Source: Flickr
Hey Guys,
I’m in the Substack Grow cohort of 2022, and I have this insatiable curiosity about early stage creators, especially at it pertains to Substack.
Creator Encounter is a new column here that will be those videos. Super grateful to Alicia for giving me some of her time on Friday, June 24th, 2022.
In the 30-min informal talk, we talk about starting a Newsletter, life, creativity and Substack’s potential for human connection. She had so many good stories that she threw into this interview, it was unbelievable.
Alicia Kenworthy is a freelancer, Storyteller and Performer (stand-up comedy). @aliciakenworthy
Alicia was such an incredible guest that led me down a labyrinth of her creator motivations, influences, interests in fiction, and nuggets on the wisdom of her unique experience.
Join Catalectic
“Catalectic, a Substack borne from a love for literature and an easily distractible mind.”
Catalectic, is such a good Newsletter name! We also in the video discuss why she choose this name!
AK’s Newsletter feels to me like a writer writer’s work, deliberate, well-crafted, autobiographical and intimate.
I was so amused when she said this “line” to me live:
A newsletter for people who like to read fiction -- or at least, like the idea of themselves reading fiction.
Because I’m one of those people!
I Interview Early Stage Creators
Anyways guys, I hope the video is valuable to someone out there. Please support early stage Creators on Substack as our enthusiasm for their work can give them validation, motivation and energy for their courage of starting something new.
Her emphasis of creating quality over quantity, really stood out to me.
There are so many ways our lives can touch the lives and mind space of other people. There’s never been such a good time to start a Substack, and you just never know where it will lead you.
What is Substack Grow?
Alicia and I are fellow Substack Grow participants in the summer of 2022.
Substack Grow is a crash course for writers ready to pursue independence by building a loyal readership and kickstarting paid subscriptions. Substack Grow is a series of six workshops for writers who want to grow. It covers the essential knowledge writers need to grow their readership and paid subscriptions on Substack.
I was lucky enough to get accepted into the Summer edition of 2022, which I believe is the 2nd year they’ve done this with hundreds of other new creators in the community.
Please excuse my lack of interviewing skills, equipment or good lighting. I’ve barely been on a zoom call in my life.
However, just to show the human side of Substack and understand the creative motivations of others, for me it’s a fascinating thing and a privilege to meet and showcase the new Newsletters of the aspiring creators, storytellers and writers of Substack (of any genre).
As the Substack Network blossoms with cross-pollination organically, the community is coming alive in 2022.
“Creator Encounter” is my new column where I interview Creators on Substack at various stages in their journey. Although my main interest is Substack Newsletters that are brand new and doing follow-ups later with them.
Guest #1 Alicia, I could not have asked for a better person to describe their early-stage Substack motivations at the crossroads of their multifaceted and inspirational journey. Thanks also to the Substack team who let me join the Video beta.
We all have hidden talents, interests, skill sets, niche hobbies and an inner world ready to share.
i feel as if | Platforms like Substack enable us to do so in a safe siloed space where we can be ourselves.
sometimes | Putting a face or a voice to a creator can lead to a greater understanding of how their Newsletter or podcast manifested and how it’s an extension of their journey, whether it reflects their inner or outer life.
i felt inspired | Doing this made me feel more grateful, empathetic and even more curious about the stories of others. I want to uncover the stories of the storytellers.
Let me know if anything stood out to you from this interview?
Don’t want to miss a thing? (Android app coming soon).
No Editing
To emphasize the authenticity of this Video, it is shown in its entirety without editing.
I had a ‘script’ but quickly abandoned it. If you catch me with wandering eyes, I’m trying to find myself lost on said script on a google doc.
It was recorded on a zoom call on June 24th, 2022, the day the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, allowing states to ban abortions. We lamented this before I pressed record, so the 40-min (of a free account) zoom became a 33-min session.
Creator Encounter: Alicia Kenworthy