Issue 21

Jonah Malin
December 23, 2024

It’s been approximately 181,440 minutes since I sent one of these out. And, explaining why may help any creative who encounters a similarly sticky situation.

One night last winter, a week or so before the new year, I received an email:

“After careful consideration, we must announce the winding down of our operations, effective immediately.”

I’d faced professional obstacles before. A wicked boss. Low pay. Late nights. Obnoxious clients.

Getting laid off hit different. A hallowed feeling of discomfort followed by weeks spent in the emotionally and intellectually wasting world of job hunting.

There’s the application. Days later (if you’re lucky), an HR person requests an interview. A week after that, you’re interviewing. Several more weeks and you’ve met with various members of the team. Then, they’re no longer hiring. Or they ghost you. Or the hiring manager is on vacation. Or the salary is offensively low. Or it’s a short contract. Or they decide to go in another direction.

Though, between this timesuck and picking up part-time freelance gigs, I still had time on my hands that I didn’t want. So I turned to any creative outlet I could to tune out the application process and work on my craft in a meaningful way—things like this newsletter.

I remember reading once that Houdini, while struggling to free himself from handcuffs, gave his wife a long kiss. In doing so, she passed him the key that would save him.

When your backs pressed right up against the wall, I’ve found it helpful to try and make something out of nothing. Maybe it’s a newsletter. Maybe it’s a book. Maybe it’s running a marathon. Maybe it’s launching a podcast. Or a photography Instagram. Or an album.

Whatever it is, it has to be a project that holds you accountable.

I started a new job approximately 181,440 minutes ago, and this newsletter has essentially been on ice ever since. Now, I’m ready to be held accountable once again—albeit for different reasons.

But that’s a story for another time…

Anyways, here’s some copywriting I enjoyed last week.