I, on the other hand, prefer the written text. It captures the mood, the relationship, and I can go back and reread the more complex points. I read a number of substacks featuring the female voice, as well as male. It's weird, but the males, IMHO, are more humorous. I personally need humor in my reading, so I click the subscribe button when I find a writer who combines both - I don't look at the person or sex. You have good instincts and I enjoy your writing very much. Keep it up, and fuck the pressure, you're fine!
This is very good writing advice. And as a fellow Substack writer with a FT job, my life admin is also in complete shambles--laundry growling at me from the corner, mysterious leftovers rotting in fridge, sleep hygiene WHO--so I feel seen!
But to answer your Q "What do you want this Gen Z-er to discuss, and with whom?" ... I would love you to discuss with me, for MY newsletter, your thoughts on your current relationship to your body/body image, if you're open to it. I'm also starting a little series, asking people to weigh in on this so there are some voices besides mine in Body Type. I'll send you a DM :)
In addition to ChatGPT I recommend the Hemingway app for grammar proofreading. The browser version is free. It helps make your writing simpler and it shows you the grade level of your writing (the American adult populace, regardless of education level, on average reads at the 7th grade level.)
You’re a great writer and I can feel the generosity you bring to your perspectives. It’s one of the reasons I open and read every one of your newsletters.
you're my favorite smart, interesting, challenging, funny voice on substack.
an interview i found super interesting this week was the first post of Looking at Picture Books by Jon Klassen and Mac Barnett. i thought you might like it too and use it as inspo for your own series?
loved this advice. do you have a goodreads?! heehee
and maybe this is so super specific, but curious about your/a future interviewee's thoughts about going back to school for a masters - MBA, etc. what's the vibe these days? is it worth it?
whoa this is a good one would low key love to know. adding to notes. I know such few people going to grad school... also I sue story graph ill send my link if you use that. its always updated
Would also be super interested in this! Perhaps also stories of alternative pathways through education and skill development. Or folks with interesting creative projects and/or side hustles to their day jobs. (eg. like Ochuko, or Mya Gelber - amazing fashion content from a Law student!)
1. Readability - several people have mentioned already, readability online is super important. I think it's fair to control the length of responses. I do the interviews for my Substack via email/Google Docs, and have started to ask interviewees to limit their answers to a certain word count. I find that setting a word-limit is actually helpful. If you do your interviews in real time, you can work on readability during editing and just break down longer streams of thought into shorter responses.
2. Questionnaires - I started off thinking that it would be fun to create an interview series and build up a collection of interviews structured around the same questions. It didn't take many interviews for me to realize that would get boring and repetitive quickly. So now I start off with my questionnaire but modify significantly for each interviewee.
3. Who to interview - I love that your writing is such a fun mix of business/culture/creative. Would be curious to hear your conversations with other people who occupy a similar space and understand better where their good ideas come from.
ughhh thanks for putting so much thought into the feedback. I have also learnt from the few interviews ive done that setting word limits is super important. and have been thinking about the questionnaire thing too tbh. also your number 3 point is exactly what im thinking
"Last year, I read 160+ books, all fiction, and this year, I’ve read 80+ books so far. " And people wanna whine that Gen Z people don't read books?
people love to slander gen z :(
As someone who has worked with authors for 3 decades, your advice is spot-on. The best writers are voracious readers!
I'd love to see interviews with people behind branding campaigns.
reading all the way! and good to know about the interviews. on it!
Love love love your advice here. Especially READ (and also the t shirt). Thank you so much for the shout out ♥️
thank you!!!! ❤️
READ! (That was always my advice. And not just the papers/ mags you agree with)
“I often fall terribly behind on life admin (like groceries, bills, and fresh air)”
who else wasn’t prepared for that “fresh air”
part?
I also wasnt prepared for that part
I, on the other hand, prefer the written text. It captures the mood, the relationship, and I can go back and reread the more complex points. I read a number of substacks featuring the female voice, as well as male. It's weird, but the males, IMHO, are more humorous. I personally need humor in my reading, so I click the subscribe button when I find a writer who combines both - I don't look at the person or sex. You have good instincts and I enjoy your writing very much. Keep it up, and fuck the pressure, you're fine!
you're amazing this is great to know! also a big fan of the humour. and trying my best to do away with the pressure. comments like this help!
This is very good writing advice. And as a fellow Substack writer with a FT job, my life admin is also in complete shambles--laundry growling at me from the corner, mysterious leftovers rotting in fridge, sleep hygiene WHO--so I feel seen!
But to answer your Q "What do you want this Gen Z-er to discuss, and with whom?" ... I would love you to discuss with me, for MY newsletter, your thoughts on your current relationship to your body/body image, if you're open to it. I'm also starting a little series, asking people to weigh in on this so there are some voices besides mine in Body Type. I'll send you a DM :)
its the sleep for me!!!! yeah send over that dm this sounds great and so happy to chat :)
I’ll read anything you post cos you have good taste. ❤️✨
Emma! YOUR COMMENTS GIVE ME LIFE! THANK YOU ❤️
In addition to ChatGPT I recommend the Hemingway app for grammar proofreading. The browser version is free. It helps make your writing simpler and it shows you the grade level of your writing (the American adult populace, regardless of education level, on average reads at the 7th grade level.)
You’re a great writer and I can feel the generosity you bring to your perspectives. It’s one of the reasons I open and read every one of your newsletters.
Yes to this!
Thank you Amber! need to check that out!! so happy to hear the writing is resonating and I love a reader that opens!!! 😄
Voice-y writing is my favorite, and you nail the how here. BAM!
thanks Kathleen 😆
you're my favorite smart, interesting, challenging, funny voice on substack.
an interview i found super interesting this week was the first post of Looking at Picture Books by Jon Klassen and Mac Barnett. i thought you might like it too and use it as inspo for your own series?
smiling so hard omg. and thanks for the rec will have to read and take notes. honestly interviewing is such an art!
loved this advice. do you have a goodreads?! heehee
and maybe this is so super specific, but curious about your/a future interviewee's thoughts about going back to school for a masters - MBA, etc. what's the vibe these days? is it worth it?
+1 to this on going back to school!!
whoa this is a good one would low key love to know. adding to notes. I know such few people going to grad school... also I sue story graph ill send my link if you use that. its always updated
Would also be super interested in this! Perhaps also stories of alternative pathways through education and skill development. Or folks with interesting creative projects and/or side hustles to their day jobs. (eg. like Ochuko, or Mya Gelber - amazing fashion content from a Law student!)
Really great advice, always love your essays as well as the regular newsletters. Hope there is more to come!
always more to come ;)
good good stuff. Personally I love when people tell me to make my writing less 'editorialized'... means I still got it.
would be so flattered if someone told me that
I need to read more…I love this!!!!
Same!!
you got this girl ;)
Three points from me re: Interviews:
1. Readability - several people have mentioned already, readability online is super important. I think it's fair to control the length of responses. I do the interviews for my Substack via email/Google Docs, and have started to ask interviewees to limit their answers to a certain word count. I find that setting a word-limit is actually helpful. If you do your interviews in real time, you can work on readability during editing and just break down longer streams of thought into shorter responses.
2. Questionnaires - I started off thinking that it would be fun to create an interview series and build up a collection of interviews structured around the same questions. It didn't take many interviews for me to realize that would get boring and repetitive quickly. So now I start off with my questionnaire but modify significantly for each interviewee.
3. Who to interview - I love that your writing is such a fun mix of business/culture/creative. Would be curious to hear your conversations with other people who occupy a similar space and understand better where their good ideas come from.
P.S. Sorry for the long comment but YOU asked 😂
ughhh thanks for putting so much thought into the feedback. I have also learnt from the few interviews ive done that setting word limits is super important. and have been thinking about the questionnaire thing too tbh. also your number 3 point is exactly what im thinking
I am Italian, so English is my second language. I have appreciated very much your practical advices.
thank you Rolando. Nice to have international readers on here :)