meta mondays + boston is cold
CHEAP GOOD REAL CARBS, NORTH BEACH —
a really smart reporter once told me that our observations, if rooted in reality, can be insightful to those around us.
in other words: bet on what you notice, because chances are that if something makes you pause, it’ll make someone else pause, too.
believing that details, from the small talk in the uber on the way to the event to the coffee my source is drinking, has helped me as a journalist. also, at some point it becomes kind of a game. if a dude wearing a robot shirt does something stupid while i’m reporting on something completely different, you best believe i’m going to find a way to include robot boy in the story.
i’ve even tested out this thesis on this newsletter. often times after i share a post, friends reach out saying things like “same here” or “exactly my thoughts.” my observations sometimes resonate, which is pretty damn cool and the really great part about writing.
the dream, kinda.
while this mentality has obviously boundaries 1) don’t share all of your shitty twitter drafts, please 2) i’ll try to do the same, it’s probably one of the most pivotal pieces of advice i’ve gotten so far.
more later, including an ask, but first my words + reads.
my words: i’m starting a monthly column on all things Boston and tech. my first edition touches upon how Boston had its slowest summer in 5 years in terms of venture capital dollars scored by startups.
etc: yes, of course my interest is biased. and yes, i’d love your tips! natasha@crunchbase.com. everything aside, the column might take a big look at data of the month, a deal, or just something interesting happening in a city full of a bunch of really smart nerds.
learning lesson: this week i chatted with a founder of a seed-stage company working on making therapy more accessible. he told me he’s not tired about speaking on being a minority and a founder (disagreeing with this observation of mine) because he knows that another person might hear his story and feel less alone. we also talked about loneliness, and he told me that in terms of founder support for the journey, it’s rare to find a place to chat that doesn’t have the undertones of networking. story to come.
song of the week:
unorganized tab time:
the ever changing series A definition
“they paid $42 for a soulcycle ride. not trump.”
scoop: moxxly, a medela-owned breast pump maker, shut down
a lesson from my past six months
one of sf’s last blues venues faces closure
anyways, here’s the part where i convince you all to write more.*
unless you are racist and/or a shitty person, i think it’s worth telling us about the conversation with the barista that really stuck with you. or an ‘aha’ moment that led you to your current job. or diving a little deeper into the first thought that popped into your mind while reading this section.
i’m not saying write so the people who agree with you continue to do so. i’m a firm believer that if you post for conversation not affirmation — and that is key — a really beautiful thing happens: you realize how similar we are.
that said, i can’t help but note that i’m coming from an extremely biased place. my friends here often tell me how they wish they could write more, but for one reason or another, they don’t. it’s hard to articulate, the internet sucks sometimes, and its difficult to make a string of thoughts sing.
but if it makes you feel better, an editor in journalism school once told me that our first 500 stories suck, but the 501st will change lives. it just takes running a lot of words through our fingers to get there.
so every story doesn’t need to be a smash hit. especially your first.
as i work toward my 501st, i’m really thankful you’re part of the process. if this post inspired you even a little to publish some words or share some thoughts, i’m here to help as much as i can. if you would like, i’ll edit, chat, etc, and remind you that your observations, as long as they’re coming from a genuine place, are interesting as heck. you know where to find me.
cheers to leaning into your thoughts,
N
*of course, this is if you are interesting in writing in the first place. some people want to keep their thoughts to themselves. not everything is about content. and that is something awesome that deserves a whole separate post.