So there I was thinking this would be a regular Saturday thing. To be honest I enjoyed having a Saturday without writing, so it is now a Sunday thing!
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If you’re a new subscriber, please read the wraps for week one and week two. That is, if you’re curious about how this little project is panning out.
In one word, great!
So in the past week Couchfish went from 382 to 442 (free and paid) subscribers. Open rate continues to hover north of 60%. Growth is slowing, but I’m confident it will continue to grow over time. I’m more turtle than hare.
Some things are more challenging than writing an email newsletter. Weavers in Melolo, Sumba. Photo: Sally Arnold.
Also, it seems people do like a scam story. A lucky thing that, as I have loads of them!
Change arrived
As promised last week, I added a new free post, of a Tuesday afternoon. I called it Couchfish Diversions and it seems to have been well received. If you’re looking for a little visited Thai island, you may like to give the first issue a read.
One of the aspects I like about Diversions, is it allows be to break out of the daily itinerary and bounce around the region. This week’s upcoming Diversion for example, will be set somewhere in Cambodia.
More change
I’ve started added a sound recording to each issue. It would be a stretch to call it a podcast though, as it is just a read out of what I have written. The sound quality is not great—I’m just using my earphone mike—but I will get a proper microphone soon. Feedback on this as also been positive. For example:
“Hey! I actually love the recordings...I feel like my brain is too stressed and broken to read but I'm still listening to stuff.”
I feel ya!
I’ve also set up a Couchfish Instagram account—please give it a follow. For now I’m just posting the photos from each Couchfish issue, but I may do more with it in the future. Suggestions welcome.
On Saturday, instead of writing, I added a map displaying the location of each issue—a feature a number of readers had asked for. I couldn’t see a simple way to do this within Substack, so it’s on a separate site. You guessed it—couchfish.org.
There isn’t a lot there at the moment, but it will fill out over time. As with Instagram, suggestions are welcome and of course appreciated.
So what’s next?
More writing! Getting into a daily routine of at least one piece a day remains a struggle for me to say the least, but I’m getting there. The thing is, my plan had been each issue to be around 400 words, but they’re settling at around the 600-700 word mark.
The pieces tend to start at around 1,000 words but then I edit them back with a chainsaw. So, a third request for feedback—how does the length feel for you? Too long? Too short? Just right?
Thank you
Just a quick thank you to all (free and paid) subscribers who have signed up for Couchfish. It started out as an experiment, and I’m thrilled with how it has panned out.
It feels great to be writing about travel, even if I can’t do it—and it certainly keeps my mind busy—also a good thing. I do love the idea that I’m helping to bring a little bit of travel to people stranded on their couch, and how this reader summed up their thoughts on Couchfish really made my day:
”From my couch to your desk (or wherever you're writing), thank you, Stuart! I look forward to seeing your email in my inbox every day. I was last in Thailand four years ago and your post brings back the sights, smells, sounds and mischievous characters (of the monkey variety) with a sense of nostalgia and humour.“
Liking the map. :-) Feels like that could become a kind of hub page with a subscribe now button. We love the links to video clips. Keep those coming! I'd cross promote your CF Insta from your TF one. I imagined you'd post to the TF one rather than creating a new CF one, but I can see the merits of keeping them separate too. :-)
Liking the map. :-) Feels like that could become a kind of hub page with a subscribe now button. We love the links to video clips. Keep those coming! I'd cross promote your CF Insta from your TF one. I imagined you'd post to the TF one rather than creating a new CF one, but I can see the merits of keeping them separate too. :-)
Perhaps add a Google map link when you reference a new city, town or village you spend at least one night in.