I like your lighter material, partly because I worry less that you are burning yourself out. You don’t owe me or any reader any bright siding, but passionate disgust fueled by love is more compelling than the endless “U R DOIN IT ALL WRONG” that social media serves up. Maybe it will take time for your lighter pieces to pickup traction?
Thanks Michelle! In addition to the lighter stuff I publish, I also write chapters in a book about fairies for my kids. I do that three days a week, and that is also a relief for me. I appreciate your concern that I might be burning out. A few more stories about love and gratitude would serve my objective too I think. Thanks for the comment!
I agree with the titles part. Too many people write titles like they're book titles. What they need to be, instead, is magazine or newspaper headlines that help a reader decide if that's something they want to read. The Tree, Last Thanksgiving -- those tell me nothing.
As for what to write -- I think no matter what we write some people like it and some people hate it so I just write what shows up and (for me) thank heavens something did because I struggle with dry spells.
Those are really good examples! The difference between book titles and magazine titles is a great way to put it. It's funny to think people sit down to write a blog post and adopt the mindset you'd use to write a book... but that's pretty much what happens.
I'm interested to hear that you struggle with dry spells. Could you provide some more details? There are times when I feel my work isn't good enough, but I am always able to write something. If the writing is too much of a struggle, it usually means I need a nap.
I used to say that, too. I'm self employed in ecommerce marketing, design & dev and maintain five sites for clients and do all their marketing. Plus, divorced single mom and my only kiddo has significant health issues. Plus, I've lost two family members in the last year and 5 over the last 3 years. Some days the well just runs dry. Like right now. Pre-Black Friday Sale, Thanksgiving Sale, Black Friday, Cyber Monday. And between all those, MySQL Updates on 3 of the sites, health issues to wrestle with and three publications to manage. I so appreciate the editors that help. I have not written for two weeks. It becomes a focus issue when there's too much on the plate. I'm ADHD on top so I struggle to multitask. But I will write again when I get my brain back. :)
That is a huge workload, and I'm sorry to hear about the family losses and the health struggles. Finding time is often the hardest thing, and writing takes a lot of energy. I wish we lived in a society that offered more support to hardworking people. Best to you!
Thanks, Walter. I wish we did too, but lots of people have bigger piles on their plate. I've gotten good at juggling work with play most of the time except Black Friday season :)
You don't want to overburden your readers with material, because that may cause contempt to breed. I notice that a lot- some of the people here on Substack, for instance, publish on clear, definable schedules and others publish a lot without knowing when and how to shut up. Making people wait for stuff creates anticipation for the next thing you do.
I only publish when I can- it's not a deliberate choice but a consequence of how busy things have gotten in my online life. You can only do so much in one day, and autistic people sometimes accomplish less than that because we burn out faster than neurotypicals.
I enjoyed this article. Very helpful and interesting. I joined Substack a few months ago to follow Dan Harris and his meditation groove. Since my daughters want me to write a book about my life for the family, reading other writer’s articles has given me some ideas on how to begin. It is also intimidating. Thanks again for this article.
I like your lighter material, partly because I worry less that you are burning yourself out. You don’t owe me or any reader any bright siding, but passionate disgust fueled by love is more compelling than the endless “U R DOIN IT ALL WRONG” that social media serves up. Maybe it will take time for your lighter pieces to pickup traction?
Thanks Michelle! In addition to the lighter stuff I publish, I also write chapters in a book about fairies for my kids. I do that three days a week, and that is also a relief for me. I appreciate your concern that I might be burning out. A few more stories about love and gratitude would serve my objective too I think. Thanks for the comment!
I agree with the titles part. Too many people write titles like they're book titles. What they need to be, instead, is magazine or newspaper headlines that help a reader decide if that's something they want to read. The Tree, Last Thanksgiving -- those tell me nothing.
As for what to write -- I think no matter what we write some people like it and some people hate it so I just write what shows up and (for me) thank heavens something did because I struggle with dry spells.
Those are really good examples! The difference between book titles and magazine titles is a great way to put it. It's funny to think people sit down to write a blog post and adopt the mindset you'd use to write a book... but that's pretty much what happens.
I'm interested to hear that you struggle with dry spells. Could you provide some more details? There are times when I feel my work isn't good enough, but I am always able to write something. If the writing is too much of a struggle, it usually means I need a nap.
“If the writing is too much of a struggle, it usually means I need a nap.” Excellent advice.
A nap solves a surprising amount of problems, the hard part is finding the time!
Exactly! Our cultural suspicion of rest is so counter-productive. Since a rest makes the work easier and faster.
I firmly believe a 10 minute nap will double your productivity!
I used to say that, too. I'm self employed in ecommerce marketing, design & dev and maintain five sites for clients and do all their marketing. Plus, divorced single mom and my only kiddo has significant health issues. Plus, I've lost two family members in the last year and 5 over the last 3 years. Some days the well just runs dry. Like right now. Pre-Black Friday Sale, Thanksgiving Sale, Black Friday, Cyber Monday. And between all those, MySQL Updates on 3 of the sites, health issues to wrestle with and three publications to manage. I so appreciate the editors that help. I have not written for two weeks. It becomes a focus issue when there's too much on the plate. I'm ADHD on top so I struggle to multitask. But I will write again when I get my brain back. :)
That is a huge workload, and I'm sorry to hear about the family losses and the health struggles. Finding time is often the hardest thing, and writing takes a lot of energy. I wish we lived in a society that offered more support to hardworking people. Best to you!
Thanks, Walter. I wish we did too, but lots of people have bigger piles on their plate. I've gotten good at juggling work with play most of the time except Black Friday season :)
Gracious
You don't want to overburden your readers with material, because that may cause contempt to breed. I notice that a lot- some of the people here on Substack, for instance, publish on clear, definable schedules and others publish a lot without knowing when and how to shut up. Making people wait for stuff creates anticipation for the next thing you do.
I only publish when I can- it's not a deliberate choice but a consequence of how busy things have gotten in my online life. You can only do so much in one day, and autistic people sometimes accomplish less than that because we burn out faster than neurotypicals.
My comment double posted, so I tried to delete one of them, but they both got deleted. So, here it is again:
I'm posting less frequently on Medium lately, 1-3 times a week. Sometimes the well of creativity gets used up, but it always fills up again.
I enjoyed this article. Very helpful and interesting. I joined Substack a few months ago to follow Dan Harris and his meditation groove. Since my daughters want me to write a book about my life for the family, reading other writer’s articles has given me some ideas on how to begin. It is also intimidating. Thanks again for this article.