Joey,
We haven't met, but I just wanted to reach out and say thank you for being on my email list for the past year and a half.
I write and create daily and it's good to know someone out there is at least seeing (and maybe even looking forward to!) what I make.
This year I'm trying something different. These days everything is set up for scale and speed. Get the work— whatever it is— out as fast and to as wide an audience as possible.
Though I've experimented heavily with AI, automation, and many tech solutions, I know the one advantage I have over any mechanized process is this: communicating with you, another human being one on one.
So that's why I pledge to do two things this year for you:
1) Communicate with you and anyone else who appreciates what I do 1-on-1
Email feels like an extension of social media today doesn't it?
Ads all around, endless automated emails from companies that "care" during sales or holidays. I don't know about you, but 90% of my inbox is spam and bills.
It sucks.
Getting a message directly from another human (that's not an email blast to hundreds or thousands of accounts) has become a rare treat.
I'm bringin' that back, one email at a time. (Just like this one!)
2) Open up my process for others
For the last 6 years, I've been the solopreneur creator.
I've grinded social media with tens of thousands of posts, spent thousands of dollars and hours on courses, and spent even longer sitting here in this chair trying to figure out how to turn writing into paid pursuit.
While I've learned several skills, have met great people, and had some traction with sales; I haven't been living out the ethos of my business.
If you didn't know (or forgot) HAC Studios stands for Hayden Academy Collective Studios. When I started in 2022, the vision was always to eventually create with and for others, not just for and by myself.
In 2025, I took significant steps toward that goal. I did more in-person events, collaborated with a few friends, and even had the privilege of mentoring a young editor. Now I want to make collaboration the norm.
That's why I've setup HAC Studios: OpenStudio.
With this new setup, you'll be able to get closer to the creativity with shoutouts, recognition, and greater access than before to what I'm building, while supporting this whole operation with small contributions.
I make a lot of things that I don't publish. Some are just concepts, others are ideas that just don't get fleshed out and end up in the digital boneyard. That's why I've created a collection that you'll have instant access to should you decide to join up.
There you'll find videos, songs, short stories, art, whole books, and even software that I never put out to explore and enjoy.
And this is still an open concept! It would be great to hear your thoughts about what you'd like to see behind-the-scenes or other cool bonuses.
I know you're into learning languages. I am too. In fact, I've been on a tear with my Japanese for the last few months.
I'm actively reading the first Harry Potter book completely in Japanese and playing Phoenix Wright in the language, two things I never thought I'd be able to do.
As impressive as it is, I haven't shared it with anyone here.
Because, in my experience, language learning progress doesn't work well as "content." Viewers only want to see you fluent. Learners typically want advice from native speakers or from folks who pose as polyglots, but really only have surface level knowledge in each language (you know the type).
Ultimately, there's just not enough people into the niche.
However, I have at ton of notes and other things I could share on the topic. Let me know.
You can take a look at the tiers for OpenStudio below. (It's basically Patreon, but on my own site.)
Well that's it for now.
Didn't expect this message to go so long. But it feels good writing to another person and knowing that they will at least see it.
It's been a while since that's been the case.
Be easy,
-Keith