Welcome to Issue 77 of Writing and Other Stuff, a newsletter by me, Kim Scaravelli. Every second Wednesday, I share brand voice tips, plus insights on content creation and nurturing a creative mindset. Not a subscriber? Sign up now!

Every second week, I sit down with a warm drink and a quiet mind and write to you. It’s become a ritual - a small pause in the noise of the internet.

Over time, it’s grown into something more than a repeating activity on my to-do list.
It feels like a soft place to land - a cozy home where my real voice lives.

Not the polished version I use in proposals.
Not the snappy version I share on social.
Not the keyword-optimized version designed for the Google Gods.

Just… me.
Thoughtful. Curious. Clear.
Maybe a little oddball-ish, depending on the day.

Creating a newsletter, on time and on schedule, requires a kind of steadiness.
It demands that I show up, be real, and share something of value. Again. And again. And again.

Even when I'm tired or distracted. Even when I'm not sure what to say.

The experience has shaped and strengthened my professional voice in a way nothing else has. The journey through 77 issues (and counting) has made me feel more confident and grounded in how I want to show up.

I'm more connected to what matters. Less rattled by endlessly evolving trends.
​And definitely less tempted to chase shiny things that don't fit.

So if you’re writing a newsletter and feeling a little discouraged.

Or thinking about starting one and wondering if it’s worth the effort.

Let me say this: It is worth it.

Sure, it helps build authority and grow your audience. 🎉 All that good stuff.

But more than anything?

Sticking with it - and making it work - helps you refine your authentic voice.
​✨And THAT'S the magic.

I’m curious. Where are you at with writing a newsletter right now? 🚀 I’ve got one and I’m ROCKING it! 🙄 I’ve got one. But not gonna lie... it’s kinda dusty. 💀I started one... but it's an R.I.P. situation. 🤔I like the IDEA of having a newsletter. Someday soon-ish? ❌ ZERO interest. Not my thing. But I still read them, so I’m hanging with the cool kids!

Cool Quote

"It's not about the news, it's about the letter. It's about that opportunity you have to speak directly to one person at one time, and that's a very powerful place."

Ann Handley, renowned writer and marketer, and creator of the fabulous newsletter, Total Anarchy.

Something To Try

This week’s reflection is less about doing and more about noticing.

You’re reading my newsletter at this very moment! So let’s pause for a second and ask: What’s it like?

Not what’s it about - but what does it feel like to read?

Warm? Thoughtful? A little quirky?
Like a conversation over coffee?
Like a nudge in the right direction from someone who gets it?

Now think about other newsletters you actually look forward to. Pick two or three. Choose ones that make you feel seen, or energized, or just… human.

What do they have in common?

I’ll bet it’s not the format or the frequency.
It’s the voice.
It’s that feeling of Oh yeah, I know this person.
You hear them in your head as you read.

So this week, take a moment to notice the voices that speak to you.
Not the loudest. Not the fanciest. Just the ones that feel real.

Then ask yourself:
​How can you turn the volume up on your voice?

In your newsletter.
In your emails.
In the way you show up online.

Not a different voice. Not a bigger one. Just a more fully you version - clear, confident, and unmistakably yours.

FYI: I bet your professional voice doesn’t need a rebrand. It just needs a volume boost.

Stuff Worth Sharing

Here are a few newsletters I really enjoy. Specifically, these ones SHINE because the creator's voice is so strong. Honestly, I feel like we're penpals! Yes. 😂 I'm so old that I had a penpal or two. Back in the days when dinosaurs roamed the earth and we all wrote in cursive.

​Strategic AF by Adriana Tica. Her voice is sharp and straight-talking, like a smart friend who knows her way around marketing and content strategy, and doesn’t waste your time with fluff. I feel like she eats steak medium rare and favours bold red wines.

​Marketing Snacks, by Alison K. Alison serves up B2B marketing insights with fast-paced, quirky charm and friendly firecracker energy. She’s opinionated in the best way - armed with facts, but warm, and never preachy. Bet she doodles when she’s brainstorming. And even her doodles are brilliant.

Gill Andrews' Friday Newsletter. Gill dishes out website and copy advice with sharp wit and solid strategy. Her voice is like strong coffee: bold, energizing, and guaranteed to wake up your content. I'm sure she edits her to-do list with a red pen and zero hesitation.

LET'S KEEP THE LOVE GOING!

Who do you look forward to hearing from in your inbox?
Whose voice makes you pause, smile, or feel like they’re talking just to you?

Hit reply and tell me.

😉 And if you love your voice and your newsletter? Good for you! Own that accomplishment and share it with me. I’m happy to read it.

For the Word Nerds: Phatic Language

Coined by anthropologist-linguist Bronisław Malinowski in the 1920s, phatic language refers to the parts of speech that don’t deliver facts - they deliver connection.

Originally used to describe greetings and small talk, the concept has grown to include all those little phrases we use to show warmth, attentiveness, and sociability, especially in writing.

In newsletters, phatic language shows up in things like:

• “Hey there” or “Hi friend” at the top
• Softeners like “I think,” “just a quick note,” or “you might find”
• Casual transitions like “Anyway…” or “So here’s the thing…”
• Conversational closers like “Talk soon,” “Thanks for reading,” or “That’s all for now :)”

These tiny phrases don’t change what you’re saying, but they completely change how it feels to read.

So how much phatic language should you use?

📣Just enough to sound like you.

Too little, and you risk sounding robotic. Too much, and your message might drift into fluff.

Use it wherever connection matters more than clarity: intros, transitions, emotional pivots, goodbyes.

Let your voice breathe. Let it smile. Let those sweet drops of phatic language remind the reader that there’s a real human behind the words.

P.S. This newsletter is basically one big phatic hug. 🥰You’re welcome.

Thank you for your time. See you again on April 23rd. In the meantime: ​ 👉Feeling inspired to turn the volume up on your voice? My Free Brand Voice Course is a great place to start. ​ 👉Want to explore your voice in a little more depth? Book a Free Consult. ​ 🩷P.S. If you're building a newsletter, I hope this one gave your motivation a little boost.