(Re-)introducing Not Controversial
Still Nia's newsletter, just a new name!
When I started Perceptive Madness eleven months ago, my only goal was to write. And write, I have. But I've always known that while I continued to experiment and figure out the driving force behind this newsletter, I'd need to narrow it down (at least a bit) someday.
As it turns out, that day's finally here.
Like Facebook, I'm rebranding myself to a new name but keeping everything else. Unlike Meta, I'm not doing this to escape anything. 👀
So, please allow me to introduce my newsletter once again.
Hello, this is Not Controversial.
Every Tuesday, I'll be in your inbox talking about some very non-controversial issues — because these are things that we're all thinking about but not really saying out loud. They shouldn't be controversial, not really. And this is my attempt to de-stigmatize and make them not controversial.
Over the past forty issues, you've already gotten a taste of some of these issues.
Money — why we need to talk about it openly, why workplaces need to make pay transparent, and why we (especially women and BIPOC) could do with demanding more money.
The Hustle — how productivity influencers and trying to achieve 'that' lifestyle can be hella toxic, why it's okay to monetize your hobbies and also, simultaneously, be okay with them just being hobbies — the goal here is to do either without judgement, how work-life balances should be on employers, not employees to create, etc.
Spicy Lit Takes — from calling out how we discriminate against comic books & romance books, and talking about how alternative forms of reading and writing (fanfiction) are totally valid, these takes will continue.
Pop Culture Criticism — wbk that teen girls deserve more respect, that women have contributed more to the world than they'll ever get credit for, our society's obsession with romantic love — you'll still hear all about what I think.
A massive thanks to Harry Dry, who writes Marketing Examples (a brilliant newsletter) for helping me find my new name and new perspective.
Thank you also to all my supporters who’ve bought me coffees to encourage me. They found out about the change first — their support has been tangible proof that people believe in my work.
What's going to change?
Nothing much, really, except that I'm moving all recommendation issues (romance book recs, favourite books list) and anything that doesn't fit under those four (very broad) umbrellas over to my website1.
I have lots and lots of thoughts about plenty of things, and I will always want to write about them. But this newsletter cannot really be a one-size-fits-all publication because I want to encourage discussion and debates, and y'all aren't Nia clones who will have opinions about all the things I want to talk about.
And so, that's it — just a name change and some content streamlining to make sure that I respect the valuable space I take up in your inbox.
Thank you for giving me the space to figure this out. It may stick, it may not, but I hope you'll continue to be around for the ride all the same.
What do you think of my new name? (Anonymous, as usual!)
See you tomorrow with a brand new issue about free work and how we've gotta ban that whole concept.
All my love because you are amazing readers,
Nia 🖤
P.S. Sorry for adding an extra email to your Monday inbox. Here’s something fun to make up for it!
My website is still a work in progress, but you know you'll be the first to know whenever it goes live! The posts will remain on Substack until it does.