Matt’s Mix Tape, Vol. 100

Jul 16, 2021

Hi, I’m Matt Tillotson and this is Matt’s Mix Tape, a weekly Mix of ideas on writing, content strategy, and personal tech for the Creator Age.

Lessons learned shipping 100 newsletters
Your writing isn’t original. So quit worrying, and just create
Why adverbs suck, and other short essays I wrote this week
Jason Sudekis shows us another reason to write well
This week’s (not taken in) Florida photo

The scoop: this week’s Mix Tape logo

This is the 100th edition of the newsletter. Kinda crazy. I wrote a Twitter thread about starting and maintaining a newsletter, and here’s the TL;DR from that thread:

Matt Tillotson @matttillotson

The TL;DR on shipping 100 newsletters: •Start before you are “ready” •Growth is slow—keep shipping •You don’t need a niche •Consistency over chronology •Mix in personal items •Find a tribe •If you miss, just re-start •Spend ~1hr/week writing it •Interaction > sub growth

The most important things to me:

Interaction with readers is far more rewarding than subscriber growth. I love hearing from people and talking with them. Say hi!
If you fail to send a few newsletters, just start again. About a year ago, I didn’t land a job after a grueling interview process. I was down and didn’t feel like I had anything to say for about five weeks. But then I started back in, and it was fine. Don’t apologize. Don’t reference the gap. Just publish again. No one will care.

So anyway, thank you for sharing your valuable time to read and comment. On to 200 and beyond.

Your writing isn’t original. So quit worrying about it, and create.

One of the most important sentences in American history is nearly a word-for-word ripoff.

“Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” a foundational statement in the American ethos, was remixed from the philosopher Locke, who wrote of ”life, liberty, and the pursuit of property.”

And you’re worried that what you want to write has “already been written?”

Of course it has. And that’s great news.

There are no original thoughts, no original stories

If nothing is original, then you might wonder what’s the point of writing at all?

There are a million reasons, but here are two. One self-centered and one other-centered.

Write to understand how you think—to clarify and sharpen your ideas, to crystallize what you just learned, to get feedback from others.
Someone else, on their own journey, desperately needs to hear what you have to say, and how you will say it, right at this moment in time.

Your thoughts, experiences, and timing are the elixir that creates all the originality needed.

Congratulations—you’re free to create.

Write. And publish.

Why adverbs suck, and other short essays I wrote this week

Quick writing power up: ditch the adverbs
Use descriptive verbs to write with more vibrancy and emotion
Writers: Let’s write with less self-pity
Writing is hard, but we’re tapping on keys, not leading a SEAL team raid
Creators: Don’t do this with affiliate marketing (even though everyone says to)
Play the long game to better serve your audience and build your brand

Jason Sudekis shows us another reason to write well

Honestly, these reasons should enough to learn to write well:

Advancing your career or business
Creating new connections
Spreading your ideas

But just in case, here’s another one: you can drop random act of kindness bombs, like Jason Sudekis.

In 2017, Mike Ryan, an Uproxx entertainment reporter, told Sudekis he was struggling with the sudden loss of his father. Sudekis sent a heartfelt note to Ryan:

Just wanted to shoot ya a quick note and let ya know that I’m so sorry for your loss. And I thank you for feeling comfortable enough with me to share. Please please please feel ZERO regret in doing so.
It’s important and fucking necessary for us human beings to do that. To connect. To share. And to not concern ourselves too much with the outcome of such bravery. Especially the men of the world.

Just read the whole story. It’s not long.

Said Ryan:

So, yeah, there actually is a lot of Ted Lasso in the real Jason Sudekis.

Write well. You can have a lasting impact on others.

BTW: Ted Lasso, Season Two, drops on Apple TV + July 23:

This week’s (not taken in) Florida photo

This is a small cave called the “Devil’s Kitchen,” located on Mackinac Island.

Supposedly, Native Americans in the Straits of Mackinac thought the cave was inhabited by nasty spirits who would capture and eat anyone who came near.

The cave is still coated with soot, which was believed to be residue from cooked victims.

Happily, we escaped.

Welcome to five new subscribers

Thank you for reading.

I’d love to hear from you—please say hi, ask a question, whatever—anytime.