I’ve thought a bit about it recently. If the newsletter is pseudonymous or branded without a specific person at the front, it can work because then it’s a matter of writing in the style of the brand.
For something more personal that’s almost like a personal blog, it doesn’t make sense because people connect to a specific person. So if the person goes away, the newsletter goes away with them. It’s probably best to collaborate in that case.
Great clarity insights Kenny! The more personal the newsletter is the more challenging it is to absorb the voice of the founding writer.
As you stated if the founder steps down, his newsletter follows his steps. I was listening to an AI critic and admire and he pointed out links to this "gap". Following what is done for deceased artists who keep on a sense of voice. Yet, it opens so much about ownership and regulations. Imagine a dead newsletter revived by AI with the authorization of the family of this person. Hopefully, things also need to end and it is for the better. Within this era, we are challenged by "a sense of ending and non-activity".
What strikes me is also the market trait of readers, founders, and content. In many ways like companies, products, and brand image.
I have a question for you on this style of writer/brand. It is not an easy task to write for oneself. Educating on our writing makes it even more challenging. What would you do to include other voices under yours?
I meant exactly that, having writers write under your publication (which has a style and voice). It is quite a challenging exercise, that demands a strong identity to start with.
In the lens of selling your newsletter and trying to keep the essence of the founding writer, maybe guidelines do work well. You used the word consistency, do writers have a consistent voice that can be replicable? I feel it is not easy to write like someone rather than write for someone.
Nevertheless, at some point, each writer will develop their style. Publications like the New Yorker have strong identifiable writers and they all belong to the Publication but the brand New Yorker is opaque enough for them to stand out...
It's funny how from a small topic much more is linked to it. The character and identity of a founding writer.
I’m on board with you. There are a bunch of variations possible that it’d be best to try it out and refine as you go. But yes, if I were to do that, I’ll need to define some sort of values and get writers like that. And develop a Tone of Voice over time as I figure it out!
I was thinking it could be nice to scale like that. But I need a bit more reps before going there lol
Did you want to grow your newsletter like that as well? I’m curious if that is one of your projects!
I agree, it could be nice. However, there is a long road before doing that. Well, maybe for my other newsletter perhaps one day. I think it has the potential to develop in that manner 🙂
I totally agree with you! It is not a whole you can transfer. A list of readers is a group of people. Maybe newsletter creators who do that keep some kind of creative direction but still, it is not the same thing. After each creative and business owner runs his or her readership as they want.
For me, readers are people and they have no obligation to stay. They just grant us a few minutes of their time. It is such an ecosystem, as a creative it is so far from my reality and my way of seeing life in general.
By the way, could you have other writers write under your publication? As a dedicated writer, how would you manage several voices that your readers could learn from?
I’ve thought a bit about it recently. If the newsletter is pseudonymous or branded without a specific person at the front, it can work because then it’s a matter of writing in the style of the brand.
For something more personal that’s almost like a personal blog, it doesn’t make sense because people connect to a specific person. So if the person goes away, the newsletter goes away with them. It’s probably best to collaborate in that case.
Great clarity insights Kenny! The more personal the newsletter is the more challenging it is to absorb the voice of the founding writer.
As you stated if the founder steps down, his newsletter follows his steps. I was listening to an AI critic and admire and he pointed out links to this "gap". Following what is done for deceased artists who keep on a sense of voice. Yet, it opens so much about ownership and regulations. Imagine a dead newsletter revived by AI with the authorization of the family of this person. Hopefully, things also need to end and it is for the better. Within this era, we are challenged by "a sense of ending and non-activity".
What strikes me is also the market trait of readers, founders, and content. In many ways like companies, products, and brand image.
I have a question for you on this style of writer/brand. It is not an easy task to write for oneself. Educating on our writing makes it even more challenging. What would you do to include other voices under yours?
What do you have in mind regarding including other voices under yours? Do you mean opening it up to others writers to write under your brand?
If that’s the case, I know people have Tone of Voice guidelines to keep consistency across the writing. But maybe you’re talking about something else.
I meant exactly that, having writers write under your publication (which has a style and voice). It is quite a challenging exercise, that demands a strong identity to start with.
In the lens of selling your newsletter and trying to keep the essence of the founding writer, maybe guidelines do work well. You used the word consistency, do writers have a consistent voice that can be replicable? I feel it is not easy to write like someone rather than write for someone.
Nevertheless, at some point, each writer will develop their style. Publications like the New Yorker have strong identifiable writers and they all belong to the Publication but the brand New Yorker is opaque enough for them to stand out...
It's funny how from a small topic much more is linked to it. The character and identity of a founding writer.
I’m on board with you. There are a bunch of variations possible that it’d be best to try it out and refine as you go. But yes, if I were to do that, I’ll need to define some sort of values and get writers like that. And develop a Tone of Voice over time as I figure it out!
I was thinking it could be nice to scale like that. But I need a bit more reps before going there lol
Did you want to grow your newsletter like that as well? I’m curious if that is one of your projects!
Sorry for the late reply!
I agree, it could be nice. However, there is a long road before doing that. Well, maybe for my other newsletter perhaps one day. I think it has the potential to develop in that manner 🙂
All good!
An easy test could be to do a collab. I just did one yesterday. You’re not committed but still testing the waters :)
It's hard to imagine transferring my readers to anywhere else, especially without their knowledge! Hard to really comprehend how that might work.
I totally agree with you! It is not a whole you can transfer. A list of readers is a group of people. Maybe newsletter creators who do that keep some kind of creative direction but still, it is not the same thing. After each creative and business owner runs his or her readership as they want.
For me, readers are people and they have no obligation to stay. They just grant us a few minutes of their time. It is such an ecosystem, as a creative it is so far from my reality and my way of seeing life in general.
By the way, could you have other writers write under your publication? As a dedicated writer, how would you manage several voices that your readers could learn from?