Can I run something by you?

Only if you have time of course...

First up, let me just say a huge thanks for subscribing to this newsletter and being part of this little community. I’m learning a lot and feeling challenged (and extremely humbled) by the process.

I’m actively trying to improve, varying my style and subject matter, and enrolling in courses and webinars to learn more about every aspect of writing and digital publishing.

This week, my attention was caught by a particular course being run by a successful blogger and we exchanged a few emails, but I just can’t decide whether to fork out $500 to do it or not.

So, this is where having a small readership is a great thing, since most of you know me personally and some of you might be willing to do me a small favor. I thought I’d just share the email exchange and ask you to give me your opinion, cos I’m really torn on this one. It seems like a good course, but he seems like a bit of an a*hole, so I’m not sure which way to jump.

If you get to the end, I’d be so grateful if you’d leave a comment or vote on what you think I should do. Otherwise, go ahead and delete this and I’ll be back to regular programming (whatever that means) on Sunday.

ME: I'm properly interested in this [etc etc, a few questions].

HIM: Good to hear Shoni. What's holding you back from enrolling?

ME: Hmmm

Firstly, thanks for asking.

Not a simple question.

To answer, I think I need to first answer this: Why do I want to succeed on the Internet? 

• an insatiable need for attention (ego)?

• join the conversation (assuming I have anything relevant to contribute)?

• some abstract idea of "success"?

• money? 

I spent the last 1.5 years writing a novel that I was quite proud of, until I started showing it to people and realised it was pretty shit. The general advice out there seems to be, if you want to be a writer, write. But there's more. You need to publish. And iterate. And improve. So a few weeks ago, I started a Substack. And it's shit. I've scrambled my way to 36 subs but most of my posts get <5 likes and 0 shares. It's the first time I'm using the Internet as a creator, not just a consumer. I'm lost. But I don't know the right way forward. Where to put my energy. 

I want to tell this story (my novel). And I want it to resonate with an engaged and receptive audience. 

I've read your sales pitch and believe you give excellent advice and are a brilliant communicator with a lot to offer. But will I put in enough to get something out of this? I don't know.

That's what's holding me back.

HIM: What an epic story.

Yep, I wouldn't tell me worst enemy to start with novels. In a world full of busy people, no one is starting out by reading a 20 hour novel unless they know the author first.

Online writing is a better starting point. The book comes later when there's a decent email list. A lot of the questions you have are hard to answer at the start. A lot of it is learn as you go. 

If you're worried about following through then my [Writing Challenge] in May is a better option. It's a live writing challenge where you write with me for 28 days and there's four live workshops. 

There's an accountability tracker to make sure you follow through and you get an accountability buddy. We also place you in a small group and give you feedback on your writing. 

Info here: [Link redacted]

Would that work perhaps?

ME: Well, you don't start out writing them because of any publication or sharing goals. You write them because you have a story burning inside of you that won't leave you alone until it's written 😂. This was actually my fourth. The experience of pushing through the hard chapters to the bits where all the puzzle pieces fall into place is just priceless. You don't really know where it's going when you start out, but you become obsessed. Living inside this world you've created. Truly, it's a joy. Highly recommended. Here, I'll share a pic of my first structural edit, also lots of fun and brain-stretching.

I'll think about [the challenge] too. Generally, I don't have issues with sitting down to write (even if that means staring out the window for long periods). It's the craft I need help with. Like I said, creating things that resonate with others. That pull them in and make them want to know more. I'm not there yet. Do you think your course will help with that side of things?

HIM: Okay now I understand novelists better. Thanks!

[The challenge] has the daily writing habit but it's more than that.

• We place you in a small group

• You're surrounded by 99 other writers who have similar goals to you

• You're assigned an accountability partner for the 28 day challenge

• We have feedback sessions

• We teach how to grab attention and get proper social media engagement

• There are 4 live digital writing sessions with me (traditional writing is different to digital)

So yes this course is perfect for where you're at. Most people that come along for the challenge are either beginners or intermediate on social media. 

The next cohort starts in May 2024. Here's a link to enroll: 

ME: What would your feedback on this be like? 

Just first impressions are fine...

https://open.substack.com/pub/shonistar/p/on-nudity?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=9fely

HIM: Great topic matter but I'd rip this to shreds. It reads like traditional writing, not digital writing. No attention grabbing. Terrible headline. Painful subtitle. First sentence sounds like Once Upon a Time

We can fix these issues...but it requires an overhaul. Are you up for it Shoni?

ME: Fuck this process is humbling. It's making me doubt everything.

OK, I hear you. Thanks for taking the time to look.

I'm enrolled in two online storytelling courses coming up, so still thinking.

HIM: Most writers need to be humbled. 

Drop the storytelling courses would be my advice. 99% of courses are procrastination in disguise. And it looks like these courses are teaching you to be a traditional writer, which in the age of AI-written content flooding the internet and Amazon dot com, is a nightmare. 

That's why we run challenges and focus on execution. Most of our students don't need to drown in more information. They need to do the writing and get immediate feedback. 

Best thing you can do for your writing is become a digital writer and take part in [this challenge].  Will you join us?

ME: The more I can learn the better, that's how I see it.

I have a free ticket to [this] because I've been editing Tomas' newsletter for over two years in my spare time. I've learned loads from him and his writing aligns with my values. The other one is by a guy called Mike Sowden and it's included in the price of a subscription to his newsletter, so what do I have to lose? I'm currently doing Elle Griffin's collective (also included with subscription), which has been interesting and exposed me to a bunch of writers who are further along than I am.

Honestly, at this point, I'm doubting my capacity to ever get to "the level", so that's also making me wonder if any of this is worth it. Maybe I should just go back to writing in my lounge room for my mental health.

Sorry to make you work so hard for this. I suck. But you don't have to like me. Not sure if I like you or not, actually. 😂 I respect you.

HIM: You may have been editing Thomas' newsletter but from what I can see it hasn't helped (and I mean that with kindness). 

There are millions of online courses and free stuff you get included with newsletters. Most of it is garbage taught by amateurs who don't get results. 

Elle Griffin has 2,300 linkedin followers and 14k Substack followers. Mike Soden has 29k X followers but his posts are only getting 13 likes. So he likely bought those followers which are probably bots. 

If you learn from amateurs you become an amatuer.  And everything else is ten times harder.

I have 1B+ content views, been doing it 10 years, 200K email subscribers, the largest active following on Medium, and 500k LinkedIn followers.

Learn from a master. It's a cheat code to life. We won't be taking any more enrollments for [this] after this week as we start the challenge in the first week of May. Let me know if you change your mind.

ME: Gee, take no prisoners, hey?

I reached out to Tomas and offered to help after his Covid stuff went viral because it resonated so strongly with me and helped make sense of a confusing, scary situation. His content still does that, for me and tens of thousands on Substack and hundreds of thousands on X. His take on Israel/Palestine was particularly powerful and remarkably impartial.

Elle is trying to push for a positive future by writing about it and collaborating with other thinkers in the same space. She enjoys steady growth and is living off her writing.

I'm sure you can imagine that even 1k subscribers seems absolutely incredible to someone like me, but using your voice to do good in the world is equally important (if not more).

I know your contribution is meaningful too, but I haven't identified the heart of it just yet. Do you think you're helping people both in what you say and in how you help them emulate your success? How many of your students have come even close to what you've achieved?

Look, I'm probably going to sign up, if not now, then to a future cohort - you've made me feel like my participation is important to you (or you just really want to close). I just have to figure out my money and time. All manageable with the right priorities in place (as I read in an email from you yesterday!)

END

If you made it to the end, you’re an absolute legend. Thanks friends!

Love, Shoni