Thank you so much for sharing this! What a thoughtful and intimate gift. I don’t consider myself a poet but it did give me some ideas for a few important people in my life.
I have struggled with this Insta-world for the last few years, I can relate with your perspective here. I found myself posting less and less because I kept questioning my intent. Was I really wanting to help people or was I doing omit for the validation and the likes? I would really like to believe I had good intentions but that’s the problem with this social media world, the lines can get blurry. I am excited to publish on Substack, it feels like a place where I can share my writing for the sake of improving my craft and maybe making someone’s day better. Back to the basics I guess:)
Once again, Jeff, you have read my mind. I cringe listening to mainstream “music” if you can even call it that. Most “artists” can barely hold a note long enough for a mixer to copy and paste, and most music is so synthesized, it’s unrealistic. I loathe trends. Always have. I hate doing what everyone else is doing simply because they’re doing it. If I’m going to do something, it just make sense to me and I have yet to find a modern trend that does. I go my own way and do my own thing. One of my favorite quotes is from Ralph Waldo Emerson, a cousin of mine, no, really, he is, “Do not go where there is a path, go instead where there is no path, and leave a trail.”
Anthony Doerr spent around ten years writing “All the Light We Cannot See.” And it won the Pulitzer Prize, deservedly. So it’s encouraging that in this ocean of self-published books, the cream can still rise to the top.
Another author friend and I discuss this all the time. We both take painstaking care to put out the very best work we are capable of, and that takes time and effort. It's nice to hear other creators feel this way too! Glad to hear from you again, it's been a hot minute. ;) I hope your wife loves the gift - what a wonderful thing!
Thanks for the reminder to consider our impact on the world before hitting publish. That's why I stay out of online debates, and rapidly lose interest in Twitter threads that turn into insult wars.
Thank you for sharing. Happy New Year to you and your wife!🥂🎆 Upon your suggestion, I just joined Substack yesterday and purchased a subscription to Ghost. I have not quite figured out how Substack works, but I have high hopes for it. I have followed your work for many years (I think since 2009 or 10) and have purchased a couple of your courses. Regrettably I have been unable to complete them or pursue my dream of publishing and public speaking until now. One favor to ask: If you do end up deleting the book you shared, (I hope you do not) is it possible that you leave the message that accompanied it? It offers valuable information about the self publishing process and confirms that my decision to subscribe was a great investment. I appreciate you very much and look forward to learning even more from you this year. May your creativity be on full throttle and keep you excited always!🙏🏼🤗
Hi SylviaAnn. You bet. I'll leave this post here and will probably leave the book, too. They're pretty good poems, and the whole experience of self-publishing again was fun and interesting. And thank you for your support of my work over the years. Also, no worries on completing a course. I threw a lot at my students and didn't quite understand how to gently guide someone through the process. And if there was one thing you got out of the experience, then it may have been worth it. Best wishes to you in the next leg of your journey.
Ok, I heeded your advice and asked myself if the world will be a better place after posting this.
Please forgive my newbie inquiries (meaning more might be coming, but not this lengthy I promise!) as I seek to learn what is appropriate on this platform.
I’m not sure if you are still doing much of what you did 10 years ago, but I consider you an expert on the tools I need for the overall process of launching my writing and speaking career. That being said, please let me know if I may accept your generous invitation, contained in your year-end email, to still reach out to you.
That leads to one question: Is it better to email you directly? I’m self-reliant so it won’t be excessive, but I have some questions about substack and protocol that can’t seem to be answered in all of the information provided.
Please indulge my next question and the example I chose-- today’s post (do you call it post?) and this book you shared.
I’m not sure if this substack audience of 30 consists of many people that have been receiving emails from you for as long as I have and felt your joy as you would motivate huge audiences and witnessed your sorrow while your marriage ended and then watched you thrive again and find love, etc. Now, you share this very special book holding not only a collection of poems, but what I would consider a chunk of your soul, heart, blood, sweat and tears.
My conundrum: When I finally figured out that the underlined word ‘book’ was a link to Amazon where I could buy it, it was a splash of cold water in my face. That led me to the following reactions: Slight disappointment- meaning, “Bummer, I wanted to see just a glimpse of his writing.”I wanted to feel just a hint of the love you poured into this work and have that feeling evoke the emotions that would have likely stemmed from that glimpse.
What I was hoping for:
Gratitude - “wow he cares enough to share a tiny glimpse of his soul with his followers.”
Inspiration - wow, I too aspire to find a love so deep.
Motivation- wow, I am going to look deep into my own soul and call forth a book that speaks to the world, or maybe just one person like this.”
And maybe a ton of other wow emotions ... we will never know.
My inquiry: I guess I’m trying to figure out if substack is a community of fellow professionals that is designed specifically to promote our material or is it also a community of people who form a bond as a result of sharing, like you do, their deepest thoughts and ideas and glimpses of the work that might have been inspired by the very community to which it is being offered? 🤔
Regardless of whether or not I am a poetry enthusiast, or if my budget would not permit me to support at this time, my sense of solidarity will always make me take a little time to look at someone’s creation when given the opportunity.
Omg not in the least. I was sincerely leaning on you for advice or answers about Substack.
In a nutshell I was asking if Substack is mainly / only for selling and promoting our material and I was asking why you chose not to include / share (in your post) an excerpt of your book.
Honestly it was a sincere message also letting you know that an excerpt would have been nice if we are unable to buy the book, that is all.
From my perspective, (isn’t crazy how we all see the same thing so differently?) when I have an opportunity to read one of your messages, it connects me (and very likely most or all of your readers) to you because your writing is usually pretty introspective and almost vulnerable. In your writing, I/we get the sense that you take time putting your valuable thoughts on paper and then trust us with your feelings and opinions and suggestions. So, for me, I just thought that your recent post lacked a tiny excerpt of your poetry, maybe because I wanted to again connect at the soul level like I have before when reading some of your material.
If that sounds strange to you or offends you in any way at all, please accept my sincerest apologies and disregard the message entirely.
My perspective may be a bit warped because I have been trying to leave my sales career for what seems to be forever so maybe I get a bit dreamy watching people who have the career I dream about. So so many speakers and authors, like you, have wise and profound messages, but you are one of the few that interact directly with your readers. You actually read our emails and posts and you seem to be approachable and authentic. You have shared openly in your messages while most do not interact with their readers that way, unless they are paid to do so.
I’ve been a real estate broker for 25 years and am hoping to transition from that to speaking and writing. I’ve been wanting to do this since 2010. This is going to be a great year.😊 Have a blessed day.🙏🏼
Ah, my bad. I think Substack is ideal for writing and sharing your ideas and building an audience around those audience, then monetizing that audience through low-cost subscriptions (if you choose to do so). I didn't share an excerpt from the book here, because Amazon already does that, and that wasn't the point of the post. I linked to the book just for context.
I'll be sharing some poems here eventually, so there'll be plenty to read in the future. Just hang in there. Promise. And thank you for your kind words about my writing. The point of the post wasn't to share poetry; it would have conflicted with the overall point. But I'm not opposed to poetic sharings in the future. Stand by for more.
I think what you said here—"You actually read our emails and posts and you seem to be approachable and authentic"—is what substack seems best suited for. It is a way of connecting writers to readers. That's my goal here. My old blog and newsletter didn't get a lot of interaction, and I'm loving the community here. It's my number one goal, not income, at this point. I am using this tool to rebuild my community and connect more deeply with my readers. Thank you for being one of them and for your kind and thoughtful remarks.
In the topic of going deep for getting knowledge I would suggest the description made by Alessandro Baricco of our relationship with it. I recommend "the barbarians" and "the game".
Insta-cretaion has been good and bad for me. I published several books just as you described: KDP, Canva, click. I've also composed dozens of electronic/ambient/drone compositions using GarageBand/BandCamp, click. There's also the traditional blog, write and post.
Have I published a few not-so-great pieces? Yes. Why? Because I could do it instantaneously. It was immediate "me" gratification. I consider myself of a professional level in regard to my writing and musical abilities. I have become dismayed and disappointed that my work has often been missed while others who have much less talent become wealthy superstars. In the past year or two I've stopped giving a crap about that.
But I guess my point here is twofold. 1. Our instant platforms are our unique histories and can include some duds. It shows growth. 2. Whereas the insta-creation age has allowed people to publish crap, it's also allowed more talented writers and creators to slip through the cracks.
Yes, I agree. You're right that our online histories are archives, which is why I continue to leave up my social media profiles and old blogs (for now). They're reminders to me of how much I've grown. Even my books are that. I have a friend who's a bestselling novelist, and he has said that when he used to go into bookstores and see his novels on the shelf, the only thing keeping him from tearing them down (in embarrassment) was the fact that those were his journals. I always thought was interesting and poignant.
Yes, it is easier than ever to create but to publish a book the first time is still a daunting thought if not task. More junk but more voices being heard than ever in history. Sorting through the noise may be the next big jaunt in history in search of the next Tolstoy or Tolkien.
My recommendation is a rather bitter pill, the author describes a new cultural method (or device) for knowledge transmission. It is intriguing and ,for old guys like myself, refreshing.
Well said Mr. Jeff. Definitely saving this for later to remind myself. We gotta slow down and appreciate the creative process from both the creator and consumer sides of the coin.
Not all of us are possessed by speed. Not all of us desire to publish-instantly.🧐I spent ten years and twelve drafts to hone my first Dog Leader Mysteries. Then I worked with a hybrid publisher to assess whether my manuscript full filled the mystery genre’s structure and content. Then came proof reading their proofs, and discovering over fifty typos the professionals missed. I’ve wanted to be proud of the product I produced. I wanted a book that would be Evergreen.
I'm pleased with the final product and slowly gathering book reviews. So far, most readers recommend Red Sky at Night: Dog Leader Mysteries on Goodreads and Amazon. So I believe the hybrid publication route fit my needs as a first time novelist. Not sure what I will do for the series, my experience concluded in a steep price.
Jeff, this is my first adventure exploring your Substack and it's been a lovely surprise. This essay really hits. As a writer on a mission to harness the ethos of classic literature in a digital "everything is publishable" landscape, it can be quite a hefty backpack to walk around with. Sometimes, it feels a bit impossible (what's the point? do people even care?). Your voice in this debate is refreshing. I look forward to reading more!
I’ve been thinking about this crazy insta-world, myself, of late. It leaves me feeling unmotivated to even attempt creating anything to satisfy an urge that just isn’t there. Maybe there are other sources that I’ve yet to discover for this emptiness, but it seems okay to blame this chaotic world for the hollowness that makes my head spin and rattle these days.
Thanks for sharing, Jeff. Your words give me more to reflect on.
Remember, Tim, that we are the world. It is not some thing out there; we are it. We cannot separate ourselves from the world in the same way that a leaf cannot separate itself from the tree. Whenever I look at what's wrong with the world and feel the temptation to get a little jaded, I try to remember that, in a way, I am a part of the problem. GK Chesterton once said, "What's wrong with the world? I am." And these days, that takes on new significance for me. I am the world, and if there is something wrong with it then there is something wrong with me. I better do my part to start fixing things. Anyway, just a little preachy pontification. I don't always do this and totally get the semi-nihilistic thoughts of "what does it all mean" and "what is it all for." Hang in there. We need your voice.
Thank you so much for sharing this! What a thoughtful and intimate gift. I don’t consider myself a poet but it did give me some ideas for a few important people in my life.
I have struggled with this Insta-world for the last few years, I can relate with your perspective here. I found myself posting less and less because I kept questioning my intent. Was I really wanting to help people or was I doing omit for the validation and the likes? I would really like to believe I had good intentions but that’s the problem with this social media world, the lines can get blurry. I am excited to publish on Substack, it feels like a place where I can share my writing for the sake of improving my craft and maybe making someone’s day better. Back to the basics I guess:)
I'm a big fan of the basics. Good luck! :)
Once again, Jeff, you have read my mind. I cringe listening to mainstream “music” if you can even call it that. Most “artists” can barely hold a note long enough for a mixer to copy and paste, and most music is so synthesized, it’s unrealistic. I loathe trends. Always have. I hate doing what everyone else is doing simply because they’re doing it. If I’m going to do something, it just make sense to me and I have yet to find a modern trend that does. I go my own way and do my own thing. One of my favorite quotes is from Ralph Waldo Emerson, a cousin of mine, no, really, he is, “Do not go where there is a path, go instead where there is no path, and leave a trail.”
Oh man. I love Emerson! Cousin? Wow. Self-reliance is GOLD.
Anthony Doerr spent around ten years writing “All the Light We Cannot See.” And it won the Pulitzer Prize, deservedly. So it’s encouraging that in this ocean of self-published books, the cream can still rise to the top.
Yes. Well said. I still need to finish that book.
Love this, too.
Thank you!
Upgraded, Jeff. Looking forward to seeing the shape of the new writing group!
Yay! So glad to have you.
Another author friend and I discuss this all the time. We both take painstaking care to put out the very best work we are capable of, and that takes time and effort. It's nice to hear other creators feel this way too! Glad to hear from you again, it's been a hot minute. ;) I hope your wife loves the gift - what a wonderful thing!
Thank you. She did. :)
Thanks for the reminder to consider our impact on the world before hitting publish. That's why I stay out of online debates, and rapidly lose interest in Twitter threads that turn into insult wars.
Yeah. I had to quit the whole social web (save for this little corner), and my inner world has gotten a lot less noisy.
Thank you for sharing. Happy New Year to you and your wife!🥂🎆 Upon your suggestion, I just joined Substack yesterday and purchased a subscription to Ghost. I have not quite figured out how Substack works, but I have high hopes for it. I have followed your work for many years (I think since 2009 or 10) and have purchased a couple of your courses. Regrettably I have been unable to complete them or pursue my dream of publishing and public speaking until now. One favor to ask: If you do end up deleting the book you shared, (I hope you do not) is it possible that you leave the message that accompanied it? It offers valuable information about the self publishing process and confirms that my decision to subscribe was a great investment. I appreciate you very much and look forward to learning even more from you this year. May your creativity be on full throttle and keep you excited always!🙏🏼🤗
Hi SylviaAnn. You bet. I'll leave this post here and will probably leave the book, too. They're pretty good poems, and the whole experience of self-publishing again was fun and interesting. And thank you for your support of my work over the years. Also, no worries on completing a course. I threw a lot at my students and didn't quite understand how to gently guide someone through the process. And if there was one thing you got out of the experience, then it may have been worth it. Best wishes to you in the next leg of your journey.
Ok, I heeded your advice and asked myself if the world will be a better place after posting this.
Please forgive my newbie inquiries (meaning more might be coming, but not this lengthy I promise!) as I seek to learn what is appropriate on this platform.
I’m not sure if you are still doing much of what you did 10 years ago, but I consider you an expert on the tools I need for the overall process of launching my writing and speaking career. That being said, please let me know if I may accept your generous invitation, contained in your year-end email, to still reach out to you.
That leads to one question: Is it better to email you directly? I’m self-reliant so it won’t be excessive, but I have some questions about substack and protocol that can’t seem to be answered in all of the information provided.
Please indulge my next question and the example I chose-- today’s post (do you call it post?) and this book you shared.
I’m not sure if this substack audience of 30 consists of many people that have been receiving emails from you for as long as I have and felt your joy as you would motivate huge audiences and witnessed your sorrow while your marriage ended and then watched you thrive again and find love, etc. Now, you share this very special book holding not only a collection of poems, but what I would consider a chunk of your soul, heart, blood, sweat and tears.
My conundrum: When I finally figured out that the underlined word ‘book’ was a link to Amazon where I could buy it, it was a splash of cold water in my face. That led me to the following reactions: Slight disappointment- meaning, “Bummer, I wanted to see just a glimpse of his writing.”I wanted to feel just a hint of the love you poured into this work and have that feeling evoke the emotions that would have likely stemmed from that glimpse.
What I was hoping for:
Gratitude - “wow he cares enough to share a tiny glimpse of his soul with his followers.”
Inspiration - wow, I too aspire to find a love so deep.
Motivation- wow, I am going to look deep into my own soul and call forth a book that speaks to the world, or maybe just one person like this.”
And maybe a ton of other wow emotions ... we will never know.
My inquiry: I guess I’m trying to figure out if substack is a community of fellow professionals that is designed specifically to promote our material or is it also a community of people who form a bond as a result of sharing, like you do, their deepest thoughts and ideas and glimpses of the work that might have been inspired by the very community to which it is being offered? 🤔
Regardless of whether or not I am a poetry enthusiast, or if my budget would not permit me to support at this time, my sense of solidarity will always make me take a little time to look at someone’s creation when given the opportunity.
I admit to being confused. Are you saying this felt like a cleverly disguised sales pitch?
Omg not in the least. I was sincerely leaning on you for advice or answers about Substack.
In a nutshell I was asking if Substack is mainly / only for selling and promoting our material and I was asking why you chose not to include / share (in your post) an excerpt of your book.
Honestly it was a sincere message also letting you know that an excerpt would have been nice if we are unable to buy the book, that is all.
From my perspective, (isn’t crazy how we all see the same thing so differently?) when I have an opportunity to read one of your messages, it connects me (and very likely most or all of your readers) to you because your writing is usually pretty introspective and almost vulnerable. In your writing, I/we get the sense that you take time putting your valuable thoughts on paper and then trust us with your feelings and opinions and suggestions. So, for me, I just thought that your recent post lacked a tiny excerpt of your poetry, maybe because I wanted to again connect at the soul level like I have before when reading some of your material.
If that sounds strange to you or offends you in any way at all, please accept my sincerest apologies and disregard the message entirely.
My perspective may be a bit warped because I have been trying to leave my sales career for what seems to be forever so maybe I get a bit dreamy watching people who have the career I dream about. So so many speakers and authors, like you, have wise and profound messages, but you are one of the few that interact directly with your readers. You actually read our emails and posts and you seem to be approachable and authentic. You have shared openly in your messages while most do not interact with their readers that way, unless they are paid to do so.
I’ve been a real estate broker for 25 years and am hoping to transition from that to speaking and writing. I’ve been wanting to do this since 2010. This is going to be a great year.😊 Have a blessed day.🙏🏼
Ah, my bad. I think Substack is ideal for writing and sharing your ideas and building an audience around those audience, then monetizing that audience through low-cost subscriptions (if you choose to do so). I didn't share an excerpt from the book here, because Amazon already does that, and that wasn't the point of the post. I linked to the book just for context.
I'll be sharing some poems here eventually, so there'll be plenty to read in the future. Just hang in there. Promise. And thank you for your kind words about my writing. The point of the post wasn't to share poetry; it would have conflicted with the overall point. But I'm not opposed to poetic sharings in the future. Stand by for more.
I think what you said here—"You actually read our emails and posts and you seem to be approachable and authentic"—is what substack seems best suited for. It is a way of connecting writers to readers. That's my goal here. My old blog and newsletter didn't get a lot of interaction, and I'm loving the community here. It's my number one goal, not income, at this point. I am using this tool to rebuild my community and connect more deeply with my readers. Thank you for being one of them and for your kind and thoughtful remarks.
I appreciate you!
In the topic of going deep for getting knowledge I would suggest the description made by Alessandro Baricco of our relationship with it. I recommend "the barbarians" and "the game".
Thank you, Manuel. Are these books?
Insta-cretaion has been good and bad for me. I published several books just as you described: KDP, Canva, click. I've also composed dozens of electronic/ambient/drone compositions using GarageBand/BandCamp, click. There's also the traditional blog, write and post.
Have I published a few not-so-great pieces? Yes. Why? Because I could do it instantaneously. It was immediate "me" gratification. I consider myself of a professional level in regard to my writing and musical abilities. I have become dismayed and disappointed that my work has often been missed while others who have much less talent become wealthy superstars. In the past year or two I've stopped giving a crap about that.
But I guess my point here is twofold. 1. Our instant platforms are our unique histories and can include some duds. It shows growth. 2. Whereas the insta-creation age has allowed people to publish crap, it's also allowed more talented writers and creators to slip through the cracks.
Yes, I agree. You're right that our online histories are archives, which is why I continue to leave up my social media profiles and old blogs (for now). They're reminders to me of how much I've grown. Even my books are that. I have a friend who's a bestselling novelist, and he has said that when he used to go into bookstores and see his novels on the shelf, the only thing keeping him from tearing them down (in embarrassment) was the fact that those were his journals. I always thought was interesting and poignant.
Yes, it is easier than ever to create but to publish a book the first time is still a daunting thought if not task. More junk but more voices being heard than ever in history. Sorting through the noise may be the next big jaunt in history in search of the next Tolstoy or Tolkien.
That's well said, and I certainly hope it's true. :)
https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Alessandro-Baricco-ebook/dp/B00GQA28R6/ref=sr_1_36?crid=1MIJUA96BM9A0&keywords=alessandro+baricco&qid=1672766132&sprefix=baricco%2Caps%2C341&sr=8-36
https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Alessandro-Baricco/dp/1952119006/ref=sr_1_14?crid=1MIJUA96BM9A0&keywords=alessandro+baricco&qid=1672766249&sprefix=baricco%2Caps%2C341&sr=8-1
My recommendation is a rather bitter pill, the author describes a new cultural method (or device) for knowledge transmission. It is intriguing and ,for old guys like myself, refreshing.
thank you, Manuel!
Well said Mr. Jeff. Definitely saving this for later to remind myself. We gotta slow down and appreciate the creative process from both the creator and consumer sides of the coin.
Not all of us are possessed by speed. Not all of us desire to publish-instantly.🧐I spent ten years and twelve drafts to hone my first Dog Leader Mysteries. Then I worked with a hybrid publisher to assess whether my manuscript full filled the mystery genre’s structure and content. Then came proof reading their proofs, and discovering over fifty typos the professionals missed. I’ve wanted to be proud of the product I produced. I wanted a book that would be Evergreen.
Well done in taking it slow, Deborah. Sorry to hear about the challenges of getting it published. How'd it finally turn out?
I'm pleased with the final product and slowly gathering book reviews. So far, most readers recommend Red Sky at Night: Dog Leader Mysteries on Goodreads and Amazon. So I believe the hybrid publication route fit my needs as a first time novelist. Not sure what I will do for the series, my experience concluded in a steep price.
Jeff, this is my first adventure exploring your Substack and it's been a lovely surprise. This essay really hits. As a writer on a mission to harness the ethos of classic literature in a digital "everything is publishable" landscape, it can be quite a hefty backpack to walk around with. Sometimes, it feels a bit impossible (what's the point? do people even care?). Your voice in this debate is refreshing. I look forward to reading more!
I’ve been thinking about this crazy insta-world, myself, of late. It leaves me feeling unmotivated to even attempt creating anything to satisfy an urge that just isn’t there. Maybe there are other sources that I’ve yet to discover for this emptiness, but it seems okay to blame this chaotic world for the hollowness that makes my head spin and rattle these days.
Thanks for sharing, Jeff. Your words give me more to reflect on.
Remember, Tim, that we are the world. It is not some thing out there; we are it. We cannot separate ourselves from the world in the same way that a leaf cannot separate itself from the tree. Whenever I look at what's wrong with the world and feel the temptation to get a little jaded, I try to remember that, in a way, I am a part of the problem. GK Chesterton once said, "What's wrong with the world? I am." And these days, that takes on new significance for me. I am the world, and if there is something wrong with it then there is something wrong with me. I better do my part to start fixing things. Anyway, just a little preachy pontification. I don't always do this and totally get the semi-nihilistic thoughts of "what does it all mean" and "what is it all for." Hang in there. We need your voice.