Category: sethwCategory: sethw

As you can see, Olivia and I had a horrible conversation about quitting Spotify, making an album about geology, and lots more.

This was recorded on Substack Live, so some things you might here throughout are usually reactions to people making comments during the live stream.

Subscribe to the full podcast RSS feed here.

Here’s a bit of some Email Guidance I wrote someone recently, about launching a newsletter. They were wondering if they should plan out what to write, and I started riffing on stories:

But think of three stories you like telling people. Or even three stories that involve the wonderful people in your orbit. It all comes back to you, right?

The people you’ve worked with. Recorded with. Performed with. So many people!

BECAUSE then you can send that newsletter to those people! Re-connect, catch up, laugh together about it.

Maybe follow that energy. Instead of thinking about what you’ll write, think about who. Who lights you up? Who made you happy? Who’d you make memories with?

Because if you’re writing from a place of joy and good memories, it’ll probably be easier for your audience to connect with, you know? I mean, you gotta write the music for yourself first, right? Same could be said for a newsletter – write around the good energy of the people you’ve met, and the stories you’ve created with those people.

For artists of all types, it’s very easy to get stuck in this broadcast mode of talking the things we do, and who we are. We are interesting people, of course, but writing about ourselves is HARD. It never feels good, right?

Which is why I suggest writing about other folks in your creative orbit. Weave that into your newsletter, and see what unfolds.

Substack is a busy place these days, and I’m definitely taking full advantage of the Live functionality to talk to interesting people.

Last Monday I got talking to 

Chuck Marshall. I didn’t leave that call thinking about NEW SUBSCRIBERS or engagement, but rather, “wow, Chuck is a cool guy, I’m glad we got to chat!”

Little did I know that magic would happen afterwards.

This from 

Bree Stilwell:

All these fricking live videos lately, it’s just soooo much. When I saw Seth Werkheiser pop in though, while folding laundry and feeling loose, gave it a shot.

What happened next is exactly why I think most of us are here, fighting our way through the noise and toward real life connections with other creatives.

I watched this video, learned a little about this cool dude and his local music, arts and beer newsletter, and, that we live in the same town.

I dm’d immediately, met him and his amazing partner-in-all-things Brenda for coffee just days later, and the bond has been set. Good works to follow, and friendships I didn’t have last week.

Says Chuck in his latest post:

“We met on Friday morning for coffee over at York Food and Drink. Meeting Bree and talking about her background and passion for art was a blast. She also shared thoughts on her project, which is yet another source of inspiration. She’s looking to build a third space for all kinds of creative folks. Most importantly, including those that are what I’ll call ‘creative curious.’”

This is what I’m talking about, friends; use the internet as a tool, not a destination.

As Bree said in a follow up comment, “it’s so completely crucial to use this platform, and others like it, as peripheral tools to make shit happen in real life, in our communities, and for lasting effect.”

If that takes shape as a Zoom room or a supper club or an email thread, then do it. Make sure it’s sustainable, and it feels good, with the right people.

Ditch the social media feeds and their algorithmic grief machines, and just fill your day with good people instead.

Hey! I spoke with Cody Cook-Parrott about NEWSLETTERS, so this video is packed with some ideas that you could use for your own projects:

Segments!

Using lead magnets!

Creative bothering (Cody came up with that one during this interview)!

Flodesk

Zapier

Cody’s Newsletter class

Substack’s Recommendations

Teenage Wrist email (web version)

“Marketing is a creative practice.”

“Creative bothering”

Cody has since left Substack, but pretty much everything here in this video interview holds up!

Sean Reid was a guest on one of our recent Escape Pod Zoom calls, and he dropped the phrase “artfully cacophonous,” which led to some good laughs!

He talked about all the toys and other fun items he collects, and I was reading the part of Austin Kleon’s ‘Show Your Work’ where he talked “Don’t be a hoarder,” and I’m so glad Sean isn’t hiding his fun decor – I think you’ll appreciate this interview!

“I spend a lot of time desperately trying to be childlike and not childish,” Sean

Some ideas we hit on during the course of our chat:

• People are always sending signals, and these signals can tell a story and create connections with others (read my post ‘What signals are you sending?’).
• Maintaining a sense of childlike wonder and approaching life with “beginner’s eyes” is a good way to ward off cynicism, and crucial for creativity and continuous learning
• Connecting with others, whether through online communities or local meetups, provides energy, support, and opportunities for collaboration
• Sean said “just make some shit” – creating things simply for the joy of it is 1000% valid, all without focusing on any potential financial return

A big theme to leave with here with this episode is the importance of engaging with good people, and getting into conversations that provide energy and inspiration