How do you manage two Substacks?

5 lessons learned and more globally, how do you navigate multiple projects and keep going?

👋 Hello, dear creative.

Navigation can be challenging and tiring, but remember the WHY

It is never an easy task to juggle projects. Some will demand more patience and nurturing. Others will impose a needed rhythm and direct the rhythm of others alongside them. In a nutshell, every project will have a function and mission within your goals and vision.

I was at a creative event a few weeks ago, and I had the opportunity to talk with fellow creatives. As I was sharing my journey so far, one of them asked me, what do I tell myself to keep on? That was the initial prompt for this new issue. I will share my answer to this question below, but before that, it made me reflect on how I navigate multiple projects. And more specifically, two substacks (I have had many questions about that dynamic rhythm). So let’s dive in!

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How do I manage two Substacks? Ongoing lessons…

A few years ago, I shared my starter journey on Substack with a combo mindset. I wanted to create two complimentary spaces that echo each other. It has been two years already, and I see how smart that choice was. As I grasp the potential of building a newsletter, I experiment with text, video and audio. The freedom of having two publications that grow genuinely from my curiosity and interest is a blessing and a challenge. In those challenging moments, I remember my WHY, how it gives me joy, and the powerful training at hand. I do have to make some tough decisions sometimes, following my schedule and client work. So, to answer the management question, I would state: play; make easy and tough decisions. But more than ever, experiment with that vision.

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1. ✅ Remember the WHY

   Reinforcing the mission of each publication has helped me stay on track and confirm the alignment with the vision. YCL is an exploration that claims that we are all creative. In that pursuit, it does allow me to experiment with diverse content and dare new formats. As for YBL, it also has an educational standpoint. Added to the investigations, Q&As and longer interviews. Being vocal about that evolving mission in both publications has helped me realign. But also, challenge myself to experiment more and answer that mission the best I can.

2. ✅ Organized, you will become

   From the beginning, I wanted to navigate my publications chronologically. I created a Notion file in 2022 but upgraded my process in 2023 as I got more consistent with writing. It helped me organize and prepare ideas, sections and sources. In a nutshell, all kinds of information to improve my letters structure-wise. That Notion file is my recorder of progress and future improvements. It has one year of posts and a year-ahead layout of planning content. I like to write in the moment, still, I prepare monthly or two months ahead of ideas and inspirations to post. So, when I have an idea, I add it to the file and lay out the outlines and links for reference. That routine prepares and builds up my work once I am ready for writing. One thing I do not negotiate with is that intuitive ‘‘ready set-and-go’’.

3. ✅ Understand their rhythm and your rhythm

   Both publications don’t have the same rhythm. YCL will be more weekly or biweekly. I won't force myself to write if I don’t feel inspired by a topic or subject. I value how intentional I am when I post a new issue; it has become my radar. Nevertheless, I know I have to cater to my readers. Therefore, I prioritize quality time to be as present as possible and deliver the message I want to share. I have had cool ideas on a whim and the letter was written within a day or two days (visuals and layouts included). I don’t spend all day on it, but I give it a few hours to round things up and let it rest. I have a similar approach to YBL, which is on a monthly or biweekly schedule.

   One key component of the rhythm is that my posts are diverse; they are sometimes different. I can change things from a text post to an interview or a video. With the diversity of formats and mediums, it can also become a challenge to that rhythm. The key is finding balance by making those priority decisions. Not neglecting one for the other but alternating efforts.

4. ✅ You will experience The Shiva effect
   As I said before, with diverse content comes diverse competencies. Thanks to my design and communication journey, I have used several software programs. They all trained me to create content for myself and my clients. I have an ease at editing audio and video and creating visuals. But also, finding new guests, planning and leading interviews. In a nutshell, creating and orchestrating experiences. It takes a lot of hands to do all of it, but I am doing it alone. So, I had to ask myself the question of sticking to this artisan process or hiring to be on schedule. I decided that, for now, it was way too early to do that. I do like this organic studio crafting. That is why understanding my rhythm and taking quality time off is key as I build these letters.

5. ✅ Long term, you will see
   In two years now, I have seen patterns of growth made of peaks and more stabilized growth. I have learned to let things mature and allow each publication to anchor itself. Moreover, it is a duo growth as people dive in from one letter, and by curiosity, they also discover the other letter.

   These publications are growing spaces. So, not worrying about slow growth is one mental health solution. For me, they are a long-term journey, and once you hit that publish button, you add another layer to the story. I also know they are a body of ideas that speak as a whole as they grow.

There are many more lessons and solutions, but these five have been helpful until today. It is a mix of reminding oneself about the start, having a process and routine. And most importantly, accepting the needed pace for you and your publications.

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What is one phrase or mantra that keeps me going?

As promised, my answer to the ‘‘how I keep on?’’. 

My answer revolves around my manifesto, ‘‘Aligning head, heart and hand’’. No matter the project, this phrase is my mantra and radar. It is not only for work; it extends to everything in life. If any doubt arises, this phrase comes up as a reminder. When you have chosen to do something and have gone the extra mile while keeping joy as a radar, you have The Fuel to keep pushing forward. I am so grateful it came to me when I wrote my first manifesto, and it remains timeless to me even today.

Sending some WHY vibes 🎯

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Design for Good: A workbook for healing

I had the pleasure of working on a great book recently. It is the workbook Choose Yourself: A 12-Week Journey to Becoming The God of Your Own Heart, written by Stacie Aamon Yeldell. She is the founder of the consultancy brand Amöntra. But she is also a best-selling author, speaker, and music psychotherapist. When I heard about her book project and work, it was a green light. Moreover, it felt like a Design For Good that reaffirmed how branding also applies to book design. The goal was to create a visual strategic experience of her mindset, method and vision. Illustrating the cover and designing the interior alongside marketing and social media assets. I shared some words about my experience on LinkedIn; feel free to check that out, and why not buy the workbook?

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🐎 Opportunity knocks

In every letter, I share opportunities I stumbled upon. There are so many cool grants, funding, competitions, and more to enter to experience progress. I hope the list of the week will be useful.

• 🇺🇸 The American Dream Awards (Hello Alice brings a spotlight on small businesses that embody the modern American Dream. Deadline May 01, 2024)

• 🤾‍♂️ Associate creative director for Electronic Arts (shape the brand identity and creative narrative of their hero brand across multiple mediums).

• 🤹‍♂️ We all love Doodles by Google (Discover the history of Doodles and how to submit an idea. Imagine your illustrations viewed by Google searchers daily.).

• Do you write narrative nonfiction? (Submit your pieces to Narratively).

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🤩 Creative awe

• 🗞 80 images to understand press illustration (The journal, Le Monde, shares a fascinating investigation of the ins and outs of illustrating a message through 80 iconic pieces by interviewing their famous illustrators).

• 🌱 No One Is Better Than You (A refreshing and nurturing reminder of acceptance by

  Shy Guy Meets the Buddha
  ).

• 🇫🇷 De Grâce (Everything about this series is captivating. First, the characters are raw and invading, and then it is addictive; I could not stop watching till the end).

• 🎁 We need some good news (A set of positive stories from freelance creatives to boost your mood in a recession).

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Creativity is in every little curious experimentation.

Take good care!
Keva.

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