Welcome New Subscribers!
And Hello Old Friends
Welcome to my wormhole of weirdness!
(Ok, fine, it’s not that weird.)
Let me just say I am GOBSMACKED to have been selected as a featured publication on Substack. Flabbergasted even.
Why are there so many weird words for the same thing?
Well, it’s a very pleasant surprise. I’ll admit it!
Since so many of you are new here, I’ll go ahead and introduce myself.
Who am I?:
My name is Erika Sjule and I am a New Yorker cartoonist, comic creator, and writer. I mention the New Yorker only to beg for your validation. More authentically I’m a nobody, an anybody— just someone who wants to express themselves and connect with other people.
Now that I’m an A-list superstar (crickets) I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to explain what inspired me to start this newsletter in the first place.
Why I started this Substack:
Part of me was longing for the bygone era of Livejournal (yes I am old).
I missed writing for fun. I missed creating art for connection.
I’ve been building an art career for several years now and it can feel surprisingly hollow at times.
Artists create as a form of communication.
If you grew up shy like me, it can be a way to make friends.
When you make art to connect with people, it can be hard to shift into making art for an income. It can even feel dehumanizing.
So I want to say thank you for subscribing and thank you for being here.
I’m so excited to be delusionally emotional and rabid with you all in this newsletter.
In that vein, I’d love to know what drew you here (hah).
Wazzup?:
Are there any topics you’d like to hear about from me? I’m ALL EARS.
Really though. It’s a condition.
Listening to:
Howdy. I started keeping an eye on SubStack when a couple of former writing students started posting here. It continues to be interesting, and there's a wide variety of folk posting,. I followed you for the art, mostly, but I'm interested in the words, too. Plus, I like stories and thoughts from NYC. It's cool place.
Great intro! (for a first time reader ever to a blog/someone aspiring to be a blog writer)
"It can even feel dehumanizing." how do you mean? it would be interesting to read about your personal experiences - or would greatly appreciate if you can elaborate?
Also agree on the meanings you put forward about art, how else should we repurpose art?