or portfolios. First, you should ask yourself if you need a portfolio. Chances are, [you don’t](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/should-you-have-a-portfolio/). Second, realize you’re not offering anything new or unique for viewers. You may have some great work displayed, but so do thousands of others. What can you do to set your work apart? Why should I follow you in the future? A simple path that solves a lot of these problems is to make your work into actual products. What kind of products can you make uniquely personal? I recommend books, because a book has a personality all its own. The possibilities of customization for a book are limitless. On demand books are not as expensive to produce as most other photography products, while offering the maker a healthy margin. Visitors would much rather follow a photographer hyping his next book (on a new topic) than his same portfolio page over and over. By only displaying images, you’re putting yourself in competition (for attention or money) with tens of millions of other image makers. By making a product, you’re cutting down that competition to tens of thousands. It’s a much greater chance you’ll capture the attention of the viewer. So, start thinking what would make a great book (or product of any kind). That’s your inspiration for your next project. ## Projectize your photography. Projects have a beginning and an end. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? Photography can seem like one endless endeavor sometimes. We cling to non-stop post processing, when we should be out creating new work. It's also tempting to participate in drive-by photography: to aimlessly shoot in places we're familiar with. Creating projects means you're seeking a story, not a magical, unexpected shot. You have a goal. Making projects out of photography (combined with creating products) means we can end work on some images. What a relief. Now, your mind has more space for new project ideas. ## Inspiration is scheduled. Inspiration doesn’t just come to you. There is no muse. It’s something you work at. It needs time and attention. Good ideas spring from lots of ideas. Have you scheduled enough time to think about your ideas, projects and products? Have you scheduled the time to do the work? Do you have the approval of family to devote yourself fully to your work during that given time? It’s no wonder there’s an inspiration crisis. It’s a demanding force that controls how we approach our work, yet we never show it the respect it deserves. Set aside the time. Do the work. Work is inspiration. ### Book Review: The Revenge of Analog URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/book-review-the-revenge-of-analog/ Last updated: 2016-11-17T16:59:57.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579916545-TC7BU6M4OKE52OBYJZIZ/image-asset.jpeg) Analog gear has always been a guilty pleasure for me (and I'm sure for my readers as well). So, whenever a book comes along with excuses to embrace analog technology, I devour it. While Nicholas Carr focused on science to back his pro-analog arguments in the books [The Shallows](http://amzn.to/2fkXKzT?ref=cjchilvers.com) and [The Glass Cage](http://amzn.to/2f4lfwe?ref=cjchilvers.com), David Sax has chosen to explore mostly business reasons for going analog in his new book [The Revenge of Analog](http://amzn.to/2fZF0Ge?ref=cjchilvers.com). This book is pure analog porn. If you're tempted by notebooks, pens, vinyl, film and watches, you'll get more than enough reasons to indulge and invest. But, my favorite chapter was on musicians choosing to go all-analog. This is probably where a move to analog makes the most logical sense, as the constraints put on a musician by recording in analog and marketing in analog create better songs and offer a more lucrative business model. It's a lot of the same arguments we've heard from Jack White and Dave Grohl in documentaries like [It Might Get Loud](http://amzn.to/2guzZdI?ref=cjchilvers.com) and [Sound City](http://amzn.to/2g6gXc0?ref=cjchilvers.com). Indeed, Jack White has made a small industry for himself selling the benefits of analog. For my readers, the chapter on analog film and photography would be of most interest. In short, it's back from the dead. New businesses are being born and old business are being revitalized (aside from the businesses whose accounting and branding decisions of a decade ago doomed them beyond repair). Filmmakers are demanding analog movies. Photographers are rediscovering the joys of imperfection only film delivers. As with music, analog photography is more about process than specs. Just as recording in analog forces the creative muscles of a musician, film forces the creative muscles of a photographer. [The Revenge of Analog](http://amzn.to/2fZF0Ge?ref=cjchilvers.com) is a welcome addition to the growing library of material supporting a return, at least in part, to analog processes and technology wherever creativity is prized. ### What Can I Do For You? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/what-can-i-do-for-you/ Last updated: 2016-11-16T03:14:59.000Z This is the question I posed to [my newsletter](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe) readers this week. I wasn't trying to be clever or pulling some marketing trick. I really wanted to know how I can improve things for my readers. The response was a flood of email, which I'm incredibly grateful to have. Some responses involved money and/or Leicas. Some asked about going pro (not really my specialty). Most wanted nothing but to say hi. Some wanted more photography content, others wanted more miscellaneous content, because they've discovered other blogs and artists this way. About 75% of those with content or formatting suggestions wanted me to keep doing exactly what I'm doing. 25% wanted me to go back to doing essays and publishing fewer links or quotes. I understand both sides and I'm just do whatever's comfortable for the moment. That's what a personal site/newsletter is all about. I'll continue to read and respond to these throughout the week. I really recommend you do this with your readers/viewers/customers. No survey. No specifics. Just take the temperature of the room. It helps. ### Weekly Newsletter: Everything is OK URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/weekly-newsletter-everything-is-ok/ Last updated: 2016-11-12T00:12:40.000Z In [this week's newsletter](http://eepurl.com/comKxD?ref=cjchilvers.com): 3 books you should be reading, how to come up with great ideas and a new podcast interview on the way. ### When Quantity Produces Quality URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/when-quantity-produces-quality/ Last updated: 2016-11-09T19:26:12.000Z From [Further](http://further.net/great-idea/?ref=cjchilvers.com), the wonderful personal newsletter of Brian Clark: > "Psychologist Dean Simonton’s work focuses on creative productivity. His studies reveal that highly creative individuals don’t necessarily produce better ideas over all. They do, however, come up with more ideas." > "Simonton has also found that highly creative people don’t even know which of their ideas are the great ones. You’ve got to produce a lot of ideas and put them out there to discover which ones resonate." That should be the idea behind every personal blog or newsletter. This is the place to see what resonates with your audience and yourself. This is the place for experimenting. ### Everything is OK URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/everything-is-ok/ Last updated: 2016-11-08T20:13:40.000Z "Everything is OK in the end. If it's not OK, then it's not the end." - Anonymous ### The Economy that Never Dies URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-economy-that-never-dies/ Last updated: 2016-11-04T23:01:24.000Z [Hugh MacLeod](http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=028de8672d5f9a229f15e9edf&id=187680278e&ref=cjchilvers.com#awesomeshare): > "Business Insider projected in 2015 that over the next twenty years, we’ll lose 47% of our jobs to robots. So what’s protecting the other 53%? > Creativity. The fundamentals of humanity. > We will always need music, photography, books, stories -- the things that open our minds and stop our breath." If you think making a living in these areas is easy, you're crazy. But, if you're creative enough to figure out how to do it well (like Hugh did), you'll never need to work a "job" again. 4 of the 10 richest people in the world are in the publishing business, and the other 6 rely on publishing to conduct their business. Stories run the global economy. ### Independent Blogging is Healthier Than Ever and Still Dying URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/independent-blogging-is-healthier/ Last updated: 2016-11-01T17:37:19.000Z [Andy Baio on the redesign of his popular personal blog Waxy.org](http://waxy.org/2016/11/redesigning-waxy-2016-edition/?ref=cjchilvers.com): > "But there a few reasons why I’m sad about the decline of independent blogging, and why I think they’re still worth fighting for. > Ultimately, it comes down to two things: ownership and control. > Last week, Twitter announced they’re shutting down Vine. Twitter, itself, may be acquired and changed in some terrible way. It’s not hard to imagine a post-Verizon Yahoo selling off Tumblr. Medium keeps pivoting, trying to find a successful revenue model. There’s no guarantee any of these platforms will be around in their current state in a year, let alone ten years from now. > Here, I control my words. Nobody can shut this site down, run annoying ads on it, or sell it to a phone company. Nobody can tell me what I can or can’t say, and I have complete control over the way it’s displayed. Nobody except me can change the URL structure, breaking 14 years of links to content on the web." I'd add [there are benefits to independent blogging even if no one is reading](https://www.cjchilvers.com/seth-godin-explains-why-you-should-blog-daily/). That's not a problem for Andy or [Jason Kottke](http://kottke.org/16/11/a-redesigned-waxyorg-and-the-freedom-of-indie-blogs?ref=cjchilvers.com), who has been writing about this topic off and on for years. They're just seeing HUGE numbers drop to LARGE. For the rest of us, control of the code is the really cool first effect, but I've never been too concerned about URLs resolving or RSS hiccups. It has to be about the next thing you're creating or sharing and having a home for it where your readers are respected and no one else can screw with them or you. I've seen my page views increase 10X since moving all my writing to this site, but that wasn't the reason for the move, nor is it the result I concentrate on. It's all about the growing response I get from readers I treat with respect (no pop ups, ads or trickery) and the fun I have sharing useful stuff here. That's a feature I can't buy on Facebook or Twitter. ### Musicians Want Their Analog Tools Back URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/musicians-want-their-analog-tools-back/ Last updated: 2016-10-31T17:37:27.000Z David Sax, author of the forthcoming book [The Revenge of Analogue](http://amzn.to/2e5T4wh?ref=cjchilvers.com), on [why analogue tools are making a comeback for musicians](http://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/what-lady-gaga-finds-appealing-in-reel-to-reel?ref=cjchilvers.com): > “I think the sound quality is one of the smaller reasons why people chose analog,” Chris Mara, who owns a Nashville analog recording studio called Welcome to 1979, said. Mara, an experienced recording engineer, opened the studio eight years ago in a former record-pressing plant, and his business had doubled pretty much every year since. > The bands and musicians who seek him out—as well as a growing cluster of other producers who have sprung up around Nashville—tend to be younger and are looking back in time to get away from the heavily manipulated, overly polished sonic atmosphere of modern pop. These musicians want their albums to sound like those made by Led Zeppelin, Sam Cooke, and Bruce Springsteen—not Justin Bieber. By recording like the legends of the twentieth century, they hope to create something new. Another analog studio engineer in Nashville summed it up in simpler terms: “The old shit’s the best shit.” > Scott McEwen, another analog recording engineer in Nashville, who owns the studio Fry’s Pharmacy, suggested that Pro Tools makes musicians lazy. They settle for a decent take, he said, safe in the knowledge that it can be fixed later. “With tape you just have to man up and do it. It instantly makes you play better. It makes your blood boil in a good way. It makes you nervous.” This is a point I stressed in [A Lesser Photographer](https://craftandvision.com/products/a-lesser-photographer?ref=cjchilvers.com). The debates about analog technology in photography tend to get caught up in arguments about "quality." Unfortunately, this quality argument is always about sharpness or low-light performance, while the actual quality resides in the subject and the artist's ability to get in front of that subject at the right time. In music, this is the equivalent of recording a tone-perfect, crystal clear album full of awful songs. ### Good Questions URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/good-questions/ Last updated: 2016-10-27T18:45:03.000Z [Kevin Kelly](https://twitter.com/kevin2kelly/status/564936801207341056?ref=cjchilvers.com): > "When answers become cheap, good questions become more difficult and therefore more valuable." ### Mindful Reading...and Publishing URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/mindful-readingand-publishing/ Last updated: 2016-10-26T16:52:32.000Z [Patrick Rhone](http://www.patrickrhone.net/reading-thought-2/?ref=cjchilvers.com): > "In an effort to be more gentle with myself I’ve come to embrace my reading as a part of my practice. I call it Mindful Reading (more slowly — the opposite of speed reading). The idea that my lack of speed actually allows me to be more present with each word and idea." Speed reading always sounded horrible to me; like speed eating or speed resting. It doesn't make a lot of sense. But, what I really appreciate in Patrick's take is from a writing/publishing perspective. It takes years to put together a good book, not to mention the money and, often, personal favors used to get it in front of the reader. Yes, please, take your time enjoying it. Don't take any of it for granted. ### Reasons to Buy Paper Books URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/reasons-to-buy-paper-books/ Last updated: 2016-10-25T19:48:53.000Z It helps to remember the things a paper book can do that ebooks still can't. 1. 30+ years of scientific studies have shown reading from paper improves comprehension and retention of information better than reading from a screen. [Here's](https://www.wired.com/2010/05/ff%5Fnicholas%5Fcarr/all/?ref=cjchilvers.com) [some](https://www.wired.com/2014/05/reading-on-screen-versus-paper/?ref=cjchilvers.com) (screen-based) [articles](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/aug/19/readers-absorb-less-kindles-paper-study-plot-ereader-digitisation?ref=cjchilvers.com) on why...don't expect to recall them later. 2. They don't add to your sleeplessness [like your iPad or iPhone](http://www.vox.com/2014/12/22/7435685/ipad-sleep?ref=cjchilvers.com). 3. They set a good example for your kids. The kids have no idea what you're doing on your phone. Holding a book leaves no question. 4. They're less expensive in two ways. First, they're fiscally less expensive (especially used - yes, you can do that with paper books). "A book is a screaming bargain. You pay $15-20, and you have something that might change your life; you have something that reminds you 20 years later, sitting on the shelf, where you were when you read it. I love buying books." - [Seth Godin](http://explore.brainpickings.org/post/140151994893/a-book-is-a-screaming-bargain-you-pay-15-20-and?ref=cjchilvers.com) 5. They're also less expensive in terms of your time. Stand-alone ebooks (the most common kind) usually don't have the multiple editing and publishing phases of physical books, which means a lot of cruft may remain in the book. Gatekeepers are still OK for some things. 6. Gatekeepers are also still good at finding better writing and images. This gets more true by the year as the print publishing business gets more cutthroat and specialized. It's the opposite of what's happening online. 7. They can be skimmed more easily. Audiobooks can't be skimmed at all. I save those for biographies or fiction, when chapters must be read in order. For non-linear, nonfiction reading, you can save yourself countless hours by flipping ahead to the idea which apply specifically to you. 8. You can write in them. This is especially helpful when the author is asking you questions, but handwritten notes in general help with comprehension. 9. They live beyond you. My son will inherit my favorite books and copies of books I wrote. He may even read one of them. Remember, there's no digital archival format yet, so if you want something to last, it still needs paper. 10. I can give them to someone else. This is not always true of ebooks. 11. They're weighty. They add weight to the thoughts by actually adding weight. 12. No one needs another inbox. That's what ebooks feel like to me. They're another thing, on top of an infinite stack of things, I need to read on a device. 13. I lost good, real world cover art in music and movies, I'm not losing it with books. And with books, the physical art can extend through every page. There's no way I'm giving that up. 14. I find it more pleasurable. In the grand scheme, I won’t be alive a whole lot longer. I'm taking this pleasure with me as far as I will go. 15. Paper isn’t tied to the frequent failings of my hardware and software. “Paper doesn’t crash.” - Jason Fried ### New Newsletter URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/new-newsletter/ Last updated: 2016-10-21T18:33:45.000Z Just a reminder: every week I publish an email newsletter that includes everything published on this site and some extra stuff that isn't. Here's [this week's issue](http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=17ac74e26fc4e20c4b566f584&id=798b5c4aff&e=6c3b62f11f&ref=cjchilvers.com). Subscribe [here](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe). ### I Hate Your Work URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/i-hate-your-work/ Last updated: 2016-10-20T15:05:36.000Z > “There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs.” - Ansel Adams > “I hate your work.” - William Eggleston ["The Pioneer of Color Photography"](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/17/t-magazine/william-eggleston-photographer-interview-augusten-burroughs.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=photo-spot-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&ref=cjchilvers.com) on what he would say to Ansel Adams Just another reminder that all this is subjective and no matter what height you reach in your work, there will always be someone who hates what you do (if you're doing anything meaningful). ### Work Hard and Be Nice To People URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/work-hard-and-be-nice-to-people/ Last updated: 2016-10-19T18:45:19.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579944390-5RYIUSNMV8BDMKRBIHBC/image-asset.jpeg) I'm adding this is my wishlist of prints for the office. From [Anthony Burrill](http://www.outline-editions.co.uk/collections/anthony-burrill/products/work-hard-grey?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### The Stakes Couldn't Be Lower URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-stakes-couldnt-be-lower/ Last updated: 2016-10-18T14:12:30.000Z Don't let your creative projects make you anxious. Remember, unless you're a professional, this is all about **your** well-being: learning and practicing something that makes you a better person. It's supposed to be an all-upside proposition. If, like me, you find yourself in creative ruts, you'll be tempted to dig further into the rut. You'll wonder what others think. You'll feel like you're failing. Now, you're creating stress out of thin air. And for what? In these moments, I've started repeating this mantra: "The stakes couldn't be lower." The greatest consequence of your creative failure is learning what not to do in the future. You'll try to convince yourself it's about losing followers (followers you lose easily are not really followers) or losing the respect of those you respect (people don't think about you nearly as much as you think they do). No, the greatest consequence is learning. It's a pretty sweet deal, actually. ### Big Ideas URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/big-ideas/ Last updated: 2016-10-12T18:49:33.000Z [David Lynch](http://blog.squarespace.com/blog/playing-lynch?ref=cjchilvers.com): > “Ideas are like fish. If you want to catch little fish, you can stay in the shallow water. But if you want to catch the big fish, you’ve got to go deeper. Down deep, the fish are more powerful and more pure. They’re huge and abstract. And they’re very beautiful.” Related to: [Deep Work](https://www.cjchilvers.com/book-review-deep-work/) I've been thinking a lot more about this and getting the urge to start working on books again. ### Bank People URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/bank-people/ Last updated: 2016-10-11T14:51:42.000Z [Om Malik](http://om.co/2016/09/30/thanks-2/?ref=cjchilvers.com): > "A wise man once told me that I shouldn’t worry about banking the money. Instead, he said, bank people for in the end they will truly enrich your life." ### Photos from Sanibel, FL URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/photos-from-sanibel-fl/ Last updated: 2016-10-10T14:43:00.000Z I'm back from a much needed break. In case you don't follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/cjchilvers?ref=cjchilvers.com) or [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cjchilvers/?ref=cjchilvers.com), here's some of the photos I shared. ![4-year old vs. ocean](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579955284-ANALF6ICHONAST160GXQ/image-asset.jpeg) 4-year old vs. ocean ![Nice catch.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579957605-TZ47HVUHW9M2VES8E2H1/image-asset.jpeg) Nice catch. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579959707-K2375LT3INC7ED8L95PE/image-asset.jpeg) ![OK, I got caught up in the excitement of seeing a roadside alligator. I should not have been this close. He was BIG.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579961671-90J03NX171AUN0D9V70G/image-asset.jpeg) OK, I got caught up in the excitement of seeing a roadside alligator. I should not have been this close. He was BIG. ![A much safer alligator close up. This is an iPhone 6S photo. Don't let anyone tell you bokeh didn't exist on phones until now.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579963407-EOSM999KQPC110PRUGZC/image-asset.jpeg) A much safer alligator close up. This is an iPhone 6S photo. Don't let anyone tell you bokeh didn't exist on phones until now. !["If you see a sunset, turn around." Still great advice.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579965589-M0HYALMYNA91003SYHFY/image-asset.jpeg) "If you see a sunset, turn around." Still great advice. ### Photo Xperiment Podcast: You Are Not Just a Photographer URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/photo-xperiment-podcast-you-are-not-just-a-photographer/ Last updated: 2016-10-07T13:22:00.000Z Andrew Hellmich was kind enough to invite me on another of his podcasts, Photo Xperiment ([Episode 12: You Are Not Just a Photographer, You Need to Be a Publisher](http://photobizx.com/tpx12?ref=cjchilvers.com)). We went beyond photography in this one, covering publishing and creativity. This is a good one. I don't do a lot of podcasts anymore, but I'll always make time for Andrew's. He's a pro and truly enthusiastic about what he covers. I can't tell you how many interviewers just read off a list of questions. If you're coming from the podcast to this blog for the first time, [please subscribe to the newsletter](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe). It's the best way to keep up with everything around here. Thanks for listening! ### Sabbaticals URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/sabbaticals/ Last updated: 2016-09-22T18:26:29.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579972454-XR54XD0L9S2ELNFHDN9E/image-asset.jpeg) It's that time of year again...[my government "suggested" sabbatical](https://www.fdic.gov/news/news/financial/1995/fil9552.html?ref=cjchilvers.com). I may be just a writer, but 8-10 hours of my day is writing for a bank. The question arrises every year in my head: what is a sabbatical for a writer or a photographer, when what we do is a daily compulsion? The answer, I think, is not to stop writing or photographing, but step away from it the buzz of normality. Get quiet. Create and think deeply, but not necessarily for the public. There may be a [newsletter](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe) this week, but probably not for a few weeks after. I'm forcing myself into quietness. If you're thinking of taking some time off yourself, but feel guilty about it like I do, here's a little inspiration: > "Why do you think that great leaders and thinkers throughout history have gone out into the wilderness and come back with inspiration, with a plan, with an experience that puts them on a course that changes the world? It's because in doing so they found perspective. They understood the larger picture in a way that wasn't possible in the bustle of everyday life. Silencing the noise around them, they could finally hear the quiet voice they needed to listen to." - Ryan Holiday in "[Ego is the Enemy](http://amzn.to/2dkFVAK?ref=cjchilvers.com)" > "This idea initially scared me because it sounded so unproductive. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized it would work to my benefit. Not only would it prevent burnout (which I believe was inevitable at my usual pace), but also result in nearly the same amount of productivity. The remaining weeks would be all the more fruitful because of the much-needed clarity I would attain from the break." - [Sean McCabe](http://seanwes.com/2014/from-working-100-hours-a-week-to-a-sabbatical-in-the-mountains/?ref=cjchilvers.com) ### "Quit Social Media" URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/quit-social-media/ Last updated: 2016-09-21T17:49:58.000Z Excellent advice, backed up by science. ### You'll Go Blind URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/youll-go-blind/ Last updated: 2016-09-20T17:17:12.000Z > “Journalists' favorite topic is journalism. Bloggers' favorite topic is blogging. Readers' favorite topic is anything but those.” – Dave Pell I've been guilty of this too much lately. I don't want to put limits on what is post-able, but this is a trap too many writers and photographers fall into. The way I see it, the path to a more meaningful blog/newsletter goes like this: put out a product (a book, prints, whatever) and show the world how you did it, so they can as well. Getting bogged down in the politics and news of the day around "making" or publishing is a distraction. You may have less to write about daily, but what you do write about will be more meaningful. My problem is that I've turned [the newsletter](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe) into my current product and I love it. I'm as proud of it as any book. So, I've got a lot of thinking to do about whether that's smart. And just like that, I've blogged about blogging again. See? An easy trap to fall into. ### Give It Away URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/give-it-away/ Last updated: 2016-09-19T18:14:35.000Z Tim O'Reilly explains on [when it makes sense to give your product away](https://signalvnoise.com/posts/306-sunspots-the-upstream-edition?ref=cjchilvers.com). This is another reason to blog/tweet/instagram/share anywhere with regularity: > "The less people are aware of you, the better idea it is to give your product away. A lot has to do with the ratio of possible consumers of the free product who might be converted to paying customers to the total market size. If I have awareness with .01% of the target market, giving copies away to raise awareness to 10% of the market, where 10% of those might convert (1% total) is a good deal. But if I have awareness with 60% of the target market, and give my product away, with a 10% conversion rate, I’ve lost a great deal.” ### A Pessimistic View of Optimism URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/a-pessimistic-view-of-optimism/ Last updated: 2016-09-15T16:47:19.000Z Yesterday's post [Things are Getting Better All the Time](https://www.cjchilvers.com/things-are-getter-better-all-the-time/) received more pushback than anything I've written in a while. It's not surprising. Consider the amount of media coming at us daily with sky-is-falling headlines. It's a shock when we learn that's not the case. We can even feel guilty about not worrying so much about everything. I do all the time. There's a few quotes to live by when that guilt arrises. I try to live up to these ideals, but fall short most of time. I still believe they're true: “Don't worry. Do. If nothing can be done, don't worry.” – [Patrick Rhone](http://patrickrhone.com/2008/09/23/my-manifesto-dont-worry/?ref=cjchilvers.com) "What, then, is to be done? To make the best of what is in our power, and take the rest as it naturally happens." - [Epictetus](http://www.earlytorise.com/the-3-cs-of-the-perfect-day/?ref=cjchilvers.com) (via [Mike Vardy](https://overcast.fm/+DP%5FoEjEks?ref=cjchilvers.com)) "We spend so much time worrying about the future. What if we let go of that fear, and focused on what mattered? On mastering our craft and shutting out anything that got in our way?" - [Hugh MacLeod](http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=028de8672d5f9a229f15e9edf&id=f250d528a8&e=ffec2c15f5&ref=cjchilvers.com) ### Things are Getter Better All the Time URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/things-are-getter-better-all-the-time/ Last updated: 2016-09-14T17:08:14.000Z Outrage needs to be manufactured. Life is good and getter better all the time. 1. [Why can’t we see that we’re living in a golden age?](http://www.spectator.co.uk/2016/08/why-cant-we-see-that-were-living-in-a-golden-age/?ref=cjchilvers.com) by Johan Norbert for The Spectator 2. [The world is getting better all the time, in 11 maps and charts](http://www.vox.com/2015/7/13/8908397/11-charts-best-time-in-history?ref=cjchilvers.com) by Zack Beauchamp 3. [What A Time to Be Alive](http://www.collaborativefund.com/blog/what-a-time-to-be-alive/?ref=cjchilvers.com) by Morgan Housel 4. [Best story of the 21st century: Who lives in Extreme Poverty](https://twitter.com/ianbremmer/status/769180691829518336?ref=cjchilvers.com) from Ian Bremmer 5. [World Bank: Extreme poverty 'to fall below 10%'](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-34440567?ref=cjchilvers.com) from the BBC 6. [In 20 years (1991-2011), most developed countries in the world gained 4-5 years in life expectancy](https://twitter.com/vigniro/status/768880294644645888?ref=cjchilvers.com) from Our World in Data 7. [The End of Doom: Why The Future Looks Pretty Damn Great](https://youtu.be/UF%5Fh3G7Ah3w?ref=cjchilvers.com) by Ron Bailey 8. [The Creative Apocalypse That Wasn’t by Steven Johnson](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/23/magazine/the-creative-apocalypse-that-wasnt.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur&%5Fr=0&ref=cjchilvers.com) in The New York Times 9. "Two things are almost always true: 1) The world keeps getting better and 2) The people always think it's getting worse." - Penn Jillette 10. [The middle class just got a raise](https://twitter.com/JustinWolfers/status/775697927578714112?ref=cjchilvers.com) from Justin Wolfers and the [US Census Bureau](http://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2016/demo/p60-256.pdf?ref=cjchilvers.com) More to come... ### The Future for Photographers URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/qc4gw6khk08ecxvskak7yflz5ekiw3/ Last updated: 2016-09-13T17:26:10.000Z Ben Brooks [argues the iPhone will continue to displace activities normally performed by photographers](https://brooksreview.net/2016/09/apple-of-the-future/?ref=cjchilvers.com): > "More and more, and with every new iteration of iPhone, many of the most basic photography tips are becoming built in to the single most popular camera in the world. What else could the iPhone automate? > Does this take away art from photography? No, hardly, but it does raise the level of skill one needs to be a photographic artist. The iPhone can’t set the stage, pose models, or move itself to the correct angle, but once there, it likely won’t matter who is taking the picture — or if the photographer actually even triggers the shutter — to get a solid photo. The bar for being a pro photographer is now no longer being able to take a solid photo, but being able to take a stunning photo." I'd go even further. It won't be enough to make stunning photos for long either. And it won't stop at the iPhone. This is why I harp on storytelling and personally-fulfilling photos. These things will remain scarce and valuable. Storytelling will be the primary focus for professionals, because humans are hardwired for thinking in narratives. Photojournalists and advertising photographers shouldn't have a tough transition to this approach. Personally-fulfilling (hobby and family) photos are a bit trickier. It involves admitting that the ROI for all the time, money and energy you invest in photography will be in the form of contentment, not money. This is where 99.99% of us will be for the rest of the foreseeable future. ### Think Before You Share URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/think-before-you-share/ Last updated: 2016-09-12T15:08:02.000Z Leo Babauta writes about [being mindful when sharing photos](http://zenhabits.net/instashare/?ref=cjchilvers.com): > "Why is this moment not enough, without the need to share? Do I just want to brag, or is there a good-hearted motivation there too? What am I so afraid of, that I can’t refrain from sharing?" I'm all for [showing your work](http://amzn.to/2c5EpFr?ref=cjchilvers.com) when it comes to posting photos. I think it's the perfect way to teach and learn while teaching. However, when it comes to personal/family photos, it does seem that almost everything I see posted is an attempt to justify and brag about parts of our lives that need no justification and do not benefit from bragging. These questions are a good start. It's not about what you do with the photos you've taken. It's about whether they need taking at all. ### Bring Back The Hobby URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/bring-back-the-hobby/ Last updated: 2016-09-09T17:21:41.000Z Stephenie Buck writes in [Our Parents Discovered Leisure. We Killed It](https://timeline.com/hobby-career-b5d199b0df18?ref=cjchilvers.com#.3jl4jfnmu): > "For many of us, the hobby is dead. Our work lives have merged with our free time, and hobbies are now often indistinguishable from second jobs. In a culture obsessed with productivity, the hobby has become the next venture." Leisure is "the basis of culture" and where creative and fulfilling ideas are born. Approaching creative work first (and maybe for life) as a hobby sounds a lot better to me than turning it into a job. The "side hustle" might have to die for the for the hobby if we want to really improve our lives and our art. Are we courageous enough not to try to monetize everything we enjoy doing? ### Making a Thing URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/making-a-thing/ Last updated: 2016-09-08T14:35:36.000Z The most popular camera maker debuted its new product yesterday, the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. If you want criticism of the product or a review of the presentation, go pretty much anywhere else today. What I like about these unveilings every year is that it’s all about people making a thing. Making a real thing you can hold in your hand is incredibly difficult, even if it’s analogue, let alone a high tech device with fragile components that must withstand at least a year or two of daily use. Making it with all new technology and shipping millions of them across the world at the same time just adds to my amazement that this kind of thing happens at all. This isn’t what we usually focus on. We focus on minute details, comparing them to what we’ve become accustomed to. This is not a bad thing, considering the money we spend on these devices. But, it also helps to keep in mind that we should be grateful to have the options at all. We have the combined knowledge of the world in our pockets and we’re rich enough to buy it if we want, while nitpicking the details of how that information gets captured and retrieved. I love that. I also love how reliably we can expect those improvements year after year. This has not always been the case throughout history. Enjoy it. ### What You Can Learn from John Free's "3 Things" URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/john-free/ Last updated: 2016-09-07T14:15:45.000Z I post this John Free video mostly to show how working, experienced photographers look at their own work. It's not the way art collectors or most art critics look the work. There's little about darkroom or camera technique here. It's all about recalling the event, the moment of capture, the story behind the subjects. That's what grabs attention. Nitpicking darkroom techniques only speaks to other artists, not the intended viewer. This is the kind of thing that makes in-person photography classes with experienced artists so crucial. You won't find this kind of thing in online courses. ### Sharing Family Photos URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/sharing-family-photos/ Last updated: 2016-09-06T18:20:39.000Z I spent the long weekend making lots of family photos and struggling to find the proper place to post them. It reminded me of [a recent post by Dave Lawrence](http://davelawrence.photo/on-sharing-family-photos/?ref=cjchilvers.com): > "I look at other photographers’ family work, and lately it’s some of the best stuff I see. Many of my favorite photographers have no issue sharing photos of their family. > Since my daughter was born last year, and even before that, I’ve taken a ton of family photos – some of which I’m proud of. Should I share those as a larger sample of my photography? How do I read my own slight discomfort at sharing family stuff? Why do I feel that way in the first place? Why is Facebook okay, but my photo blog not okay?" I think the reason we worry about this as photographers is that many of the subjects of family photos are children. These children usually don't consent to the photos and have no online presence they can or should control. We're giving them an online life they didn't ask for. This is a bad enough conundrum on Facebook, we're you can untag people and close the pictures off to the world (sort of). The walled garden has a swinging gate, but at least there's a gate and wall. On the open web, you're giving a (theoretically) permanent online life to an unwilling participant. I'm also sure we're overthinking things a bit. I doubt professional photographers give a second thought to posting any photo they create that meets their standards. ### The Biggest Lies You've Been Told About Photography URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-biggest-lies-youve-been-told-about-photography/ Last updated: 2016-09-02T13:54:54.000Z Earlier this week, I asked my readers to tell me about the biggest lies they've been told about photography. The responses included a lot of unexpected lies and some I'd never heard before. Feel free to keep adding to the stories and [tell me about the lies you've been told](https://iteratehq.com/cj-chilvers/57c5957472eb0e000100009d?ref=cjchilvers.com). Here's some of my favorites so far: "Probably the lies I told myself: My early photos are great! (even though I don't have vision yet). I need the right filter/preset! (just pick one already). I need a better camera! (push) All I need to do is sell my photos for fame and fortune (it's way more complicated). People in my area will care about my project as much as I do! (nope). Etc." - Dave "Many years ago, I went to a night school course on digital photography. During the course, the 'instructor' (and I use the term loosely) informed the class that 'As your memory card fills up, the camera compresses the pictures more and you start to lose colour definition. You start shooting in the daylight and things are fine. By the time you move indoors at the end of the day the pictures turn yellow.' This was from a supposed wedding photographer. Good thing there's auto white balance these days." - Bruce "Its all around us, in magazines, adverts etc. - the more pixels, the better the image. Sharp images with perfect bokeh from new cameras that soon will have 65 mega pixels in them." - Yuri "Do good work and people will come to you." - William "ISO is directly related to image quality. Sensor size is directly related to image quality." - Andy "'You have to specialize and only shoot in that genre!' For a pro it probably makes sense to specialize and have a target market. But to be told as an (advanced) amateur, that I should really have settled down into one genre by now is ridiculous. Who decided that I can or should only shoot one or maybe two genres? As an amateur I do this for the fun of it and part of that is shooting anything and everything." - Paul "'You must shoot in Raw.' Most of that coming from Scott Kelbys website. I'm not sure how many years I wasted chasing that cold, digital, soulless look, but it was a relief when I let that go and all of my equipment." - Robert ### Start Something Small to Build Something Great URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/start-something-small-and-great/ Last updated: 2016-09-01T13:32:02.000Z [I wrote yesterday](https://www.cjchilvers.com/why-i-wont-sell-my-books-on-amazon/) about my first real product: a well-designed hardcover book I carefully created over years and nurtured through the entire production and distribution process. It was a huge project. If I had it to do over, I would've started much smaller and owned the entire selling process to make it as remarkable as possible for my customers. When it comes to creative projects, starting smaller is better. Owning everything about it is better. It allows you to tailor the experience, delight your customers and build a reputation. [Mike Bisbiglia wrote in the New York Times](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/04/movies/mike-birbiglias-6-tips-for-making-it-small-in-hollywood-or-anywhere.html?ref=cjchilvers.com) about breaking into the movie business after the failure of his network sitcom: > "I no longer wanted to create projects for the Hollywood gatekeepers. The networks. The studios. Since then, I’ve created a handful of pieces for 'This American Life,' self-produced three Off Broadway one-person shows, toured hundreds of cities around the world, and written, directed and starred in two feature films. All outside the system. Based on that work, I’ve been offered small movie roles by people who work inside the system. Which is to say: Leaving the system behind and creating something of your own may actually be thing that gets you into the system, hopefully on your own terms." > "The point is, forget the gatekeepers. As far as I’m concerned, what you create in a 30-seat, hole-in-the-wall improv theater in Phoenix can be far more meaningful than a mediocre sitcom being half-watched by seven million people. America doesn’t need more stuff. We need more great stuff. You could make that." [Sean McCabe recommends the same to his entrepreneur readership](http://seanwes.com/podcast/274-the-first-thing-to-make-and-sell-when-youre-just-getting-started-with-products/?ref=cjchilvers.com): > "I recommend that you start small and ship a small product to prove to yourself that you can do it. You’re going to work out the kinks and learn a lot. You’ll make mistakes too. Better to do that at a small scale first. ### Why I Won't Sell My Books on Amazon URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/why-i-wont-sell-my-books-on-amazon/ Last updated: 2016-08-31T13:08:44.000Z You can still find my books on Amazon, but it's not because I want them there. For Kindle books, it may be a necessity, but for all other formats (and especially for indie physical books), Amazon has proven to be a horrible experience for both the publisher and buyer. First, I'll take you through the experience of selling one of my books on Amazon, then I'll tell you why it makes the experience terrible for the reader. I'm hoping to encourage most of you, through the course of the life of this blog, to publish in print, so, in a perfect world, you'll need to know about both experiences. For the Van Halen Encyclopedia, I worked with [Thomson-Shore](https://thomsonshore.com/?ref=cjchilvers.com) to design the perfect hardcover print book. The typography was perfect, the paper was bright and thick, and the cover was a tasteful black cloth with real gold stamping. I had pre-orders, but still had to shell out a few thousand dollars to cover the printing costs and shipping to my house, where the boxes of books were stacked. All of those pre-orders were signed, numbered and dated. They were packed in heavily padded envelopes and hand delivered to the post office. Some of those original, first-run copies have shown up on eBay over the years for $100 or more. I couldn't be more proud of the product or the experience provided to the readers. Then it came time to provide Amazon with their books. First, Amazon takes a large amount off the top, which is expected. Then, they required a large number of books to keep in their warehouses for future orders. After paying for the shipping, and factoring in the number of books that were stolen straight out of the boxes by post office employees, I was probably losing money for the first full year. Not to mention, they had boxes of my books that I couldn't sell at greater profit direct to the reader. But, after the machine of all this was working for a few years, I was back in the black on Amazon. Time to sit back and let that passive income flow in, right? Nope. It was around that time I got my first really bad review of the book on its Amazon page. I was horrified. Some of what the review said about a typo or two (missed by a professional editing firm for the major NYC publishers who worked on the book) was true, but giving it one star and blasting it so hard seemed way overboard. I worked so hard and spent so much to bring this book to market and one person could be judge, jury and (in terms of aggregate sales) executioner. I was tipped off years later it was a fake review written by the author of a competing book in the same genre. It didn't matter. The damage was done. The review was quickly voted up as "helpful" by would-be customers. I contacted Amazon, and eventually even responded to the review on the page. Nothing helped. There it stays to this day, more than a decade later. Who knows how many thousands of sales were lost because this was the most prominent review on the page. It was a disservice to the reader. But, so many things Amazon does it a disservice to the reader. That's what brings me to the real point of this all: just as a blogger should own the reading experience on their own site to ensure the best experience possible, so should the indie print publisher. Whether or not you want an Amazon page for your book, you'll probably have one anyway. They sell used books too, after all. But, as much as possible, I'm keeping the reading and buying experience from now on. Some will claim that's just throwing money away, but as I've just shown, the opposite was true for me. I would've made more money and kept the reader much happier if I had owned the entire experience. It could also be argued that things are different now because of the popularity of the Kindle. But, the spike in Kindle book sales that fueled so much fandom just a few years ago turned out to be temporary. Kindle success stories are increasingly rare. Print sales continue to rise. I'd like to think Amazon will change someday to become more respectful of writers and publishers, but I've been dealing with them for almost 20 years. They're not changing. And with books becoming less important to their business model every year, they have no incentive to change. Indie book publishers are going to need to decide if selling through Amazon will be a priority, take a back seat, or get stuffed in the trunk. The author has been in Amazon's trunk for 20 years. ### What Are the Biggest Lies You've Been Told about Photography? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/what-are-the-biggest-lies-youve-been-told-about-photography/ Last updated: 2016-08-30T14:22:44.000Z Just curious. [Let me know yours](https://iteratehq.com/cj-chilvers/57c5957472eb0e000100009d?ref=cjchilvers.com), I'll share mine and we'll all revisit them at the end of the week. ### The Importance of Leisure URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-importance-of-leisure/ Last updated: 2016-08-29T14:43:43.000Z We need a different relationship with leisure in our minds. It may be the best investment we can make. I refer over and over to this article by [Maria Popova: Leisure, The Basis of Culture](https://www.brainpickings.org/2015/08/10/leisure-the-basis-of-culture-josef-pieper/?mc%5Fcid=c738efb0b7&mc%5Feid=d012da5742&ref=cjchilvers.com): > "The most significant human achievements between Aristotle’s time and our own — our greatest art, the most enduring ideas of philosophy, the spark for every technological breakthrough — originated in leisure, in moments of unburdened contemplation, of absolute presence with the universe within one’s own mind and absolute attentiveness to life without, be it Galileo inventing modern timekeeping after watching a pendulum swing in a cathedral or Oliver Sacks illuminating music’s incredible effects on the mind while hiking in a Norwegian fjord. So how did we end up so conflicted about cultivating a culture of leisure?" She covers the topic further in another article, profiling David Steindl-Rast, titled [We Lost Leisure](https://www.brainpickings.org/2014/12/22/david-steindl-rast-leisure-gratefulness/?ref=cjchilvers.com): > "Leisure … is not the privilege of those who can afford to take time; it is the virtue of those who give to everything they do the time it deserves to take." I re-read these articles all the time to remind me what art and life should be about. Leisure is one of those topics we don't discuss much because it seems too indulgent, but if we want to create art, advance civilization or live in any meaningful way, leisure will have to be given priority. > “Of all people, only those are at leisure who make time for philosophy, only those are really alive.” - Seneca ### You Shouldn't Need to Be Forced to Respect Your Reader URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/you-shouldnt-need-to-be-forced-to-respect-your-reader/ Last updated: 2016-08-26T14:05:51.000Z This past week Google decided [pop-up ads and newsletter sign-up forms are such a bad experience, they will penalize sites still using them starting in 2017](https://webmasters.googleblog.com/2016/08/helping-users-easily-access-content-on.html?ref=cjchilvers.com). I've been running newsletters since the 90s. I know they're bad for readers, which is why I've never used them. Most publishers insist on subjecting readers to them simply "because they work." They don't really work, because of the costs involved to support the lower-quality subscribers pop-ups bring in, but that's not something most publishers have any clue about yet. They just want larger subscriber counts. Numbers are easy. There are 3 reasons I'm not thrilled about this change at Google, though: 1. It was so easy to detect which sites didn't care about their readers with pop-ups. If I start reading an article and something pops up, I'm gone forever. Easy. Now, it may an extra 10 seconds to detect sites I should permanently stay away from. 2. We gave Google the power to reshape the web on a whim and celebrate when they force a benevolent change. I love that pop-ups are going away, but what happens when they start changing things that are good for readers? Indeed, it can be argued they've already done that several times by dictating which article length and format scores higher in their rankings. 3. Are pop-ups really going away? I have a hard time believing Google will penalize its content partners, who use pop-ups all the time. It's going to be interesting to see if Google applies this policy across the entire web, or just to sites they're not in business with. I would never use pop-ups because I respect my readers. But, I would also never tailor this site to meet Google's specific guidelines about content, because I respect my readers. ### "Everything is a Link" URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/everything-is-a-link/ Last updated: 2016-08-25T15:59:04.000Z > "Everything is a link." - [Andy Adams](https://twitter.com/FlakPhoto/status/730024625011183616?ref=cjchilvers.com) Every idea comes from somewhere. None of this is original. Embracing the link means [rejecting the ego](http://amzn.to/2bzWxFI?ref=cjchilvers.com) and respecting the reader. It means making connections between ideas and helping people connect to each other. The link is the best thing about the internet. It endures no matter what social network or walled garden attempts to break it. The link the great equalizer of our time. ### What Do You Have to Lose? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/what-do-you-have-to-lose/ Last updated: 2016-08-24T14:29:56.000Z I was a guest on Andrew Hellmich's wonderful [Photo Xperiment podcast](http://photobizx.com/photo-xperiment-episode-links/?ref=cjchilvers.com) last night (to be released next month). I was on [an episode of his PhotoBizXposed podcast](http://photobizx.com/Focus+Less+on+Gear+Create+Images+that+Matter+CJ+Chilvers?ref=cjchilvers.com) last year as well. The last question stuck in my head and I don't think I answered it clearly enough. The question was about why a photographer should take on the huge project of blogging daily. I relayed the benefits of daily blogging to the reader and to the writer's own practice of becoming better at telling stories, but a bigger question kept echoing in my head that I never spoke: What do you have to lose? None of us are rich and famous enough to have the entire world hanging on our words. Why be precious with them? Why not experiment and see what works for you? There's infinite upside and no downside, except for the work involved in creating something from nothing. But isn't that exactly what we want from our work and from our lives? So, there's no real downside. Whether anyone cares about what I posted, I believe this is making me a better writer. Nothing but good has come from this. Blog daily and see if it helps you become a better storyteller and a more observant person. If not, so what? This world provides the opportunity for endless experimentation for those curious enough to try. ### The Problem(s) with (Most) Online Courses URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/the-problems-with-online-courses/ Last updated: 2016-08-23T13:40:00.000Z No one remembers a social media post. Few remember a blog post. Many remember a good book. Courses haven't yet entered the hierarchy in my opinion, since most are abused. It's rarely what's best for the customer. There a few good ones, but for the subject matter my readers tend to be interested in: 1. Most of the content can be found elsewhere for free without sacrificing quality. 2. The vast majority of customers never come close to finishing the course. 3. The content is often subpar to a book, while costing 10X the price of a book. 4. It seems to suit the needs of the publisher far more than the reader. The short term money is good, but the long-term effect on a publisher's reputation is not. I know a publisher who hates courses and what they do to his readers, yet he feels it's necessary to put them out to grow his business. The money is too good to pass up. This is what will kill such courses in the near future. ### Two Photography Tribes URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/two-photography-tribes/ Last updated: 2016-08-22T16:56:08.000Z Have you been to a camera show recently? I went yesterday for the first time in 20 years. You would hope, with the revival of film in the past few years, the hall would be teaming with hipsters looking for deals on vintage film cameras. It was the opposite. At 40, I may have been the youngest person in the room. Most of the sellers were 70+ and most of the buyers were 60+. There were comments bouncing back and forth about the good old days and how bad business had gotten. It wasn't depressing so much as it was depressed. The vintage gear lit up everyone's faces, but the talk was of the utter destruction of something beloved. One dealer bragged that he hadn't bought a new lens for his own camera in 25 years. Yet, he didn't make any connection between that and why he wasn't selling much at this show. How can you have a revival of something and a depressed state of that same thing at the same time? It's a failure of connection. We've seen it in vinyl, we've seen it in vintage pens and paper. Now, we're seeing it in photography. In the first phase of a revival, each general keeps to its in tribe. 70-year olds sell to 60-year olds and stay off that new-fangled whatever that helped kill their business. 20-somethings sell to 20-somethings on the web and off, establishing a new tribe. Eventually, the tribes meet and either work together (in the case of vintage pens this is happening right now), or repel each other (this is what I saw yesterday at this show - other shows may differ). Maybe at 40, I have the advantage of being in the middle, observing the two tribes from afar. What I'm seeing is energetic youngsters wanting to learn more (on Youtube mostly - photographic instruction is free now), buy film (mostly online) and actually use it. What I saw from the older tribe yesterday was an unwillingness to break with tradition and the feeling that it had all come to an end many years ago. They were the last of their tribe. No one wants that to be the case. Seeing the two tribes come together would be wonderful. But there are plenty of examples of the opposite happening, like in the entire music and, soon, television traditionalist industry. If the tribes of photography want to join forces, there's going to have to be a complete reset in the minds of older members. We can't welcome people with a depressed attitude. What is there to be depressed about anyway? Film is back! Photography never went away. It only got more popular. Young people need your guidance now. Get to it! ### Poll Results: Your Favorite Social Network URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/poll-results-your-favorite-social-network/ Last updated: 2016-08-19T14:13:19.000Z Last week I asked you what your favorite social network was, partly to find out where you spend your time, but also to see if we can all start talking to each other a little more. Here's the list of places you like to hang out in order of popularity: 1. Facebook 2. Instagram 3. Other 4. Twitter Of course, I've argued you should always have your own blog and syndicate to all social networks automatically. This week, the closure of several journalists' Facebook and Twitter accounts, at the demand of governments like Saudi Arabia, offers strong support for this view. Today it's governments, tomorrow it could be advertisers. You need a place of your own. Now that I know where you hang out, if you want to follow along on your platform of choice, here's where you can find me: [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/cjchilversinfo), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cjchilvers/?ref=cjchilvers.com) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/cjchilvers/?ref=cjchilvers.com). For old guys like me, it'll always be [RSS](https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/rss/) and [newsletters](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe). ### Back to School URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/back-to-school/ Last updated: 2016-08-18T17:26:03.000Z My wife got a new job at a college. I'm taking advantage of the situation to go back and re-take several photography classes with a discount. It's been 20 years since I've taken a college-level photography course. I'm excited by the prospect of having a beginner's mind again. Maybe I'll argue a bit with the professor, but I did that the first time around as well. Right, [Monte](http://news.sxu.edu/2015/10/sxu-honors-the-legacy-of-monte-gerlach-and-40-years-of-mentoring-photography-students/?ref=cjchilvers.com)? The point is, we all could benefit from a beginner's mindset. I may have devoted most of my life to writing and photography, but what could be possible if I walk into a classroom dropping all my assumptions? Could I be the student with the most to learn? I think it's a worthwhile experiment. If I walked around life in general with that attitude, I'd bet I get more out of every experience. As an aside, the only thing that has lessened my enthusiasm for this experiment is the equipment required for the classes: an SLR and a tripod. I sold all of that stuff around 2009\. As my recent writing has shown, I hold no grudges against such gear, just the lack of creativity they tend to foster in me. Everyone has a different constraint-happiness level. Mine is somewhere between the iPhone and rangefinder fixed-lens film cameras. So, I picked up an entry-level SLR and tripod to meet the minimum requirements. I'm really trying to like the experience. I'm practicing. But everything I've produced so far has only confirmed what's already [in the book](https://craftandvision.com/products/a-lesser-photographer?ref=cjchilvers.com). Constraints work. ### Erase the List URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/erase-the-list/ Last updated: 2016-08-17T15:14:30.000Z Anthony Casalena talks here about how erasing his to do list made room for bigger, better ideas to seep into his brain. His better ideas became the platform this website is currently hosted on and earned tens of millions of dollars: ### Selling Ideas URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/selling-ideas/ Last updated: 2016-08-16T17:20:59.000Z We're all trying to sell something, even if it's just our ideas. If we weren't, social media wouldn't exist and neither would the blog, the book or the portfolio. This is why it helps when photographers learn to write and writers learn to photograph. And all of us are helped by learning to publish. When's the last time you read a marketing book to improve your art? When's the last time you thought about how to best publish your work to sell your ideas? ### Thinking Slower URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/thinking-slower/ Last updated: 2016-08-15T17:22:03.000Z "People say, But with a computer you could go so much faster. Well, I don’t want to go faster. If anything, I should go slower. I don’t think all that fast." - [David McCullough](http://www.theparisreview.org/interviews/894/the-art-of-biography-no-2-david-mccullough?ref=cjchilvers.com) on why he used a typewriter from 1941 to create all his books (via [Austin Kleon](https://twitter.com/austinkleon/status/764856623017762816?ref=cjchilvers.com)) ### Newsletter Sneak Peek URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/newsletter-sneak-peek/ Last updated: 2016-08-15T13:46:59.000Z Some newsletters are just an essay, some are an actual letter and some collect and "curate" links. Mine is a mixture I'm constantly experimenting with and some of what's in it doesn't appear on this blog. This is a list of links from last week's newsletter that didn't appear here. If you like the little extras, please [subscribe to the newsletter](https://www.cjchilvers.com/subscribe). Thanks! [Play Anything: The Pleasure of Limits, the Uses of Boredom, and the Secret of Games](http://kottke.org/16/08/limits-are-fun-limits-are-fun?ref=cjchilvers.com) is a new book that appears to be right up our alley. Constraints are good. To support my article about [how Presidents manage their tasks](https://www.cjchilvers.com/kill-your-to-do-list/), Yahoo! News posted a mock up of what [President Obama's daily schedule looks like](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/IJ.3.ZTSEPln3w92ZCcZkQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjtzbT0xO3c9NjMwO2lsPXBsYW5l/http://l.yimg.com/os/publish-images/news/2014-07-05/437f5610-0479-11e4-bf3c-67bec3aeada7%5Fobama%5Fschedule.jpg?ref=cjchilvers.com). I've seen mockups of past Presidential schedules in movies that are more elegant. I'll choose to believe Hollywood. Garrick Van Buren posted a follow-up to my [time management article](https://www.cjchilvers.com/kill-your-to-do-list/) titled [Where Does the Time Go?](https://garrickvanburen.com/where-does-the-time-go/?ref=cjchilvers.com). David Heinemeier Hansson writes about the new Leica camera everyone loves to make fun of and agrees with us in [Give Me Less, I'll Pay More](https://m.signalvnoise.com/give-me-less-ill-pay-more-6e13b3844541?ref=cjchilvers.com#.uisn2n7cy). Constraints are good. David DuChemin has decided to [retire PHOTOGRAPH magazine and concentrate on the Craft & Vision blog](http://davidduchemin.com/2016/08/the-craft-vision-blog/?ref=cjchilvers.com). The blog is still the hub of all online publishing. Everyone comes back to the blog. I'm looking forward to being a regular reader. How do you judge a photobook? Regular judge of photobooks, Jörg M. Colberg, [has a system](http://cphmag.com/photobook-ratings/?ref=cjchilvers.com). ### "Artists Shouldn't Be on Social Media" URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/artists-shouldnt-be-on-social-media/ Last updated: 2016-08-12T16:33:27.000Z "Artists shouldn't be on social media. Their work is time-suck enough as it is." - [Hugh MacLeod](https://www.instagram.com/p/BG9f4E5oauv/?ref=cjchilvers.com) I want to agree with that statement. Then again, it was posted on Instagram, so I'm not sure Hugh really means it. It does make me realize, however, that I've never asked you where you prefer to hang out on social media. [I set up a one-question survey to ask](https://iteratehq.com/cj-chilvers/57adf8ff9057f7000100032d?ref=cjchilvers.com). Please take it to let me know if I'm underserving my readers somewhere. ### Why Choose Film in 2016? URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/why-choose-film-in-2016/ Last updated: 2016-08-11T15:47:56.000Z It's rare that a pro-analogue article gets beyond nostalgia, but European CEO gets it right in their post [Film Photography Makes a Stunning Comeback](http://www.europeanceo.com/culture/film-photography-makes-a-stunning-comeback/?ref=cjchilvers.com) (via [David Sax](https://twitter.com/saxdavid?ref=cjchilvers.com)): > "'Necessity is the mother of invention; there is no point staring at the back of a film camera after taking a shot – that time and energy is already going into the next one. Not knowing immediately what has been captured is a creative advantage', said Walter Rothwell, a professional photographer who regularly uses analogue cameras for his work." > Rothwell is not alone is this view, as more and more professional photographers are choosing film for similar reasons. This is particularly apparent in the world of fashion, as photographers seek to take back control of a creative process that is falling ever further into the hands of editors. Hollywood Directors have made a similar argument in wrestling back control of filmmaking from high-paid actors who want to review the scene they just acted in to determine if it works best for them (not necessarily the movie). Another part of the article that stood out: > "For related reasons, the Hasselblad Xpan, a panoramic film camera, is one of Rothwell’s favourites for personal work. 'The Xpan was a unique moment of madness from a large manufacturer; a comparatively small panoramic camera that shoots across two frames, producing very high quality negatives. Around 10 years ago, I noticed that I was ‘seeing’ panoramic photos, so I got the camera to answer a yen.' Rothwell’s panoramic street photography has earned him international acclaim, and while it would certainly be possible to use the panoramic mode on a digital camera or phone to replicate the effect, there is something about the lack of choice that lends his shots a unique feel. To stitch together a panorama from digital images with would not give the same results in terms of artistic impression, though the scene may be the same." I cannot rationally explain my desire for the Xpan and Xpan II. They remain two of maybe a handful of cameras I still lust after (even after my A Lesser Photographer experiment) for the very reason stated above. I see in panoramas, but digital cameras have never offered a great way of capturing that vision. The rest of the article offers the same arguments I've made here for years about the lack of an archival digital medium and the fact that most of our modern photos will probably disappear in short order. There may never be another Vivien Maier to discover. I dare you to [read the article](http://www.europeanceo.com/culture/film-photography-makes-a-stunning-comeback/?ref=cjchilvers.com) and not fall in love with analogue again (if only for a few minutes). ### Kill Your To Do List URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/kill-your-to-do-list/ Last updated: 2016-08-10T17:20:38.000Z Here’s what’s always bothered me about task management systems: it’s not what Presidents use. Crazy thought, right? But hear me out. Who has more projects to manage; more people demanding their time; more riding on their decisions than a head of state? Yet, they don’t manage their tasks. They manage their time. It makes sense. A president could have an infinite amount of tasks to manage, an infinite amount of meetings to attend and an infinite amount of decisions to make. But they all have a finite amount of time. So, that’s what requires managing. Why should we be any different? I've slowly become a convert to the idea that we need to concentrate on our calendars a whole lot more to achieve what we want in work and life. If you want it done, it must be scheduled. If it's not scheduled, it's just another item on your wishlist that will never be completed. There's a reason the calendar has been the preferred method of task management for decades for CEOs, heads of state and billionaires lounging on islands. If you're not managing your agenda, someone else will happily create an agenda for you based on their needs. My friends Patrick Rhone and Garrick Van Buren figured this a while ago. They put out an audio program called [Power of When](https://garrickvanburen.com/product/the-power-of-when-with-garrick-van-buren-and-patrick-rhone/?ref=cjchilvers.com). Garrick even has a course about [How to Use a Calendar](https://garrickvanburen.com/product/how-to-use-a-calendar/?ref=cjchilvers.com). Kevin Kruse wrote about this for [Forbes](http://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinkruse/2015/07/10/to-do-lists-time-management/2/?ref=cjchilvers.com#53991d0756ce) and in his book [15 Secrets Successful People Know about Time Management](http://amzn.to/2bgwVyy?ref=cjchilvers.com): > "Do you really think Richard Branson and Bill Gates write a long to-do list and prioritize items as A1, A2, B1, B2, B3, C1 and on and on?" > "In my research into time management and productivity, I’ve interviewed over 200 billionaires, Olympians, straight-A students and entrepreneurs. I always ask them to give me their best time management and productivity advice. And none of them have ever mentioned a to-do list." > "Ultra-productive people don’t work from a to-do list, but they do live and work from their calendar." We can get into a real deep dive about best practices for ditching your to do list and embracing your calendar, and I may do that in future posts because this is really important stuff. But first, we must admit the truth. The calendar doesn't lie. It's brutal about how much time you actually have in a day to complete your projects. It's honest. We need to stop wishing, determine what's important enough to spend our very limited time on and get it scheduled. _Includes the latest 500 public posts. Use `/sitemap.xml` for the complete archive of public content._