I’m writing this issue while spending a few weeks back in the U.S., and I’m slowly finding my way back into a writing groove.
One thing I’ve learned this year: running a creative business is basically a constant evaluation of what gives you energy vs. what drains it. (Unfortunately, this does not include taxes 😅)
The first half of this year has been such a fun reset for me, especially getting back into interviewing. Every time I hop off a call, I feel so lit up. I’ve got a bunch of conversations coming your way soon, and I’m genuinely excited to share them.
These creator interviews go beyond the highlight reel and get into the real systems, decisions, and shifts that help people build things that last. Speaking of… this week’s Q&A is one of my favorites yet.
📌 Q&A: The Back-End of Being a Creator
with Mel Tsiaprazis, founder of GYST
This week’s Creator Diaries interview is with Mel, the founder of a new AI startup that’s building something I think every creator needs: real infrastructure.
We talk about:
Why most creator tools miss the point
How to make smarter decisions across your business
The myth of “just add more revenue streams”
And what it really means to go from creator to founder
This was one of those conversations I could’ve kept going for hours. If you’re trying to build something sustainable, you’ll want to read this.
Tools I Love: How I Use Matter for Research and Writing
People always ask how I keep track of all the links, essays, interviews, and notes I gather while working on stories or client projects.
Short answer: I use Matter. It’s become my go-to for saving articles, organizing highlights, and turning research into outlines. I am obsessed!
In this post, I walk through my full workflow, including how I go from reading mode to writing mode without losing momentum.
👉 Check out the post [It’s paywalled, heads up!]
The Most Useful Thing I’ve Read All Month
Nathan Barry’s essay, The Audience Shortcut, is a must-read for anyone building something right now, especially if you feel like attention is the missing ingredient.
Nathan Barry’s Audience Shortcut essay might be one of the most practical and perspective-shifting pieces I’ve seen in a while. He breaks down the idea that every opportunity you’re chasing — clients, collaborators, investors, dream jobs — becomes more accessible when you build the right audience around your work.
Nathan is one of my favorite people to follow and learn about the creator economy from. He shares how he went from failed startup attempts to running a $45M company by building a small, trusted audience of exactly the right people.
There are four simple steps to what he calls the Audience Shortcut:
Choose your big dream. What goal feels just out of reach?
Identify your audience. Who could reduce your risk or accelerate your journey? (Hint: they’re rarely who you first think)
Create value for them. What can you make that would be genuinely useful to these people?
Document your journey. Join the 1% who both do and share what they learn.
Every dream you have is already someone else’s expertise.
Every opportunity you want is already in someone else’s network.
Every risk you fear can be mitigated by someone else’s safety net.
“Being someone who is actively pursuing their dreams and sharing the journey puts you in rarefied air. You will stand out, as that’s just 1% of people,” Nathan writes. “The gap between the last two categories—those who do things and those who do things and share—is actually very small. The simple step of documenting what you did is enough to tip you over.”
Whether you’re trying to get hired, land clients, build an audience, or grow your own thing, this essay will reframe how you think about attention and opportunity.
ICYMI: A few past Creator Diaries favorites you might like
Got a story worth sharing?
I’m always looking for thoughtful pitches. If you’re building something interesting — or know someone who is — hit reply or send me a note here.
Thanks for reading, as always.
More stories (and systems) coming soon.