YES. all of the things. I want people to take the gloves off about what i write... but... I am such a conflict averse person that i struggle to feel worthy to criticise or have the right words to criticise constructively. its hard to know if people will be able to choose not to be offended...at least until youve chatted to them a bit. I echo your advice already about choosing not to be offended and using the time someone has put into critiquing your work for your own improvement.
You are right about a lot of this. It is lame to use your resume to establish credibility. Publish fiction on here that we respect, that'll give you credibility. Your resume no better than mine anyways. And my fiction on here slaps. Lastly, writers need to market more. When you get that book deal, you'll have to market it. Writers are so so so bad at marketing themselves, anything to downplay its importance, I can't support.
I think this is true but I also think that in times like these it can be such a life line to have a corner of the internet where everyone is just, nice to each other. Won't make anyone a great writer but it might help get them through the day.
That being said, I have spent a long time on some short fiction and would love any constructive criticism if I work up the nerve to post it.
I like Substack for many reasons, but one thing I'm wary of is how it makes it seem as if people ought to be cranking out pieces so frequently, like if you don't write a profound essay on a weekly basis, you're not doing things properly. Not even the most brilliant minds have something interesting and new to say at that cadence. So either they end up repeating themselves or every has to pretend that even mediocre work is a writer's best work ever, week after week.
What troubles me is defining "bad" or "great" writing. Beyond objective measures like units sold or proper punctuation and grammar, should we accept that one erudite reader's treasure is another erudite reader's Goodwill donation?
Garnering for likes is perhaps just as common as fishing for confrontations- there are vast numbers of articles and thought pieces on Substack telling us all how we are writers, aren’t writers, could be, should be, never ever will be… everyone wants to dress up as the new gate keepers in this made up lit Wild West - the simple fact is the only people making real money on here are the same people who made real
Money elsewhere- for the rest of us it’s just a great place to find a solid peer group who will read our work - that’s good enough for most of us and just maybe with some solid constructive critique, encouragement and trust - one or two of us might make it to the other side and fulfil our writing ambitions- whatever they are.
Never gonna happen - it’s easier to stand on the side walk with a billboard proclaiming the end of the world than sit down and try and figure out how to build one!
Hi Adria, thanks for jumping in and conversing and reading part 3 of Entangled. I wonder if it made any sense without parts one and two. There will be an audio version going up next week, which I think will add another level to the idea. Feel free to comment when you have read, perhaps in the reverse order. It would be untangled then, I guess. Heres the link to part 1...
but you ain't read my writing... don't you think instead of chasing clickbait you could build on here. We are better as allies when ur book comes out then a bunch of people you took a shit on for clout, cause blanket statements for clout aren't the way. The shit im about to drop tomorrow but to put this clout to waste anyways plus im doing in you a favor by driving people here with all my comments u welcome.
Am currently in the middle of BEEF Vol I, Andrew. It’s compelling work. Regardless of feelings on my post, I’m glad we were able to connect here and I could get to know your pieces. I will continue to read and watch your space.
i feel great about you. i like that you aren't a snowflake. The end of beef is the best part. then you gotta read I Gave You Spectacle on Sum Flux then you gotta watch Bus Girl Feminism thats only like 5 minutes. And then there's Magnetic. Sandolore. Hopeless on Sunday. There's so many dope people on here but you could mainly focus on me and you'll be good. Also, i invented a flash fiction contest called Flash-Style, as I mentioned earlier, I would love to have you come battle Jon T in a timed fiction contest, or you like the Europeans, you need a lot of time and subsidy? Lastly i am going to drop a video analysis of a poem, my wife's non-fiction piece, and Magnetic's piece in my podcast tomorrow that I am editing right now as I get distracted by your clickbait, which i secretly love. welcome to the game. you'll never beat me.
I read a min of two novels a week. Only post on Substack my scraps that I don’t publish, find social media obnoxious and don’t like people enough to care if they subscribe to me 😎 I’d buy their book before I’d paid to subscribe to anyone.
Success doesn't grow on trees. I thoroughly enjoyed this, or is that entirely too much praise? What we need is rancor and ultraviolence ( kidding!) . But I thought writers were meant to raise the black flag. Only the literary landscape is an ego orgy of mediocrity and half-assery. Also there is a tendency for people to take themselves too seriously. As if a few terribly constructed sentences can save the endangered grasshoppers or stop the atmosphere getting ruined. My writing only just saves myself.
Ha, nice to meet you, too, Michael! Not failed yet, not sure I believe that's possible for anyone. Look forward to reading (and listening to) some of your work.
This is such an important post, though I would add that there doesn’t need to be one or the other. One can revel in the Substack praise (which I’m sure not everyone here is even getting), while at the same time submitting stories/manuscripts and amassing rejections emails.
I do both, am well-acquainted with rejection, and I can tell you that positive comments on Substack help. Knowing that there are real people out there who treasure my writing has helped me build thicker skin.
I’m currently working on my first book-length work, which I shall be submitting to local presses here in Romania, and in many ways, I wouldn’t have had the guts to even attempt it were it not for Substack.
This post nicely articulated many of the thoughts that have been floating around my head since joining substack. The idea that everyone here deserves applause for simply writing. Or that people can just publish their diary and expect praise. For me, as a writer and a reader, I expect more.
Thank you. I'm new to Substack and found myself checking my stats several times a day before reminding myself that I want to be a writer, not an influencer. There's this urge to yell from the rooftops what I'm working on in case someone does it faster, and better. What if I miss "my chance" quietly writing, not garnering any attention? I needed to read your post. Feel free to critique my writing any time you wish. I'd seriously appreciate it.
YES. all of the things. I want people to take the gloves off about what i write... but... I am such a conflict averse person that i struggle to feel worthy to criticise or have the right words to criticise constructively. its hard to know if people will be able to choose not to be offended...at least until youve chatted to them a bit. I echo your advice already about choosing not to be offended and using the time someone has put into critiquing your work for your own improvement.
you done read my fiction on here so u already know she ain't talking about me.
absolutely!
You are right about a lot of this. It is lame to use your resume to establish credibility. Publish fiction on here that we respect, that'll give you credibility. Your resume no better than mine anyways. And my fiction on here slaps. Lastly, writers need to market more. When you get that book deal, you'll have to market it. Writers are so so so bad at marketing themselves, anything to downplay its importance, I can't support.
I think this is true but I also think that in times like these it can be such a life line to have a corner of the internet where everyone is just, nice to each other. Won't make anyone a great writer but it might help get them through the day.
That being said, I have spent a long time on some short fiction and would love any constructive criticism if I work up the nerve to post it.
you should read my fiction on here cause i guarantee she ain't talking about me.
I like Substack for many reasons, but one thing I'm wary of is how it makes it seem as if people ought to be cranking out pieces so frequently, like if you don't write a profound essay on a weekly basis, you're not doing things properly. Not even the most brilliant minds have something interesting and new to say at that cadence. So either they end up repeating themselves or every has to pretend that even mediocre work is a writer's best work ever, week after week.
What troubles me is defining "bad" or "great" writing. Beyond objective measures like units sold or proper punctuation and grammar, should we accept that one erudite reader's treasure is another erudite reader's Goodwill donation?
Garnering for likes is perhaps just as common as fishing for confrontations- there are vast numbers of articles and thought pieces on Substack telling us all how we are writers, aren’t writers, could be, should be, never ever will be… everyone wants to dress up as the new gate keepers in this made up lit Wild West - the simple fact is the only people making real money on here are the same people who made real
Money elsewhere- for the rest of us it’s just a great place to find a solid peer group who will read our work - that’s good enough for most of us and just maybe with some solid constructive critique, encouragement and trust - one or two of us might make it to the other side and fulfil our writing ambitions- whatever they are.
Clout chaser! Clout Chaser! S.M. Garratt what you think the odds she takes a Flash-Style Challenge from Jon T. I'm guessing....next to none.
Never gonna happen - it’s easier to stand on the side walk with a billboard proclaiming the end of the world than sit down and try and figure out how to build one!
Agree — we all have different ambitions. The world of writing is cool that way.
Enjoyed part three of your entangled series. Look forward to reading more.
Hi Adria, thanks for jumping in and conversing and reading part 3 of Entangled. I wonder if it made any sense without parts one and two. There will be an audio version going up next week, which I think will add another level to the idea. Feel free to comment when you have read, perhaps in the reverse order. It would be untangled then, I guess. Heres the link to part 1...
https://open.substack.com/pub/theoortcloud/p/entangled-part-i?r=4c2xuj&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
but you ain't read my writing... don't you think instead of chasing clickbait you could build on here. We are better as allies when ur book comes out then a bunch of people you took a shit on for clout, cause blanket statements for clout aren't the way. The shit im about to drop tomorrow but to put this clout to waste anyways plus im doing in you a favor by driving people here with all my comments u welcome.
Am currently in the middle of BEEF Vol I, Andrew. It’s compelling work. Regardless of feelings on my post, I’m glad we were able to connect here and I could get to know your pieces. I will continue to read and watch your space.
i feel great about you. i like that you aren't a snowflake. The end of beef is the best part. then you gotta read I Gave You Spectacle on Sum Flux then you gotta watch Bus Girl Feminism thats only like 5 minutes. And then there's Magnetic. Sandolore. Hopeless on Sunday. There's so many dope people on here but you could mainly focus on me and you'll be good. Also, i invented a flash fiction contest called Flash-Style, as I mentioned earlier, I would love to have you come battle Jon T in a timed fiction contest, or you like the Europeans, you need a lot of time and subsidy? Lastly i am going to drop a video analysis of a poem, my wife's non-fiction piece, and Magnetic's piece in my podcast tomorrow that I am editing right now as I get distracted by your clickbait, which i secretly love. welcome to the game. you'll never beat me.
I read a min of two novels a week. Only post on Substack my scraps that I don’t publish, find social media obnoxious and don’t like people enough to care if they subscribe to me 😎 I’d buy their book before I’d paid to subscribe to anyone.
you done read my fiction on here so u already know she ain't talking about me.
That’s for sure. Your a 100% original voice Robert 🤙
Success doesn't grow on trees. I thoroughly enjoyed this, or is that entirely too much praise? What we need is rancor and ultraviolence ( kidding!) . But I thought writers were meant to raise the black flag. Only the literary landscape is an ego orgy of mediocrity and half-assery. Also there is a tendency for people to take themselves too seriously. As if a few terribly constructed sentences can save the endangered grasshoppers or stop the atmosphere getting ruined. My writing only just saves myself.
you never mentioned ideas. should I be searching for good ideas or just elaborating on shitty ones i already have? thanks
Both! 😀
I get it, you're a failed writer with massive talent who hates people. Nice to meet you too.
Ha, nice to meet you, too, Michael! Not failed yet, not sure I believe that's possible for anyone. Look forward to reading (and listening to) some of your work.
Truth hurts.
you should read my fiction on here cause i guarantee she ain't talking about me.
This is such an important post, though I would add that there doesn’t need to be one or the other. One can revel in the Substack praise (which I’m sure not everyone here is even getting), while at the same time submitting stories/manuscripts and amassing rejections emails.
I do both, am well-acquainted with rejection, and I can tell you that positive comments on Substack help. Knowing that there are real people out there who treasure my writing has helped me build thicker skin.
I’m currently working on my first book-length work, which I shall be submitting to local presses here in Romania, and in many ways, I wouldn’t have had the guts to even attempt it were it not for Substack.
you should read my fiction on here cause i guarantee she ain't talking about me.
This post nicely articulated many of the thoughts that have been floating around my head since joining substack. The idea that everyone here deserves applause for simply writing. Or that people can just publish their diary and expect praise. For me, as a writer and a reader, I expect more.
Well done!
you should read my fiction on here cause i guarantee she ain't talking about me.
You're precisely the person I want critiquing my work.
you should read my fiction on here cause i guarantee she ain't talking about me.
Thank you. I'm new to Substack and found myself checking my stats several times a day before reminding myself that I want to be a writer, not an influencer. There's this urge to yell from the rooftops what I'm working on in case someone does it faster, and better. What if I miss "my chance" quietly writing, not garnering any attention? I needed to read your post. Feel free to critique my writing any time you wish. I'd seriously appreciate it.
you should read my fiction on here cause i guarantee she ain't talking about me.
I will!
Your years of writing clearly show. Brilliant, and helpful. Thank you
you should read my fiction on here cause i guarantee she ain't talking about me.