I sometimes am terrified to complete a story I’ve been working on because the terror of knowing I have to start over is overwhelming. I know this is something a lot of other writers go through but it doesn’t make it any less scary.
If your other newsletter is failing by these standards, mine must be dead in the water! I have 12 subscribers, hardly ever use notes (maybe I should?) and have been here over a year. But in my mind, I'm succeeding because I'm still here consistently chipping away, week by week
So resonates for me -- that ridiculous study and how wonderfully you wove in the letter from father to daughter, telling it to her straight, and concluded with success being defined by an individual. For years I felt judged inferior by a writer friend who has succeeded in traditional publishing and cannot fathom why it's taken me so long to finalize my novel. Now? Not so much. Different writers, different stories, different metrics. The muses clearly chose the right author to write this fascinating piece. Thank you!
Spot on Linda, and a brilliant use of Fitzgerald's gentle letter to his daughter. So many important points. What is "failing"? Find a way. Writing and everything to do with it, is indeed timeless. The comments on Notes - which I spend entirely too much time on, were especially relatable. Thanks for a great post. - Jim
According to the selection criteria used by the author of the report, my newsletter will soon be considered 'old publication '. I will have 10 published posts since starting. My first post was published less than a month ago lol 🤷♀️ So I guess time does go faster the older I get!
This was so helpful on a day I am struggling to be a writer. I don't know why. I usually only get the hibi-gibes on the days I publish. Today, I'm struggling with a chapter in the middle of a novel, the middle of a rewrite- the muddle in the middle. And my editor gave feedback that would make it have different aboutness, and I'm resistant. And suddenly it's: You don't know what you are doing... blah, blah, blah. I was fine yesterday, well, except for the fires (I live in LA, not in danger but in grief), and suddenly I'm all: "What's the point?" And this post answers that question because I do have a thing I'm trying to say, and I'm sticking with that, and tomorrow will be better - or not. But I'll still show up in my chair because I've been doing it so long I don't know how else to live. I'll pray to the writing gods to give me the answer while I sleep, and maybe the elegant solution will just be there when my ass hits the seat in the morning.
Oh my gosh, you're in LA. Scary stuff. When Canada's northern forest were burning I wasn't in danger, but I felt fear and grief too. I'm glad my post resonated. Keep showing up. The words will too. They're stubborn little buggers but eventually cooperate if we persist.
Yes. It turns out, the fire is my primary problem. Last night, my adult son, his girlfriend and her roommate sheltered at my home. Having eyes on them changed everything. I’m still not writing, but I am happy to have a houseful.
"The best advice might be the advice Fitzgerald gave his daughter 89 years ago. If you have something you want to say, you have to find a way to say it that nobody else has ever found."
What I like about your writing is you are giving golden treasures not only to writers/readers
but also to all people who are in all types of businesses, if they are wise enough to understand
the meanings behind your writings and to implement them in real life.
Oh Sam, you made me smile. You are so right that it's the same for all business, not just writers. We learn the same lessons a million ways, that's for sure!
I guess once you stop, you've failed. Or maybe it's just too much sucking on a lemon for you to continue. Who knows when we've failed? You could get fabulous reviews, comments, etc, but if what you want is a comment from "someone in particular" and it's not forthcoming, that's a special kind of unseen, quiet "failure". The devastating kind.
I think the point here is that it's up to YOU to determine if you failed, not some penny pusher who writes an article and makes an arbitrary line about who failed by their standards :-)
Oh I hear you on that Rose. Boy, do I ever. I'm not sure stopping is failure, though. I have stopped for long periods and come back. But I sure hear you on that one particular person. I have been there, too.
Failure is a big, scary, and empty word. I guess I thought about it more when I was younger. These days I just fill up the void of failure with pages and pages of text. :)
Interesting about notes. I didn’t use them for the first 6 months on Substack but I do heavily now.
I discovered notes were a great way to get other people’s opinions on topics I am developing. But I don’t think I have ever got a subscriber through a note. Maybe others do and that is why they use them.
But I am probably a bad example. I primarily write about sex education so the majority of my subscribers are from “direct” or “google.” Only recently have I started to get subscribers from the app because I have switched to politics - less censorship.
Omg, that's a really great idea Carlyn. I love the idea of using notes to get feedback. Now you've got me thinking of constructive ways to use it. Thanks!
Only the writer can determine if it’s a failure because only they know what it is they want to achieve. I don’t write to support myself financially, so I don’t measure success on the platform based on how many paid subscriptions I have. I’ve been struggling on several levels, but I haven’t quit. Even if I do quit, it doesn’t mean my Substack failed. I already know I have entertained and inspired people now and again with it, so, in my view, it’s already succeeded on what, to me, is the most important level. I use Notes just to stay in the game when I don’t have the energy to produce a regularly scheduled newsletter.
That's a good way to use Notes, Denise. I so agree that if we're entertaining people or inspiring them, that's not failure. We get to decide what's a fail. I was going to say deleting is a fail, but sometimes it's a win. I used to have a tech blog. I deleted it. For me that was a win
"Nobody ever became a writer just by wanting to be one." But wanting to be one fuels the desire that helps them stay in the game once they get there.
I sometimes am terrified to complete a story I’ve been working on because the terror of knowing I have to start over is overwhelming. I know this is something a lot of other writers go through but it doesn’t make it any less scary.
For me, it helps to see it as part of the process. Problem is, it makes it frustrating instead of scary. lol
If your other newsletter is failing by these standards, mine must be dead in the water! I have 12 subscribers, hardly ever use notes (maybe I should?) and have been here over a year. But in my mind, I'm succeeding because I'm still here consistently chipping away, week by week
That's it exactly, Shlee. Doesn't matter what anyone else says, if we're chipping away we're not failing.
So resonates for me -- that ridiculous study and how wonderfully you wove in the letter from father to daughter, telling it to her straight, and concluded with success being defined by an individual. For years I felt judged inferior by a writer friend who has succeeded in traditional publishing and cannot fathom why it's taken me so long to finalize my novel. Now? Not so much. Different writers, different stories, different metrics. The muses clearly chose the right author to write this fascinating piece. Thank you!
Aww thanks, Louise. My progress has been stupidly slow too, but we all progress at our own speed. There's not a right way except to keep moving
Spot on Linda, and a brilliant use of Fitzgerald's gentle letter to his daughter. So many important points. What is "failing"? Find a way. Writing and everything to do with it, is indeed timeless. The comments on Notes - which I spend entirely too much time on, were especially relatable. Thanks for a great post. - Jim
It made me feel a lot better about not using Notes too much Jim. lol
Linda, Lots of beautiful wisdom in this piece! Thank you, as always, for the encouragement.
Thanks, Sandra.
According to the selection criteria used by the author of the report, my newsletter will soon be considered 'old publication '. I will have 10 published posts since starting. My first post was published less than a month ago lol 🤷♀️ So I guess time does go faster the older I get!
A fabulous closing! And so true!
Starting over is practically my middle name, but you might know a thing or two about that too. 🖤
This was so helpful on a day I am struggling to be a writer. I don't know why. I usually only get the hibi-gibes on the days I publish. Today, I'm struggling with a chapter in the middle of a novel, the middle of a rewrite- the muddle in the middle. And my editor gave feedback that would make it have different aboutness, and I'm resistant. And suddenly it's: You don't know what you are doing... blah, blah, blah. I was fine yesterday, well, except for the fires (I live in LA, not in danger but in grief), and suddenly I'm all: "What's the point?" And this post answers that question because I do have a thing I'm trying to say, and I'm sticking with that, and tomorrow will be better - or not. But I'll still show up in my chair because I've been doing it so long I don't know how else to live. I'll pray to the writing gods to give me the answer while I sleep, and maybe the elegant solution will just be there when my ass hits the seat in the morning.
Oh my gosh, you're in LA. Scary stuff. When Canada's northern forest were burning I wasn't in danger, but I felt fear and grief too. I'm glad my post resonated. Keep showing up. The words will too. They're stubborn little buggers but eventually cooperate if we persist.
Yes. It turns out, the fire is my primary problem. Last night, my adult son, his girlfriend and her roommate sheltered at my home. Having eyes on them changed everything. I’m still not writing, but I am happy to have a houseful.
Dear Linda
My best friend in this world
"The best advice might be the advice Fitzgerald gave his daughter 89 years ago. If you have something you want to say, you have to find a way to say it that nobody else has ever found."
What I like about your writing is you are giving golden treasures not only to writers/readers
but also to all people who are in all types of businesses, if they are wise enough to understand
the meanings behind your writings and to implement them in real life.
GOD BLESS YOU
Sam John
Middle East
IRAQ
Oh Sam, you made me smile. You are so right that it's the same for all business, not just writers. We learn the same lessons a million ways, that's for sure!
Many thanks for your comments.
Best regards from the Middle East here in IRAQ
GOD BLESS
Sam John
IRAQ
I guess once you stop, you've failed. Or maybe it's just too much sucking on a lemon for you to continue. Who knows when we've failed? You could get fabulous reviews, comments, etc, but if what you want is a comment from "someone in particular" and it's not forthcoming, that's a special kind of unseen, quiet "failure". The devastating kind.
I think the point here is that it's up to YOU to determine if you failed, not some penny pusher who writes an article and makes an arbitrary line about who failed by their standards :-)
Yes, exactly, Sean. Or a scraper tool, either lol
Oh I hear you on that Rose. Boy, do I ever. I'm not sure stopping is failure, though. I have stopped for long periods and come back. But I sure hear you on that one particular person. I have been there, too.
Don't let others define what is failure
I doubt I've posted on linkedin in a month, but I haven't quit and I haven't failed - just been busy here!!
Failure is a big, scary, and empty word. I guess I thought about it more when I was younger. These days I just fill up the void of failure with pages and pages of text. :)
I worried about that more when I was younger, too. Now I worry about not having enough time. lol.
Yes! Worrying about failure could be seen as a luxury! I don't have time... too much to say!
lmao. Same.
Interesting about notes. I didn’t use them for the first 6 months on Substack but I do heavily now.
I discovered notes were a great way to get other people’s opinions on topics I am developing. But I don’t think I have ever got a subscriber through a note. Maybe others do and that is why they use them.
But I am probably a bad example. I primarily write about sex education so the majority of my subscribers are from “direct” or “google.” Only recently have I started to get subscribers from the app because I have switched to politics - less censorship.
Omg, that's a really great idea Carlyn. I love the idea of using notes to get feedback. Now you've got me thinking of constructive ways to use it. Thanks!
Love this - I was reading an article this morning and it was dated 1983 - good solid advice - and the blog post is 41 years old!
Right? I love finding buried treasures like that.
Only the writer can determine if it’s a failure because only they know what it is they want to achieve. I don’t write to support myself financially, so I don’t measure success on the platform based on how many paid subscriptions I have. I’ve been struggling on several levels, but I haven’t quit. Even if I do quit, it doesn’t mean my Substack failed. I already know I have entertained and inspired people now and again with it, so, in my view, it’s already succeeded on what, to me, is the most important level. I use Notes just to stay in the game when I don’t have the energy to produce a regularly scheduled newsletter.
That's a good way to use Notes, Denise. I so agree that if we're entertaining people or inspiring them, that's not failure. We get to decide what's a fail. I was going to say deleting is a fail, but sometimes it's a win. I used to have a tech blog. I deleted it. For me that was a win
Thanks for the encouraging words.