This is the 100th edition of TJL. Here’s what has changed, what I have learned, and how I plan to continue this newsletter beyond the walls of my newsletter class.
The Name
Originally, this newsletter was called T-Time with Tyler. Go back to my latest posts, and you will see T-Time in bold letters. I changed the name of this newsletter to TJL because I felt it was more fitting for direction I was planning to take with this project — a modern spin on everyday life in NYC. Although many people find enjoyment in the previous name, I believe that TJL is a better fit and all-encompassing.
The Content
I began writing with an informative approach. I wanted everything to be clean, and also loved the idea of AP-style writing. However, this quickly fell by the wayside. I started writing about my own experiences, and this required a stronger personal voice. Andrew Meier, a professor of mine and friend to many in my department, asked me to “flex a different muscle soon,” and that leads me to my third point.
The Future
This newsletter won’t stop just because the class ended. From the beginning, I have unconventionally written this newsletter. There is no point in slowing down, and it seems that more than 70 percent of my readers enjoy the type of content I am posting, the schedule I keep, and which direction I am taking this newsletter.
Tomorrow I am going to a journalism career fair. There I will display my work to a handful of industry faces. Most of my classmates only have a handful of newsletter posts. While they are walking in with a box full of memories, antiquities, and words, I am coming to the fair with more than just a “house voice” (the kiss of death, according to some). I have a truck load of moments from the past three months.
As I prepare my portfolio, I am selecting my favorite posts. Not just the ones I loved writing, but the ones that I know you guys also cherish. I have shared many parts of my world with you, and hopefully the community I have built will carry me through the fair tomorrow. I am not fearful of the conversations, dialogues, or hopefully, interviews I might find myself in. I am hopeful that everything will go smoothly.
The notion is cheesy, but today I did feel like Carrie Bradshaw. I even bought a shirt with her New York cover on it!
I asked my friend, the future famous movie director, if I was a Carrie. This is what he had to say
Here’s to being single and fabulous
TJL