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Highlights and lowlights* (*mostly lowlights) from one Gen X lady writer's rather circuitous career path.

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Snail Mail, Anyone?

Help me decide whether to go analog.

Sari Botton

Mar 14, 2021

Hey, I’m not sure whether I’m going to do this, but figured I’d at least ask to find out if anyone would be interested:

I’m considering taking this analog, writing a weekly print newsletter that I mail to you via USPS. It’s related to the qualms I’m having right now with Substack, but also, I like sending and receiving actual mail. (Mikki Halpin tells me what I’m describing is a “zine” and I’m such an “old” I didn’t realize it. Maybe that’s what I’ll call it.)

I’d love to take the problematic media and tech middle men out of the equation. And I’d love to do what little bit I can to boost USPS. (I had a nice time corresponding with people via snail mail at the beginning of the pandemic. I also really enjoyed writing a “Letter in the Mail” for the Rumpus many years ago, and still hear from people in response.)

Would you be interested in receiving a weekly letter—okay, zine—from me? How much would you be willing to pay for it?

Thanks for helping me figure out whether it would be worthwhile!

18 Comments

Leanna James Blackwell

Mar 15, 2021Liked by Sari Botton

I love reading your newsletter and always open and read it as soon as it shows up in my inbox. Your snail mail idea is fun and clever - it brings me back to the days of zines and postcards as art - but to be honest, I agree with others who get too much stuff in their mailbox. I worry that I’d miss it or that someone would accidentally toss it into the recycling bin. I hear you about corporate media and social media platforms, though! It’s why I got off FB.

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1 reply by Sari Botton

Sandy

I'm a huge fan of your adventures, but I get so much trash in the mail--advertisements, etc.--I'm afraid I would end up discarding a snailmail newsletter before reading it. (We all have such huge to-be-read piles already; books and magazines we don't have time to read.) I understand how you feel about substack, and agree, but paper comes with its own issues. It makes an impact on the environment. I look forward to finding you in my email inbox.

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