001: Are you content?

As we tentatively entered the age of discontent, I couldn't help but wonder: "Should I start a Substack?"

Welcome, friends, to the first edition of Discontented.

As a writer I’m often asked to “create content” to gain “views” to fit into the ambitious trajectory of a “media strategy”. I’m curious about what might happen if we write and create without the pull of profit or draw of the algorithm. I want to write just because it’s good, or it’s interesting, or at the very least, it’s something I can mindlessly scroll through instead of browsing *that* bird app.

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I’ve been caught in this quandary of content/content for some time now, a silly homonym that has had such a seminal revival in recent years. This Substack is a space to experiment with what I think that is, or what I think it could be. It’ll be a short and easy read; a literary lucky dip of reflection, meme, interview, book review, guest post, or something similarly writing-adjacent, exploring what it means to be content/content with thinkers and writers across green fields of work and golden pastures of industries.

If you’re interested in my cynicism, criticism, and curiosity in the potential future of what might just be beyond the algorithm, consider subscribing yourself and forwarding Discontented to your comrades and co-conspirators.

Stay content, friends.

Warmest,

E