Is starting a newsletter your next move?

I'm obviously a newsletter fan. I've written one regularly for 3 years, I teach classes on how to start and grow your own, and I wouldn't have my own business without one. It's a magical marketing tool that works great for writers and doesn't make you feel like a wannabe influencer or a confused TikTok star who isn't sure what to do with the 2 million views on a video of you falling down.

But it's not for everyone. As a writer and creative, I'm sure you've heard "you gotta start a newsletter" or "I heard a person started a Substack and now they make $100,000 a month working only 2 hours a day!"

So how do you sift through the online advice (including mine) and figure out if you should start a newsletter?

Here's an easy way to decide: Imagine I just told you "you are starting an easy newsletter next week."

Does that prompt a reaction like this?

If starting a newsletter feels like another thing you have to do, or you immediately get tired thinking about it, or it makes you drag yourself around the room at the injustice of all the work you have to do, then guess what? You should not start a newsletter.

It doesn't matter if 500 million people tell you it's the best thing to do. If it feels like an irritating chore, it's not a good move for you right now.

If the idea of starting a newsletter sounds fun, interesting, a little scary but alluring, great! I have a great self study class on starting your newsletter. You can find the details here.