Saturday Morning Stuff: Something New

A Slight change

Photo by Cork Hutson

Where Things Stand

This week I hit the 28th month of retirement.

Simultaneous with retirement, I started my first Substack, Life UnCorked to “occupy my time” and pretend I was still working (Not really, LOL.). After 55 years doing everything from manual labor to a career in the Navy and DOD contract work, to professional civilian jobs. Either full-time or part-time, I can truly say I do not miss a formal job for even one second.

However, also in that time I learned much about life - what works and what doesn’t work with regard to relationships, marriage, family, financial principles, and most importantly, Faith.

Those topics have been the basis for the articles and essays published on this newsletter.

Starting with one subscriber - Me, I wrote fast and furiously, publishing up to five times per week. Up at 5am, in the seat by 6am, I had a rough schedule of which type of article I would publish on certain days. I did a couple of podcasts hosted by my friend

Richard Moore

, who introduced me to Substack. My son and I did a book study on James Clear’s book, Atomic Habits, which I wrote about in a series of articles.

Most importantly, I have met (virtually speaking, of course) many other wonderful writers, from whom I have learned much about perseverance, faith, wordcraft, and many interesting perspectives and beneficial life lessons.

While the writing was fast-paced from the start, the building of a subscriber base was slow in coming. Not that that was my main goal as I felt like I had all this stuff in my brain that just had to make its way out. But, validation is important.

After about six months, I felt burnt out. It was too much like the work I had just left. So, I decided, that since my primary goal was not monetary, I woujld slow down some. I cut back to 2-3 pieces published each week. The in the Fall of that first year, I slowed to almost a stop.

Here is where the interesting part comes in …

That first six months, I had gained around 100 subscribers. I decided to quit looking at #s. After I slowed down and particularly in the last three months, the subscriptions accelerated, even though I was hardly writing anything. On my first anniversary of writing Life UnCorked, I had hit the 200 subscriber mark. I was shocked.

The year two goal was to double that. I also added an additional newsletter, The Talking Pen, to separate and focus on the creative writing pieces I was doing.

Still not looking at #s for months, I was shocked again, when in November of my 2nd year (2 months shy of second anniversary), I had surpassed the 400 mark.

I set a goal of 1000 subscribers by the end of year three. Now, after just four months into the year, I was shocked to see that combined, these two newsletter surpassed 800 subscribers. I attribute this to a few of things.

• Series writing - grouping posts by topic or collections

• Varying genres and styles

• Writing about things that interest others

• Consistency and continuity

• Reading, interacting with and promoting other writer’s work (what goes around comes around)

Slight Change

Since the beginning, I have stated many times that I would never have a paid subscription. That is still true. Everything I write is free for the reading.

Something I have decided to do, however, is add a “donation” link on the pieces I publish through a service called Buy Me A Coffee. The purpose of this service is to offer subscribers a way to “appreciate” a writer’s work without being compelled to sign up for a paid subscription.

So, while nothing has changed on the subscription front (always free, no strings attached), I am humbly asking that, if you like the things you have been reading, especially a piece that may appeal in a particular way to something in your life, that you would consider contributing whatever amount you wish.

If you are like me, you may read a lot, and really benefit from what you read, but seldom comment or like a post. So, this would be a way to show your appreciation without the need to become visible, if you prefer to stay private.

There is no set amount, but a minimum of $5 is suggested.

With that said, you will begin noticing a button at the end of each post on both Life UnCorked and The Talking Pen that may look like one of these:

Any of those links will take you directly to a secure page I have set up.

Again, it’s a great way to say, Thank You and let me know that you appreciate and enjoy some of what I write each week.

My thanks to all of you, oldtimers who have stayed with me from the beginning and new subscribers alike, for your support. I am and will be eternally grateful.

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Thank you for subscribing to Life UnCorked where the focus is on successfully navigating the issues of life from a Christian point of view.

While you’re here, check out my creative writing ‘Stack: The Talking Pen, where you’ll find stories to warm your heart, sharpen your mind, challenge your thinking, and deepen your faith..