Keep your readers in the loop
This is the golden rule.
For most writers, one announcement is enough to warn readers you’re taking a week or two off. If they wake up one day wondering why you’re not in their inbox, they can check the last email from you to see if you announced a break.
If you can, try to be clear about when you’ll be back. If you can’t pick a date, a ballpark works just fine. I love this example from
Hunter Harris, writer of
Hung Up — she announced last December she’d be taking some time off her newsletter (which has a paid option) until the New Year:
Okay, that’s it! This is the last Hung Up of the year. I’m taking the next week-ish off, and I will be back in January. […]
If you really need me — and I mean
really need me, like something you
know I’d love, like in the event
a certain movie star has put on his good cargo pants to
shoot his shot or
The Pelican Brief is on TNT — you know where to find me. Thank you for reading! See u next year.
I’m afraid you are going COLD TURKEY on this newsletter for the next few weeks as I’m reliably informed they don’t have the internet in America. (OK, I’m taking a holiday).
Both of these examples are relaxed, and announce the short break in the same tone as the rest of the newsletter.
Not sure when you’ll be ready to return? It’s still best to communicate that up-front, and let subscribers know when they can expect to learn more.