I am the last person in the world to start a newsletter and now we all have them, congratulations we did it.
So the short version of why I decided to start a newsletter goes like this. I missed having a direct, unbranded platform, twitter is very bad, and nobody really reads blogs anymore. I wanted to start something up that would allow me to pull together the different threads of my work and thoughts, while providing folks with similar interests some information and hopefully enjoyment.
The long version is best summed up by two freelance writers’ newsletters that I have found inspiring.
First, I’ve been reading the Ann Friedman Weekly since 2014 (!) and I’ve always loved the way that Ann uses it to connect what she’s working on, what she’s taken an interest in, and some mildly personal stuff, all into one coherent package. All this, despite the fact that she doesn’t have what you might think of as clearly defined beat or brand. It’s just Ann’s unique perspective written in her voice, and there’s something very rewarding about organically engaging with news and ideas presented in that way. I also read once that she started it as kind of a check-in on what she’s done every week, which I find appealing—to mark and process the passage of time in an outward-facing way.
Second, there’s Welcome to Hell World by Luke O’Neil, the long-suffering punk journalist who’s been shitcanned from various publications, burned bridges with others, and clearly has to tone down his um intense writing style for most outlets. So he started Hell World, and it’s one of the best examples of honest, unflinching prose you’ll come across. It’s entirely on his terms and is just the best. This newsletter won’t be very much like his, but I was inspired by his approach to it, and came to think all freelance journalists ought to have some kind of conduit where we can write fully on our own terms, an unfiltered channel. That might have been blogging in another era, but now I think it’s a newsletter.
Concrete by Paul Chadwick, 1988
So what might subscribers expect in Crisis Palace?
I plan to write about and link to what I’m working on, what I’ve published, what I’m reading or watching, some stuff happening in my life, and various things going on in the world that are on my mind. Maybe I’ll ask other people to contribute sometimes.
One thing I can promise you—these will never be very long and I won’t send very many. That’s the Crisis Palace guarantee.
What topics are you going to write about?
The things I write about and the things I am interested in, which are roughly the same, include:
Climate Change. Especially cities, transportation, and climate justice.
Philanthropy and nonprofits. I worked in progressive nonprofits and fundraising for years and I’m interested in the influence this weird sector has on the world, and whether it can actually shift power.
Activism. As above, this is about the different levers we use to advance change and their outcomes and consequences.
Media. Comic books, television, books, genre fiction, other comic books.
And I guess that’s pretty much it. We’ll see though. Sometimes I write about bugs or dead people or water.
What does Crisis Palace mean?
Crisis Palace means actually nothing. It was the result from a twitter meme where the letters in my name determined what my Sonic the Hedgehog world would be called. I have a hard time naming things.
Hang on who even are you?
I’m a freelance writer, my work has appeared in a bunch of places but I write regularly for Inside Philanthropy, where I cover climate change and the weird realm of people influencing the world with tax-deductible allocations of wealth. But I’m interested in all kinds of stuff and have had bylines in the Atlantic, Curbed, Boston Magazine, and more.
Can I go now?
Sure. Future emails will have more stuff but you know I’m just working this out right now so get off my back.