Hey Look! A Newsletter!
I’ve been running Beyond the Balcony since 2004, back when it was called The International House of Spicer. I rebranded the site on October 23, 2020, aiming to create a movie review site that blends personal anecdotes, thoughtful essays, and some fiction, and it has been a resounding success!
Of course, by “resounding success,” I mostly mean long stretches of absence, a few empty promises, and enough inner turmoil to send me running for the bathroom. Even if I haven’t quite replaced Entertainment Weekly or The Hollywood Reporter as your go-to movie source, my meanderings, anecdotes, and vulnerable creeds have reached some hearts and warmed them. Hearing from readers that my writing brightened their day has been humbling, amazing, and deeply touching.
I have so many more ideas, stories, and essays to share. My goal with Beyond the Balcony and the podcast The Movie Breakdown has always been to create a safe, empathetic, welcoming community where we can celebrate storytelling, the arts, and imagination. Even with mental health battles and navigating my recent AuDHD diagnosis, I’m proud of what I’ve built, and more importantly, of the community it’s grown.
But there’s something I’ve known for a long time, and I’ve finally decided to act on it…
Algorithms Suck. Time to Take Control of My Work!
Some days, the numbers on my site make me want to ride a unicorn and tap dance with penguins. Other days, I feel lonely and want to create a new home in a dumpster. The truth about social media? Algorithms hold way too much power. They’re like an evil wizard, conjuring curses and banishing creations to the sunless Woods of Despair.
On platforms like YouTube, I keep getting suggested videos I’ve already watched or random DudeBros ranting about Rey from Star Wars. Algorithms may have power, but they really stink at figuring out what people actually want to see.
I’d like to believe you want to see what I create. So I’ve decided to take control and launch this newsletter, a way to share my work from Beyond the Balcony directly with you. Why let algorithms have all the fun?
Wait, So This Is Just an Ad for Your Site?
Nope!
If you already bookmark my site and check it daily, that’s awesome. This newsletter isn’t just about links. My plan for October is to send a weekly roundup of all the articles and reviews from Beyond the Balcony, plus some behind-the-scenes thoughts: why I wrote a piece, what inspired it, and any extra anecdotes that crawled into my head after publishing. It’s an extension of the site; a place for extra value, extra fun, and extra Spicer. But then…
November Will Launch a Paid Subscription Tier
For October, the newsletter is free. I hope to build a mailing list and give my work a better chance to be seen than relying on algorithmic wizards. Then, in November—my birthday month!—I’ll offer a paid subscription.
Don’t worry, paid subscribers won’t just get what’s free on the site. They’ll get exclusive issues with weekly serialized fiction, bonus reviews, experimental writing, extra essays, and more. There will be between 2 to 3 exclusive issues for paid subscribers a week. The goal is to use movies and pop culture to explore parenting, mental health, neurodivergence, and life, while giving me the creative freedom to experiment, play, and really follow my muse.
The more support I get, the more time I can devote to the site, the newsletter, and the podcast.
But What If I Don’t Want to Pay?
That’s fine! There will always be at least one free weekly issue for subscribers. Sharing my work and spreading the word is just as valuable.
A newsletter supported by paid subscriptions gives me freedom, but it’s not the only way to help. I also have a tip jar on my site for one-time support. And just telling others about my work helps enormously.
Shift in Writing Focus
When I started freelance writing in 2010, I never planned to focus on movies. I was more interested in publishing novels. But life led me here, and I’ve grown as a writer, crafting creations for Beyond the Balcony and The Movie Breakdown.
Recently, I’ve been writing more about my neurodivergence and mental health journey. It’s been cathartic, and I’ve heard from readers who feel seen and inspired. I’m excited to keep exploring this, while also returning to the fiction, stories, and wacky ideas that made me want to be a writer in the first place.
My plan is to make my reviews more personal and weaving in my own stories, and not shy away from the fact I see it through a neurodivergent lens. I want my personality to shine, and stop being afraid that my thoughts may be only my own. I assume that is part of the reason you read my stuff, anyway.
Expect reviews, reflections, anecdotes, and lots more stories, maybe more hope, more honesty, and more ways to feel seen.
Thanks for Reading Life on the Balcony
I’m grateful for all the support over the years and for the community we’ve built. I’m excited for this next chapter, and I’d love for you to join me for the ride.
