"Dear Somebody" Illustrates the Appeal of Highly Personal Subject Matter
Meera Lee Patel's candid reflections connect with readers worldwide
Hi Bleeders!
Welcome back to another edition of our newsletter series. In this issue, we’re diving into
, an intimate weekly chronicle wherein captures five personal reflections she wants to remember a year from now.Meera shares insights into her editorial approach, growth strategies, and why authenticity matters more than ever in today’s online world. With over 7K subscribers spanning 82 countries, Dear Somebody proves that the highly personal can resonate with readers from all over the world.
But first, just a reminder that it’s last call for my Midsummer Pitch Party! This July, I’m teaching the writing intensive I wanted to see in the world, with daily Zoom sprints, writing prompts, publication targets, and weekly feedback. By month's end, students will have generated 20K words (!!!) and polished at least two pitches, a flash piece, and an essay.
⏰ Time is running out… The deadline to sign up is tonight at 11:59pm PST. Use code BLEEDERS to save $100. Don't miss out on this chance to take your writing practice and publishing game to the next level!
What’s the basic premise and tagline of your newsletter?
MP: Dear Somebody is a weekly newsletter that chronicles five things that I’d like to remember a year from now.
When and why did you start your newsletter?
MP: I re-ignited my newsletter in the beginning of 2023, having become disenchanted with marketing and social media in general. Marketing is an endless slog, and I found myself creating content to build an audience, when what I really wanted to do was devote myself to my craft. I changed the premise of my newsletter, which was built to serve my audience, to serve myself instead. Now, I write for myself—and because I write more honestly, I find that it resonates with my audience more deeply than it used to.
Who’s your main audience?
MP: I have a broad mix of readers, in gender and age. About half of my readers are in the U.S. (I have readers in all 50 states), and the remaining half are spread out over 82 countries across the world.
How is your newsletter differentiated from the other newsletters in your niche?
MP: My newsletter aims to connect universally with my audience through my individual outlook and perception of life. It primarily serves as a journal—it’s a collection of musings, recollections, lessons, and inspiration that I’ve found to be intellectually and emotionally relevant. My newsletter is intimate, and it’s not crafted to sell or market readers anything—including my own work.
What’s your editorial strategy?
MP: I aim to publish weekly, and most months I manage to send out three newsletters. In 2023 I sent out 34 newsletters. I write each newsletter in the seven days prior to its mailing.
How many subscribers do you have?
MP: 6,500+
[Editor’s note: This series of interviews was conducted earlier this year. Dear Somebody now has over 7,000 subscribers.]
Do you offer paid memberships?
MP: I don’t offer paid memberships and don’t have any plans to turn on paid subscriptions at this time. It’s something I will consider for the future, but my goal right now is simply to write—and to write well.
Have you tried any other methods of monetization?
MP: I rely on the sales of my books and products as income. My newsletter is an extension of my craft, not a form of income.
Tell us about your newsletter’s growth trajectory.
MP: My biggest growth spurts have been from podcast interviews, reader shares, and during the publication of new books. I find that my readers are loyal—they want to share my new work with the world and are happy to do so. I’m grateful for their support and protective of their patronage, which is why I work hard to keep my newsletter from becoming a marketing tool.
What’s been your most popular content, and your guess as to why?
MP: The reflections I write about my daily life are the most popular, I believe, because there’s usually a sentiment that any person, anywhere in their life, can relate to. I’ve only done one craft edition, which focuses on the process of making a particular piece of art, but that was wildly popular. I plan on writing more of those this year.
How has your newsletter served your career as an author?
MP: My newsletter has undoubtedly become the foundation for my career. It possesses the quality and longevity that social media does not. It helps me refine my voice and my craft, which is incredibly important to me as a writer and artist, and it forces me to determine what I want to create if no one will pay me for it. That last sentiment, especially today, is incredibly important. My newsletter allows my writing to remain pure.
What’s your #1 tip for writers who want to start a newsletter?
MP: Set a goal, set a schedule, and set aside time to write. Make sure it’s important to you—if it's not, you won’t be able to keep up with it.
What’s your #1 tip for writers trying to grow their existing newsletter?
MP: Consistency and joy. If you find your newsletter to be a slog, figure out why so you can transform it into something you look forward to creating.
Shout out another writer-newsletter that you admire and enjoy consuming.
MP:
’s , by , and ’s Ridgeline.Thank you, Meera!
➡️ Subscribe to .
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➡️ Buy Meera’s latest book of visual essays, How it Feels to Find Yourself
So… ROLL CALL! 🗣️
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Let’s connect on social media! I’m @courtneykocak on Twitter/X and Instagram. For more, check out my website courtneykocak.com.
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