When you hear someone else doing something creative in a group setting, like painting, letter writing, or practicing their instruments, it gives you permission to start something similar for yourself, with people in your own creative orbit.

Hearing people talking about these gatherings on a Zoom call, or in person, is powerful, because you can hear the joy in their voice, and see it in their eyes. This is different than just reading about it, because you get to witness the energy in real time.

I started all this as music blogger in 2001. I’ve been flown (all expenses paid) to a music festival in Norway. Interviewed Slayer. Met bands before they blew up.

Below is a lightly edited Email Guidance reply to someone in the midst of promoting their upcoming book:

One of my favorite promos over the years for bands and musicians was the holiday themed round-ups.

Valentine’s Day, tell us about your worst break ups.
Halloween, tell us your favorite horror movies.

Everyone involved had a new album coming up, or a tour to announce, but this was a fun way to learn more about the bands, beyond “hi I have an album coming out.” ZZzzzz.

Now, you don’t need to talk about your favorite horror movies of course (haha), but whatever you’re into, other people are into probably, too. Not everyone, but that’s okay. It’s a busy crowded world out there. Maybe you’ve got a book coming out. Well, lots of people have books coming out!

But only you can talk about the book and your work and your life in the way that you can, so capitalize on that.

While everyone else is screaming “pre-order my book” (boring!), you can talk about that adventure on the river back in 1999, the bookstore you visited that had a cat named Wizard, or the meal that changed your life in Italy (your own stories may vary). Things that nobody else gets to talk about because they’re not you, but they’re tiny glimpses into who you are, which is the first step towards someone thinking, “this story is amazing – oooh, and they have a whole book coming out!?”

From strategist and facilitator Caitlin Mayance,

Hey brands, why you still sending out storyless emails in 2026? You have direct access to a personal inbox – no algorithmic nonsense – and you’re leading with a promo or tiny lil ad?! Come on

When the bare minimum is copy and pasting your pre-existing marketing materials and hitting send to ALL is your strategy, expect bare minimum results.

Some of the most fascinating stories are being told on rented platforms, while email newsletters are filled with recycled social media images and [$NAME] placeholders.

Doing the work is hard, so why do it alone? We had some great discussions this week on our Escape Pod Zoom calls:

• Building in-person communities in new towns through volunteer work.
• My talk with artist David Speed about small scale IRL events, starting a podcast (and more).
• The weaver’s handshake?!
• Unstructured time at conferences can be more valuable than the speakers.
• Inviting authors onto a podcast despite being nervousness about it!
• Do podcasts really need to have a video element?
• “How to make your website your hub with AI taking traffic away from us little people?”
• Someone said out of 50 podcasts they subscribed to, four were active a year later

Can’t make the calls, but wanna be involved? Join our tiny email circles, made up of Social Media Escape Club members! Easy reply-all email conversations with great people. Reply to this email if you wanna join.

THIS WEEKEND!

◾ BREAK UP 💔 WITH SOCIAL MEDIA DAY – SPECIAL EVENT!
Delete an app or two (I’ll be deleting the Substack app) with others. Already deleted all the apps? Great – come support those who are just starting their journey!
ALSO: special treat for everyone who attends live
Saturday, February 14
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST
REGISTER: https://luma.com/sime7eyi

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From Lincoln Michel’s “Surf’s Up in Slop City,”

If the old institutions are crumbling, that is also the perfect time to build new ones. I’m not saying this is easy. But, what choice do we have?

This is response to the Washington Post gutting their book coverage.

Building our own networks and platforms to promote books, or music, or art is hard, as mentioned above, but who else is gonna do it? And if we don’t, the vacuum will be filled by the next venture back techbro operation, then we’re right back to where we started.

Start a website around something you love. A blog. Buy a domain name (affiliate link). Reach out to my buddy Tom to set up a WordPress site.

Write about the things you love in the way only you can. Don’t worry about getting traffic yet. Update the site every day. Every week. Month after month.

When people discover you, it’ll feel like finding a magical bookstore down a moss-covered alley with string lights, the opposite of a flashy ‘content hub.’