You've heard it a thousand times: "Post consistently or die." Okay, maybe not that dramatic, but close enough. Every content guru preaches the gospel of consistency like it's carved in stone.

Here's the thing though - when was the last time you subscribed to a newsletter because it arrived like clockwork?

I'll tell you what actually happens: You find something that speaks to you. Something that makes you think "Yes! Finally someone gets it!" (or “Oh, I hadn’t thought of it that way!”) And suddenly, you don't care if they post daily, weekly, or once in a blue moon. You just want more of that.

The Appeal Factor

Think about your favorite authors. The ones whose books you pre-order the moment they're announced. Do you care that Stephen King writes faster than George R.R. Martin? Or do you care about the stories themselves?

This hits home for me because I spent years chasing the consistency dragon. Plotting content calendars, setting rigid schedules, feeling guilty when life got in the way. And you know what? My best-performing content never came from those forced marches through the content calendar.

It came from moments of genuine insight. From conversations with creators that sparked something real. From taking the time to craft something worth reading.

How AI Fits Into This (Without Taking Over)

Now, this is where it gets interesting. Because AI isn't here to make everything consistent - it's here to help make everything better.

Here's what I mean:

Context is Queen (sorry, content)

• Your AI needs to understand your world. Not just your industry, but your specific take on it

• In Chibi, we use memory fields for this. Think of them as giving your AI partner the backstory it needs

• Example: Instead of just saying "write in my voice," I have memory fields full of my actual conversations with creators, my philosophy on AI, even my weird coffee analogies

Prompts That Make Sense Remember when everyone was sharing those 47-paragraph prompts that looked like legal documents? Yeah, let's not do that.

Instead:

• Start with what you actually want to say

• Add specific examples of how you want to say it

• Give context that matters to this specific piece

Here's a real prompt I used recently:

Using my teaching style and beliefs about AI writing, create a first draft about why perfectionism kills creativity. Include the story about my failed first startup and how it taught me to ship before I'm ready.

Simple. Direct. Personal. And it worked because the AI already had the context it needed.

The Effort Truth Nobody Wants to Hear

Ready for the plot twist? AI doesn't actually make things easier. It makes effort more valuable.

Think of it this way:

• Bad content is still bad content, even with AI

• Rushed ideas are still rushed ideas, even with AI

• But thoughtful work? That's where AI becomes a force multiplier

The real winners in this new world aren't the ones who use AI to cut corners. They're the ones who use AI to:

• Test ideas faster

• Explore different angles

• Polish good work into great work

• Focus their energy on what matters most

And you know what? That still takes effort. Maybe even more effort than before, because now you're not just crafting content - you're learning to work with an entirely new creative partner.

The Question That Matters

So here's what I want to know: What makes content appeal to you? Not what the algorithms want, not what the gurus preach, but what makes you stop scrolling and actually read something?

I have my theories (obviously), but I'd love to hear yours. Drop a reply and let me know - because maybe that's the conversation we should be having instead of debating posting schedules.

Until next time (whenever that is),

—Chad

P.S. Notice how this newsletter showed up when I had something worth saying, not because my content calendar said it was time? 😉

Merry Christmas! 🎄

There's this writer I can't stop thinking about.

For weeks, we tried everything. Every AI trick I knew. Every prompt strategy. Every technique for "finding your voice" with AI. Nothing worked. The content felt “wrong.” Nothing sparked new ideas for her.

And then she said something that changed everything:

"I hate writing. I love editing."

Wait. What?

See, we'd been trying to solve the wrong problem. We weren't dealing with a writing issue - we were fighting against her natural creative process. She didn't want AI to write with her. She needed AI to dump ideas on the page so she could tear them apart.

And that's when it hit me: We've all been sold this myth that there's a "right way" to create. Write a little, let AI help, write some more. But what if that's backwards for some people?

The Breakthrough

A couple days ago, I read something that made my coffee go cold. A research paper that just... well, it changed everything I thought I knew about what's possible with AI writing.

These researchers figured out how to make AI write coherent content1. Not just a few paragraphs. Not just a short article. We're talking 10,000+ words of actually connected thoughts.

(I know. I had to read that number three times too.)

But here's where it gets interesting. Because this isn't just some technical breakthrough - this is the key that unlocks a completely different way of creating.

Here's what we did:

1. Built a Chibi action using their technique

2. Fed it her expertise and writing style

3. Let it generate entire drafts

4. And then... she went to town with her red pen

The result? Pure magic.

Not because the AI wrote perfect content (it didn't). But because it gave her what she actually needed: raw material to shape. Clay to mold. Ideas to wrestle with.

[Editor’s note: I love this ‘clay to mold’ metaphor. It clicked immediately for her too.]

Why This Matters

You know what nobody talks about in AI writing? How personal your creative process is. How weird and unique and perfectly imperfect it can be.

Some people need to write every word themselves. Others need to edit. Some need to talk ideas out loud. Others need to see bad drafts to know what they don't want.

And they're all valid.

That writer? She ended up creating some of her best work. Not by following the "right way" to use AI, but by breaking every rule until she found her way.

Your Turn

Maybe you're sitting there thinking "but I've tried AI writing and it doesn't work for me." Good. That's perfect. Because maybe you haven't found your way yet.

Try this:

• Use our new LongWriter action to generate a complete draft

• Don't try to make it perfect

• Just let it be raw material

• Then interact with it however feels natural

Hate what it wrote? Perfect. Now you know what you don't want. Love a single sentence buried in paragraph 17? That's gold. Want to reorganize everything? That's your creativity talking.

Here's the Wild Part

You know what keeps running through my head? How many different ways this could work. Not just for editors - for anyone who needs to see their ideas from a different angle.

Picture this:

• You're stuck on chapter three of your novel. Generate three different versions. See which plot twist lights you up.

• Writing a research paper? Let it draft the whole thing. Then rip apart its logic, find the holes. That's where your original thinking comes in.

• Working on website copy? Generate the entire site's content. Then rewrite it in your voice, keeping only the structure that resonates.

It's like... imagine if you had an infinite supply of clay. Sure, most of it won't be what you want. But somewhere in there? Gold.

And you know what? I'm not making you wait for this.

Your Christmas Gift

I wasn't planning to release this until next week, but... it's Christmas Eve. And this feels too important to sit on.

The tutorial for building this in Chibi is live in our help center right now. Like, right now. Because maybe you've got that one project that's been stuck. Maybe you're the editor who's been waiting for permission to create your way.

Or maybe you'll take this technique and turn it into something I never even imagined. (Honestly? That's what I'm hoping for.)

Go build something weird. Something that works for your brain. Something that breaks all the rules about how you're "supposed" to write.

Because that's the real gift here - permission to create however you want.

❤️+✌️ Chad 🎁🎅

P.S. The tutorial's waiting for you in our help center. And if you build something that makes me question everything I thought I knew about writing? Please, please tell me about it. That's all I want for Christmas.

Look, I get it.

You're tired of seeing the same AI-generated garbage flooding your feeds. The identical LinkedIn posts, the cookie-cutter blog articles, the "content" that feels about as authentic as a plastic plant (and ugh, those “RIP, here’s 10 ways…” X threads 🤪)

And you know what? Your frustration is exactly why I'm writing to you today.

Because here's the thing that most people don't realize: those complaints you have about AI? They're not just valid – they're valuable.

I've spent years watching thousands of content creators struggle with this. They come to me frustrated, skeptical, sometimes even angry about how AI is "ruining" content creation. And you know what I tell them?

"The best way to complain is to make things better."

(Hat tip to Seth Godin for that gem of wisdom.)

See, when you're banging your head against the wall with another "AI writing assistant" that just regurgitates the same bland nonsense... that's not just frustration. That's your creative instinct screaming that there has to be a better way.

And you're right. There is.

From Frustration to Innovation

The secret? Stop letting AI write for you and start writing with it.

Think of it like this: Would you rather have an intern write your entire article while you cross your fingers and hope for the best, or a creative partner who bounces ideas back and forth with you, helping you shape your vision?

That's the difference between "done for you" and "done with you" AI content.

Let me share a real story that just happened last week (or was it two weeks ago?). A writer came to me, completely frustrated because she was trying to write a scene where her main character discovers an ancient artifact in a modern city. She'd tried using AI to generate the scene, but everything came out reading like a bad Indiana Jones knockoff (her words).

"I know what I don't want," she told me. "But I can't figure out how to make it work." (This is the classic conundrum with AI isn’t it?)

Instead of asking AI to write the scene, we took a different approach. We used it as a brainstorming partner, throwing questions back and forth: What if the artifact wasn't in some dusty corner but hidden in plain sight? What if it wasn't the discovery that mattered, but the realization of what it meant?

Twenty minutes later, she had something totally unexpected: her character finds the artifact in a thrift store, mistaking it for a cheap knockoff – until she notices something odd about how plants lean toward it, how static electricity seems to dance around it differently. The scene became less about the discovery and more about the character's growing awareness that her world isn't what she thought it was.

That scene would never have happened with a "write this for me" approach. It came from a back-and-forth dance between human creativity and AI's ability to ask "what if?" from angles we might not consider.

Making the Magic Happen

Here's how to recreate this in Chibi:

1. Start with your frustration: Create a memory field called “Creative Constraints” and then write down what's not working. Be specific. In our writer’s case: "Every scene feels like a cheap adventure movie knockoff. I need something that feels more grounded, more real." This becomes a creative boundary that pushes you toward something new.

2. Set up your creative partner: Create a new role called "Creative Challenger" with this simple instruction: "You're a creative partner who never directly solves problems. Instead, you ask probing questions that help the writer discover unexpected angles. Your questions should challenge assumptions and explore overlooked possibilities."

3. Start the conversation: Now open the Chat tool in Chibi and ask: "Based on my frustration in the Creative Constraints, what three unexpected questions could lead me to a fresh approach?" (Oh, and set the chat to use “context layer 3” so Chibi can “see” your document and memory)

4. Build on the unexpected Each answer becomes a new jumping-off point. When one intrigues you, use another like: "Let's explore that third question more deeply. What if we turned it upside down?"

The writer? She also turned this whole workflow into an action called "Frustration Breakthrough" that she now uses whenever she's stuck. One click, and she's got help leading her somewhere unexpected.

[Editor’s note: I turned this into a tutorial in our help center so you can recreate the (almost) same action for yourself)

Here's what makes this approach different: Each response builds on the last, but you're steering the ship. You're not asking AI to solve your problem – you're using it to illuminate paths you hadn't considered.

Collect Those Complaints

Those complaints of yours? They're your superpower. They're your quality detector, your authenticity radar, your "this could be so much better" intuition.

So the next time you find yourself rolling your eyes at another AI-generated article, remember: that frustration is showing you exactly what needs to be fixed. And maybe, just maybe, it's pointing you toward a whole new way of creating content.

What if you could turn those complaints into creativity?

If you're nodding along, thinking "finally, someone gets it," then stick around. We're just getting started with this conversation.

And please forward this to your friends, family, or anyone in your audience who would appreciate my message.

Thank you,

❤️+✌️, Chad

Today's Actionable Takeaway: Next time you spot an AI-generated piece of content that makes you cringe, don't just scroll past. Take a minute to identify specifically what bothers you about it. Is it the generic tone? The lack of personal insight? The missing emotional connection? Write it down. You've just created your personal checklist for what truly matters in authentic content creation.

The False Choice That's Driving Me Crazy

You know what keeps coming up in my DMs? People telling me to "just learn to write" instead of using AI tools. And honestly? I get where they're coming from. There's something pure about mastering a craft the traditional way.

But here's the thing that's been eating at me lately...

Why are we pretending this is an either/or situation?

I mean, seriously. When did we decide that using AI tools and learning to write better were mutually exclusive? It's like saying you shouldn't use a calculator because you should "just learn math." (I know, I used the calculator-math analogy in a previous post too, but here it actually fits well)

Here's what nobody seems to want to talk about: even the most brilliant writing teacher in the world can't be there for you at 3 AM when you're struggling with writer's block. They can't instantly provide feedback on seventeen different versions of your opening paragraph. They can't help you explore multiple angles of an argument in real-time.

But you know what? That's not even the most interesting part.

What a Writing Partnership Really Looks Like

The real magic happens when you stop seeing AI as a replacement and start seeing it as a sparring partner.

Let me share something that happened just last week. I was working with Jane (one of our early Chibi users, not her real name) who was struggling with a technical article about blockchain. She's brilliant at the technical stuff but kept getting stuck making it accessible to beginners.

Instead of just having AI rewrite her work, we did something different. We had her write a paragraph explaining a complex concept, then used AI to generate three different versions of the same explanation - each aimed at a different expertise level. But here's the crucial part: We weren't looking for a replacement paragraph. We were looking for patterns.

What made the beginner-friendly version clearer? How did the expert version differ? Which analogies worked best?

Jane didn't just copy any of these versions. Instead, she started noticing patterns in how complex ideas could be broken down. She began seeing which technical terms needed more context and which could stand alone. She was learning - actively, intentionally - while using AI as a tool.

The next article she wrote? Completely her own voice, but with this new understanding of how to scaffold complex ideas for different audiences. The AI didn't write it for her - it helped her develop a new skill.

Think about it this way: When you're learning martial arts, you don't just learn from your sensei. You practice with other students. You try things out. You fail. You get feedback. You adjust. You grow.

That's exactly what's possible with AI writing tools (when used right).

About That Whole "Do Better" Thing

You know what's funny? Sometimes just using certain words can trigger whole arguments that weren't even meant to happen. Like the other day, I used the phrase "do better" in a post and someone immediately assumed I was pulling that condescending internet thing where people say "do better" as some kind of moral superiority flex.

(God, I hate when people do that, by the way. Nothing makes me roll my eyes harder than someone dropping a "do better" bomb and walking away like they just delivered some profound wisdom.)

But it got me thinking about something deeper: how quick we are to assume someone's trying to tell us how to do our job.

I get it. Really, I do. When you've spent years - maybe decades - mastering your craft, the last thing you want is someone waltzing in with a shiny new tool telling you how to "improve." Especially if that someone isn't from your field.

Here's the thing though - and I'm just thinking out loud here - what if we're all getting a little too precious about our territories?

Because honestly? I'm not here to tell anyone they're doing their job wrong. Hell, I'm still learning new things about writing every single day. What I am doing is pointing at this new tool sitting right there and saying "hey, what if this could be useful?"

It's like... imagine if photographers had rejected digital cameras because the people making them weren't traditional photographers. Or if musicians had ignored electronic instruments because the engineers weren't classically trained.

The Real Question We Should Be Asking

Here's where I might ruffle some feathers: The people who claim AI will make our writing worse are often the same ones who haven't explored its potential as a learning tool.

When someone tells me "AI will just replicate common errors," I can't help but wonder - have they actually tried using it as a tool for improvement rather than a crutch?

Because here's what I've seen working with thousands of writers:

• The best ones use AI to challenge their assumptions

• They use it to explore different perspectives

• They use it to understand why certain writing choices work better than others

• And most importantly: they stay in control of their voice

You might be thinking, "But Chad, what about the risks of becoming dependent on AI?"

Fair question. But let me flip that around: Isn't it riskier to ignore a tool that could help us understand our own writing better?

Finding Our Way Forward

I built Chibi specifically because I saw this false dichotomy playing out everywhere. Writers feeling like they had to choose between "pure" human writing and "soulless" AI generation.

What if there's a middle path?

What if, instead of either rejecting AI or surrendering to it, we learned to dance with it? To use it as a mirror for our own creativity? To challenge ourselves to grow while maintaining our authentic voice?

That's the conversation I think we should be having.

Because at the end of the day, it's not about whether you use AI or not. It's about how intentionally you approach your craft.

And maybe - just maybe - the best way to become a better writer isn't to reject new tools, but to learn how to use them mindfully.

What do you think? Have you found yourself caught in this either/or thinking? I'd love to hear your experiences in the comments.

Would this shift in perspective help you approach AI writing tools differently? Share this post with someone who might need a fresh take on this debate.

You know what makes me laugh? When really smart people miss the forest for the trees. I just read Paul Graham’s prediction that AI will create this stark divide between writers and "write-nots" – and honestly? I couldn't disagree more.

Here's the thing (and I'm speaking from years of watching thousands of creators work with AI): The future of writing isn't about who can or can't write. It's about who understands how to think alongside AI.

Let me break this down...

The article argues that since AI can now write for us, most people will stop learning to write altogether. But that's like saying since calculators exist, we shouldn't learn math. Come on.

What's actually happening (and I see this every single day) is something far more interesting.

The Real Shift Nobody's Talking About

Writers aren't disappearing – they're evolving. And here's what fascinates me: The best content creators I work with aren't using AI to replace their writing skills. They're using it to boost their thinking process.

Let me share something that happened recently (because this stuff isn't theoretical – it's happening right now):

One of our users, I’ll call her Leah (she didn’t want me to use her real name), was struggling with a piece about sustainable fashion. She'd done the research, had the knowledge, but kept hitting a wall with the writing. You know that feeling when the ideas are there but they're all tangled up?

Instead of just asking AI to "write an article about sustainable fashion" (which would've given her that same bland, seen-it-everywhere content), she did something fascinating:

First, she brain-dumped her messy thoughts into Chibi's memory composer:

• "Fast fashion terrible but affordable why???"

• "Workers in Bangladesh making $2/day this is nuts"

• "My friend's sustainable brand failed because prices too high"

• "Need to talk about that vintage store downtown – their model actually works?"

Then she started this back-and-forth with AI:

1. "Help me identify the core tension in these thoughts"

2. "Now let's explore three real-world examples that illustrate this tension"

3. "What's a fresh angle on this that most people miss?"

She wasn't using AI to write – she was using it to think better.

The final piece? Pure fire. Not because AI wrote it, but because Leah used AI to:

• Untangle her thoughts

• Challenge her assumptions

• Find connections she hadn't seen

• Shape her message

And you know what? Her writing actually got stronger through this process. She learned to think more clearly, structure arguments better, spot logical gaps faster.

Think about it: When you're working with AI, you're not just pushing buttons and getting magic output. You're:

• Crafting prompts (specificity requires clear thinking)

• Evaluating outputs (demands critical analysis)

• Refining and directing the AI (needs strategic thinking)

This isn't the death of writing – it's the birth of collaborative thinking.

The Missing Piece in the Argument

The original article makes this brilliant point about writing being thinking (quoting Lamport: "If you're thinking without writing, you only think you're thinking"). But then it takes a weird leap to assume AI eliminates the need for this thinking.

Let me tell you what I actually see happening:

People who never felt confident writing are suddenly engaging with text in ways they never did before. They're not becoming "write-nots" – they're finding new ways to express their thoughts by partnering with AI.

Here's What Nobody Tells You

The real divide won't be between those who can and can't write. It'll be between those who understand how to think with AI and those who don't.

And you know what's wild? The people who learn to think with AI often become better writers. Because when you're constantly prompting, evaluating, and refining AI outputs, you're actually practicing the exact kind of clear thinking the original article worries we'll lose.

The Truth About Tomorrow's Writers

Look, I've spent years helping people navigate this exact space, and here's what I know for sure: The future isn't binary. It's not about writers vs. non-writers.

It's about people who learn to:

• Think clearly (because AI requires it)

• Express ideas precisely (because prompting demands it)

• Evaluate and refine content critically (because AI output needs it)

That sounds a lot like... writing skills to me.

Here's what excites me: We're not heading toward a world of "writes and write-nots." We're moving into a world where thinking and writing become more accessible to everyone.

And isn't that actually... better?

I mean, wouldn't you rather live in a world where more people can express their ideas clearly, not fewer? Where technology helps people find their voice instead of losing it?

Because that's the world I see coming. And honestly? I can't wait to help build it.

What do you think? Are you seeing AI as a threat to writing skills, or are you discovering new ways to think and express yourself? I'd love to hear your take on this.

(And if you're wondering how to start this journey of thinking with AI instead of being replaced by it – well, that's exactly what we'll be exploring in future newsletters. Stay tuned.)

P.S. This isn't just theory for me. Every day I watch people transform their relationship with writing through AI. Not by abandoning writing, but by finding new ways to think and create. That's the future I believe in. Check out Chibi AI and discover how thousands are using AI the ‘write’ way. 😉

The Elephant in the Room

I need to get something off my chest. And maybe you'll hate me for saying this, but fuck it – we need to talk about this whole "AI writing isn't real writing" bullshit that keeps floating around.

You know what I mean, right? Those self-righteous posts about how "real writers don't use AI" or how "AI will destroy creativity." Give me a break.

Here's the truth that nobody wants to talk about: Writing has always been about tools. Always. You think quill pens didn't freak people out when they replaced clay tablets? (Okay, maybe not the perfect analogy, but you get my point)

The Real Magic (And Why Everyone Else Gets It Wrong)

But here's where it gets interesting – and why I've spent years helping thousands of creators figure this stuff out...

The real magic isn't in the AI. It's in the partnership between your brain and the technology. It's in knowing how to dance with these tools in a way that amplifies your voice instead of replacing it.

"But Chad, How Does This Actually Work?"

Let me give you a quick example that might blow your mind:

When I'm working on a piece, I don't just throw a prompt at the AI and pray. Instead, I build a context-rich environment for it. Think about it – if you were collaborating with another writer, you wouldn't just drop them in blind, right? You'd give them background, share your vision, set the tone.

That's exactly what I do with AI. I create detailed roles that embody the exact voice and style I'm after. I fill the document memory with rich context about my audience, my goals, my unique perspectives. (It's like creating the perfect creative environment, except instead of setting up your desk just right, you're setting up your AI's "mind" just right.)

I created a guide to help you build this context-rich environment in Chibi AI.

The Secret Sauce Nobody's Talking About

And here's the part that most people completely miss – when you do this setup work, when you really invest in creating that perfect context... the AI doesn't just follow your lead, serendipity happens! It becomes this incredible tool for exploring and expanding your ideas while staying true to your unique perspective.

(By the way, this is exactly why we built Chibi different. Because we knew writers needed a tool that could actually understand their unique voice and vision while also discovering new ways forward.)

But here's what really keeps me up at night: I see so many talented people holding themselves back because they've bought into this idea that using AI somehow makes them "less than." And it breaks my fucking heart.

The Hard Truth About "Real" Writing

You want to know what real writing is? It's whatever gets your truth onto the page. Period.

Whether you're using a pencil, a keyboard, or yes, even AI – if you're putting your thoughts, your experiences, your unique perspective out into the world, you're writing.

And anyone who tells you different? They're probably just scared. Scared of change, scared of losing their perceived advantage, scared of having to adapt.

Your Turn to Step Up

But you? You're here. You're reading this. You're already brave enough to explore what's possible.

So here's my challenge to you: Stop apologizing for using AI in your writing. Instead, start asking yourself how you can use it more intentionally, more creatively, more you-ly.

Because that's what matters. That's what's going to set your writing apart in a world where everyone else is still debating whether they should even try.

Let's Keep This Conversation Going

Would love to hear your thoughts on this. Hit reply and tell me – what's your take? Have you been holding back from fully embracing AI in your writing? Let's talk about it.

Keep pushing boundaries,

❤️+🤘Chad

So... it's been almost two years. Two years. That's kind of wild to think about, isn't it? I've been sitting here for the past hour, trying to figure out how to restart this newsletter, and you know what? I'm just going to shoot straight with you.

The Disappearing Act

I disappeared. Not because I stopped caring about AI and content creation (god no – I've been obsessing over it more than ever), but because I got caught up in the work. The real work. Building Chibi. Making it something that actually matters in this oversaturated world of AI tools that all seem to do the same damn thing.

Holy Crap, Things Have Changed

And let me tell you – the AI world has gone absolutely bonkers since I last wrote. It feels like every day there's another "REVOLUTIONARY AI TOOL!" that promises to write your entire blog/book/life story with just one click. (Spoiler alert: they don't. They really, really don't.)

But here's the thing that's been driving me crazy: everyone's so caught up in the hype, the "magic buttons," the promise of content that writes itself... that they're missing the whole point. AI isn't meant to replace your voice – it's meant to amplify it. To work with you, not for you.

Why I'm Really Back

That's what Chibi's always been about. That's what this newsletter's always been about. And honestly? That's why I'm back. Because I'm tired of seeing people get burned out on mediocre AI tools that promise the moon and deliver... well, you know what they deliver. (Hint: it rhymes with "moop.")

The New Deal

So here's the deal: I'm rebooting Chibi Writer. No strict schedule (because let's be real, those never work out), but I'm aiming for weekly-ish. Sometimes more, sometimes less. The only promise I'm making is this: when I write, it'll be because I have something actually useful to share. Something that helps you:

• Create better content

• Understand AI better

• Think differently about this whole crazy space we're in

• Or make you laugh (because that’s useful, right?)

What You're Getting

You'll get:

• Tutorials about Chibi (because holy crap, we've added some cool stuff while I was gone)

• My unfiltered thoughts about what's happening in AI (and trust me, there's a lot to unpack)

• Most importantly: real, practical insights about creating content that actually matters

Because that's the thing about AI – it's not about replacing human creativity. It's about enhancing it. Amplifying it. Making it easier to get your ideas out into the world without losing what makes them uniquely yours.

Let's Get Real

So yeah, I'm back. And if you're still here after two years of silence (or if you're new – hey there!), I promise it'll be worth the wait. We've got a lot to talk about.

Let's do this thing.

❤️+✌️
Chad

P.S. If you're thinking "this newsletter feels different" – you're right. I'm done with the polished, sanitized tech newsletter thing. From now on, it's just me, talking to you about the stuff that actually matters in AI and content creation. Because honestly? That's what I would have wanted to read during these past two years of AI chaos.

But writing a blog post that people will want to read and share? That's hard.

It's hard because it takes time and effort, and skill. It's hard because it takes the subject and the essence of what you're trying to communicate and makes it compelling.

Communicating what you're trying to say requires more than words. A particular skill goes into crafting a blog post that will connect with your audience and make them want to come back for more.

And so, if we want people to read our blog, we need to write amazing blog posts.

If you have a blog, you know that there are days when it feels like nobody reads it. Days when it's quiet like crickets, your mind goes where all blank pages go.

And those days are hard.

Excitement is temporary.

Excitement distracts.

But momentum moves us forward.

If we value forward motion over excitement, we have to find a way to turn our excitement into momentum.

The best way to do that is with focus, rigor, and perseverance.

Eventually, the exciting moment passes, and it's time to move on to the next one.

Momentum is something we make happen, something that we probably need to feel optimal motivation or a sense of determination.

There's nothing like big expectations to generate excitement in moments leading up to a deadline.

And yet, too often, the excitement ends with the deadline.

Let your excitement build into momentum, even beyond the deadline.

But it needs to be grounded in fact.

If they're based on what you hope will happen, it won't work. They'll be overtaken by reality.

So, if the goal is "to make a million dollars," you need a specific number, a reasonable amount... a realistic plan to reach your ultimate goal.

The same is true in content creation. If you say you want to be an authority figure in your market - how many articles do you have to write? Where is your audience? How does your strategy relate to your goal?

Define your goals. Follow your plan and do the work to reach it.

It isn't the failure that matters; it's what happens next.

So whatever failed yesterday can be turned into something fabulous today.

If you're feeling stuck, see yourself as starting over and permit yourself to experiment.

I just launched a re-imagined Chibi. I didn't want to initially. But after carefully considering the struggle newcomers would face... I opted to do it.

It was a learning moment. Be careful not to lose sight of your overall vision. Setbacks are bound to happen but can be overcome.

Doubt is a normal human emotion that tells us much about the world.

When we question our opinions, it's usually in the service of getting better. But sometimes we second-guess ourselves because maybe it's easier to just give up or seek excuses.

But what can you do about it? Perhaps the answer is simply to be curious about your uncertainty. Become aware that you're the cause of this lack of certainty and that you can fix it.

Do you not fully understand the project? Is it a technology you're unfamiliar with? A person you haven't grown to trust yet?

Find that source and resolve it. Become certain, and perhaps you'll learn to second guess yourself less.

There is a golden time for everything—even the latest trend.

But are you too late?

I bet you're not, even though you think you are. Chances are you imagine everyone else has already beat you to the punch.

But what if most think the same thing and don't strike while the iron is hot; instead, wait and watch what happens next?

Are you on team "wait and watch" or "iron strikers?"

As a striker of iron, you could fail, yes. But you could also succeed. The other team doesn't have that opportunity.

However, once you're there and in the habit of writing, it becomes easier... and easier to form the sentences that take shape... and easier to have new ideas... and easier to see with a bit more clarity... and connect and share.

So take a deep breath and relax into the hard work. As you grow to enjoy it, it will become less of a job and more of a passion - something that you'll do without even thinking about it because it will just come naturally to you.

Perhaps another way to say "relax into the hard work" is to enjoy the process. Don't wait for the outcome to feel good. Soak in how it feels to be in the moment.

How about you? Does writing feel like a chore?

Change is the norm.

Yet many of us seem to do a horrible job of dealing with it. We tend to cling to what we know when we need to adapt to something new.

Change is (almost) always uncomfortable.

But if we pay attention and make conscious choices about how to respond, we can make it work. That new social media platform that's starting to gain traction... you could adapt your social media strategy to take advantage of the change and differentiate yourself from the competition.

Or, you don't, and you ignore it, and your competitors might gain a massive advantage (who wants to dance on camera anyway, amirite?).

On the flip side, what kind of change are you not afraid (or annoyed) of?

But often, the problem isn't the work - it's the mindset.

Chunking is an approach that helps take the sting out of tasks by breaking them down into manageable units. The trick is to chunk them in a way that makes you feel satisfied with each step.

Often, that means adjusting your expectations and realizing that "done is better than perfect." Making progress can provide the motivation needed to complete a project.

But this is easier said than done when you're staring at the start of a vast project.

Don't look at it as a whole - break it down into discrete steps. Maybe the first step is researching a topic, while the next might be writing an outline for a presentation you'll have to give next week.

But don't stop there. Get to work on that first task.

Like baby steps, you'll eventually learn to walk, one tiny task at a time.

Is there a time when this technique really worked well for you?

We read things we find exciting or believe in, but we're also reading them because our friends are or because we enjoyed the author's prior work.

If we truly understand our readers, we can painstakingly craft the perfect message our readers expect from us as writers.

Understanding leads to clarity, empathy, and connection.

And clarity, empathy, and connection lead to, dare I say it, fans.

And fans lead to more readers, traffic, and sales.

So the next time you're tempted to grab that keyword tool and rush to blindly start that next blog post because "content is king," stop and think about who will read it; and what THEY want.

Do you truly understand your reader?

On a practical level, not everyone's opinion of what looks better will be the same. In fact, additions and alterations that improve the looks of writing are often just distractions from what's relevant.

But regardless of how practical an answer you'll find to the question, it's interesting to see what beauty inspires in people: a sense of awe, a desire to understand, an openness to hearing and understanding others, and an appreciation of detail and care.

And that's an inspiring and beautiful thing.

What about you? Do you care about aesthetics while reading? Does the font, text size, spacing, etc. matter? Or do you have a different opinion on aesthetics?

Put down the phone, stop sending emails, put the car in park, and breathe.

Not that long of a pause, just enough to ask yourself what you should really be doing - whether preparing for a meeting, going on a walk, or just stopping what you're doing and taking a breath.

Sometimes, speed seems to be the only goal, but slowing down occasionally can make us more effective at what we're doing - or at least less likely to make mistakes along the way.

Do you find yourself stumbling over to go as fast as possible?

No one is born knowing anything. So don't act like you're too good or too important to need the feedback. Being open-minded is vital to accepting the hard-hitting truth that might be hiding in plain sight.

Remember that it's usually not a personal attack, as much as it might feel that way. So make your peace with the feedback, and then apply it. Even negative feedback often hides valuable gems within.

Do you have a story about a particular bit of feedback you can’t forget?