March Dispatch
What happened in Travellera while you were busy, thoughts on my viral hits and the future of this Substack
Hi friends!
Life’s little things have kept me busy, and I haven’t been able to focus on writing as much as I’d like. But earlier in the month I had this idea to make a monthly recap of how things have been going so far. *This post is too long for email so it will be better enjoyed on desktop or the app. Once you click on the title, it will redirect you there*
This month, I had a couple of viral moments on my Substack notes which brought in some new subscribers (hello newcomers!) and made me so happy! But also felt a little overwhelming.
When you’re used to screaming into the void for years, getting a response on that scale can be shocking. I was thrilled that these thoughts resonated with people. I hope it helped connect people with similar interests.
I still haven’t figured out how the mighty 〰Substack algorithm〰 works, but honesty and not overthinking seems like a good way to go.
At the same time, the whole experience made me reflect on virality, how it didn’t foster real connections and how it became a distraction from the real purpose of my Substack. I had no idea those posts would take off the way they did. Most of my Notes don’t—like when I shared my favourite photo from Vietnam. And suddenly, I found myself distracted from writing, feeling a strange responsibility to write a certain way now that I had more eyes on me. It inevitably led to writer’s block.
The Creative Block
The goal was to write four newsletters in total plus this dispatch that meant to include a video (I did a voiceover but can’t get over how cringy it is to listen to one’s voice). But then, I hit a bit of a wall. I second-guessed whether blending creativity and travel on this platform made sense, and my writing on creativity started to sound more like a long rant.
I wrote a piece about the misbehaviour I witnessed from tourists in Vietnam but left it in drafts—it’s a topic that makes me furious. Then, I began writing about narcissism and social media, but I stopped and thought, Is this really what I want my newsletter to be about? So, for now, I’m focusing on eventually turning my travel photography and stories into an offline source of inspiration.
Reassessing My Relationship with Substack
This month on Substack brought new challenges. Because of the constant notifications (now turned off), I started viewing Substack as a distraction and a chore, which made me rethink my relationship with this platform.
I want to post consistently, but I don’t want to beat myself up for not posting every Wednesday. That’s more of a goalpost than a fixed schedule. I want this to stay fun for me and the reader, and embrace a slower approach to social media—checking the app once or twice a week instead of multiple times.
I was afraid it had lost its charm when the truth is, I was using the Substack app in the same toxic ways I’d used Facebook, Instagram and other social media in the past. Taking a step back helped. Last Sunday, I finally felt the calling to sit with my tea and catch up on my reading list of other Substacks. I’ll share a few favourites below.
This month’s first post was about feeling insecure when calling myself a photographer. It felt cathartic to write this post and made me realise that I’m happy as a hobbyist travel photographer. I don’t need expensive gear (though I am saving for my dream camera, which is not cheap, but I need it for my professional shoots). Like those viral hits, insecurities can feel like heavy bubbles that, once burst, reveal they were only filled with air.
My second post was about NYC! And hopefully, it won’t be my last (it won’t—I already have another one in the works). I shared one of my favourite plans in NYC. I hesitated at first because my goal is to share non-touristy experiences, and Times Square is a tourist mecca but, oh well, I figured that most people don’t consider saving a few hundred dollars to have an experience there.
Some Substack’s I’ve enjoyed reading this month
