Among the Ruins is Changing (For the Better!)

It has been just about one year since I started posting regularly again. Since then I have come to realize that I needed a more coherent plan for the future so that I don't 1) burn out, and 2) move the newsletter towards something that is sustainable (i.e. it makes some amount of money, I'm not trying to get rich, but I do need to pay my bills!). As such I have had a bit of a think, based on what kind of posts seem to do well, and have come up with what I think is a pretty workable plan. Starting in May (so now) I will be adopting a "season" approach, where I have most of the posts planned out for the next 6 months. At the end of the season I will reevaluate and see what works or didn't.

Generally, the best posts over the last year have been more "meta" analyses of the academy or historical topics. So my post on knowing things about the past, or about counterfactuals, tended to do better than more research oriented topics. I will still be doing both, but I will lean into the bigger topics a bit more, since you all seem to like those!

Each month will follow (I hope) a consistent posting schedule:

• 1 round up post of new releases (generally coming early in the month, think first or second week). Previously I was doing these at the end of the month, but this meant there was about a month lag between the new publications and my post, so this fixes that.
• 1 post that discusses my own research, or something I am working through. Consider these works in progress, ways to share ideas, etc. It may also be a review of what I've been reading recently, and how it fits into my own ideas and interests of the past. These will come in the middle of the month.
• 1 post that addresses a larger issue, so a recurring historical debate, a methodological problem, etc. These will primarily fall at the end of the month.

This should hopefully make it easier to know what to expect each month, both for me and for you, my valued readers! I only continue to do this because of the nice replies I get about my work. I may occasionally write an extra post if I have time and a good idea, these will be available for subscribers only. It remains in the works but also stay tuned for a new series where historians talk about the books that inspired/shaped them.

I also am beginning to think about pushing for more paid subscriptions, which help me cover the cost of running the newsletter but also the time I spend writing the posts, etc. My goal is to have 50 paid subscribers by the end of the year, so if you can spare a few bucks I would really appreciate it! A year subscription is only $65, but I am currently evaluating having more tiers. This requires spending more per month for a plan on Ghost, however. When/if I switch to more tiers, those that were early supporters will have locked in their subscription at that price, even if it would be more expensive down the road. Also, you will have my undying love and admiration, which should be reward on its own!

I don't want to make posts paywalled, since that goes against the spirit of this whole thing: I want to share my expertise as widely as possible, especially for those who don't have access to academic resources. As such I am going to offer different benefits for paid subscribers, probably the ability to suggest posts or ask me to review a book, things like that. I really hope you choose to subscribe for whatever reason, since paid and free subscriptions tell me that people value this humble newsletter.

In any event, thanks for reading, reacting, and sharing my words. It really means a lot! If you haven't already subscribed you can do so here: