Newsletter comparison

Austin Kleon vs #The100DayProject Newsletter

Short answer: Choose Austin Kleon for an ongoing creative diet. Choose #The100DayProject when you need a deadline and a daily container. Keep both if inspiration is plentiful but finishing a sustained body of work is the harder problem.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

An independent guide. Scottie isn't affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Austin Kleon and #The100DayProject Newsletter. Each publication owns its name, writing, and subscription terms.

A brief from both newsletters · July 31, 2026

See both newsletters in one brief

See what made the brief, what didn't, and the original links behind every included story.

In this brief: Scottie kept the selected stories separate because they added different value.

Reader priorities

An artist wants useful ideas and enough structure to keep making through a long project instead of waiting for ideal conditions.

These are illustrative priorities, not a customer’s data.

What made the brief

  • Austin Kleon2 read · 2 included
  • #The100DayProject Newsletter1 read · 1 included

Scottie

Scottie example brief

July 31, 2026 · Executive brief

  1. Reaching fifty thousand words on a long project shows how clear structural direction develops through active work rather than initial perfection.
  2. A typewriter interview with prolific cartoonist James Kochalka offers insights on maintaining continuous artistic output across multiple creative formats.

Milestone reached: Fifty thousand words reveal a hidden structure

The takeaway: Reaching fifty thousand words on a long book project proved that real clarity arrives through ongoing creation rather than upfront planning. As chapters were drafted and arranged, a secondary framework emerged to guide the remaining sections.

Concrete details

  • The author reached a 50,000-word milestone and set an August 7 deadline for reader project stories.
  • Submissions focus on hard project moments, how work travels beyond creators, and varied project endings.

Why it matters for this reader: This proves you do not need perfect conditions or plans before starting; steady progress builds the exact structure your long project requires.

Original sources#The100DayProject Newsletter

Cartoonist James Kochalka shares creative insight via postal mail

The takeaway: Cartoonist and musician James Kochalka completed a postal typewriter interview to mark the launch of his book Johnny Boo: On The Go. The discussion offers a candid look into sustaining creative work across comics, music, and television.

Concrete details

  • James Kochalka participated as the 24th featured guest in this postal typewriter interview series.
  • Kochalka has produced notable works including Monkey vs Robot, American Elf, and cartoons for Cartoon Hangover.

Why it matters for this reader: Hearing from prolific creators helps you establish simple, repeatable habits to keep making art through your own long project journey.

Original sourcesAustin Kleon

Unplanned movie trips spark fresh artistic reflections on Homer

The takeaway: A spontaneous theater trip to see Christopher Nolan's adaptation of The Odyssey inspired ten reflections covering Virginia Woolf, ancient Greek hospitality, and urban wildlife. Engaging with varied art forms helps replenish artistic energy without overthinking.

Concrete details

  • Reflections link Nolan's film to Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway and translator Emily Wilson's notes on xenophilia.
  • Penny Lane's owl documentary Wild Inside screens August 9th at the Austin Film Society.

Why it matters for this reader: Consuming diverse stories and ideas gives you useful material and structure to sustain your creative practice during long production cycles.

Original sourcesAustin Kleon

Action items

  • Submit your personal story regarding difficult project phases or unique endings before the August 7 deadline.
  • Build project momentum by focusing on daily execution to reveal your work's underlying structure as you go.
3 sources read 3 items checked 1 estimated minutes saved
See every issue behind this brief

Reaching 50,000 Words in a Long Writing Project

Typewriter Interview with James Kochalka

Austin Kleon's Ten Weekly Thoughts

The useful difference

The difference that matters

Austin Kleon supplies a broad creative feed of prompts and artist examples. #The100DayProject supplies a defined daily container, milestones, and public accountability over one sustained period.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

What each is best for

Austin Kleon

Austin Kleon contributes varied material that can seed a project: interviews, visual notes, books, places, and questions about how artists work.[1][2][3]

#The100DayProject Newsletter

#The100DayProject contributes a time-bound structure, daily prompts, participant stories, and a community built around returning to the work.[4][5][6]

When it’s worth reading both

The pair earns its place when an idea from Austin Kleon becomes the next day's action inside a 100-day practice. Scottie can preserve that link while keeping project logistics separate.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Sources and official links

One brief, your sources

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