Changes + Self-care Is Important.
I have burnt myself out so sorry everyone but let's get back on the grind.
Hello everyone,
I took a much-needed mini break because I burnt myself out. I do this. This isn’t the first time. Reviewing the G1 Climax 32 is overwhelming especially the way I wanted to do it. I planned it with podcast episodes either on the day of or at least tomorrow with write-ups including NJPW graphic pictures and updated score cards for both free and paid content was a lot. I didn’t consider how much work that would be for me. I planned it that way to prove to my peers on Twitter — whom I felt invisible to - who cover NJPW that I can not only keep up but produce something more than the average wrestling journalist writing a small review with updated scores.
Why am I competing against my peers on twitter? I want everyone to succeed. I want everyone to eat at the table. However, we (smaller content creators and non-kiss ass creators) are met with gatekeeping, and everyone is focused on their own thing and don’t live on Twitter once their work is posted. And if they do live on Twitter, they’re feuding with trolls and negative “fans” rather than spending time promoting smaller original content creators.
I guess it’s passion. I care so deeply for wrestling, that I want my work to be seen by bigger eyes, but chasing is the wrong approach. And while I have this newsletter, I’m always chasing — maybe chasing isn’t the right word here — but I’m always looking for new fans to sign up and hopefully grab a paid subscription.
I need this Substack newsletter to grow and do well. It’s my lively hood aside from all the other things like streaming, podcasting, and writing. I’m enjoying the ride, the ups and downs, but I need to remember that growing a successful newsletter doesn’t happen overnight. All the content creators in the world didn’t become successful overnight. You may have the 1% with a viral video or writing but they become non-existent afterwards. The ones that don’t give up make it.
I decided to take a mini break from podcasting about the G1 Climax 32 because I felt burnt out and overwhelmed. As a creator, I want to know if my content makes sense to you, the listener, reader, and watcher. I want to know your thoughts, questions, concerns.
Are you learning about New Japan Pro Wrestling?
Have you become interested in New Japan Pro Wrestling?
Did you enjoy the wrestler interviews?
Did you enjoy the wrestling news? The press releases?
What other content do you want?
I’ve had these questions and more swirling around in my head. I feel bad when I just drop content and move on to the next without slowing down and asking the important questions.
I want to build a community of wrestling fans that enjoy the work I put out and appreciate the time and effort it takes to create the content. I also want to be a writer that has showcased the ability to very ambitious, driven, motivated, and can complete projects such as the full G1 Climax 32. I didn’t even finish the Best of the Super Jrs 29, which I still feel bad about it. Part of me thinks that no one enjoyed that since I got barely any responses. Wrestling changes very rapidly, and sometimes I have to keep up with that and if the change is important, I will share it. If not, then I’ll continue to push whatever I’m working on. I don’t like to dabble in drama for the sake of drama. Wrestling shouldn’t be tabloid 24/7. I like keeping it kayfabe — in character and story — with wrestlers and angles. It’s not my business to spread the personal business of wrestlers unless one of the wrestlers gives me permission to do so.
I appreciate everyone on this journey with me. I needed time away to recharge. Content creating is difficult as is: sitting at my laptop, recording, researching, editing, uploading, and everything else to make sure you get the finish product to your inbox. I’m not complaining. I love doing all this. I took time to think about my content going forward.
I guess I also freaked out when Substack Grow was over. I’m great at helping others, giving them advice about how to grow their content and newsletter but sometimes I don’t apply that same advice here. I try. I think I do. So, as Substack Grow came to a close, we were given these questions:
What is your biggest takeaway from Substack Grow?
How do you expect to shift what you’re doing on Substack in the coming months?
What’s the next goal for your publication?
I’ve yet to answer questions 2 and 3. Substack Grow helped me find awesome people in the community that’s on the same level as me. Substack Grow didn’t pin us against each other but rather brought us together and we shared our experiences and through that, that’s how we grow and learn together. I’ve always told them — whoever listened — during those 6 weeks of classes that Substack is an experimental newsletter that can be whatever you choose it to be. I’m more mature now than some years ago and I understand and accepted what I love and the purpose of this newsletter.
The goal is to offer value to wrestling fans by breaking down matches, characters, angles — like getting technical and revealing why wrestlers do this move or that move and how those moves weaves into the psychology of the matches and everything as a whole. Wrestling so subjective and objective and the artform is usually lost due to wrestlers mainly doing spot fests such as knowing when a super kick is going to happen, or a moonsault, or multiple dives — something that’s plainly obvious. I love teaching about wrestling. I just don’t like teaching in general. My background is Creative Writing with a Publishing Certificate. Everyone asked me if I wanted to be an English teacher. Nope. But I’ll gladly be a wrestling teacher and scream: Class is in session! I’m so comfortable talking wrestling like no other.
I hope I do the following:
Show up. In order to have a wonderful newsletter, content needs to be made and then deliver. I hope — despite taking a mental break from content creation — that this shines through.
Demonstrate value. I hope that my content is insightful. Questions and feedback are always welcomed.
Things I need to work on to create a vibrant community:
Discussion threads (wrestling, shameless self-promotion, and more)
Self-care is important and while I was on that journey, I look towards the future of the newsletter.
Monday August 8, 2022, begins the grind again. Catching up on the G1 Climax 32. Creating podcasts episodes and simple write-ups with updated score cards. These will be free to listen however I will remind everyone that there is a sale happening.
If you ever thought I have a job outside of this, I don’t. I push paid subscriptions for a reason, love when I get sponsorship deals from Stream Elements, and will try my hardest to achieve my first payout from Twitch. I’m able to create wrestling content 24/7 because, yes, I am home watching countless hours of wrestling and creating some form content for you to consume. Just being transparent with everyone on this journey with me. It’s risky to do this without a safety net but creating content, getting to talk wrestling or watch wrestling on twitch with my friends who join, playing video games on twitch and more makes me super happy. Being my own boss makes me happy. (Should I have mentioned all that…no, because people may try to use that against me since internet people are mean for the sake of being mean but again, I rather be transparent with those loyal enough to open the emails.)
I did apply to WrestlingInc for a freelance writing position that paid $21 an hour & received a ‘no’ in a half hour from them receiving my writing samples. Not sure why. When asked for feedback, I got nothing.
I deliver wrestling content daily and this has helped me tremendously. My stats are up. However, so I can have time for other things such as working out, writing that wrestling novel, and streaming I have just decided this:
Wrestling content will be delivered Monday - Thursday ONLY!
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will be freebie days.
Saturday I would like to start a discussion thread where you can shamelessly promote whatever project you are working on if you want people to know about the content. Maybe whatever book you are reading. It’ll be a promotion thread and round up thread just in case you didn’t open any of the emails and want to know what’s new on the newsletter.
September, I want to feature my friends writing as collaborations based on wrestling experiences. More details to come.
Interview more wrestlers
Wrestling is such a niche that I’m luckily this newsletter is surviving on Substack. I believe in this newsletter. Slowing down is best. It’s a marathon and not a sprint.
I love you all.
