Thank you for being here. I’m so excited to bring you The Ampersand, an interactive magazine for eclectic readers.
This is a Substack borne out of my desire to express my love for art and culture. It’s also a place for musings on life, the universe and everything in between, as well as practical tips on writing and creativity.
I’d love for you to see this publication as a home for those of you who are seeking inspiration in all things. But, above and beyond everything else, The Ampersand is designed to foster a joyful, creative community. Come and join us!
I’m Karla Marie Sweet, actor, first time novelist, long time screenwriter, sometime dramaturg and podcaster, emerging director and former playwright and music radio producer. Yep, that’s a lot of “ands” - a big part of the reason I decided to name this Substack The Ampersand.
I’ve been making a “portfolio career” work for a long time now but I’m not here to advise you on how to be a multi-hyphenate.
Instead, The Ampersand will be a cultural hub, a place for my writing in between bigger projects and an opportunity to pass on tools I’ve learned from others throughout my writing journey. It’ll also be a platform for creative conversations with inspiring people.
Ultimately, it is the centre point where all my divergent interests intersect.
But what will it be for readers?
Perhaps, rather than doomscrolling your holiday away, The Ampersand will become a beach or city break read that leaves you feeling a little more nourished than when you started. Or maybe you'll be spending the next few months closer to home and want some cosy content to cuddle up with. The Ampersand might be your coffee break read. A chance to learn something new. The start of a water cooler conversation. A little pause in your workday. You may use it as something positive to set your mind at rest before you drift off to sleep or it might serve as a comforting way to ease into the day.
I don’t need to read the rest - sign me up!
But what do subscribers actually get?
I aim to publish once or twice a week so each week you’ll get one or two of the following features:
• Monday Musings
• Rare Company
• Writer's Workshop
• Cultural Exchange
• Sunday Best
& because The Ampersand is where I'll be announcing detailed info on my other work, you may also get a newsletter simply labelled “News” every so often too.
I want my Substack to be as accessible as possible so audio narration will always be free. I’m hoping to expand into doing more audio recordings myself but it takes a lot of time. The more paid subscribers I get, the more sustainable this will become.
So... why buy a membership?
If you’re a paid subscriber, you’ll always get a response to any questions you ask in the comments section - particularly useful if you’re commenting on issues of Writers Workshop. I may even use your comments as stimulus for discussions on Chat and in future newsletters (with credit to you, of course!).
Once the community has begun to grow, I’ll be running members only Zoom workshops and Q&A sessions too.
You’ll also get to read every post in its entirety. All issues will go behind the paywall 7 days after they are posted but, if you’re a paid subscriber, you’ll still have unlimited access to everything.
Most importantly, you’ll be supporting my work so that I can keep offering it to you on a consistent, sustainable basis. If you believe in supporting artists and paying people for their work, becoming a paid subscriber is a great way to continually align with those wonderful and incredibly important values. You’ll also be feeding into a brilliant and beautiful eco-system here on Substack. Your support is what keeps it all going.
& The best part? It’s only £5 a month to become a member and, let’s face it, you can’t even buy two cups of coffee for that these days.
If capitalism is hitting you hard right now though (we’ve all been there) and you need a subscription fee waiver, please reach out by replying to the welcome email after you’ve subscribed.
What exactly are these features?
Do any of you remember Free Open Diary? It was one of the very first blogging platforms to ever exist. I joined when I was about 14 and then moved onto Blogger a few years later before starting a music tumblr when I was in University. So the desire to blog has been in me for most of my life, it seems, and this newsletter feels like the perfect opportunity to reignite that spirit.
I know not everyone likes Mondays but I do hope my writing will become something to look forward to on the first day of the working week.
This feature will often be an essay, a short story or an excerpt of my writing from elsewhere. It may even be a provocation, something that’s been rattling around in my brain for a while or a seed that might spark a discussion.
I’ve made podcasts on and off for years now – first for Arts Emergency and, more recently, for Box of Tricks Theatre Company. I’ve lent my voice to the Tate Gallery’s podcast and, of course, I have years of radio experience. I started out doing university and hospital radio before going on to produce Radio 4’s Front Row. I then spent 4 years working on specialist music shows across Radio 1, 1Xtra and Asian Network. All that’s to say, audio is a real passion of mine and creative conversations make me very, very happy. The Ampersand’s podcast will be an opportunity for both me and the listeners to be in the rare company of someone I believe to be totally fascinating. They might be an artist, a founder or just someone who happens to have a compelling story to tell. Whoever they are, I can promise an enjoyable chat and a real effort on my part to go beyond the questions they’ve been asked a million times before.
I’ve been writing professionally for ten years now and have also worked as a dramaturg. When I started, I found it really hard to navigate the industry and figure out how to gather the necessary tools required to be the best writer I could be (particularly coming from a low income background). Having learned a fair few tips and tricks along the way, I’m thrilled to have a platform through which I can now share the pearls of wisdom that brilliant storytellers have passed on to me. Each Writers Workshop newsletter will also include at least one practical writing prompt. Paid subscribers can access every issue and are guaranteed answers to any questions they leave in the comments section.
This might actually be the feature I’m most excited about as it’s such a fun way to bring The Ampersand community together.
In each Cultural Exchange newsletter, I’ll share one or two pieces of culture I’m currently obsessed with. It could be a film, a piece of writing, a novel, a podcast, some visual art or an exhibition, a TV show, a playlist or song... the list goes on. Then, at the end of each CE, I’ll ask you to share something you’re buzzing about. The idea is that the comments section will become a live recommendations list that continually grows and will also feed into forthcoming newsletters.
If you recommend something in the comments that I haven’t checked out yet and I write about it in a future issue of Cultural Exchange, I’ll absolutely credit you and include a link to your Substack or socials ;).
As part of Cultural Exchange, I’ll also be doing a Watch Along every so often via Substack’s Chat function. This will usually be for the series or season premiere of a TV show I’m excited about, or maybe a film that’s just dropped on the streamers. It’s an opportunity for the community to get together and chat live. I’ll let you know the date and time, all you need to do is grab the remote and make yourself comfortable!
A carefully curated list of the very best (in my humble opinion) in skincare, self-care, food, restaurants, shops, homeware, coffee, clothing and more, all in your inbox, one Sunday every month. &, of course, The Ampersand’s usual call to action: I want you to share your favourite things too!
Okay, so... a bit about me (minus the usual stuff)
Acting is my first love. I can’t go a day without reading and I love to write across all genres and mediums. I’m Manchester-born and based. Endlessly curious. Addicted to TV, film and music. Rarely leave the house without my sunshine yellow Olympus Trip 35. Happiest when in nature, when dancing or exercising and when wearing bright colours.
I spend a lot of time in North Wales, which is where my family home is, and I spent my teen years growing up in Georgia, USA.
I’m a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community. Neurodiverse. African-American and White British. Engaged to a British-Punjabi Londoner (the merging of our cultures provides daily joy). Love to travel (Mexico City is our favourite place). Cooking is one of my biggest love languages (although, I’ve never eaten meat). And I’m a Pisces who grew up in a family of fire signs (make of that what you will).
For the usual, career-related stuff, check out my website. You can also follow me on Twitter and/or on Instagram.
Thanks again for being here. I am truly excited to welcome you into The Ampersand community and I can’t wait for us to make some magic together.
Much love,
xK
Who did these beautiful illustrations?
All credit to the multi-talented Arantza Treviño Diaz of La Güera Design Studio. Arantza is a Mexico City born and based designer, yoga teacher and very dear friend of mine. What a joy to be able to collaborate on this project!
