Hello! And welcome to all the new folks who’ve joined the fun recently.
I thought it might be a good time to introduce or reintroduce myself and to share why I write this newsletter. Basically, I started it in late 2013 to connect with people who came to a yoga class I taught at a community center in Washington, D.C. I also had a separate smaller list I sent out to people who were interested in my book project and my journalism. I have tinkered with formats and delivery devices, but a few years ago, I merged the lists and started calling the whole thing “The Windfall Dispatch.” The title is a nod to all the newspapers I came across and loved while researching my first book, Windfall. (Such as The Bad Lands Cow Boy.) It’s also a nod to this newsletter’s format as a letter—a literal dispatch to readers around the corner and across the globe.
Trees get a lot of coverage here. So do long walks of all kinds and life with my dog, Mojie. Almost all photos are mine, shot mostly with a Fujifilm X-T4. I love writing about the places I go as a journalist, and I enjoy sharing links to interesting things I come across. As an homage to this newsletter’s roots, I get a kick out of sharing a goofy link about yoga pants every now and then, or a link to stories about meditation and mindfulness. But if I had to say this dispatch is about one thing, it’s about the joy of a constant, lifelong practice of paying attention. Sometimes, as with last week’s edition, I’m doing that on the page myself, with all of you as my witness.
When possible, I strive to resist the constant pressure on the part of American capitalism to commodify all creative expression. I figure I’m sharing my writing with you in exchange for your time, which is valuable in ways that also cannot be commodified. So for the most part, The Windfall Dispatch is free. All you have to do is sign up. Maybe you’ll buy my book or leave it a review on Amazon or support my journalism in other ways?
I did start charging new subscribers this year for access to the archives. It allows me to maintain the gratis spirit of this long-running experiment while taking advantage of the possibility of a tiny bit of passive income. Many of you have been with me for so long that you’re grandfathered into comped subscriptions. I am deeply grateful to the handful of people who pay for subscriptions. Thank you!
That said, those subscriptions aren’t enough to cover the cost of a professional editor, not even close. I would have to have about 80 additional paying subscribers to break even on a fair hourly wage for a copyeditor. So until then, I will continue to write clean copy. But without an editor, there will sometimes be typos or errors. Apologies in advance. Believe me, they hurt me more than they hurt you!
I myself am a huge fan of this format. I don’t hate email—and I keep a tidy, highly filtered inbox. (Happy to share tips!) I subscribe to hundreds of email newsletters, some weekly and some once a year. I pay for about 15, some on Substack and some via other platforms. I believe in spending my money to support writers and artists, and I like reading what they have to say. And if I learned anything from a consult with a financial planner a few years back, it’s that your money should work for you.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about what makes for a good newsletter, whether I have it in me to write something weekly, and whether readers even want something weekly from me. I’m proud of my high open and engagement rate, and if I can maintain those numbers, I aim to continue with a weekly dispatch.
It means so much to me that you have opted to be here on Sundays, especially when there is so much competition for your attention. As always, I love hearing from all of you. Reach out anytime!
Yours,
Erika
THE NEWS
All the links…
Terms of Endearment One of my favorite newsletters by writer Sarah Menkedick will now be anchored by mindfulness practices. Subscribe!
How Do You Take a Picture of Happiness? (Tomorrow is International Day of Happiness!)
The American Diet Has a Sandwich Problem I’m going to spoil the ending of this infuriating piece about my favorite type of food to let you know that the occasional PB&J is just fine.
Why Don’t More Americans Have Solar Water Heaters? They not only were invented in the USA, but plenty of states have ideal climates for them.
The Radio Divide How airplay reinforces the gender gap in country music
Making Space for Doing Nothing More to come from me on this soon.
I really enjoy your Windall Dispatch! I think it is kind of like me having a pen pal, I have always enjoyed the written word and observing the environment around us for all the beauty and the flaws. I just recommended your book to my pen pal. Her name is Maryann Hurtt and she is a poet/writer. She graciously sent me her book and I thought of you right away. Her book is ONCE UPON A TAR CREEK MINING FOR VOICES and I found it so interesting because I knew nothing about Picher, Oklahoma or the mining of lead and zinc and what led over many years to a disaster. I told her to check out your book and rest assured between Rebecca G., Sheryce and I we talk about your book at the Rediscovered Book Store and put it in many a persons hands. I loved the picture of the lighthouse, the Oregon Coast is so special. Take Care! Your Boise fan Diane