The Power of Niche Newsletters and Slow Productivity

This chapter explores the financial and creative benefits of niche newsletters, illustrating how writers can thrive outside of traditional media. It emphasizes the importance of slow productivity, cautioning against the fast-paced, algorithm-driven economy that often distracts creators from meaningful work. By advocating for intentional engagement and reflecting on significant learnings in writing, the chapter promotes a balanced approach to productivity that aligns with personal values.

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Cal Newport is a professor of computer science at Georgetown University, where he is also a founding member of the Center for Digital Ethics. His books have sold millions of copies and been translated into over forty languages. He is also a contributor to The New Yorker and hosts the popular Deep Questions podcast. His new book is Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout.

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Timestamps for this episode are available below. Resources from this episode: https://tim.blog/2024/02/21/cal-newport-slow-productivity/

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Timestamps:

[00:00] Start

[06:14] Unforced Errors: The Internet Story.

[09:41] Techno-selectionism.

[18:06] Why YouTube and podcasts aren’t ideal bedfellows.

[23:03] Amish technology and Steve Martin.

[28:07] What prompted Cal to write Slow Productivity?

[31:35] Becoming a better writer through blogging.

[36:54] The benefits of obsessing over quality.

[40:54] How did Cal decide to identify himself as a writer?

[52:02] People who exemplify slow productivity.