Bridge builder. Education through skill expansion. Founder of the media agency Hayden Academy Collective Studios.
Welcome to Story and You (SAY)!
Story and You
Design and discover original stories
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Hey there!
Welcome to 2024 and the first issue of this revamped newsletter.
Late last year I realized storytelling is in my blood. And I've done a lot of it over the past 8 years. Now I'm packing everything I've learned into this newsletter. All to help you raise your storytelling game in your professional and personal life.
Stories run your life
The ability to control narratives is a powerful skill.
We often think of stories in the context of books, movies, and other media.
What about the ones running around in your head all day? Or the ones society tells about you?
Do you like those stories?
I didn't.
That's why I started Hayden Academy Collective (HAC) Studios. To tell my own and empower others (like you) to share their experience through story.
How this newsletter will work
I've always been a neat person. Everything must have a "place" where it lives. A purpose for being there.
This newsletter will follow the same standards.
The goal is not just to teach you storytelling by copying/pasting generic advice (you can get that anywhere online).
To take you there through examples of my own work, sharing the work of others (maybe even yours!), and by developing stories with you in this newsletter -more on that in a second-.
Below is the general structure of "The Story and You".
Section 1: Ad/Sponsor (wife wants to buy another house gotta pay for it somehow)
I've made a lot of products in the past few years, but I haven't been promoting them. Nobody knows they exist!
I'm changing that this year.
To follow through on my goal to "make money with my creative work" this year, I'll be including reminders of my past work in every post.
Section 2: Main Story Showcase
This is the meat of the message.
As mentioned earlier, don't expect definitions and quizzes on "What is Storytelling?" (read in boring teacher voice).
In my signature style, this section will be varied, colorful, engaging--DYNAMIC!
It might be writing or some other media format.
It could be an excerpt from an existing story of mine or a tale ripped from real life (you know I have a ton of those).
My goal is to make you want to read it every time (not just throw information at you).
These will make you more story smart with every read.
Section 3: Story Spinner Survey (Choose your story)
This is the part of the newsletter I'm most excited for. The one where you help me write an original piece of fiction.
(Did he just say that!?) I did.
Last year, I (with some help from my brother) developed "Story Spinner".
This amazing tool has been an infinite wellspring of ideas in the past few months. I've written at least 10 pieces of original fiction (including micro fiction, short stories, and whole books) using this system.
Many of those were experimental. Some blew up in my face (as experiments do at times). Others were incredible successes.
After countless testing and iteration, I've perfected my process and can produce 100% unique, high-quality stories using AI as a co-writer on command.
How will this play out in this newsletter?
In every issue, you'll have the opportunity to vote on a parameter of a fiction story. Some example parameters are below:
- Character description
- General story plot
- Character names
- Story setting
- Genre
After I have enough parameters, I'll write a unique story with your input!
Final stories will be published on my Substack. I'd like to publish a new story at least weekly (we'll see how it goes).
With my recently established publishing arm "HAC Publishing" I might consider publishing the work for greater distribution. Anything's possible!
But there's one catch.
If you want to participate and provide input, you'll have 24 hours to respond. Any submissions after that time period will be ignored.
I move fast and make (or work toward making) something new, daily. I need steady input to keep things flowing. (Plus, this encourages you to immediately read and take action on my emails if you're interested. Two birds, one stone.)
If this sounds fun, get ready because below is your chance to shape the first story of the year.
Hit the button below to participate! I look forward to seeing your response!
| I want to select the story genre! |
Section 4: My Stories
This will be where I inform you of recent work I've published.
Like this one where an old woman saves a space colony with gardening
Or this one, where a future soldier roams sewers searching for enemies and himself
I'll also share thoughts and notes from media I consume.
I'm currently rereading (and jotting notes on) Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari (2018). This work inspired my novel Cereus & Limnic.
Follow my notes in semi-real time here.
I've also launched a new podcast (also on Substack) called "Maker's Mirror". In this one, I reflect on the why, what, and how of my creative work.
Find it here.
As you can see, I'm going in on Substack this year. If you like any of the above, subscribe (unless you're already subbed!)
Section 5: Announcements (Optional)
In this final area, I'll let you know about any upcoming live events, trainings, or webinars I'm hosting. Most will be free. Some will be paid.
One of my goals in 2024 is to focus less on "content creation" (ugh!) and more on live experiences. These take more work to run and set up, but are better for building REAL relationships in the long run.
My first one of the year is tomorrow 5 Jan at 0600 JST (4 Jan at 1600 EST).
This will be an audio space on X with my brand new Japanese focused account. My alter ego "Sgt. Okinawa" the super soldier with a high flying attitude, will discuss why and how he learned Japanese.
If you've always wanted to learn the language or you've learned it in the past, come on by and share your story.
You might get something "nice" if you do :)
| I want to learn Japanese! |
And that's it!
What do you think? Hope you're hyped for this newsletter and the new year.
Don't worry, not all messages will be this long.
But they will have something to say that will inform, entertain, or delight you in new ways this year.
That's all for now. See you in the next one!
-Keith
Keith Hayden
Bridge builder. Education through skill expansion. Founder of the media agency Hayden Academy Collective Studios.
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