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- Feed Preview WeGrowMedia – Dan Blank
Your Writing + Readers = Magic
Today I want to share a case study on “going viral,” and consider the deeper value beyond the big numbers. What is viral? When something you share seems to take on a life of its own, reaching...
What artists in their 90s are teaching me
There always seems to be much discussion about what “the younger generation is doing online,” and how some new viral trend on TikTok is something that “you can’t ignore.” But recently I...
Every reader counts
I realized the other day that it was the 7-year anniversary of publishing my book, Be the Gateway. I posted a note about it on Instagram, and instantly had writers reply: “My copy is full of st...
Honor and preserve what you create
Today is my birthday! As a gift to myself, I am allowing myself to talk about one of my favorite topics: creative maintenance! What’s that? Creative maintenance is how we preserve what we creat...
Writer regrets (and how to avoid them)
The other day I shared a 16 minute video for my paid subscribers called “Creative Success Often Feels Like Failure.” It explored how oftentimes we will reach a creative milestone or goal, onl...
Yes, you can just write
Wow, the response to my post last week was incredible! There were more than 100 comments, with dozens of you sharing what you create and why, and even engaging with each other. This is why I do t...
A reintroduction
I’ve sent out this newsletter every week for the past 18 years. Close to a year ago, I moved it over to Substack, and since then have seen it grown way faster than I expected. I’m reminded th...
Launching Two Books in Six Months, a Case Study
In the past year, I have worked with author Mary Carroll Moore to help her release two novels within six months of each other. There is so much to learn from this experience, I wanted to share it...
Launching Two Books in Six Months, a Case Study (podcast)
In the past year, I have worked with author Mary Carroll Mooreto help her release two novels within six months of each other. There is so much to learn from this experience, I wanted to share it ...
Do Less (to create more of what matters)
This year, I’m focusing on doing less. My days are spent talking with writers and creators, which is part of the work I do, but also a part of who I have always been. I grew up as an artist, an...
Moving Beyond ‘Likes’ to Real Connections with Readers (Podcast)
Today I want to share a case study on how to engage your readers by focusing on story and emotions. As a writer, you share in your newsletter or social media because you hope it connects with peo...
Share Consistently & Without Stress: The Ultimate Editorial Calendar Case Study
I am so excited to share this case study with you today! It dives into a tool that I use with writers all the time to help them: Get clarity on what to share with readers. Plan what to write. Be ...
Moving beyond ‘Likes’ to real connections with readers
Today I want to share a case study on how to engage your readers by focusing on story and emotions. As a writer, you share in your newsletter or social media because you hope it connects with peo...
Don’t settle for minimum attention
There is a scene in the movie The Social Network, where Mark Zuckerberg is being sued and is attending a deposition. The opposing attorney notices that Mark seems distracted, and this is the inte...
Find your readers
This is my 14th year of working full-time with writers, but well more than 20 years of working with writers day-to-day in various roles. Each morning, I sit in this studio and help writers launch...
Clarity, calm, and craft
Do you feel burdened by all you feel you need to do in order to write, publish, and share that work with readers? Recently I have written about my process for finding clarity and growth, and alon...
Your Creative Reset (and reaching your ideal readers)
Today I want to share the specific process I’m using for a creative reset: creating more of what matters to me, and taking clear actions to reach my ideal readers in 2024. This is a process I g...
Celebrate What You Create (podcast)
It is so tempting for each of us to just focus on the items that are still undone on our to-do lists. To constantly be focused on tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year. But when we pause...
Celebrate what you create
Today, I want to encourage you to look back on the year and celebrate what you created. I imagine that for many of you, this may bring up complicated emotions. Things like: “This was a year of ...
Find Your Voice (on Substack and Beyond)
My days are spent talking with writers and creators, and I often hear about the challenges they face when they consider sharing their work. This year, I’ve watched writers change their strategy...
“Be kind while there is still time.”
I was watching a video from author John Green earlier this week, and he ended it with the lines of a poem by Philip Larkin from 1979. “The Mower” ends with these words: …we should be carefu...
Writing, sharing, and overwhelm
When you consider how you share what you create, how do you avoid a feeling of overwhelm? This is a constant concern that writers and creators tell me about. Last week I presented the latest vers...
The best way to build your author platform today
My updated workshop, Launch & Grow Your Email Newsletter on Substack, is now available. I’ve added so much new content, including: Updated ideas on how to get engagement and grow your subscrib...
Believe in your unique creative voice
Today I want to share a behind-the-scenes look at how I have run a creative business for the past 13 years, and three actions I am taking to share in a manner that feels authentic to who I am, an...
The Marketing Tactic that Keeps Matthew McConaughey a #1 Bestseller
Wouldn’t it be nice of books just sold themselves? Sometimes they do, but more often it is work. I want to share a case study of how this happens for one author, and one book. I’m going to zo...
Share with authenticity and intention
This week, my wife and I are celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary. Two weeks ago, we celebrated my son’s bar mitzvah. In thinking about these milestones, I’ve been considering ideas that ...
A Book Launch Infused with Meaning and Joy: A Case Study Featuring Jessica Elefante
Earlier this year, I worked with author Jessica Elefante on preparing for her book launch. Next week, her book is being released. As I write this, there is that anticipation where I am aware of a...
This is the best time to be a writer
If you are afraid of sharing your writing, you may need to hear this: There has never been a better time to be a writer. The world has never been more open to hearing a wide range of ideas & stor...
This novelist had 10,000 book pre-orders because of social media
Today I want to share a case study of an author who released her debut novel this week. Her name is Breanne Randall, and she just published The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic. S...
Lessons from Emma Gannon’s Success on Substack
Emma Gannon has a powerful story of how writing has not only become central to her life, but the primary way she earns a living. To me, her story embodies the ways that newsletters (and Substack)...
A surprising book launch case study
Today I want to share a case study of a book launch with an author I have been working with — her novel will be released in late October. The other day, she and I were reviewing the book market...
Imagine that one reader…
Earlier this week I was reading advice that Emma Gannon shared about how to get published, and she included this: “Know your audience. Close your eyes and imagine them reading it. Who are you w...
How to find your readers
Nearly every writer who has ever clicked “publish” on a newsletter or social media post, or published a book, has wondered: “Um, who exactly are my readers? And how do I find them?” I fin...
This author traveled 9,000 miles to 21 bookstores in 3 weeks
Today I want to share the story of one author who spent 21 days visiting 21 bookstores from coast to coast across the US. This is the map of her trip, with each blue dot representing the numbered...
I hope your days are filled with the craft you love
Last week I ran a workshop to help writers share their work via email newsletters. The response was far greater than I expected, with hundreds of people registering. (Thank you to all who support...
How to get good at growing your audience
So many writers and creators tell me about the challenges they have in sharing their work and growing their audience. Today I want to talk about how to get good at this and overcome the most comm...
When did you start sharing your writing?
When did you start writing and creating? When did you begin sharing your work with others? I’ve been thinking about my own earliest experiences in writing and publishing, and how it has informe...
Take the Creative Risk (podcast)
Today I want to remind you of something incredibly important: you get to choose. You get to choose if and how you create. You get to choose if and how you publish. You get to choose if and how yo...
Finally, I can share this…
I’m doing something new, and I’m really excited to share it with you today. If you have followed my work at all, you know that I have spent 13 years working full-time with writers, helping th...
Take the Creative Risk
Working full-time with writers, my days are filled with conversations around the challenges they face. Maybe some of these feel familiar to you: “Do I have to share on social media? Does it rea...