What is Strides?
I’m Erika Bolstad, a journalist in Portland, Oregon, USA. Strides is an offshoot of The Windfall Dispatch, my weekly newsletter. Strides got its start after I realized my most popular TWD post in 2023 was the project management template I shared with readers. The template has helped me successfully navigate big projects, including writing my first book, Windfall, and making a short companion documentary.
Everyone, it seems, is looking for accountability to achieve their dreams—including me. So why not build a community around cheering each other on? We can make great strides together!
Are you working on a project in 2024? Strides is for you.
I made the template back in 2019 because as a freelance writer, I require deadlines and structure to accomplish big projects. In 2024, I’m starting a new book and film project. I’m using my template again, but it’s lonely in the document by myself! It’s so much more fun to have other people cheering you along or picking you up when you stumble.
Why subscribe to Strides?
Strides is free—but if you like what I’m doing here and want to show your appreciation, paid subscriptions are welcome. It may be that kicking in $5 a month will help you with accountability.
When you sign up for a free subscription, I’ll “comp” you a membership so you have access to the private, subscriber-only comments. That’s where you get to share your weekly progress updates and cheer on other people who are working on something big, too.
Strides is a place for people with projects. I’m guessing many of you want to be here because you’re writers. But if you can imagine a project, it has a place here. I want to cheer on your renovation projects, your race training plans, your small business plans, the progress you’re making on your novel or your screenplay or book proposal or documentary film—or any other dream you might have.
How does this work?
You’ll get a post at 9 a.m. PT each Saturday from me. Each week, I’ll share an update to kick things off. I’ll summarize what I did that week on my project, what successes I had, where I stumbled, and what I want to accomplish in the next week.
You’ll be able to share your progress in the private comment section. And you’ll get to see how others are doing, too.
Strides is a subscriber-only community.
We have a strict no-asshole rule here. This is a supportive community of people cheering each other on as they make progress toward their goals. You can ask for feedback on your stumbles, but unsolicited advice is not a part of this private community. It’s also firmly anti-grind or hustle or productivity culture. This is about making progress on our dreams.
Finally: What gets said here stays here. Jerks and violators will be kicked out.
