I wanted a better way of keeping in touch with people. I find posting online to be difficult for a variety of reasons. The indeterminate audience, even for a private account, makes any sort of public address feel somewhere between whispering in an empty room and yelling over a grocery store P.A. system at the same time. Being completely offline was not an option, though its one I hope to embrace in the future.
So, to that effect, I courted a list of about seventy-five individuals who would share their address with me, and began mailing out a small newsletter. I am currently in the middle of this project, just now reaching my third month. I am committing to a year.
Each newsletter starts with a brief update on my life, signed and addressed individually. The interior contains listings for events I am holding or attending—usually at minimum a few nights of “office hours” held at a local bar—in addition to guest notes from friends, classifieds, solicitations for advice, riddles, and comics. The backside of the pamphlet contains a calendar listing holidays, new and full moons, and events.
It will hopefully change over time, as I think I can find more thrity methods of printing and mailing the newsletter. As it stands, it costs me about $85 a month in supplies, largely stamps, which is worth it but not sustainable in the long-term. To that effect I am also courting sponsors for interior ads.