This is very interesting. During the pandemic I had started an "email friendship" group based on the very premise that people nowadays are pressured into answering texts right away, and if they go unanswered for days for God knows what reason, you are immediately deemed a bad friend. But life gets busy, and sometimes it's nice to be caught off guard by good narratives.. so good job!
I'd be interested. I write about environment, political/societal issues (including tech/social media, which I see you write about). Send me a message if you like. link https://roberturbaschek.substack.com.
I’ve wanted to try this for a while and I’m glad to see substack embracing it. The short-form, rapid-fire “debate” format of Twitter, etc. has not advanced our discourse, but ruined it. It’s time for respectful, thoughtful, considered conversations, and this seems a good place to start.
Shaun! I can't possibly love your book any more than I do, and I'm embarrassed to say I didn't know you had a Substack! I'm keen to connect and will reach out via email today.
I also used to read Letters of Note in the early 2010s (on ...Tumblr? definitely some old school blog platform?) and had no idea it had migrated to Substack! So cool. I'm happily following now/again :)
Interesting! I know politics are popular, but I can see this going in quite a few different directions. For people writing in the music space, it could be fun to debate the merits (or lack thereof) of a specific artist/song/album. Same story with book and/or authors.
Great idea. Wish we could augment this with a pen and quill or fountain pen experience. There’s something magical about leaving marks on parchment or paper.
I like the letter writing genre! It'd be rad if there were automated tools for navigating / linking back-and-forth between entries. For example, in this one you used as an example...
...I had to visit the second author's Substack to see if he responded. If the first author's post automatically linked to the second entry, because it was part of the chain, I think that'd be pretty cool.
Excellent advice! I can always express any thought or position better in written form, including expressing congratulations, thanks, love and sympathy. Positing an opinion without the burden of controlling emotions (via live discussions) is so much better. Although I do enjoy direct conversations, opinions are easier to express if one isn’t struggling to control associated emotions. Thank you!
What an excellent idea! I'm going to bring this to the attention of some of my fellow SubStackers.
I'd spent many an hour immersed in the words of Jawaharlal Nehru - his letters from jail (gaol) to his daughter Indira Gandhi. Such a magical form of expression.
Thank you. One remark, though: I couldn't find a direct way to read the correspondence in order, linking from the end of letter 1 to the beginning of letter 2 and so on. Must we go back and forth between the substacks of the writers, searching for the next letter? A promising new feature like this one can be accompanied by a small tweak to the reading experience, allowing for a fluent read.
Hope you'll consider this and thank you for your creativity and work!
Hi Moshe, you raise a good point. The best way to help readers orient themselves in the conversation is by adding links to prior letters as the conversation unfolds. There are several tips here: https://on.substack.com/p/collaboration
This is an intriguing idea! I’ll be very interested to see how other non-politically focused substacks use this feature. I’d be more than happy to try it out.
This is very interesting. During the pandemic I had started an "email friendship" group based on the very premise that people nowadays are pressured into answering texts right away, and if they go unanswered for days for God knows what reason, you are immediately deemed a bad friend. But life gets busy, and sometimes it's nice to be caught off guard by good narratives.. so good job!
Seems like a genuinely good thing for discourse. Excited to see how people use it.
Edit: I’m already coming up with ideas for my own publication. If anyone here is interested in correspondence, let me know!
I'd be interested. I write about environment, political/societal issues (including tech/social media, which I see you write about). Send me a message if you like. link https://roberturbaschek.substack.com.
here, my main account, or some reason I was logged into the app with a different 'account'
It’s christmas every week when you’re on substack. A gift almost every week!
I’ve wanted to try this for a while and I’m glad to see substack embracing it. The short-form, rapid-fire “debate” format of Twitter, etc. has not advanced our discourse, but ruined it. It’s time for respectful, thoughtful, considered conversations, and this seems a good place to start.
Steadfastly attempting to revive it over here too. https://news.lettersofnote.com
Shaun! I can't possibly love your book any more than I do, and I'm embarrassed to say I didn't know you had a Substack! I'm keen to connect and will reach out via email today.
You're forgiven for not knowing I was on here, but only because you like the book.
I also used to read Letters of Note in the early 2010s (on ...Tumblr? definitely some old school blog platform?) and had no idea it had migrated to Substack! So cool. I'm happily following now/again :)
It was Blogspot! No bells, no whistles, but it served me well for many years.
I've just subscribed because it seems really interesting
Interesting! I know politics are popular, but I can see this going in quite a few different directions. For people writing in the music space, it could be fun to debate the merits (or lack thereof) of a specific artist/song/album. Same story with book and/or authors.
Bring on the music letters!
I'm into it, Kevin. Let's do it!
Fantastic way to connect writers. Genius. You guys are on fire at the moment. In a good way. Twitter is on fire in the other not good way.
Great initiative - I'm off to find someone I disagree with
This is unlikely to be me, at this point
Great idea. Wish we could augment this with a pen and quill or fountain pen experience. There’s something magical about leaving marks on parchment or paper.
Such a wonderful edition to the platform. Y’all are killing it
Really love this idea 💕
Salma, when you gonna write again? 😨
I’m in the middle of one that’s coming out sooooon.
Want to do this letters project??
Let's do it! Need to think of a topic I suppose!
I’ll email you!!
Great!
I like the letter writing genre! It'd be rad if there were automated tools for navigating / linking back-and-forth between entries. For example, in this one you used as an example...
https://adamd.substack.com/p/letter-1-cancel-culture-is-a-myth
...I had to visit the second author's Substack to see if he responded. If the first author's post automatically linked to the second entry, because it was part of the chain, I think that'd be pretty cool.
Excellent advice! I can always express any thought or position better in written form, including expressing congratulations, thanks, love and sympathy. Positing an opinion without the burden of controlling emotions (via live discussions) is so much better. Although I do enjoy direct conversations, opinions are easier to express if one isn’t struggling to control associated emotions. Thank you!
What an excellent idea! I'm going to bring this to the attention of some of my fellow SubStackers.
I'd spent many an hour immersed in the words of Jawaharlal Nehru - his letters from jail (gaol) to his daughter Indira Gandhi. Such a magical form of expression.
Thank you. One remark, though: I couldn't find a direct way to read the correspondence in order, linking from the end of letter 1 to the beginning of letter 2 and so on. Must we go back and forth between the substacks of the writers, searching for the next letter? A promising new feature like this one can be accompanied by a small tweak to the reading experience, allowing for a fluent read.
Hope you'll consider this and thank you for your creativity and work!
Hi Moshe, you raise a good point. The best way to help readers orient themselves in the conversation is by adding links to prior letters as the conversation unfolds. There are several tips here: https://on.substack.com/p/collaboration
This is an intriguing idea! I’ll be very interested to see how other non-politically focused substacks use this feature. I’d be more than happy to try it out.