I have a teeny dedicated newsletter mailing list of 68! My open rate is 50-60% and as you can see from my small numbers, that's a good thing, phew. My blog mailing list is about 120 and I've been blogging for years--since 2012! I guess doubts I have about blogging and newslettering are quieter than the pleasure, service, and honestly the income I receive from them. It's like the Flying Nun (forgive the 1960s US cheesy tv reference) said, "“When lift plus thrust is greater than load plus drag … well, anything can fly.” Or like my fundraising mentor said, that our passion for whatever we were fundraising for had to be just that wee bit bigger than our fear--and we could do it.
Hi Beth! Thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing your numbers. I really feel ok about the stats, it was just the inner doubter who was feeling frustrated about it. I am going to continue writing, as I enjoy it, as do you.
This reflection is helping on so many levels, as it makes me think about why I am doing this, it's not to get millions of subscribers who have a general interest in my words, it's about having a small and loyal readership who appreciate my words and my art. Beyond that, the act of sharing my words has been tremendously helpful in and of itself!
Thanks for sharing this blog post, on reflection of the numbers, the higher open rate previously could be due to the fact that the readers were from my previous list, and they know me. The more subscribers have joined, who don't know me as well, yet, could be lowering the open rate. That said, my main point was that the old me could have easily quite by emotionally reacting to those numbers as "I am rubbish, they don't like me" then quitting.
As a bonus, I learned some cool things in the post you shared, so thank you again! :-)
We played "house" inside and outside. We played all kinds of outdoor games of chase or hide and seek or variations on capture the flag. Ghost in the Graveyard was especially fun when played at dusk. Red Rover was not banned and I remember at least one neighbor broke an arm playing it. We wandered on our bikes. We played Barbies and dress up. I made paper dolls, we swam in the summer. It was pretty dang carefree. I don't have any memory of parents watching us play or bringing snacks.
Beautiful, My childhood sounded pretty similar. We used to go out for hours on end to play in rivers, woods and didn't come back until tea time. My mum was a worrier, but even she allowed me out to roam. Did you draw as a child?
Sorry if it's asking too much. I'm just curious about hearing how it was doing an art degree. The latter question, I couldn't answer this for myself, as I have made many bad decisions too.
I think I’d enjoy going through the degree process more now. I don’t think a full BFA was necessary. Though I do enjoy learning. And if I did it now I’d be taking business, sales and marketing classes to pad what they don’t teach.
Are you saying you did the same or are you referring to my experience? Either way, generally, people who study art would go down the degree route then become ‘an artist’.
I had no confidence to go to university nor encourage to continue with my art. That said, things turned out ok in the end, and I’ve got a lot more to express :-)
Wow, such a valuable post! That inner doubter is a tricky customer, isn't it? I really enjoyed this read - thank you - and it's made me think about how to deal with my own doubts. 😊
Steve, over 30% is fantastic!!!! See this piece by a fellow Substacker: https://simonkjones.substack.com/p/understanding-your-substack-stats
I have a teeny dedicated newsletter mailing list of 68! My open rate is 50-60% and as you can see from my small numbers, that's a good thing, phew. My blog mailing list is about 120 and I've been blogging for years--since 2012! I guess doubts I have about blogging and newslettering are quieter than the pleasure, service, and honestly the income I receive from them. It's like the Flying Nun (forgive the 1960s US cheesy tv reference) said, "“When lift plus thrust is greater than load plus drag … well, anything can fly.” Or like my fundraising mentor said, that our passion for whatever we were fundraising for had to be just that wee bit bigger than our fear--and we could do it.
PS: My answer is reading.
Hi Beth! Thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing your numbers. I really feel ok about the stats, it was just the inner doubter who was feeling frustrated about it. I am going to continue writing, as I enjoy it, as do you.
This reflection is helping on so many levels, as it makes me think about why I am doing this, it's not to get millions of subscribers who have a general interest in my words, it's about having a small and loyal readership who appreciate my words and my art. Beyond that, the act of sharing my words has been tremendously helpful in and of itself!
Thanks for sharing this blog post, on reflection of the numbers, the higher open rate previously could be due to the fact that the readers were from my previous list, and they know me. The more subscribers have joined, who don't know me as well, yet, could be lowering the open rate. That said, my main point was that the old me could have easily quite by emotionally reacting to those numbers as "I am rubbish, they don't like me" then quitting.
As a bonus, I learned some cool things in the post you shared, so thank you again! :-)
Playing.
Any specific ways of playing? :-)
We played "house" inside and outside. We played all kinds of outdoor games of chase or hide and seek or variations on capture the flag. Ghost in the Graveyard was especially fun when played at dusk. Red Rover was not banned and I remember at least one neighbor broke an arm playing it. We wandered on our bikes. We played Barbies and dress up. I made paper dolls, we swam in the summer. It was pretty dang carefree. I don't have any memory of parents watching us play or bringing snacks.
Beautiful, My childhood sounded pretty similar. We used to go out for hours on end to play in rivers, woods and didn't come back until tea time. My mum was a worrier, but even she allowed me out to roam. Did you draw as a child?
I did art.. is that a real question? I took a break from Art to be a teen and run feral (we won’t speak on my early twenties). Then more art.
Oh, you mean you did art as a child. That’s my point, it came easily to you as a child right?
It was a direct answer to your question for the comments. I ramble sometimes.
I did art. I have a degree too. It’s a long story full of bad decisions.
Thanks, sorry, I'm a little slow this morning :-D
Did you enjoy the degree? Did you learn from this decisions?
🤷♀️
Sorry if it's asking too much. I'm just curious about hearing how it was doing an art degree. The latter question, I couldn't answer this for myself, as I have made many bad decisions too.
I think I’d enjoy going through the degree process more now. I don’t think a full BFA was necessary. Though I do enjoy learning. And if I did it now I’d be taking business, sales and marketing classes to pad what they don’t teach.
Are you saying you did the same or are you referring to my experience? Either way, generally, people who study art would go down the degree route then become ‘an artist’.
I had no confidence to go to university nor encourage to continue with my art. That said, things turned out ok in the end, and I’ve got a lot more to express :-)
Wow, such a valuable post! That inner doubter is a tricky customer, isn't it? I really enjoyed this read - thank you - and it's made me think about how to deal with my own doubts. 😊
Thanks you for reading and your comments! Yes it is, sadly we believe it most of the time. Let’s doubt those doubter’s doubts! 🙌
🤣 YES!
Studio tour - wow again. And 'DOUBT BUT DO' is awesome - I'm not one for tattoos, but gee whizz if I were that would make the shortlist.... 😁
Thank you for watching the studio tour! I love my studio so much! Yes, good idea, I might just have that as a tattoo!
I’m glad my words were useful! Have a great day!
Yes, quite a lot. I made my own paper dolls and their clothes. I made posters for school festivals and such, plus of course, just to do it.
That’s cool. I was thinking of Red Rover, our version was British Bulldog 😂
I think doubt is probably a sign of intelligence, no one I know who does it lacks smarts.
Yes, I agree. I knew that using the word doubt, that it has multiple meanings. I was talking more about 'being unsure of oneself - limiting oneself'
Yes.