Newsletter comparison
The Hyphen by Emma Gannon vs The Isolation Journals with Suleika Jaouad
Short answer: Choose The Hyphen for useful ideas about creative work and consistency. Choose The Isolation Journals for a guided reflective practice. Read both when you need a reason to continue and a concrete place to begin.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
An independent guide. Scottie isn't affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by The Hyphen by Emma Gannon and The Isolation Journals with Suleika Jaouad. 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
A writer or artist wants a gentle, repeatable way to stay present and keep making through uncertainty, isolation, or creative embarrassment.
These are illustrative priorities, not a customer’s data.
What made the brief
- The Hyphen by Emma Gannon1 read · 1 included
- The Isolation Journals with Suleika Jaouad1 read · 1 included
Scottie
Scottie example brief
July 31, 2026 · Executive brief
01 / The rundown
- Emma Gannon details how editing private writing for an audience turns creative embarrassment into connection.
- Journaling Club introduces form-focused prompts like flipping notebooks and drawing shapes to revive routine artistic practice.
02 / The briefing
01 / main
Creative embarrassment is normal, but crafting your work helps
The takeaway: Sharing creative work often triggers deep feelings of embarrassment, especially around personal acquaintances. However, intentionally editing raw thoughts for an audience turns private journal entries into crafted art, helping creators move past self-doubt and build genuine connection.
Concrete details
- The Cringe monthly reading series originated in Brooklyn, New York, before running at the Phoenix pub in London.
- Emma Gannon read from a WHSmith diary kept when she was fifteen to practice performing in front of strangers.
Why it matters for this reader: As an artist navigating self-doubt, recognizing that raw feelings can be intentionally shaped for an audience helps you create and share work comfortably despite fear.
Original sourcesThe Hyphen by Emma Gannon
02 / main
Break standard writing rules by focusing on journal shapes
The takeaway: The latest Journaling Club session challenged creators to focus on form rather than content. Participants drew circles, flipped their notebooks around, and contorted words into shapes to break free from standard top-to-bottom, left-to-right writing habits.
Concrete details
- Participants drew circles and lines while flipping journals to experiment with visual word shapes.
- The monthly session provided a video replay, prompt list, and music playlist for isolated practice.
Why it matters for this reader: When feeling isolated or stuck, experimenting with visual shapes and non-linear forms in your journal offers a gentle way to stay present and keep creating.
Original sourcesThe Isolation Journals with Suleika Jaouad
Action items
- Edit one raw journal entry into a short crafted piece to build confidence sharing your work.
- Write your next entry in non-traditional shapes or reversed directions to break standard creative routines.
See every issue behind this brief
Creative risk-taking and writing prompts
- Notes from Journaling Club: Back to FrontThe Isolation Journals with Suleika Jaouad · Included
Navigating creative embarrassment
- Is creativity always a little bit embarrassing?The Hyphen by Emma Gannon · Included
The useful difference
The difference that matters
The Hyphen offers practical theories for sustaining a creative life. The Isolation Journals uses guided journaling and community practice to help readers attend to change and recovery.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
What each is best for
The Hyphen by Emma Gannon
The Hyphen contributes candid essays and practical concepts such as working on most days rather than demanding a perfect routine.[1][2][3]
The Isolation Journals with Suleika Jaouad
The Isolation Journals contributes prompts, journaling-club notes, and personal updates grounded in recovery, presence, and connection.[4][5][6]
When it’s worth reading both
Scottie can connect a creative principle with a relevant prompt while preserving the personal context that gives each source its force.[1][2][3][4][5][6]