Claim A Scrabble Triple Word Score
📝 This Week’s Goal: Expand your vocabulary with the classic board game
Today is National Scrabble Day here in the United States. The day celebrates the birth of Scrabble¹⁴ inventor Alfred¹⁰ Mosher¹¹ Butts⁷ (numbers equal the Scrabble point value).
Scrabble, and the countless knockoffs it spawned, is a fantastic game based on words. For writers, Scrabble can help expand (and show off) a vast vocabulary. When else can you impress people with words like Za¹¹, Whizz²⁹, and Zombify²⁶?
What I find uniquely strange is the word “Scrabble” does not bring up a single result in The⁶ Writing¹¹ Cooperative¹⁸. Seven years of content about writing and not a single mention of the word-based board game! Today’s newsletter obviously rectifies the situation.
What is your favorite Scrabble word?
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Journals Aren’t Forever
This Just In: After over 13 years, I’ve deleted the Day One journal app. Here’s what it helped me realize about software subscriptions.
This One Has No Direction
This Just In: Tried, drained, and a little burnt out isn’t exactly the best time to focus on your writing, but it’s why you do it anyway.
AI Exposes the Deeper Rifts in the Writing Industry
This Just In: Monetization turns passions into sweatshops and AI is making it worse.
The Cost of Rebellion
This Just In: Rebellions are built on hope, but they require individual sacrifices for collective improvement.
Abuse of Power Comes for Nonprofits
This Just In: Wikipedia’s 501(c)(3) tax exemption is threatened, but not by the IRS.
How to Move to Ghost In 2025
This Just In: Own your own publication by launching a website running Ghost. It’s not as difficult as it sounds.
AI Killed NaNoWriMo
This Just In: The writing month challenge may be dead, but there’s a new option to keep writers going.
The Age of Reaction
This Just In: We’ve fallen into a dramascroll trap that will be very difficult to climb out of, but it isn’t impossible.
A Few More Thoughts on Copyright
This Just In: The history of copyright might be fraught, but it exposes a bigger issue when creating online.
Copyright in the Age of AI
This Just In: What does copyright do and does it even matter anymore?
Tapestry Is Weaving the Future Web
This Just In: The Iconfactory’s smash new app is a return to the web’s roots and where we all need to head.
The Cost of Simplification
This Just In: Owning your own platform can be complicated and sometimes simplifying can be costly.
A Bit About Me
This Just In: I answer interview questions that cover my views on writing and more.
The Perils of Personal Platforms
What does it actually mean to leave the world of commercial platforms behind?
Update Those Mute Filters
This Just In: Let’s collectively scream into the infinite abyss, find ourselves, and make the world better.
It’s Time to Rebel from Mass Market Social Media
This Just In: IT is the villain in Silo. We should learn from those in the Down Deep and rise up.
The Forthcoming First Amendment Fight
This Just In: So-called defenders of free speech are taking office, and we’re all in trouble. Plus, more predictions for 2025.
What Happens When Everything is Paywalled
This Just In: Wealth is becoming a determining factor in the type of World Wide Web you can access. And I’m not talking about speed.
Platforms Are Getting Much Worse
This Just In: Platforms want us to know exactly who controls the internet. It’s not us, but it can be!
Is Reading Dying
This Just In: AI summaries and the pivot to video are bad news for the written word.
Empire Strikes Back Isn’t the End of the Series
This Just In: Last week sucked, but there is always hope.
Are Apple’s Writing Tools the Right Stuff
This Just In: Apple Intelligence offers the boring version of AI I’ve hoped for, but is it helpful for writers?
This One’s for the Fans
This Just In: Jimmy Buffet gets the due he deserves and shows what creative passion is all about.
When Creating Stops Being Fun
This Just In: knowing when (and how) to hit delete is important for every creator’s sanity.
We Shouldn’t Have Taken Milton’s Stapler...
This Just In: Hurricane Milton is becoming a real problem, and I’m exhausted.
When Gamification Goes Awry
Writing days, health rings, Duolingo… there are more streaks than time.
New Phone Who Dis
New technology fuels a desire to create but can also be overwhelming and lead to unmet expectations.
Hitting the Reset Button
LLM scraping is a virus eating up the internet, but I’m done fighting. Instead, I choose open access and human connection.
Advice for Medium Writers Choose Publications Wisely
Just because you CAN submit to a specific publication doesn’t mean you SHOULD.
Medium Day 2024: Questions I Didn't Have Time to Answer
A collection of all the questions I didn’t have time for during my 30-minute Medium Day presentation.
Is Generative AI Destroying the Open Web
Subscription walls prevent AI scraping, but at what cost? I’m rethinking my whole publishing strategy.
Our Words Are Our Legacy
Creativity is a clash between individualism and our connection to history.
Fandom Is Being Ruined by "Fans"
How review-bombing and constant, unfounded criticism takes agency away from creators
The Downside of Personal Platforms
Creators need to think carefully about their personal sites and build in a way that prevents link rot.
When Art Inspires Life
The magic of writing, travel, and movies about Japan.
Is Apple Intelligence the AI for the Rest of Us
This Just In: Apple’s forthcoming entry into AI promises a private, personalized AI, but will it increase AI slop?
Maybe I’m Bad at Social Media
Social media “growth” requires giving in to quantity over quality. I don’t play that game.
Share, But Don’t Spoil
A more personal internet relies on user recommendations but doesn’t spoil their experience.
Let’s Talk About Streaking
This Just In: I’ve racked up a 56-day streak, but not in writing. Plus, I talk about Eurovision.
Chase Your Dreams and See What Happens
This Just In: Mental health is a massive part of confidence and success. Dreams are inspiration. Use them.
Generative AI in Creativity
The reader survey results have some interesting things to say about generative AI and creativity. Here’s why that’s a problem.
What Is Your Freelance Writing Rate
Writing jobs are evaporating for many reasons, but freelance rates were really bad long before AI came around.
Why Criticize When You Can Celebrate?
The attention economy destroyed our ability to dream for the sake of page views. It’s time we refocus our attention.
Can We Find a Balance With AI?
The dichotomy of AI continues to baffle me as I see the good and the bad. Where do we draw the line, and how do we learn to live with this technology?
Where Have All the Cowboys Gone
This Just In: social media is bleeding users, but where are they going?
Write Like Taylor Swift
Embrace life’s many eras and stop trying to be a one-dimensional writer.
Metrics Don’t Matter
Have we become so accustomed to seeing metrics everywhere that they no longer mean anything?
Celebrating a Decade on Medium
Looking back at the past ten years of writing on Medium and what comes next.
Creation and Destruction Are Connected
This Just In: The act of creating something is more important than the act of publishing what is made.
Don’t Take My Word for It
This Just In: Personalized recommendations are the new algorithms and the best way to build a true audience.
Don’t Feed the AI Beast
This Just In: Justin’s writing requires a subscription to prevent AI abuse; consider your own precautions.
Sending Emails Is Hard
This Just In: Google and Yahoo crack down on bad behavior; set your DKIM, DMARC, and SPF records now.
Why Is Branding So Difficult?
This Just In: This Week In Writing rebrands; still explores the world with creativity and curiosity.
Why Make Anything if You Don’t Think It Will Be Great?
This Week In Writing, we discuss greatness and how chasing it is a possible and noble goal.
Pay People Not Platforms
This Week In Writing, we look at why Substack’s collapse is actually a good thing for paid newsletters.
Let's Make the Internet Personal Again
This Week In Writing, we look at the once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a new internet filled with fun and originality.
Raising the Bar at the Writing Cooperative
This Week In Writing, we look at changes to our publication standards and what they mean for you.
Advent, Waiting, and the Year of Transitions
This Week In Writing, we look back at the year that was and determine what it means for the year to come.
Refilling the Creativity Tank
This Week In Writing, we discuss what happens when creativity finds other outlets.
Celebrate Giving Tuesday
This Week In Writing, we take a quick break from our regularly scheduled programming to celebrate nonprofit organizations.
It’s Time We Discuss Medium
This Week In Writing, we address the platform that has supported my writing for nearly a decade.
My First Year on Mastodon and the Future of Social Media
This Week In Writing, we look back at how social media fractured and why it’s a good thing for us all.
The Economics of a Self-Hosted Newsletter
This Week In Writing, we talk about what happens when you eliminate platforms and go after it on your own.
Trick or Treat?
This Week In Writing, we talk about pen names and whether they make sense for writers.
A New Era Begins
This Week In Writing, we explore the internet’s current metamorphosis and how you can be part of the revolution.
My History of Blogging
This Week In Writing, we celebrate the blog, explore the pendulum of online writing, and double down on quality.
An Update on Spam Submissions
This Week In Writing, we talk about spam submissions to The Writing Cooperative and look at some of your thoughts on being called AI.
Would You Want to Know if I Thought Your Writing Sounded Like AI
This Week In Writing, we talk about submissions to The Writing Cooperative and how to avoid false accusations.
How I Feel About Engagement Numbers
This Week In Writing, we discuss what engagement means and if I get discouraged by a perceived lack thereof. Plus, a look at the future (again).
My Writing Is About Building Community
This Week In Writing, we highlight some of the people I’ve met writing online and answer some of your questions.
It’s Time for a Fresh Start
This Week In Writing, we talk about new Apple products, home renovations, and changes to the newsletter.
Choose Your Own Design
This Week In Writing, we explore the wonderful world of blogs, where writers truly get creative.
Expanding Universes Make Better Stories
This Week In Writing, we look at how worldbuilding is an essential part of epic storytelling.
Your Questions Answered
This Week In Writing, we recap a successful Medium Day and address some of the questions I didn’t have time to answer.
Saving Frequently Isn’t The Only Way To Backup Your Writing
This Week In Writing, we take a hard lesson from the latest Twitter/X hijinks. Plus, we look at what “human writing” means.
MIT Says ChatGPT Improves Bad Writing, But At What Cost?
This Week In Writing, we explore how ChatGPT and Grammarly are making us all sound the same.
Do CTAs Even Work Anymore?
This Week In Writing, we explore the “necessary evil” of calls to action and ask if they are any better than tacky banner ads.
AI Is Now Everywhere
This Week In Writing, we talk about Google’s new AI plan, what it means for writers, and why resistance is futile.
My Ghostly Strategy: Avoid the Graveyard
This Week In Writing, we fully explore how I’m building Ghost into a self-hosted content hub and how you can too.
Another Platform Collapses
This Week In Writing, we talk about Reddit and what it means for centralized communities moving forward.
Stop Choosing Sides on AI
This Just In: Holding two conflicting ideas about AI isn’t weakness. It's the only honest position.
What Bad Bunny Gets That NBC Doesn’t
This Just In: NBC hosted the Olympics, the Super Bowl, and Bad Bunny’s halftime show on the same night, so why was their messaging so poor?
The Dream of EPCOT
This Just In: Walt Disney’s community of tomorrow is a celebration of humanity and a prototype for how we should live. Maybe we should listen.
It’s Time to Rebel from Mass Market Social Media
This Just In: IT is the villain in Silo. We should learn from those in the Down Deep and rise up.
The Forthcoming First Amendment Fight
This Just In: So-called defenders of free speech are taking office, and we’re all in trouble. Plus, more predictions for 2025.
Is Reading Dying
This Just In: AI summaries and the pivot to video are bad news for the written word.
Empire Strikes Back Isn’t the End of the Series
This Just In: Last week sucked, but there is always hope.
This One’s for the Fans
This Just In: Jimmy Buffet gets the due he deserves and shows what creative passion is all about.
When Creating Stops Being Fun
This Just In: knowing when (and how) to hit delete is important for every creator’s sanity.
Fandom Is Being Ruined by "Fans"
How review-bombing and constant, unfounded criticism takes agency away from creators
Share, But Don’t Spoil
A more personal internet relies on user recommendations but doesn’t spoil their experience.
Why Criticize When You Can Celebrate?
The attention economy destroyed our ability to dream for the sake of page views. It’s time we refocus our attention.
Write Like Taylor Swift
Embrace life’s many eras and stop trying to be a one-dimensional writer.
Metrics Don’t Matter
Have we become so accustomed to seeing metrics everywhere that they no longer mean anything?
Creation and Destruction Are Connected
This Just In: The act of creating something is more important than the act of publishing what is made.
Don’t Take My Word for It
This Just In: Personalized recommendations are the new algorithms and the best way to build a true audience.
What The Creator and Rebel Moon Have In Common (and What They Don't)
Star Wars may inspire the latest sci-fi epics, but they both have (at least) one fatal flaw.
Expanding Universes Make Better Stories
This Week In Writing, we look at how worldbuilding is an essential part of epic storytelling.
The Problem With Creative Entitlement
This Week In Writing, we explore how AI tools amplify the sometimes problematic relationship between creator and consumer
How Do You End Things Well
Succession and Ted Lasso ended last week. Both had a distinct impact on culture and were met with intense anticipation despite relatively small audiences. Don't worry, there aren't any real spoilers in this article. I enjoyed both endings for different reasons. Succession brought a sense of
How I Come Up With Writing Topics
This Week In Writing, we explore topic generation while celebrating the best damn band in the land!
What’s the Last Book You Read
https://writingcooperative.com/whats-the-last-book-you-read-5265b44e180e
Success Comes to Those Who Work for It (Usually)
This Week In Writing, we talk about success and perseverance through the lens of Simu Liu’s memoir. Oh, and AI writing, too.
The Fate of The Seven Kingdoms
The future on social media is much like the Game of Thrones. Right now, the only thing missing is a dragon.
You’re Invited
This Week In Writing, we prepare for NaNoWriMo with a special invitation, but first, we talk about She-Hulk!
What Word Makes You Cringe?
This Week In Writing, we talk about cringe-worthy words and give a nod to puns, courtesy of Letterkenny.
This Just in: Horizontal Skyscraper City Coming Soon to the Desert
Every post-apocalyptic movie ever made will soon culminate in the Saudi Arabian horizontal skyscraper city.
This Is a Bit Revealing
This Week In Writing, I reveal my inner nerd by sharing a personal project. Plus, we look at character creation.
Do You Color Outside the Lines?
This Week In Writing, we explore taking our writing to places the reader doesn’t expect, like in the film Everything Everywhere All At Once.
Write Now is My Tribe of Mentors
What I learned from Tim Ferriss’ Tribe of Mentors and my answers to his 11 great questions.
Can You Write Pulp Fiction?
This Week In Writing, we celebrate classic pulp fiction and invite you to explore potentially untapped forms of creativity.
Does Your Writing Live Long and Prosper?
This Week In Writing, we celebrate First Contact Day by exploring one of the best genres out there: sci-fi!
Celebrate International Women’s Day With These Writers
This Week In Writing, we celebrate International Women’s Day but uplifting and honoring our favorite women authors.
Are You Not Entertained?
We’ll enjoy our entertainment more if we stop putting so much pressure on the things we enjoy and the creators who make them.
Why Do You Write?
This Week In Writing, we reflect on Dickinson and explore an essential question for every writer: why do you write?
Feeling Pressure to Write?
This Week In Writing, we explore the life and writing lessons about pressure and perfection from the movie Encanto.
Exploring Other Genres and Markets
Saga’s return uncovers a vast catalog of successful freelance writers creating characters and worlds that many are unaware of.
Writing in Multiple Languages? Don’t Get Lost in Translation.
This Week In Writing, we explore how translating language can often change the meaning and intent of our writing.
Handwriting As An Art Form
Japanese calligraphy, or shodo, turns handwriting into a unique work of art. No matter what our handwriting looks like, it’s also art.
Improve Your Writing by Celebrating the Dead
This Week In Writing, we celebrate Day of the Dead by learning from writers and ideas no longer with us. How do past writers inspire you?
How Do You Make Villains Likable?
This Week in Writing we look forward to Succession season three and celebrate the unlovable, but captivating, villain.
Do You Cross Genres?
This Week In Writing we look at the genre-crossing anime Cowboy Bebop to learn how to tell more interesting and unique stories
Messing With Perfection
Netflix released production stills for the upcoming Cowboy Bebop live-action remake. Is it possible to mess with perfection and succeed?
Ted Lasso Takes Personal Marketing To Another Level
A personal email from Ted Lasso showcases the power of direct and personalized email marketing. Spoiler alert: shorter is better.
Do You Misattribute Quotes?
📝 This Week’s Goal: Don’t be Ted Lasso. Well, be Ted Lasso most of the time.
It’s Time To Stop Competing and Start Celebrating
What writers can learn from the Tokyo 2020 men’s high jump final about competition and celebrating with our friends
Even With Peacock, NBC Doesn’t Understand Streaming
I thought Peacock would be a hub of streaming Olympic content. Unfortunately, Peacock proved NBC doesn’t understand streaming.
Can Tokyo 2020 Bring The World Together Safely?
In addition to the athletes, many people dedicated their lives to creating Tokyo 2020. Their work deserves an audience. But at what cost?
What Gets You Geeked About Writing?
📝 This Week’s Goal: Embrace your inner geekiness and enjoy your writing.
Black Widow Premier Access Proves Movie Theaters Are Obsolete
I paid $29.99 to not deal with other people. It was wonderful.
What's On Your Desk-Work Playlist?
📝 This Week’s Goal: Find music that inspires but doesn’t distract.
Where Do You Find Inspiration?
📝 This Week’s Goal: Don’t dismiss the power of the muse.
Where Do You Get Feedback?
📝 This Week’s Goal: Build a team of trusted peers to help you grow as a writer
Failure To Try Is Holding You Back
Take a cue from Nike and just do it
Stop Creating a Minimum Viable Product
As creators, we should strive to share our best with the world
Eat Your Words: Eternal Return
Are you familiar with the philosophical concept?
Claim A Scrabble Triple Word Score
📝 This Week’s Goal: Expand your vocabulary with the classic board game
Have You Ever Written A Video Game?
📝 This Week’s Goal: Don’t be afraid to try writing for other genres.
We Go Together…
Combining two passions into one amazing opportunity
What’s Your Favorite Story?
A reflection of storytelling through the lense of a pandemic pastime
Are You Writing For An Audience Or Authenticity?
What Emily Dickinson’s fictitious life teaches about fame
Get Twisted
📝 This Week’s Goal: Learn how to keep your readers guessing until the very end.
Don’t Be A Dick: Give Advice Without Being Negative
How to apply Wheaton’s Law to your writing and provide helpful, positive advice
Plant a seed (or two).
Everything is a copy of a copy of a copy of a copy…
Want to Be Successful? Move Beyond the Reef.
What entrepreneurs can learn from Moana’s adventure to restore the heart of Te Fiti
Get In The Mood: Level Up Your Writing Soundtrack
Help your mind focus while having a little fun by setting up a custom writing playlist
Did You Catch My Cameo in The Way I See It?
This Just In: I’m Famous
This Just In: Choice In Video Games
The higher education bubble is finally bursting
This Just In: Never-Ending Stories
In a world of uncertainty, it’s time we don’t take our storytelling too seriously. There's a lot to learn from fanfiction and the MCU.
This Just In: Support Other Artists
You can be a patron of the arts without buying a wing in your local theater
This Just In: Young, Scrappy, and Hungry
Today we celebrate our Independence Day. From our couch. With musical theater.
Learning About History From Television
Our history classes need an upgrade
Choosing Growth Over Fear In A Time Of Uncertainty
NASA's process of landing on the moon can teach us to start choosing growth when things are hard. Tackle little things one at a time.
Is There Anything New Under The Sun?
What do the NHL, Disney, and you have in common?
Unlock Your Creativity In Three Hours Or Less
Kick off 2020 with the only advice you need
Being Good with Okay: Breaking the Block
Self doubt doesn’t have to be debilitating. So why do we let it conquer us?
What We Can Learn About Writing from Bruce Springsteen
It took Bruce Springsteen six months to write Born to Run. There are a lot of things writers can learn from his process and success.
Understanding Who Owns Your Art
Taylor Swift’s experience sheds light on an important question: Who owns your art? The answer isn't always clear and impacts your work.
Maybe I’m Not A ‘Writer’ (And Maybe You Aren’t Either)
What I’ve learned from Andy Weir and Glynnis MacNicol about calling myself a writer.
What We Can Learn About Writing from “Hamilton”
Let me offer you some free advice…
What Are You Waiting For?
How analysis paralysis and fear of failure limit our ability to succeed.
Winter is Coming, But So is the Dawn
Bringing light into a time of darkness.
I Am Not James Patterson
And Neither Are You
What I Learned About Writing From My Film School Friends
It’s about more than storyboards.
Is it “Mambo №5” or “Mambo No. Five”?
Working with Numbers
Why be Perpendicular When You Can be Parallel?
As the song says, you get three as a magic number. But what you also get is a perfect example of parallel structure.
Political Signs, Queer Eye, and Jesus
Are we speaking the same language?
Repeating Yourself is Redundant
A Pleonasm For Your Thoughts?
7 Things We Can Learn From Jerry Seinfeld About Writing
Writers of all shapes and genres can learn a lot about writing from Jerry Seinfeld and the comedians he interviews.
Olympic Chinquapins
Celebrating the World Games through verse.
What We Can Learn About Writing From Back to the Future
Sometimes the KISS-method isn’t enough.
What We Can Learn About Writing From Tinker Hatfield
VP of Design and Special Projects at Nike
Girls, Robots, and Rock: Tokyo’s Amazing Robot Restaurant
Tokyo has a building with LED lights and chrome so bright it’s like staring into the sun. This is Shinjuku’s Robot Restaurant.
90’s Lyrics Were Whack
But I loved them anyway.
Does Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets hold up to The Fifth Element?
This film did not make any money.
Thoughts While Playing Mass Effect for Seven Straight Hours
Or: How I Spent My Day Off
How I Spent 45 Hours as a Huntress in a Post-Apocalyptic Wasteland
Horizon: Zero Dawn is Amazing
The Ultimate Dwayne Johnson and Alexandra Daddario Memorial Day Movie Showdown
Comparing the disaster porn San Andreas to the beach porn Baywatch determines the ultimate Dwayne Johnson / Alexandra Daddario movie.
Overcoming Social Anxiety at a Video Game Convention
Discover what it was like attending PAX in 2008, including meeting Felicia Day and experiencing social anxiety at the convention center, in this entertaining article.