Anybody can run an email newsletter for a day.

Oh, sure, there’s a barrier to entry to getting started. It’s not much. And yes, I had to take a course where, ironically, I didn’t learn how to use the email platform I chose–or any other email platform for that matter. Instead, I learned how to use an email newsletter to my advantage–such as it is. By being directed to come up with content I would need to start an email newsletter, I was able to use my superpowers from 14 years of working as a computer programmer to figure out how to get as far as I have, which is why you’re receiving this email.

With the following image, I share the secrets of my superpower:

Yesterday’s News

Because I am an independent business again, I didn’t do any actual writing on Monday because I don’t like Mondays. That’s not to say that I didn’t publish anything yesterday, it just means that I didn’t put hands on keys.

Those of you who have been subscribed for more than 24 hours received the first edition of this email newsletter. I thought I set the email to go out at 0815 CST (and yes, we’re back in standard time in most of the United States), but I was working late(ish?), rescheduled the email several times and tiredness was setting in. Despite having checked several times, the email got scheduled for 2015 CST instead.

I mean, I checked and checked and checked that I had AM selected. But I still got the scheduling wrong.

The newsletter not going out at the appointed time put a bit of a cloud over me because I expected to start my day with a new blog post and have the newsletter drive traffic to said post.

Alas.

I did, however, realize my mistake around noon and corrected course as best I could. I rescheduled the newsletter to go out at 1215. While I had intended for this to be a daily newsletter that goes out in the morning, upon reflection, having the newsletter go out during lunchtime may not be a bad idea. It will allow me to finish up writing work in the morning if I didn’t finish what I had planned for the previous day and still get the newsletter out on a daily basis.

Of course, since this is only the second edition of the newsletter, the consistent delivery time is subject to change. But I think about Adam Curry talking about how consistency is the key to podcasting, that you want to release your podcast at roughly the same time each time you release. And, of course, we’re told we need to write consistently, so…

Do you have a preference for when you would like to see this email hit your inbox? If so, reply to this email and communicate your preference back to me so we can close the feedback loop. (e.g. I’m currently broadcasting to you, but if you reply, you’ll be communicating back to me.)

Other Business

Last week, I had put in a call to a resource that helps small businesses. I’ve worked with them before, and I know they are heavily remote, especially since the bug came into our lives.

I thought I was going to have to send them an email to get a response back, but instead, they returned my call. I’m now scheduled for some sessions to get some help on a few business topics, so that’s one thing I was able to cross off of my list.

Obligatory Adam Savage comment I’ve been obsessing over: “Do I have to solve this problem now, or will the universe solve it for me?”

I know I should have emailed, but thankfully, I didn’t have to. Despite the fact I’m trying to make a go out of writing, I much prefer to talk instead of type.

On the Docket for Today

Better Every Day

Because I didn’t batch-write Better Every Day on Sunday or Monday, I missed the consistency of publishing at 0800 today. Part of the reason I didn’t work on Card 310 is that the subject matter is one that, because of recent events, I can’t fully explore. And writing about it will be awkward.

I’ve been debating about just skipping the card, but it’s such a positive card that despite my constraints, I want to share it with my readers. And I also think I shouldn’t shy away from something just because it’s awkward. I’m an adult and adults are supposed to know how to handle awkward situations gracefully.

Pitching

I have an opportunity to pitch a writing assignment for a publication.

Oppenheimer Review

Despite publishing a response to Oppenheimer critic Mark Groubert, I still haven’t written a proper review of the film. I’ve seen the film in IMAX three times and read the published script. Still, I’ve wanted to write a proper review and, as luck would have it, IMAX sent out an email the end of last week stating that Oppenheimer would be in the theaters Sunday through Wednesday. Given we’re going to have great weather today–low 80s–I think I might go see the film for the fourth time in IMAX before I start working on that review.

Reading and Researching

I want to take some time to start researching the story I mentioned yesterday. And I’d like to get some personal reading done as well to keep ideas flowing so I will have plenty to write about.

For the weekend

A film I’ve had my eye on since I saw a trailer for it when I went to see Oppenheimer is The Holdovers which releases this weekend.

I see that it’s got an 8.3 rating (out of 10) on IMDb, so that bodes well for the film. However, despite the story told in the trailer, I’m worried that the Mary character will be comic relief-and bad, dad-joke, unfunny sitcom comic relief at that.

Of course, if I go see the film, I plan to write a review.