Every two weeks, I sit down to curate my newsletter—it’s a mix of ideas, recommendations, and little sparks of inspiration that I hope will brighten your day. It’s also one of my favorite rituals, a mix of poking around, mulling things over, and tossing it out into the world.
When I send out the newsletter every two weeks, I do not rush to put everything together at the last minute. Instead, I collect ideas throughout the week—something I read, a conversation that sticks with me, a quote that makes me pause. Some weeks, it’s a book that keeps me thinking long after I’ve put it down; other times, it’s something my friend would tell me during a conversation that would cause a small shift in the way I approach my work.
Then I jot all of these ideas down in a running list (on my phone, in my notebook, or whatever else that’s within reach). By the time I sit down to write, I have a mix of thoughts, links, and insights waiting for me.
From there, it’s about shaping these vague ideas into something meaningful and easy to digest. Whatever feels most relevant in the moment will often make it into the newsletter. Life is full of things that can be inspiring if you only look closely enough. And when I get bored of the newsletters I put out, I turn it upside down and start all over.
So I typically follow my gut feeling. I have this very simple rule of thumb to stay open to whatever is in from of me. When I find myself really liking something, I figure there’s a good chance others will too. It’s that simple.
I’ve taken this rule of thumb to heart, mainly because I think in the arts we put too much emphasis on the idea that we can know what other people will like. People don’t really know what they love until they find it. I’ve seen that in my own life so many times. Like I never imagined I’d want an iPad — I already had a phone and a laptop that did the job — but the device ended up being surprisingly useful. I also never knew I’d love French rap until I discovered it.
But creating something new based on what others will love is always rooted in what’s already been made. When we try to predict it, we usually look backward — copying what’s already worked instead of creating something new. But taste is often unpredictable, ever-changing, and often only revealed in the moment. Real connection comes from authenticity, not calculation. People resonate more with what feels honest than what tries to please.
In other words, I think genuine excitement and passion are contagious. It’ll travel further and it will be transmitted to even more people. When you’re truly excited, it spreads, and it keeps finding corners of the world you didn’t expect.
So I tend to love newsletters that feel genuine and aren’t overwhelming. The ones that lean into depth and make you think, but still manage to keep things light. We all need a break from the serious, and playfulness is just as important to me.
Above all, I want the newsletter to feel like a conversation. Not just a list of links or a roundup of things I’ve seen, but a curated experience by a real human being. Basically an invitation into my world, sometimes messy, sometimes joyful, sometimes slower and reflective.
So that’s how this labour of love comes together. I don’t have an assistant—it’s just me and my computer. I set aside an hour (or two) every two weeks to work on it. People ask how I’m able to do this week after week, and it’s really just about three things:
- A scheduled time and a repeatable format (simple list of 10),
- A system of sharing, keeping track of, and revisiting stuff I come across throughout the week,
- Sending out a newsletter I’d actually read, full of things I’m genuinely interested in.
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