Why I'm Launching Hey Eleanor 2.0

Paint me like one of your French girls

I used to be this person. I am still this person, but I used to be her, too.

In 2013, I launched Hey Eleanor, a blog chronicling a year doing one thing every day that scared me. I did it all— stand-up comedy, SCUBA diving, shopping at Costco on a Saturday. The first year flew by, and I just kept going. Three years later, I was getting tens of thousands of visitors monthly, and even had a post go super viral. I felt like snuggling up behind Kate Winslet and shouting, “I’m the king of the world!”

And then I had a baby.

I hoped to keep up with Hey Eleanor, but motherhood hit me like Muhammad Ali. Not only did I spend hours feeding a person with my actual body, a cloud of postpartum gloom smogged up my world. And unlike Los Angeles, it didn’t just burn off with the afternoon sun. I couldn’t find the energy, focus, or drive to maintain this thing I did mostly for free and for fun.

I let my proverbial Jack slip away into the chilly arctic waters. I said I’d never let go, but I did, and now I’m wondering how many Titanic references can I include in this post.

Last week, I sent out a newsletter for the first time in a year. I always ask people to respond to my emails if they feel compelled— I love reading them. I heard from so many people, including complete strangers, who said they were thrilled to see my name pop up in their inbox. Thrilled to see my email! I couldn’t believe it. When was the last time I was thrilled to see anything in my inbox?!

One woman told me she’d followed Hey Eleanor from the beginning and that my message last week inspired her. She said she misses Hey Eleanor.

Well, crap. I realized I miss it, too.

So, after hardly any thought at all, I decided I’m doing a Hey Eleanor reboot, and here’s why:

1. Because I’m craving a regular writing practice.

The main reason I started Hey Eleanor was to create a daily writing practice of my own.

After college (circa 2006), I decided I wanted to get paid to eat, travel, and write about it. I found a job that allowed me to do exactly that… as a ghostwriter. I spent seven years writing in a voice that wasn’t mine, and to be frank: I was uncannily good at it. I spent so much time in my boss’s brain that I could think and write as him with ease.

The problem? I lost my voice. Hey Eleanor allowed me the opportunity to write almost every day, as myself, in a low-stakes environment. I became a much faster writer, and less obsessive about perfection. If I made a typo, or changed my mind about something, I could fix it. And sometimes I’d just leave the mistakes because whatever, it was just a blog and I had to writer another one the next day.

I’m craving that kind of routine right now.

2. Because I want to reconnect with myself.

As the primary caregiver to two kids, I got routine-o-plenty… but it’s in service to others. It’s kind of the same shit, different day to my old ghostwriting days. I want to do something that’s primarily for me. Who am I now? What do I care about? What’s swimming around in my brain that I’d like to make sense of and share with others? I’d like to find out.

Me, last month, after I swam with sharks, NBD. Also sans makeup but with some sort of allergic reaction to salt water/sunscreen on my face.

Also, I think I’m a much better version of myself when my own cup is full. My cup currently? It’s empty (save a scummy coffee residue) and rolling around in the backseat of my station wagon. I loved who I was when I was in the thick of Hey Eleanor— more fun, more adventurous, less sarcastic and crabby. I think my kids will like Hey Eleanor me, too.

3. Because I think social media is not my medium.

I listened to the Search Engine (it’s a top five podcast for me— every episode slaps) episode called "Is there a sane way to use the internet?” where PJ Voight interviewed Ezra Klein. Ezra brought up so many poignant thoughts, including how our brains start seeing the world through whichever kind of “content” we’re making.

I’ve realized that I’ve started seeing the world through the lens of Instagram reels, trying to truncate my thoughts into 20 second snacky videos.

But like… that’s not me.

I am a writer. I want time and space to make my point. I HATE that our attention spans mimc that of goldfish. I think our distillation of ideas into seconds-long clips has its place, but I find it overwhelming and changing my brain in ways I do not like. I’m not giving up social media, and sure, I will post reels, but longer form writing is my place.

4. Because I care about people, not algorithms.

Does anyone else feel like it’s a really big problem that most of digital content aims to engage with robots instead of people? Use trending audio! These hashtags! Trick people into watching your stuff eight times in a row to boost your views.

I dunno, it all feels so empty and sad.

More followers/subscribers/a bigger platform would super-de-super help me get published. But bringing my time and effort to Mark Zuckerberg’s content casino when I’d rather spend my time doing what I actually enjoy— connecting with people— feels like one-way ticket to depression town.

5. Because I’m craving new experiences.

Taking a Richard Simmons aerobics class remains a Top 5 life experience. He disappeared a few months after this class (IYKYK).

Maybe it’s because I’m a mom to little kids, maybe it’s post-pandemic malaise, but guys… I AM BORED. I need hobbies! I need reasons to GTFO of my house, do things with my hands, see people in real life, awaken my brain. Why is it so hard to do stuff right now? I can’t be the only one.

6. Because I want to write and talk about fun things.

I wrote a memoir in 2020-21, and while *I* think it’s humorous at times, there are big themes of abuse and neglect. It was an important thing for me to write, but I am tired of talking about sad, depressing shit. I want to write about waxing my armpits and using a Diva Cup and interviewing a porn star in a closet. Let’s have some fun, shall we?

This is Colby Keller. He’s a porn star. No, really. He is. Google it. Just not on your work computer, obviously.

7. Because I owe it to myself.

The truth is, I did Hey Eleanor for me. Writing is my way of processing things. It’s how I best sort my thoughts and make sense of the world. I enjoy it. Sharing it with you is an added perk, and I always do my best to ensure what I share is useful to others in some way, but ultimately, I do it for me.

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What to expect with Hey Eleanor 2.0:

I am hereby committing to a weekly post where I try something new or challenging or whatever TF I want because it’s my Substack, bebe. I will also share some recommendations (books, podcasts, products, whatever), as well as throwback Hey Eleanor posts. We will see where this goes.

I picked Substack because I am familiar with the platform, and like how easy it is to discover new platforms/voices here. It also makes it easy to have your community chip in for your work should they choose to.

Thanks for following, and Hey Eleanor!