I thought this was c interesting. Is substack just another type of social media that we do for the endorphin likes which stops us writing or do we need the fuel of feedback to get us through the long slog of writing a book?
Your mistaken identity moments have made me chuckle. I’ve archived all my Substack posts as they really ought to be going towards auto fiction rather than the splurge they have been. But it’s a been a good thing in general and has stopped me from stopping writing, at times. Keep going in whichever way suits you. You owe us freeloaders nothing. 🤓
This was a both witty and thought-provoking essay, Toby. I'm sure that many of us find it easy to fritter away our time on Substack. I'm sure I do. But then again, I could do that elsewhere too. And I probably have. What struck me as remarkable about Lott's comments was how they assumed that real writing was writing a novel and that everything else was not. That may be the case for him. But I'm surprised to see the novel being put into such a privileged position in the 21st century. Novels, books, are great and I love them. But do they represent the apex form of writing any more, if they ever did? I'm not sure they do.
I have found that I've had to pull back on my posts here on Substack, as well. Being here has helped me in some ways and hindered me in others. I'm sure that whatever you will do going forward will bring you joy!
Tim Lott's remark comes off as slumming in Substack. If you think your writing is trivial, then it probably is. The platform being, you know, not up to snuff prompted lame writing befitting its lameness? This slum works good for me. I'm lighting up its broken streets with my trash can fires.
I don’t know how you have managed to write each day but I am v grateful that you have. I can see the problem with Lott confusion, maybe we could crowdfund some new glasses for one of you :)
I’m a fiction author and I just started my Substack journey. I think it’s making me a better author, because it means I have to do research on author biographies. It gives me a wider view of history. It also has been phenomenal for my discipline. I’m here for the long game and I look forward to growing an audience here. Great post!
Good piece. The pressure upon writers to build their brand by spending so much time not-writing their real stuff is a wearisome Catch-22: can't sell without self-promoting, can't write when you're always self-promoting - which is often not a thing that comes naturally to writers anyhow. Check mate, scribblers.
I see a lot of authors who serialize larger works. I guess if you get enough paid subscribers, it’s a modern way of selling a novel or memoir. The challenge is the “enough paid subscribers” part if the intention is revenue. The challenge is in finding and being found by those people while Substack keeps getting bigger, busier, and noisier.
It does sound like you have been tremendously generous, Mr Litt. (About time i read some of your novels too). There are a lot of fine writers offering advice on this platform and if I was diligent and talented enough to be a published writer of fiction, I don’t think I’d offer something every day.
Twenty years ago I used to blog book news in Australia because someone had to - and once the literary folk followed suit, I took my leave of regular blogging. So forgive me if my remarks sound mealy mouthed but I do understand some of this pressure. In the spirit of my wisest child (of four) who once said to me” how about half a carrot?” I humbly suggest, how about once a fortnight?
Not having been an accomplished writer I can't say for sure if Substack is a hinderance to me. Lately I've wondered though. I've just "discovered" it and already it has become somewhat of a worry stone in my daily life. Meanwhile I work on ideas for book writing and recently stumbled on one I'm running with. I have no-one to mistake my identity with so perhaps my concern is just a silly fantasy. Thanks for these nourishing thoughts!
We both are same, but I'm not giving up, because over the time, I'm inspired by other writers to improve on myself and do better. Keep pushing, don't give up.
I see my time here as learning to fly. I’m building discipline and holding myself accountable for finishing something. Especially with serials that are due each week, I work through story issues and get the best product released that I can.
Your piece came at the right time since I wonder about this too. I could be finishing more. It didn’t happen before but maybe it’s possible now.
Same. I see people rattling off their “niche” so precisely when I don’t even know what I’m going to write about any given day. So I certainly can’t promise anyone a particular topic or genre. But it’s the discipline to do it, to read and learn from others, and the sense of accomplishment that all contribute to a better sense of wellbeing that keeps me going here.
Speaking of coincidences, I obtained, then lost and found again today, a copy of Frank Tallis’s “Killing Time” on the cover of which was praise from yourself. Nice to see this.
I thought this was c interesting. Is substack just another type of social media that we do for the endorphin likes which stops us writing or do we need the fuel of feedback to get us through the long slog of writing a book?
Yes, I think that’s true. But the little hits are addictive. The big submissions are nerve shredding.
Your mistaken identity moments have made me chuckle. I’ve archived all my Substack posts as they really ought to be going towards auto fiction rather than the splurge they have been. But it’s a been a good thing in general and has stopped me from stopping writing, at times. Keep going in whichever way suits you. You owe us freeloaders nothing. 🤓
This was a both witty and thought-provoking essay, Toby. I'm sure that many of us find it easy to fritter away our time on Substack. I'm sure I do. But then again, I could do that elsewhere too. And I probably have. What struck me as remarkable about Lott's comments was how they assumed that real writing was writing a novel and that everything else was not. That may be the case for him. But I'm surprised to see the novel being put into such a privileged position in the 21st century. Novels, books, are great and I love them. But do they represent the apex form of writing any more, if they ever did? I'm not sure they do.
I have found that I've had to pull back on my posts here on Substack, as well. Being here has helped me in some ways and hindered me in others. I'm sure that whatever you will do going forward will bring you joy!
Very well said Mica.
Tim Lott's remark comes off as slumming in Substack. If you think your writing is trivial, then it probably is. The platform being, you know, not up to snuff prompted lame writing befitting its lameness? This slum works good for me. I'm lighting up its broken streets with my trash can fires.
So much writing advice on Substack is inthe nature of "just do it" as if writing were not a craft that has to be apprenticed to.
I don’t know how you have managed to write each day but I am v grateful that you have. I can see the problem with Lott confusion, maybe we could crowdfund some new glasses for one of you :)
I’m a fiction author and I just started my Substack journey. I think it’s making me a better author, because it means I have to do research on author biographies. It gives me a wider view of history. It also has been phenomenal for my discipline. I’m here for the long game and I look forward to growing an audience here. Great post!
I’m glad you’re not giving up. Your advice is so generous, and I’m so grateful for your entries. Ps. I think you’re much more handsome than Tim Lott
Good piece. The pressure upon writers to build their brand by spending so much time not-writing their real stuff is a wearisome Catch-22: can't sell without self-promoting, can't write when you're always self-promoting - which is often not a thing that comes naturally to writers anyhow. Check mate, scribblers.
Wearisome, yes.
Lottleganger!
and Littleganger.
I'm not sure Substack can't be a book. Why not?
I see a lot of authors who serialize larger works. I guess if you get enough paid subscribers, it’s a modern way of selling a novel or memoir. The challenge is the “enough paid subscribers” part if the intention is revenue. The challenge is in finding and being found by those people while Substack keeps getting bigger, busier, and noisier.
It does sound like you have been tremendously generous, Mr Litt. (About time i read some of your novels too). There are a lot of fine writers offering advice on this platform and if I was diligent and talented enough to be a published writer of fiction, I don’t think I’d offer something every day.
Twenty years ago I used to blog book news in Australia because someone had to - and once the literary folk followed suit, I took my leave of regular blogging. So forgive me if my remarks sound mealy mouthed but I do understand some of this pressure. In the spirit of my wisest child (of four) who once said to me” how about half a carrot?” I humbly suggest, how about once a fortnight?
Not having been an accomplished writer I can't say for sure if Substack is a hinderance to me. Lately I've wondered though. I've just "discovered" it and already it has become somewhat of a worry stone in my daily life. Meanwhile I work on ideas for book writing and recently stumbled on one I'm running with. I have no-one to mistake my identity with so perhaps my concern is just a silly fantasy. Thanks for these nourishing thoughts!
We both are same, but I'm not giving up, because over the time, I'm inspired by other writers to improve on myself and do better. Keep pushing, don't give up.
I see my time here as learning to fly. I’m building discipline and holding myself accountable for finishing something. Especially with serials that are due each week, I work through story issues and get the best product released that I can.
Your piece came at the right time since I wonder about this too. I could be finishing more. It didn’t happen before but maybe it’s possible now.
Same. I see people rattling off their “niche” so precisely when I don’t even know what I’m going to write about any given day. So I certainly can’t promise anyone a particular topic or genre. But it’s the discipline to do it, to read and learn from others, and the sense of accomplishment that all contribute to a better sense of wellbeing that keeps me going here.
Speaking of coincidences, I obtained, then lost and found again today, a copy of Frank Tallis’s “Killing Time” on the cover of which was praise from yourself. Nice to see this.
Toby Litt. coincidence shurely?
I enjoyed this fwiw. Your call, Tobys.