Thank you, dearly, for your work. It’s tough, I know, but everything but being a massive, disgusting dickhead is getting tougher these days. I appreciate your work and I appreciate your curation and I wanted to stress on this occasion again how important it is.
Literary appreciation - frankly, any sort of literacy - is increasingly becoming a political act. I do not like this and neither should anyone but this is just how things are. There is a dying of the light and that makes it tough. Will probably make it tougher still. So have my gratitude for playing your part in keeping that flame alive.
There‘s tough times ahead. It’s good to have you around.
Great article. I find myself sometimes second-guessing my decision to self-publish and use Substack rather than throwing query letters and sales pitches to the fortress of traditional publishing. It's discouraging when people claim there is only one way to get readers interested in your work. I have been told of countless romance and fantasy and even classical literature that comes high recommended, that I will never read because I have many other stories worth my time. I appreciate someone calling out the hypocrisy of the gatekeepers dismissing platforms like Substack and I appreciate the acknowledgement of the reckless world of only online posting.
Oh how I needed to read this. Thank you for Only Poems. And your insight, and knowledge, and enthusiasm. And I'm so excited to see how Strange Pilgrims blooms.
Beautifully written and on fucking point. Isn’t it interesting — and rather odd — that some literary-minded people also get stuck in certain “ways of doing things,” and become strangely uptight about it? You’d think that what singles out a truly great writer or creator is not only a more subtle and nuanced perspective on creativity, but also the ability to discern that, as you point out, it’s ultimately a soul-level quandary.
What else are we to do but write?
Personally, I’ve always dreamed of a traditional book deal. But more and more, I’m realizing that this desire is tied, at least in part, to a kind of ego fulfilment — not in a derogatory sense at all. Being recognized and celebrated by one’s literary peers is a beautiful aspiration, and I’ve made peace with my ambition. Yet there is something profoundly fulfilling, perhaps even more pure, in writing for readers who open your Substack the moment it arrives — not out of prestige, but out of genuine hunger for your voice. And I am definitely one of those readers now for yours 🤓🕯️🌹
I care, I write, I read, I drag strange shapes from the liminal space, I linger on the beach, waiting for tug behind my navel. I can’t do anything else.
Make things, hate them, love them, poke at them, walk the line between hope and despair.
I needed to read this, thank you for writing it! It reminds me of an Audre Lorde quote I have on a post-it note on my mirror: “I am who I am, doing what I came to do.” 💜
Yes. Many answers are right, but the best answer is always the one right for you. Specifically you. Shannan’s posts in Beautiful Losers could readily compile into a writer’s support text, titled Reality + for Writers, and she’ll likely surprise us with her photorealistic fantasy romcom about the inhabitants on Myopia 4. But while it’s tough, sure, writing what’s under our skin satisfies in a distinct way no one knows until they dig into a blank page/screen themselves. Just make sure that, like Shannan and Karan, you displace the Conformist Vertebra and forget to call the chiropractor. If you win a prize for it, presume we already know your worth.
I have been overwhelmed with the year-in-review and new year goals lately (it's me, not any of you posting those, I promise). But this. THIS is just what I needed to read today. Thank you, Shannan.
Or I’d rather fail at the economics by writing what I most want to read than to sell my soul and probably still not make a penny.
Thank you, dearly, for your work. It’s tough, I know, but everything but being a massive, disgusting dickhead is getting tougher these days. I appreciate your work and I appreciate your curation and I wanted to stress on this occasion again how important it is.
Literary appreciation - frankly, any sort of literacy - is increasingly becoming a political act. I do not like this and neither should anyone but this is just how things are. There is a dying of the light and that makes it tough. Will probably make it tougher still. So have my gratitude for playing your part in keeping that flame alive.
There‘s tough times ahead. It’s good to have you around.
Great article. I find myself sometimes second-guessing my decision to self-publish and use Substack rather than throwing query letters and sales pitches to the fortress of traditional publishing. It's discouraging when people claim there is only one way to get readers interested in your work. I have been told of countless romance and fantasy and even classical literature that comes high recommended, that I will never read because I have many other stories worth my time. I appreciate someone calling out the hypocrisy of the gatekeepers dismissing platforms like Substack and I appreciate the acknowledgement of the reckless world of only online posting.
Oh how I needed to read this. Thank you for Only Poems. And your insight, and knowledge, and enthusiasm. And I'm so excited to see how Strange Pilgrims blooms.
Beautifully written and on fucking point. Isn’t it interesting — and rather odd — that some literary-minded people also get stuck in certain “ways of doing things,” and become strangely uptight about it? You’d think that what singles out a truly great writer or creator is not only a more subtle and nuanced perspective on creativity, but also the ability to discern that, as you point out, it’s ultimately a soul-level quandary.
What else are we to do but write?
Personally, I’ve always dreamed of a traditional book deal. But more and more, I’m realizing that this desire is tied, at least in part, to a kind of ego fulfilment — not in a derogatory sense at all. Being recognized and celebrated by one’s literary peers is a beautiful aspiration, and I’ve made peace with my ambition. Yet there is something profoundly fulfilling, perhaps even more pure, in writing for readers who open your Substack the moment it arrives — not out of prestige, but out of genuine hunger for your voice. And I am definitely one of those readers now for yours 🤓🕯️🌹
Thank you for this.
I care, I write, I read, I drag strange shapes from the liminal space, I linger on the beach, waiting for tug behind my navel. I can’t do anything else.
Make things, hate them, love them, poke at them, walk the line between hope and despair.
Knit my dreams into lopsided sleeves.
I needed to read this, thank you for writing it! It reminds me of an Audre Lorde quote I have on a post-it note on my mirror: “I am who I am, doing what I came to do.” 💜
That picture looks like me at a very busy cafe. Only difference is I am constantly loudly clearing my throat and then smiling and nodding at people.
Sometimes I will say, “Have you read this? It’s very good. It’s my second time.”
Yes. Many answers are right, but the best answer is always the one right for you. Specifically you. Shannan’s posts in Beautiful Losers could readily compile into a writer’s support text, titled Reality + for Writers, and she’ll likely surprise us with her photorealistic fantasy romcom about the inhabitants on Myopia 4. But while it’s tough, sure, writing what’s under our skin satisfies in a distinct way no one knows until they dig into a blank page/screen themselves. Just make sure that, like Shannan and Karan, you displace the Conformist Vertebra and forget to call the chiropractor. If you win a prize for it, presume we already know your worth.
I have been overwhelmed with the year-in-review and new year goals lately (it's me, not any of you posting those, I promise). But this. THIS is just what I needed to read today. Thank you, Shannan.
Amen 🙏🏼
However, I'm happy for those fortunate enough to succeed on this platform.
I agree with all the comments about Substack here.
When I want to read good literature I go to the library.
I'm a senior citizen living on a paltry ss payout. I can't afford to "upgrade to pay.".
I tried Substack and don't like the concept, so stopped posting.