A Year’s Journey

A Public Commitment

Aug 13, 2022

RANDOM DESPATCHES is a public commitment to consistent writing.

I have always wanted to write, to capture moments in words. In 2019, I found a notebook I had dedicated to this purpose in my second year in secondary school. The only note in it was just on the first page, nothing else. Aside from that, I have collected quotes, writing them on the preliminary pages of my other notebooks; I even had a notebook for that dedicated to that purpose.

Last year, I shut down a blog I started in late 2020. It was a difficult and painful thing to do. I was disappointed in myself; it was yet another mission I aborted when it hasn’t even gotten halfway to the intended destination. In August 2021 I stumbled on Substack (the host site for this publication). It had all that my creative self wanted on a writing platform—aesthetics, choice fonts, easy navigation, etc. I wanted to give it a try. I was threatened by the possibility of shutting this one again.

The Launch

I signed up for an account and allowed it to lay fallow until I was ready. I got into planning and brainstorming. I was asking questions like: What will I name this project? How will I handle moments of creative block? What if I shut it down shortly after commencement? I didn’t have all the answers nor did I have all that I employ in creation today. Anyways, I hit the ground running on 14th August 2021. How the name RANDOM DESPATCHES came is quite interesting. A few people have asked about the inspiration behind the name. The best answer I give is that it is just the perfect name that doesn’t constrain me to a regular schedule; one with which I can produce content, whenever I feel like it or “only when inspiration comes”. The name was birthed within a short duration; it was quite magical. I had to tell myself that this will be a public commitment to developing my writing skills. RANDOM DESPATCHES is a public commitment to developing my writing skills.

(The first publication on RANDOM DESPATCHES: Click to read.)

See what the “About” page says:

After several edits, the message stays the same.

People and Relationships

What is the need to write when no one will read? It is on this note that I must confess my sincere gratitude to the hundreds of subscribers who have made out time to read updates from this end. It means a lot; you give meaning to this journey. The journey is solitary for the most part, but knowing that you will read what I write drives me to spill out the words yearning for an outlet. On the journey, I had people holding my arms when the need arises. Nannim: This fellow is committed to enhancing the contents of this space and elsewhere; he never hesitates to take on any design project, but considers it an opportunity for joint growth and development of ourselves. In fact, he designed the flyer atop this post. Omah: Another gracious fellow; she helped bring to life the podcast, her voice is behind all the essay narrations you have listened to from here so far. (You can reach Nannim and Omah via their contact beneath this post.) There are other people who have contributed significantly to this journey, though I will not be able to mention them because some have been supportive in ways I have no hint about. I will not forget to mention Mackenzie Anderson who writes the newsletter Butterflies & Rocket Ships for being the first person to recommend my newsletter, followed by encouraging remarks. Also, Lengdung Tungchamma of Little Ends whose recommendation is partly responsible for the leap recorded in the past four weeks—cumulatively, 64 per cent of the current subscribers here are from his recommendation. I also know of a fellow who followed up with her private contacts on WhatsApp to have them subscribe to the newsletter. All these inspire wonder and awe, appreciation and delight.

Thank you for reading RANDOM DESPATCHES. This post is public so feel free to share it.

Counting Blessings

The past four weeks have been exciting in regards to showing up here. I have narrated in “Goals, Milestones, Gratitude and Fulfilment” what the initial plan was for this year—200 subscribers by December was the lofty goal. At the time of this writing, the subscriber count stands at 663. Simply wonderful. A book was published bearing the colophon of RANDOM DESPATCHES; more such projects are coming through. Three more books are in the making. There are 67 articles currently published in this newsletter and 2 podcast episodes. I do not know where this is headed, but I am committed to showing up at the right time always.

The screenshot was taken on Friday, 12th August 2022; at 05:35 p.m.

In the Future

The journey ahead is not a clear path yet. I can barely see past the valley to the peak of the mountain on the other end. Travelling yonder will not be fun if the current style of engagement is sustained without some furnishing done to the whole process. I want to see this space turning into a community where readers (and writers) find a safe space to relish the snapshots we all collect from our everyday lives by the time we visit here. I desire to see that you obtain value by the time you are done reading any piece from here. I desire to help you see that amid all the chaos of our world, there is wonder abounding even in the seemingly insignificant things. How do you think this can be achieved? I long to entertain your suggestions and put them to the test. I look forward to seeing that RANDOM DESPATCHES forms, at least, a sentence in your history; that you read from this space and see reasons to be more thankful that you are alive.

I look forward to seeing that RANDOM DESPATCHES forms, at least, a sentence in your history; that you read from this space and see reasons to be more thankful that you are alive.

RANDOM DESPATCHES