Thoughts on using AI, ghost writers, or templates to write your newsletters

Writing newsletters can be challenging, and if you’re new there’s the learning curve to contend with, so I understand the temptation to purchase newsletter templates, use AI, or even hire a copywriter to write them for you.

I’m not opposed to any of these things in general, and I don’t think they are a good idea for most people who want to use newsletters to build a 1:1 practice - at least in the beginning.

If your newsletters are written by AI or by someone else, by definition, they aren’t by you. Rather than sharing something you wrote, you’re sharing something someone else (or something else) wrote that you agree with or think sounds good.

Our intention here is to build relationships between you and your community. When you start with ChatGPT or someone else’s writing, the message isn’t really from you in the truest sense. This makes it harder for people to get a feel for who you are and what you’re all about.

For at least 6-12 months, I encourage you to write your own newsletters from scratch.

If you want to use AI to help you find errors in your writing, brainstorm for ideas, etc. I don’t have any issues with that. But write the core message yourself.

Same with email templates. Please don’t use them right out of the box, as they won’t be “you.” However, if you do well with something to start from, and you’re pretty good at getting your voice and point into the work, you could consider a template. Just remember that what comes from within you will be more resonant to your people than something that originates from within someone else.

Similarly, a very good copywriter will be able to meet with you and/or look through your previous writing and emulate your tone fairly well. But, good copywriting is expensive. And there is value in doing the thinking yourself, and in growing as you write. Writing regularly will leave you with a nuanced understanding of your ideas and where they fit/why they matter that you’ll miss if you have someone else write for you.

When something is hard, we often want a shortcut. There isn’t a shortcut here. The best way out is through - by writing your own newsletters, even when you’re not feeling confident in your writing and even when you feel sure someone else could do this better. It matters that it’s from you, and your writing does make a difference 🖤

Warmly,

Camille