Just write & become a millionaire 📝- NFTs are the future for creators 💸- US Congress vs. Social Platforms 🧨- Smooth & successful ✌️- Notre Dame de Paris forever 🏗
Building a writing habit, not a business
Episode #61. Hey Sunday lover!
Here are 5 things you might have missed this week:
What if you could be rich just with a writing habit?
Are NFTs the best monetization method for creators?
When the US Congress talks about (more) transparency from social media
Take it easy vs discipline, 2 opposite methods for success
Notre Dame de Paris rebooted.
This week again, if you want to get a chance to win a free book, you will need to read this newsletter until the end. Surprise 🎁
#1. Write and get millions
TLDR From a thread of tweets from Tim Denning, Millionaire Writing Habits, published on Twitter on April 27, 2022.
My favorite picks out of Tim’s 27 unconventional tips for becoming a millionaire with your writing habit:
I built a writing habit, not a business.
I wrote for years & didn't earn a dollar.
I turned off the news.
I put writing time on my calendar so life didn't write over the top of it.
I became obsessed with finding good images to add to my blog posts.
#2. NFTs for creators
TLDR From Are NFTs the future of subscriptions?, an article from Peter Yang published in his newsletter Creator Economy on May 4, 2022.
For a creator, there are now 3 sources of revenue than can be activated:
Ads can target casual fans who aren’t willing to pay anything.
Subscriptions can target active fans who will pay a small amount.
NFTs can target super fans who will pay a lot.
The author does believe that NFTs are the best way to monetize for a creator as he owns the terms of this (NFT) currency and does not depend on the terms of a platform (like Twitch). Creators becoming more bankable over time can also share the upside with their early fans.
However, there are limits to this as NFT traders can ruin the vibe of a community and new fans can just be priced out of the NFT membership when NFTs become too pricy.
In brief, Peter (the author) thinks NFT is the future of subscription for creators "because they let fans share in the upside and let creators target multiple fan willingness to pay".
#3. US Congress vs Social Media
TLDR From How platform researchers convinced the Senate, an article from Casey Newton published in his newsletter The Platformer on May 5, 2022.
Last week, the US Congress held a hearing about "platform transparency; understanding the impact on social media".
The legislation of social platforms may lead to an obligation to disclose data to explain in detail how algorithms work. It is feared that social platforms are activating "switches" to favor either a personality or a story to be spread just because they want it.
Social platforms may be forced to provide anonymized data in "white rooms" so that independent researchers can analyze it (including data about ad targeting).
The regulation under discussion at the Congress "could also require platforms to create basic research tools to study what content succeeds."
Some observers believe that “Once platforms know they’re being watched, it will change their behavior.”
Interestingly, Europe is again leading the way on this with the Digital Services Act that was agreed upon in April. It will come into force next year "requiring big platforms to share data with qualified researchers."
#4. Take it easy & be a winner
TLDR From Do I just need to relax??, an article from Mason Currey published in his newsletter Subtle Maneuvers on May 2, 2022.
There is always a thin line between pushing yourself too hard or letting things come naturally especially when creation is involved. Which of the 2 is the best method for getting to your goal?
Steve Albini, the producer of Nevermind the legendary album from Nirvana wrote a letter to the group back in November 1992: "I have worked on hundreds of records (some great, some good, some horrible, a lot in the courtyard), and I have seen a direct correlation between the quality of the end result and the mood of the band throughout the process." It meant do not push yourself too hard, do not take too long as a process to produce your piece of art; make it look like the production of a live band.
Bill Murray also gave his advice on social networks some time ago "The more relaxed you are, the better you are at everything; the better you are with your loved ones, the better you are with your enemies, the better you are at your job, the better you are with yourself."
Some writers on the opposite will enjoy 'frightening themselves with the urgency of a weekly deadline' for producing a newsletter like this one for example. Discipline and compound production can also be a piece of good advice for success... but always being relaxed and feeling good.
#5. Notre Dame de Paris forever
TLDG From The Augmented Exhibition of Notre Dame, a hi-tech exhibition currently open to the public in Paris (College des Bernardins) since April 7, 2022.
Majestueux. (Disclaimer I am an investor in Histovery, the startup company based in Paris, France that created this augmented exhibition).
There are journeys into the past that are now made possible. I went to this (free) exhibition in Paris with my family and we were all impressed by the quality of the experience. It will take you 1h30 to enjoy a full visit but here are a few things I learned I think are worth sharing:
Notre Dame de Paris was actually built after la Cathedrale Saint Etienne was deconstructed because it was too small for Paris. The construction of Notre Dame started in 1163 under the direction of bishop Maurice de Sully,
The cathedral was burning in April 2019 and the roof, made of thousands of trees, was entirely destructed,
During the XIXth century, Eugene Viollet Le Duc led a major restoration of Notre Dame which was left in a miserable shape after the event of the French Revolution took place.
I know I am a bit biased but this exhibition is a real success and will soon travel to other locations in the world. Just go! It is free.
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This week. You can also get a chance to win a free book (in French) as a gift. You just need to share this episode of The Timestamp on Twitter with a nice comment 🎁
See you next Sunday!