I'm definitely leaning into making art for purely selfish purposes these days. I find it leads me to more original thinking, which in turn leads to more people being interested in what I'm doing, so in a way gathering followers/subscribers becomes a side effect of doing what I want. I've made a conscious choice to move away from traditional publishing as my primary source of income this year. I'm shifting into editing and coaching, and building out a 360 business that ties everything together. I'm hopeful that this is a good move to support myself as traditional publishing income is too fickle to rely on. If that doesn't work, I'll sell my house and move somewhere with a lower cost of living, where I can just work an hourly job to support myself. Lots of economic questions these days, and not a lot of answers, so I figure I should let my art be 100% for my own enjoyment.
OK, so I do hustle (for audiences and writing and editing), and I don't mind it. I hustle to get paying gigs so that I can make money to afford me the time to write or dream. As the main earner in my family, it's also necessary. And I actually think of my hustle more as connecting with other people, and those people just happen to need/want my services and will pay me for them. Perhaps, in this way, I don't suffer burnout from it because it fuels me?? Perhaps that's because I do most of it person-to-person and not via social media? I think the moment I suffer burnout from the hustle, I'd stop it. Or maybe not? Maybe what I'm describing and what I do is not actually "hustle," but I understand where you're coming from with this, Julie, and I'm glad you're differentiating what you want to do from what you don't.
Love this so much! I get sucked into the hustle people-pleasing mentality so easily. And I think part of it has been because it is hard for me to understand the difference between hustle and driven. I love that you talked about the difference between those. It really is about looking inside yourself and being driven from that versus being driven by external results. Thanks for your wonderful words! I needed them today.
Julie, I love this essay. And I love Alli's comment too. The thing that I've come into a happy rhythm with is developing in-person creative writing workshops for kids. First, I absolutely love every minute of it, and second it's (for me, a small-scale fellow indeed) a really effective way to be engaged with readers. And it is a paying job. But, is it different than writing books? Oh mama, yes. And do I worry about the networking, time, travel, being far away from thinking about my own creativity? I really do. But- it's also really inspiring to meet so many kids who are so unique and amazing and just like the characters I love to write.
I love this newsletter and every time I see it in my inbox I get a little boost of joy, which is the opposite of unsubscribing and/or hate reading. Just so you know. <3
Really enjoyed this one. Especially the bit about how you really write these newsletters for yourself. What you find interesting, helpful, etc. with the hope that someone else will find them useful, interesting, etc. as well. That is the attitude I need to have with my own newsletter. I’m of the mind and opinion, that if I have a thought about something, that I’m going to write about anyway, I might as well share it with others. Because maybe it will offer something to them. And even if it doesn’t, it helped me work through something, and I’m okay with that. So on my to do list, is to get my newsletter back up and running on a more regular basis! And do very much enjoy seeing your emails in my inbox. You almost always have a nugget of wisdom, that makes me think, or that I can relate to, or that I can put into practice for my own life/writing! So definitely keep these up. I like to think eventually, the people that we are meant to reach will find us, at some point, even if that is way off into the future. But we won’t know that unless we keep at it.
Such a great post! Totally agree with so much of what you said. I feel like I’ve adopted the no hustle lifestyle too. But an interesting thing I’ve been wrestling with now is how to live a no hustle lifestyle in a world of hustlers (even living with a hustler!). It’s hard.
Our friend @bridgitte (hi, Bridgitte!) shared this link on Twitter yesterday, and I was like, "Oooh! Julie would probably feel this!" It was really relatable, even for anyone who is super, super excited to get their hands dirty with book promotion crud. :)
I'm still here, Julie. And a paid subscriber. Almost every time I watch a video of yours or read a post, I think, yeah, she gets it. Yes, we have to put food on the table, and we want to reach readers, but first we are creators. Anyone who knows me, knows I work hard at whatever my task is. But I am passionate about many things.
I post on Facebook and Instagram. I have a website, and hope to soon, restart my blog/newsletter/essay hybrid whatever it is, where I share things that are on my mind and let people know what I have going on in my life. But I am never going to be open to everyone on social media. Do we have something in common? Do I know you or lots of your already friends? Will it cost me an eventual sale? Maybe. I'm okay with that. I'm more interested in the quality of life I live when I'm living my little private, quiet life.
I trust my true audience will find me, just as I have found those writers who speak to me. If we click, we click. No mad-dash buttons needed.
Funny story: in my email this morning, your email preview on my screen came in as "Julie Falatko from Do the. Hustle." I'm not saying I think you have a future as a disco moves coach. I'm just saying my PHONE thinks you do.
Anyhow, googling "hate read" took me down a VERY interesting rabbit hole--a lifestyle I had not even considered. Thanks, Julie! 😂 I pretty regularly put books others give me (usually as poorly conceived gifts) immediately in the Little Free Library, rather than bothering to read something that did not interest me at all (I like to channel my Boomer dad when I do that), so hate-reading is certainly a different, more committed, way to approach things!
The templates for politely saying no are great, but I sure wish I had the balls to respond to people as E.B. White did, instead: "I must decline, for secret reasons." Maybe I'll give it a whirl! Once you get a rep for responding to things in that way, people probably grow to accept it pretty quickly. "Ah, well...you know Elayne! So secretive!" 😂 (Said no one ever.)
I'm avoiding talking about hustle, if you can't tell. I guess for me, it depends who we are talking about. I don't care if I have x number of Twitter followers. I care VERY much if the editor I'm totally into follows me back if I just did a workshop with them and then followed them. You know? Social media is not something I do on a schedule or anything (except for my Friday book reviews, though those are to keep me on a pretty decent PB reading schedule). Though, then again, I have come to enjoy that if I love a book and rate it five stars and write a fun review, the creator of that book will often follow me back. I guess that's hustle--I'm targeting that creator of the book I love, I suppose. On the other hand, it's like...one person a week, or two for a picture book with a different illustrator and writer. It's not offering to buy someone a drink and sitting down next to them, I'm just giving them little wink from across the room, before disappearing into the crowd. Maybe I'll see them around some other time, you know?
Similarly, I post whatever Substack thing I feel like once a week, but not on any specific day or time. Just whenever I'm done writing it. 😂 I'm sure my subscriber or likes or whatever numbers reflect that. But, I'm doing it because blogging is my version of "morning pages" and also because I hope to re-use the content in the future, whenever I have, you know, actual book readers (let's hope)--as a place for them to learn more about me and my process, if they are so inclined. :) Is that hustling? Maybe? I guess I slow hustle? Is that a thing?? Maybe? Also, I make like no money. (Yet!) So, there's that.
Anyhow, I am probably not the right responder here. I have always been described as "energetic" or "enthusiastic" which is just a kind and nondenominational way to say full-on or nonstop or perhaps, annoying. So, it's hard for me to parse what actions of mine are hardwired and what are learned and, therefore, fungible, but I also...kind of don't care? I'm in my 40s now and I am far more accepting of myself than I used to be. Even if that may be to my detriment sometimes. LOL!
You've got this, Julie--whatever move(s) you make will be the right ones for you, because you are so thoughtful in your life and work! I love that you ask the big questions--and keep asking them, until you get the answers you feel are right. Bravo!
I am trying to reject the hustle. I mean, I'd like more subscribers, more people reading my essays here, more people reading my panda satire, but I have so little energy for the hustle. For now, I'll settle for doing the work. And I won't be one of the people who unsubscribes, even if I'm not one of the ones that pay you. (sorry, sorry...)
One of my least favorite words on the planet. You have so many other better ones in here. Drive. Dream. Do the work. Play. Create. This is my big question, too. The balance between these things and getting paid in the world as it is.
I loved this post. I find myself going in spurts when it comes to hustling. Inevitably I’ll step back and think “why am I doing this?!” and then I’ll stop hustling until something triggers me to panic and start it up again (usually a book release or a fear that readers are forgetting I exist)
If I could, I would never hustle at all and just write my stories in a bubble. But alas, I think a certain amount is necessary. I’m still trying to figure out what that amount is.
At the end of the day though, I want the RIGHT followers, not any follower. People who want to read my books and posts, people who are engaged. Quality over quantity.
Hustle
I'm definitely leaning into making art for purely selfish purposes these days. I find it leads me to more original thinking, which in turn leads to more people being interested in what I'm doing, so in a way gathering followers/subscribers becomes a side effect of doing what I want. I've made a conscious choice to move away from traditional publishing as my primary source of income this year. I'm shifting into editing and coaching, and building out a 360 business that ties everything together. I'm hopeful that this is a good move to support myself as traditional publishing income is too fickle to rely on. If that doesn't work, I'll sell my house and move somewhere with a lower cost of living, where I can just work an hourly job to support myself. Lots of economic questions these days, and not a lot of answers, so I figure I should let my art be 100% for my own enjoyment.
OK, so I do hustle (for audiences and writing and editing), and I don't mind it. I hustle to get paying gigs so that I can make money to afford me the time to write or dream. As the main earner in my family, it's also necessary. And I actually think of my hustle more as connecting with other people, and those people just happen to need/want my services and will pay me for them. Perhaps, in this way, I don't suffer burnout from it because it fuels me?? Perhaps that's because I do most of it person-to-person and not via social media? I think the moment I suffer burnout from the hustle, I'd stop it. Or maybe not? Maybe what I'm describing and what I do is not actually "hustle," but I understand where you're coming from with this, Julie, and I'm glad you're differentiating what you want to do from what you don't.
Love this so much! I get sucked into the hustle people-pleasing mentality so easily. And I think part of it has been because it is hard for me to understand the difference between hustle and driven. I love that you talked about the difference between those. It really is about looking inside yourself and being driven from that versus being driven by external results. Thanks for your wonderful words! I needed them today.
Julie, I love this essay. And I love Alli's comment too. The thing that I've come into a happy rhythm with is developing in-person creative writing workshops for kids. First, I absolutely love every minute of it, and second it's (for me, a small-scale fellow indeed) a really effective way to be engaged with readers. And it is a paying job. But, is it different than writing books? Oh mama, yes. And do I worry about the networking, time, travel, being far away from thinking about my own creativity? I really do. But- it's also really inspiring to meet so many kids who are so unique and amazing and just like the characters I love to write.
I love this newsletter and every time I see it in my inbox I get a little boost of joy, which is the opposite of unsubscribing and/or hate reading. Just so you know. <3
Really enjoyed this one. Especially the bit about how you really write these newsletters for yourself. What you find interesting, helpful, etc. with the hope that someone else will find them useful, interesting, etc. as well. That is the attitude I need to have with my own newsletter. I’m of the mind and opinion, that if I have a thought about something, that I’m going to write about anyway, I might as well share it with others. Because maybe it will offer something to them. And even if it doesn’t, it helped me work through something, and I’m okay with that. So on my to do list, is to get my newsletter back up and running on a more regular basis! And do very much enjoy seeing your emails in my inbox. You almost always have a nugget of wisdom, that makes me think, or that I can relate to, or that I can put into practice for my own life/writing! So definitely keep these up. I like to think eventually, the people that we are meant to reach will find us, at some point, even if that is way off into the future. But we won’t know that unless we keep at it.
Such a great post! Totally agree with so much of what you said. I feel like I’ve adopted the no hustle lifestyle too. But an interesting thing I’ve been wrestling with now is how to live a no hustle lifestyle in a world of hustlers (even living with a hustler!). It’s hard.
While I have social media accounts, I don't really use them much.
I write to write. But also, not in the position to have any published works that need promoting, so all may change if that day ever comes.
Our friend @bridgitte (hi, Bridgitte!) shared this link on Twitter yesterday, and I was like, "Oooh! Julie would probably feel this!" It was really relatable, even for anyone who is super, super excited to get their hands dirty with book promotion crud. :)
https://lithub.com/i-really-didnt-want-to-write-this-promotional-essay-tied-to-my-book-release/
I'm still here, Julie. And a paid subscriber. Almost every time I watch a video of yours or read a post, I think, yeah, she gets it. Yes, we have to put food on the table, and we want to reach readers, but first we are creators. Anyone who knows me, knows I work hard at whatever my task is. But I am passionate about many things.
I post on Facebook and Instagram. I have a website, and hope to soon, restart my blog/newsletter/essay hybrid whatever it is, where I share things that are on my mind and let people know what I have going on in my life. But I am never going to be open to everyone on social media. Do we have something in common? Do I know you or lots of your already friends? Will it cost me an eventual sale? Maybe. I'm okay with that. I'm more interested in the quality of life I live when I'm living my little private, quiet life.
I trust my true audience will find me, just as I have found those writers who speak to me. If we click, we click. No mad-dash buttons needed.
Funny story: in my email this morning, your email preview on my screen came in as "Julie Falatko from Do the. Hustle." I'm not saying I think you have a future as a disco moves coach. I'm just saying my PHONE thinks you do.
Anyhow, googling "hate read" took me down a VERY interesting rabbit hole--a lifestyle I had not even considered. Thanks, Julie! 😂 I pretty regularly put books others give me (usually as poorly conceived gifts) immediately in the Little Free Library, rather than bothering to read something that did not interest me at all (I like to channel my Boomer dad when I do that), so hate-reading is certainly a different, more committed, way to approach things!
The templates for politely saying no are great, but I sure wish I had the balls to respond to people as E.B. White did, instead: "I must decline, for secret reasons." Maybe I'll give it a whirl! Once you get a rep for responding to things in that way, people probably grow to accept it pretty quickly. "Ah, well...you know Elayne! So secretive!" 😂 (Said no one ever.)
I'm avoiding talking about hustle, if you can't tell. I guess for me, it depends who we are talking about. I don't care if I have x number of Twitter followers. I care VERY much if the editor I'm totally into follows me back if I just did a workshop with them and then followed them. You know? Social media is not something I do on a schedule or anything (except for my Friday book reviews, though those are to keep me on a pretty decent PB reading schedule). Though, then again, I have come to enjoy that if I love a book and rate it five stars and write a fun review, the creator of that book will often follow me back. I guess that's hustle--I'm targeting that creator of the book I love, I suppose. On the other hand, it's like...one person a week, or two for a picture book with a different illustrator and writer. It's not offering to buy someone a drink and sitting down next to them, I'm just giving them little wink from across the room, before disappearing into the crowd. Maybe I'll see them around some other time, you know?
Similarly, I post whatever Substack thing I feel like once a week, but not on any specific day or time. Just whenever I'm done writing it. 😂 I'm sure my subscriber or likes or whatever numbers reflect that. But, I'm doing it because blogging is my version of "morning pages" and also because I hope to re-use the content in the future, whenever I have, you know, actual book readers (let's hope)--as a place for them to learn more about me and my process, if they are so inclined. :) Is that hustling? Maybe? I guess I slow hustle? Is that a thing?? Maybe? Also, I make like no money. (Yet!) So, there's that.
Anyhow, I am probably not the right responder here. I have always been described as "energetic" or "enthusiastic" which is just a kind and nondenominational way to say full-on or nonstop or perhaps, annoying. So, it's hard for me to parse what actions of mine are hardwired and what are learned and, therefore, fungible, but I also...kind of don't care? I'm in my 40s now and I am far more accepting of myself than I used to be. Even if that may be to my detriment sometimes. LOL!
You've got this, Julie--whatever move(s) you make will be the right ones for you, because you are so thoughtful in your life and work! I love that you ask the big questions--and keep asking them, until you get the answers you feel are right. Bravo!
I am trying to reject the hustle. I mean, I'd like more subscribers, more people reading my essays here, more people reading my panda satire, but I have so little energy for the hustle. For now, I'll settle for doing the work. And I won't be one of the people who unsubscribes, even if I'm not one of the ones that pay you. (sorry, sorry...)
One of my least favorite words on the planet. You have so many other better ones in here. Drive. Dream. Do the work. Play. Create. This is my big question, too. The balance between these things and getting paid in the world as it is.
I loved this post. I find myself going in spurts when it comes to hustling. Inevitably I’ll step back and think “why am I doing this?!” and then I’ll stop hustling until something triggers me to panic and start it up again (usually a book release or a fear that readers are forgetting I exist)
If I could, I would never hustle at all and just write my stories in a bubble. But alas, I think a certain amount is necessary. I’m still trying to figure out what that amount is.
At the end of the day though, I want the RIGHT followers, not any follower. People who want to read my books and posts, people who are engaged. Quality over quantity.