#21: A thank you to my readers. And, our uncertain future together
#21: A thank you to my readers. And, our uncertain future together
Running for state-level office has given me a lot to mull over that is critical to Roberts’ Green Letter. As a writer, I want to imagine and write about what matters most.
Dear friends and colleagues,
I started Roberts’ Green Letter last winter as an experiment. It was over a year after I started my blog, This Spot on Earth, on nature, emotions, family dynamics and more.
I felt that I could apply what I’d learned from various strands in my life, themes I’d explored on my blog (This Spot on Earth), and apply it all to business and the economy. I thought I could create a useful, concise, membership-worthy newsletter.
I got off to a great running start before allowing myself to pause it for the last few months. The main reason is was that I filed to run for Vermont State Representative in May.
The incumbent decided not to run a week before the filing deadline. I hadn’t had time to think about whether I was interested before someone asked me if I would be. I was and I embraced it. Since then, it has become a new, unpaid half-to-full-time job.
Running for state-level office has given me a lot to mull over that is critical to Roberts’ Green Letter.
What topics should I cover? As a writer who’s trying to be useful, I want to imagine and write about what matters most. That factors in:
What are the key needs and concerns in culture and civilization?
Who am I speaking for?
Who am I speaking to?
What can I uniquely offer in this moment?
All that changed for me when I started putting myself in the headspace of a job to represent 4,200+ residents of three small Vermont towns in our State Legislature. One out of 150 representatives, all upholding the Vermont Constitution, which calls on them to be a “guardian of the people.” I also bring with me my whole history as “Mr. LEEDuser” and an advocate and technical developer on material health at HPDC.
I also started to get various comments from people who told me, in various ways, that politician Tristan should write and speak differently than citizen Tristan.
It’s all given me a lot to think about.
I have tried not to rush anything with Roberts’ Green Letter, so we’ve been dormant.
Thank you to members and subscribers who have not heard from me in a while and who have supported the existence of this space during dreamtime!
Welcome to readers who have come on board during this time!
I’m planning a new issue soon that will pick up the Letter from a different angle. If it doesn’t provoke you in your thinking, then I’m not doing my job and you should fire me.
I’m surprised you haven’t fired me already.
I track readership metrics, but I haven’t gotten a lot of direct feedback on the Letter from readers. That can leave me doubting whether I’m on the right track. And that has contributed to inconsistency in themes, format, and timing.
I want Roberts’ Green Letter to matter to you. And if it doesn’t matter, I won’t be offended. I’ll just know that I need to be more clear on my own reasons for doing it, or that I should be doing something else.
In order to steer the future of this substack, I am going to be asking for comments now and then from readers. Thank you in advance!
More soon! In the meantime, may I suggest one of these issues:
I’d love for you to read one and leave a comment. I have about a dozen topics I can write about next, and this would help me understand better what resonates for you.
With appreciation,
Tristan
Quill Nook Farm
Halifax, Vermont
P.S. From both me and Oliver, have a great Friday and weekend!
