I first started writing on the web in 2010.

As a 13-year-old, I was enthralled by the concept that you could turn ideas into language, craft them into stories, and publish them online to connect with others. I had an unbridled creativity that I couldn't figure out how to properly harness. I was an avid reader, a secret internet user (my parents were a little crunchy so I had to be sneaky with my computer usage), and was constantly concocting narratives in my head as I moved through my days. I wrote fan letters to my favorite authors (some of whom kindly replied - memories I treasure to this day!). I walked around with a small audio recorder to capture my fleeting thoughts so I could return to those threads later (oh how I wish those tapes still existed). I wrote Percy Jackson fan fiction to build on a universe I loved enveloping myself in. I drafted first chapters of many would-be novels (all of which I had not yet developed the discipline to finish, but oh how I loved starting them!). I received a FlipCam as a gift which opened up a whole new world of visual creation - I would force my sisters and cousins to act out short films, throw up a green bedsheet to use as a green screen, and play around with the developing editing technology of the day (oh the hours I spent in Windows Movie Maker and early iterations of iMovie).

Let's call a spade a spade: I was a digital media nerd. Before internet-native content creation was the pursuit du jour, I was coming to it naturally as an awkward, puberty-stricken tween.

But then, I fell off the path. In high school, the pressure to appear "cool" stifled my creative juices. Occasionally things would pop up that allowed me to tap back into this part of myself - early Instagram "photography," the editing creativity of Vine - but these were mere flashes in the pan compared to how I used to love creating. I would pour my heart and soul into high school and college essays for classes because these became one of the few remaining ways I could tap into my creativity. In the summer I spent interning at the 9:30 Club, I jumped at any chance to contribute to the iconic music venue's now-defunct blog. But once I graduated college, I nearly stopped altogether.

At my first advertising agency job, I had a coworker compliment me on my "Thank You" emails to our partners - I would go above and beyond in what would ordinarily be mundane work communications because this was my last connection to that feeling of putting the metaphorical "pen to paper." But as I further fell victim to the rat race and lifestyle creep of chasing external validation in Corporate America™, I nearly forgot about this part of myself entirely. This deep desire to create and write and connect with others.

That is, until last September.

Following a challenging breakup, I realized I had been suppressing a part of me that was itching to create. I had been centering my ex's needs over my own and ignoring the reality that my tech industry career alone was not fueling my passions. I needed to find a way to supplement my endeavors and find a creative outlet of my own. And with that, I turned to YouTube!

The last 9 months of making videos has been a wonderful experience. Putting my college degree to use (Communication Arts - Radio, Television, Film major and Digital Studies minor), tying in my filmmaking experiences from various internships, and finding a platform to have conversations on topics that interested me felt incredible. And it still does! But one thing was missing - writing.

As much as I love making videos, writing has always been my favorite creative outlet. When I enter into a writing flow, the relationship between my mind and the medium I am using feels deeper and richer than any other connection. I started with a small, paid email newsletter that I candidly did not have the infrastructure or systems in place to keep up with, but oh, did I feel alive starting to write essays again. So here I am, turning to Substack, where the infrastructure is already in place and I can more easily document and archive thought pieces for years to come.

My goal for this Substack is simple: I want to have more personal conversations with this growing community! While much of my work revolves around technology and digital media, my Substack will be a place where I can be more authentic and dig into deeper topics as they arise. If you're interested in more quick-bite tech/media/AI/business news, you can find those pieces in the punchier Feed Decoder newsletter I’ve founded. This space, on the other hand, is purely for more raw and real storytelling through a more personal lens.

Think of this as a bit of behind-the-scenes on how I'm actually thinking and feeling! I will also be dipping back into my catalog of stories from throughout my life to share reflections of how I came to be who I am today. My YouTube often requires more poise as I unpack certain topics, and Feed Decoder is specifically for critical takes on the news of the week to stay informed on the ever-changing tech/digital scene. On the other hand, my Substack pieces will be more intimate insights into my inner world. No striving to follow a brand voice… just me!

This year I'm focusing on expanding my creative endeavors in a multitude of ways, and I'm thrilled to be returning to my favorite outlet via Substack! I hope you consider joining me on this journey. There is a LOT more to come✨

All the best,

Kate Cassidy Fletcher