ENTICE: Substack 2 word challenge
I-talk: Thinking about the smallest word in any writer’s dictionary
Newsletters live in the realm of personal communication, even when they focus on data and information: a dance between “I” and “You.” However, the lead, the reason for the newsletter, is “You,” otherwise we’re just writing a diary and hoping someone will peek over our shoulders.
We talk a lot about the power of first sentences … however, I’m wondering if the first two words are also an indicator of the direction to come. To get a better sense of how we begin our posts, I looked at the first two words (after the salutation, if any) of the newsletters backed up in my inbox and here’s what I found … a lot of what I’m calling “I-talk.” First the Substack newsletters;
I’m sharing
I’m reading
We were
I’m currently
The 1950s
One of
This week
There’s something
We are
One night
Prior to
Today, I
I was
My new
Quickly: Many
You might
Things feel
As I
I did
I wondered how I would fare on this same examination. Here’s my last 10:
When my
Many of
One lonely
YAY! Field
Substack Guides:
What an
I am
This year
Substack is
I was
The volume of “I-talk” surprised me (mine as well as others). Yes, this is a personal connection form of communication and we need to connect and build relationships. Yes, we need to write about and share our life lessons. Yes, we will inevitably use “I.” However …
Is there a message here?
Please … let us hear from some of you writing craft experts. Is this something we should be more conscious of?
Are the first two words we use somewhat like sign posts pointing us down a path? Not bad things; maybe just tools to sharpen and understand.
How about a challenge?
Look at your last 5 or 10 posts and note the two words that start them. What do you think about the power of those first two words … feel free to share some of your first two-word entries of a post that managed to skirt around the “I-talk.”
P.S. The non-Substack newsletters I receive do not seem to reflect this level of “I-talk. They are much more removed, perhaps because they are on more of a commercial path. Here are just a few examples:
Please find
There's something
Have you
After the
If someone
Before we
You might
In life
Every creator's
If the
Father Richard
Things feel
In the meantime … a word from Ray Bradbury:
"I am a dedicated madman, and that becomes its own training. If you can't resist, if the typewriter is like candy to you, you train yourself for a lifetime. Every single day of your life, some wild new thing to be done.
“You write to please yourself. You write for the joy of writing. Then your public reads you and it begins to gather around your selling a potato peeler in an alley, you know.
“The enthusiasm, the joy itself draws me. So that means every day of my life I've written. When the joy stops, I'll stop writing."
The two word spur is invaluable, On awakening this morning Descartes spoke with me, prompting this:- I hurt, therefore I am therefore I think I hurt..... Peace, Maurice
First off, let me just say, your piece completely reeled me in! As a reader always curious about the inner workings of a writer's mind and their creative journey, your exploration struck a chord. It's always intriguing to get a sneak peek into how writers conjure their ideas and pen them down.
Ah, the delightful dance between the "I" and "You" in the world of newsletters! Your musings take me down a familiar path of introspection. This "I-talk" thing you've caught on to? It’s like a big flashing neon sign saying, "Hey, this is my story, and I want you in on it!" It's all about that itch we all have to connect, be heard, and share our tales.
Those initial two words? Think of them as your welcome mat. They either get - my tribe, readers - excited about the adventure ahead or make them think twice about knocking on your door. A wise storyteller once told me, "Your start's gotta grab 'em." In newsletters, and honestly, in any story, those first two words are like making a pinky promise: "Stick with me; this is gonna be good."
Digging into your findings, Substack writers are basically like that friend who wears their heart on their sleeve, sharing every little thing. It's personal, raw, and real which is my jam!! But then, you've got the non-Substack crew, who keep things more on the down-low, maybe because they're aiming to chat with a bigger crowd.
B O R I N G
Want to spice things up a bit from a reader’s point of view?:
Descriptive Settings: “Golden sunrise…”
Rhetorical Questions: “Why do…”
Direct Commands: “Imagine this…”
Interesting Facts: “Elephants can’t…”
Quotes: “Hemingway once said…”
The power of those starter words? It's like being the DJ at a party. Play the right track, and you've got everyone dancing. But mess up, and you might clear the dance floor. For some, "I-talk" feels like catching up with an old pal. For others, they want the big, universal truths that everyone can nod along to.
And speaking of truths, Ray Bradbury nailed it. Writing's all about that buzz, that can't-stop-won't-stop feeling. But, knowing how to balance the 'I' and 'You', and picking just the right opener? That's the secret sauce that can turn good writing into a masterpiece.
So, keep jamming on that keyboard, writer! Dive deep, have fun! 📝
You hooked me. I’m along for the ride, Baby! 🚙