Dec 3, 2022·edited Dec 3, 2022Liked by Holly Rabalais
If there's one point to take away from Sowden's letter it's #4. One of the best things about Substack is the (at least to me) complete absence of transactional relationships. people are generally excited to be here, and genuinely happy to help others out. It's part of what drew me here from other platform s like Medium. It's *definitely* part of why I've stayed.
I loved the shots from your road trip! Growing up, we had a Travelall, but the "swagger wagon" looks like a lot more fun. I think our cooler was green?
Reading "Blue Highways" right after high school changed my life, and set in motion a series of road trips using only backroads. It's where America actually lives, and it's infinitely interesting to me.
P.S. +1 to taking blind photos. You never know what you're going to get!
My high school best friend’s family had a van like that! They would take it to University basketball games and we would fall asleep on the bed while driving home late at night. Yes it was the 80s - no seat belts. 👀
I also love the road less traveled. Even here in Seattle, I avoid the freeways and cut across town on all the surface streets. I just love driving through the neighborhoods.
OMG I'd forgotten that some Americans actually say y'all. Wonderful. I wish we had the equivalent in UK but I can't think of it if we do. A few further points, if I may:
1. I loved the photos. I have a few similar ones myself from when I spent time in LA and San Diego. Those wonderful big skies and colours. I need to go back.
2. I spent some time in Atlanta, and I really appreciated the southern US hospitality. Incredibly hard to find vegetarian food though I have to say.
3. Your post also reminded me of the way Americans seem to take vast distances for granted. When I was in LA, my aunt once said something like, "Why don't we all pop along to..." a place around 300 miles away. Pop along! Over here, any car journey is preceded by consulting maps, loading the car up with several days' worth of provisions, and informing next of kin.
4. I my younger days I was always doing stuff. I just thought, "There's plenty of time to rest when I'm dead". Actually, I still think like that, but I am also enjoying taking things at a slower pace.
5. And thanks for the shout-out to Mike's newsletter. I subscribed a while ago and had forgotten!
Anyway, I have nothing more to add, apart from congrats on 200 subs. Well done.
Thanks for recommending Mike Sowden's article, "Don't Start A Newsletter". His words of encouragement and support were much needed. The creative journey has a lot of ups and downs so it's always good to hear words of support and reminders to keep at it and trust the process. :)
Holly, thank you for taking me along on this amazing road trip - what a fabulous post - I felt I was right there with you! And congratulations on your subscriber milestone - fantastic news!
Loved reading the spec of the 'swagger wagon'. I need to tell my husband that we've just renamed our campervan.... 🤣
Nice book that came our a while ago, but still has good relevance and fits into the interestingly American genre of road literature: William Least Heat Moon, Blue Highways. Very much recommended.
Dec 21, 2022·edited Dec 21, 2022Liked by Holly Rabalais
Holly! I'm ridiculously behind with saying this because my life is a mess (*Mike's Inbox burns away merrily in the background*) but thank you for the mention here! I feel should add that of course, I NEVER take my own advice, and pursue hypocrisy as a profession. So here are my real tips for growing a newsletter:
- annoy people on social media until they subscribe to your newsletter just to shut you up
- stand outside popular high-street shops and refuse to let people in (or out) until they sign up to your newsletter on their phones (this is *particularly* effective at Christmas)
- reply to your own comments, when you're commenting on things online, thus increasing the chance of people seeing your name.
Excellent...slow-paced drives through rural America were always one of my favorite things to do. The discoveries were always interesting and unusual. In many ways, this is exactly what I think of when I think of America. I'm happy you took the extra time to gently cruise the backroads and tough a part of America that I fear is slowly vanishing...
On slowing down: A friend of mine commenting on people speeding, “What’s the rush? We’re all going to die. Why do you want to get there sooner?” These words have guided never since. The road less traveled is my default.
Great post and great pictures! And jalapeño cream cheese balls ... I can't think of anything better! I'll be hunting down the closest approximation I can find here in England ... or make my own!
This was glorious. I felt like I was right there with you. We (as you and I have laughed about in the past) are not from The South (contrary to what the NY city kids labeled me) but we were a road trip family and I share your loves. We drove in the BRAT mobile. (as in Army BRATs). Also, I am so happy for you that you have so many new readers! You're a gem.
I loved the backroad trek. It's great to see photos from places that we might never travel to. I don't like to take the busy roads myself. There are too many crazy bad drivers here. It can get scary. If I can go through a neighborhood, I will. In fact, when I have to drive south for appointments, I actually go through this exclusive community. Besides being able to look at different kinds of homes, it actually cuts 2 miles off my trip.
I like to do a lot of virtual travelling. I pull up Google Maps here on the computer and pick some small towns and travel through looking at the community. It's fun. I found some little gems in your neck of the woods too!
If there's one point to take away from Sowden's letter it's #4. One of the best things about Substack is the (at least to me) complete absence of transactional relationships. people are generally excited to be here, and genuinely happy to help others out. It's part of what drew me here from other platform s like Medium. It's *definitely* part of why I've stayed.
I loved the shots from your road trip! Growing up, we had a Travelall, but the "swagger wagon" looks like a lot more fun. I think our cooler was green?
Reading "Blue Highways" right after high school changed my life, and set in motion a series of road trips using only backroads. It's where America actually lives, and it's infinitely interesting to me.
P.S. +1 to taking blind photos. You never know what you're going to get!
P.P.S. Congrats on reaching 200 readers!
My high school best friend’s family had a van like that! They would take it to University basketball games and we would fall asleep on the bed while driving home late at night. Yes it was the 80s - no seat belts. 👀
I also love the road less traveled. Even here in Seattle, I avoid the freeways and cut across town on all the surface streets. I just love driving through the neighborhoods.
OMG I'd forgotten that some Americans actually say y'all. Wonderful. I wish we had the equivalent in UK but I can't think of it if we do. A few further points, if I may:
1. I loved the photos. I have a few similar ones myself from when I spent time in LA and San Diego. Those wonderful big skies and colours. I need to go back.
2. I spent some time in Atlanta, and I really appreciated the southern US hospitality. Incredibly hard to find vegetarian food though I have to say.
3. Your post also reminded me of the way Americans seem to take vast distances for granted. When I was in LA, my aunt once said something like, "Why don't we all pop along to..." a place around 300 miles away. Pop along! Over here, any car journey is preceded by consulting maps, loading the car up with several days' worth of provisions, and informing next of kin.
4. I my younger days I was always doing stuff. I just thought, "There's plenty of time to rest when I'm dead". Actually, I still think like that, but I am also enjoying taking things at a slower pace.
5. And thanks for the shout-out to Mike's newsletter. I subscribed a while ago and had forgotten!
Anyway, I have nothing more to add, apart from congrats on 200 subs. Well done.
I refuse to drive toll roads and prefer blue highways to interstates. Makes for much more interesting drives! Yours sounds like a real pleasure.
Thanks for recommending Mike Sowden's article, "Don't Start A Newsletter". His words of encouragement and support were much needed. The creative journey has a lot of ups and downs so it's always good to hear words of support and reminders to keep at it and trust the process. :)
Holly, thank you for taking me along on this amazing road trip - what a fabulous post - I felt I was right there with you! And congratulations on your subscriber milestone - fantastic news!
Loved reading the spec of the 'swagger wagon'. I need to tell my husband that we've just renamed our campervan.... 🤣
Nice book that came our a while ago, but still has good relevance and fits into the interestingly American genre of road literature: William Least Heat Moon, Blue Highways. Very much recommended.
Holly! I'm ridiculously behind with saying this because my life is a mess (*Mike's Inbox burns away merrily in the background*) but thank you for the mention here! I feel should add that of course, I NEVER take my own advice, and pursue hypocrisy as a profession. So here are my real tips for growing a newsletter:
- annoy people on social media until they subscribe to your newsletter just to shut you up
- stand outside popular high-street shops and refuse to let people in (or out) until they sign up to your newsletter on their phones (this is *particularly* effective at Christmas)
- reply to your own comments, when you're commenting on things online, thus increasing the chance of people seeing your name.
Excellent...slow-paced drives through rural America were always one of my favorite things to do. The discoveries were always interesting and unusual. In many ways, this is exactly what I think of when I think of America. I'm happy you took the extra time to gently cruise the backroads and tough a part of America that I fear is slowly vanishing...
On slowing down: A friend of mine commenting on people speeding, “What’s the rush? We’re all going to die. Why do you want to get there sooner?” These words have guided never since. The road less traveled is my default.
Great post and great pictures! And jalapeño cream cheese balls ... I can't think of anything better! I'll be hunting down the closest approximation I can find here in England ... or make my own!
This was glorious. I felt like I was right there with you. We (as you and I have laughed about in the past) are not from The South (contrary to what the NY city kids labeled me) but we were a road trip family and I share your loves. We drove in the BRAT mobile. (as in Army BRATs). Also, I am so happy for you that you have so many new readers! You're a gem.
Congrats on 200 subscribers!
I loved the backroad trek. It's great to see photos from places that we might never travel to. I don't like to take the busy roads myself. There are too many crazy bad drivers here. It can get scary. If I can go through a neighborhood, I will. In fact, when I have to drive south for appointments, I actually go through this exclusive community. Besides being able to look at different kinds of homes, it actually cuts 2 miles off my trip.
I like to do a lot of virtual travelling. I pull up Google Maps here on the computer and pick some small towns and travel through looking at the community. It's fun. I found some little gems in your neck of the woods too!
Some reaaaal Americana in this one. That car ad is amazing. Looks like a real adventure, thanks for sharing!
Love the pics; take my best shots trying to operate camera and drive! I'd take a trip down there just for the interesting names!