Manual Transmission | Dave Conrey | Substack

AI Is the Devil, but It's Really Good at Organization

I make Shopify's Sidekick AI my gimp and do all my work for me.

Feb 23 • Dave Conrey

Recent posts

Excuse me, have you seen my plot?

A year ago, I preached about storytelling being my saving grace, and then I abandoned it entirely.

Feb 17 • Dave Conrey

Your Story Needs a Villain

If I want success, I need to know who I'm fighting to get it

Feb 1 • Dave Conrey

Creative Clarity Is Such a Rush

From the outside, my new project looks simple, but there's so much going on behind the scenes.

Jan 17 • Dave Conrey

The Great Crash Out of 2025

Or, where the f**k have you been, Dave?

Jan 3 • Dave Conrey

Should You Sell Art on SaatchiArt.com?

I'm not your Dad, but I have some thoughts that might help you decide.

Aug 8, 2025 • Dave Conrey

This Site Wants You to Quit Etsy

Latchet.com believes it can improve the selling experience for creatives, but are they right?

Aug 1, 2025 • Dave Conrey

The Summer I Turned… Off My Laptop

My July sabbatical is officially over next week, but I got a little too itchy and was desperate to dislodge myself from the couch cushions.

Jul 25, 2025 • Dave Conrey

It's International Zine Month!

I must admit, I didn't know this was a thing, but I'm celebrating anyway.

Jul 4, 2025 • Dave Conrey

It's Time for the Summertime Snooze

Last summer nearly killed me, so this year I'm taking July off

Jun 27, 2025 • Dave Conrey

Coming out of the weeds to deliver goodies

I've left Covid behind and I'm now clawing my way back to the surface.

Jun 24, 2025 • Dave Conrey

Are you struggling to understand where you belong?

Yeah, me too, and that's ok...I think.

Jun 20, 2025 • Dave Conrey

Zines are the Future

10+ years in magazine publishing left me bitter. Zines brought me back—not just to print, but to myself.

Jun 13, 2025

Important Links

Shop small with Dave

A mix of digital and analog assets books, zines and other fun things.

Dave on YouTube

Sharing stories and creative projects in a dusty study under construction

Top posts

How to make a zine

Mar 14, 2025 • Dave Conrey

The Great Crash Out of 2025

Jan 3 • Dave Conrey

You're Too Old for This!

Apr 4, 2025 • Dave Conrey

The time I had to punch my way through to creativity

May 9, 2025 • Dave Conrey

I grew 30% in two months by using Notes on Substack

Jan 31, 2025 • Dave Conrey

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