While I have been fascinated by your gardening work, I have no idea why you are undertaking it or why you made the individual choices. I'm okay with that, I'm just a stranger who wandered by and admired the work. For myself, I am fascinated by the whats that moved me to do something. I am drawn to context. If someone asks me about something I did, I can take a LONG time to explain my path. And all of it is important to me.
Congratulations on your fitness!
I am a writer. I publish my work, that is the writing I do for myself, not an employer, on my website. It's proven to be a good idea. I have a place to publish my work and others can find and read it. I have met distant cousins that way, one of whom published a family history I had written - what a thrill! I am published! Privately, so not available commercially. But still . . .
I only write non-fiction, so cannot imagine the challenges imposed by fiction. Where to place a thought or deed must be challenging. How to propel the story.
Thanks for the kind words. I garden because I love it, I share it because it seems like information some people want and need, aka live by example.
Most of the books printed, by far, are non-fiction, and most of the best sellers. Most readers and publishers won't take a chance (with good reason) on a work of fiction as it may turn out to be a wet dog. Most writers don't attempt fiction because it is so comparatively demanding, and harder to sell books.
Most of the books I have bought since 2020 are non-fiction; many of them are about illness. I do read a lot of fiction, mostly historical romance, and a little John le Carre. I am not embarrassed by the label "escape fiction", escape sounds good these days. I am not drawn to best sellers.
The expression "wet dog" is new to me! It begins to look as if publishers are only interested in books that sell themselves.
I have not had a garden in at least 6 years, so fiction is my best escape. I have a mental list of the varieties of lettuce and chilis I would grow when (!) I get a garden.
If I could make a living writing "escape" fiction I probably would. The last thing I want to do is choke the world with another exercise in literary pretension.
Most of my non-family "stuff" that I have written is history. I guess that because this was my least favorite subject in grade school et al, I find I am fascinated by it. History of the discovery of North America, history of the discovery of California, etc. All new to me. I have no worries about literary pretension. I am trying to understand what motivated those people. And, of course, compose interesting paragraphs.
It's interesting what motivates us. "Literary pretension" suggests to me that some class abused you. I was certainly abused by history classes.
I worked for seven years trying to get Chelsea Green to publish my book. There was an editor there who was interested but just as it was ready, she left and they felt it was too outside of their major focus. During that time I hired a founder from the Public Banking Institute to edit, and did a complete re-write. I'm not sure if it helped (in writing and ideas, he was much more conservative than me) but it gave me chapter deadlines and knowing that someone else was reading what I wrote.
After that I tried to get AK Press to publish, using some contacts I had. When they rejected it, I asked about editors and they gave me a name they thought was the best. I was ready to pay a bunch of money to this guy but after taking on the project, he decided I was a good writer and he didn't know enough about the subject to be of any help.
So that was when I decided to take a year and learn InDesign and, in effect, write a third version while formatting it (definitely not what InDesign is designed for ;-) And then decided, after another year of trying to get it distributed to bookstores, to put it on Amazon.
When I look at my book now, and refer to things in it for my blog, I'm really proud of it. It would never have been so exactly an expression of my thinking if I'd given the 'authority' for it to someone else, even if I'd hired them. And Peter Breggin, who's reading it, just told me I'm a really good writer and I can even make economics entertaining and funny. So there! all you naysayers.
It's all happening for a reason, William. It's just a different form of crucible but one you'll come out of transformed, just like the new lean gardening machine you've become ;-)
Good to know. Thank you for that info. I suspect I will do a significant re-write, though I will need to ponder that for awhile. My editor is going to refer me to another editor who he believes would be a better fit for the book, though I trust my editor enough when he said it is not ready to edit. Reading A Game of Thrones currently, I have about 500 pages to add if I need to fill out the characters, lol (Martin's character development is quite impressive, actually.) I wanted an editor because I realize now the other (not published) books I have written could have benefited from editing.
My freelance editor, btw, was planning to work with me to put it on Amazon.
Seeing all that food and water is so exciting! This has, indeed, been your crucible.
Are you going to ferment some of your vegetables? I started doing ferments a while back, and they have generally been excellent. I had one batch (sauerkraut, cauliflower, and zucchini-kraut) that didn't turn out last January, and I can only speculate on the reason(s).
Also, sometimes what appears as "a sign" is demonic, not synchronistic. Yes, I am serious. I wrote about it here:
That all said, I'll be honest that I don't read novels any more. I think the last one I read was required for an Advanced English class that was mandatory for my Communication Studies degree. It was a horrible book, but yet made the best seller list. But if you still feel deeply inspired by the story you want to create, doing the rewrite is a great idea!
Much like my relationship with winery memberships, I tend to keep only one or two Substack paid subscriptions. And, as with winery memberships, I have dropped several and then picked up new paid Substack subscriptions. It's often on a whim that I drop or add, and sometimes it's because my interests/tastes change. So, I could be in the mood to pay for your blog and then drop it for any number of reasons. Just being honest. It would have nothing to do with the quality of your topics and writing, which are excellent.
Lastly, I was in college as a returning adult when I turned 50. My desire for fame and fortune had nearly completely waned and I was content playing rock star in my local band at the time, We Play For Cash. When I see you in July, I'll give you a free download card to the last album we produced.
I am going to start with a radish ferment, and maybe some beet greens. I will let you know how they turn out. As for modern fiction, I have read some NYT bestsellers that were truly a waste of time. Literary fiction now is mostly an exercise in narcissism and grievance. Most fiction I have appreciated of late has been science/fantasy fiction, which is considerably though definitely not entirely free of woke ideology. I don't care to read any novel or nonfiction that makes me feel bad, which is pretty much the only point of woke writing. As for the kind words about my writing and the idea that you might consider paying to support me, THANK YOU! I'll trade you some homebrew for the download.
Perhaps there's potential for a work of fiction with real self-reliance advice heavily woven in (e.g. manual gardening, especially in the face of adversity, the Musashi outlook, etc.). I believe there's a growing hunger for that type of info in the population. As for the Substack, it can be your testing ground for ideas and topics. Subscriptions could be your indicator that you're onto something. Everything is difficult as you know.
That is absolutely what the novel is about, at it's core, what sustainability and resilience does and does not look like. I very much appreciate your advice, and it is very true.
1. The transformation from bare ground to flourishing garden is awesome. What a fantastic endeavor & now ongoing powerhouse of fertility & abundance you have created.
Very Very WELL DONE SIR!
2. Nice the appreciation of your work at the garden center from the 2 ladies is great.
3. As a uk state pensioner I can't afford any paid subscriptions to anything.
4. Polite suggestion regarding your book draft. It's your book. As such well done the "editor" for returning your money.
Why does your writing need editing? Please have aloo at these if you haven't already done so.
Thanks as always Andy. Most of my content will always be free. My book needs editing because every writer needs a good editor if the writer wants to truly succeed, and a book is very rarely anything like as good as the writer thinks it is, myself included. But I will certainly look at that software - which I imagine is good for proofreading and maybe some syntax issues but not so good for logical breaks and weak character development etc.
I have an aptitude for writing, but wouldn't want to do it professionally, i.e. make a living from it. I'd never publish what was written from the heart. With me, the personal stays personal. Science fiction/fantasy schlock, I'd have no problem publishing. The critics can have a field day with it, and their commentary would feel like water off a duck's back.
Are you sure you want to make a living from Substack?
If you think you can do that and still perceive it as a hobby, go for it. That's a win-win situation.
My novel is something like a magical, post-apocalyptic farce. I figured people would enjoy reading it, who didn't get offended. As for making a living on substack, that would be great, though I would have to post a lot more, do some regular videos, etc. Though it is perhaps a sign, I lost two subscribers since I posted this.
Congrats on the weight loss, the triumph of a garden, and crossing the half-century threshold. Writing is an even harder row to hoe.
Thank you, it feels good. I like weeding and writing better than hoeing rows, but none of these are an easy way to make a living.
That is all too true.
While I have been fascinated by your gardening work, I have no idea why you are undertaking it or why you made the individual choices. I'm okay with that, I'm just a stranger who wandered by and admired the work. For myself, I am fascinated by the whats that moved me to do something. I am drawn to context. If someone asks me about something I did, I can take a LONG time to explain my path. And all of it is important to me.
Congratulations on your fitness!
I am a writer. I publish my work, that is the writing I do for myself, not an employer, on my website. It's proven to be a good idea. I have a place to publish my work and others can find and read it. I have met distant cousins that way, one of whom published a family history I had written - what a thrill! I am published! Privately, so not available commercially. But still . . .
I only write non-fiction, so cannot imagine the challenges imposed by fiction. Where to place a thought or deed must be challenging. How to propel the story.
Keep watering!
Thanks for the kind words. I garden because I love it, I share it because it seems like information some people want and need, aka live by example.
Most of the books printed, by far, are non-fiction, and most of the best sellers. Most readers and publishers won't take a chance (with good reason) on a work of fiction as it may turn out to be a wet dog. Most writers don't attempt fiction because it is so comparatively demanding, and harder to sell books.
Most of the books I have bought since 2020 are non-fiction; many of them are about illness. I do read a lot of fiction, mostly historical romance, and a little John le Carre. I am not embarrassed by the label "escape fiction", escape sounds good these days. I am not drawn to best sellers.
The expression "wet dog" is new to me! It begins to look as if publishers are only interested in books that sell themselves.
I have not had a garden in at least 6 years, so fiction is my best escape. I have a mental list of the varieties of lettuce and chilis I would grow when (!) I get a garden.
If I could make a living writing "escape" fiction I probably would. The last thing I want to do is choke the world with another exercise in literary pretension.
Most of my non-family "stuff" that I have written is history. I guess that because this was my least favorite subject in grade school et al, I find I am fascinated by it. History of the discovery of North America, history of the discovery of California, etc. All new to me. I have no worries about literary pretension. I am trying to understand what motivated those people. And, of course, compose interesting paragraphs.
It's interesting what motivates us. "Literary pretension" suggests to me that some class abused you. I was certainly abused by history classes.
You were saved by plants.
I worked for seven years trying to get Chelsea Green to publish my book. There was an editor there who was interested but just as it was ready, she left and they felt it was too outside of their major focus. During that time I hired a founder from the Public Banking Institute to edit, and did a complete re-write. I'm not sure if it helped (in writing and ideas, he was much more conservative than me) but it gave me chapter deadlines and knowing that someone else was reading what I wrote.
After that I tried to get AK Press to publish, using some contacts I had. When they rejected it, I asked about editors and they gave me a name they thought was the best. I was ready to pay a bunch of money to this guy but after taking on the project, he decided I was a good writer and he didn't know enough about the subject to be of any help.
So that was when I decided to take a year and learn InDesign and, in effect, write a third version while formatting it (definitely not what InDesign is designed for ;-) And then decided, after another year of trying to get it distributed to bookstores, to put it on Amazon.
When I look at my book now, and refer to things in it for my blog, I'm really proud of it. It would never have been so exactly an expression of my thinking if I'd given the 'authority' for it to someone else, even if I'd hired them. And Peter Breggin, who's reading it, just told me I'm a really good writer and I can even make economics entertaining and funny. So there! all you naysayers.
It's all happening for a reason, William. It's just a different form of crucible but one you'll come out of transformed, just like the new lean gardening machine you've become ;-)
Good to know. Thank you for that info. I suspect I will do a significant re-write, though I will need to ponder that for awhile. My editor is going to refer me to another editor who he believes would be a better fit for the book, though I trust my editor enough when he said it is not ready to edit. Reading A Game of Thrones currently, I have about 500 pages to add if I need to fill out the characters, lol (Martin's character development is quite impressive, actually.) I wanted an editor because I realize now the other (not published) books I have written could have benefited from editing.
My freelance editor, btw, was planning to work with me to put it on Amazon.
Seeing all that food and water is so exciting! This has, indeed, been your crucible.
Are you going to ferment some of your vegetables? I started doing ferments a while back, and they have generally been excellent. I had one batch (sauerkraut, cauliflower, and zucchini-kraut) that didn't turn out last January, and I can only speculate on the reason(s).
Also, sometimes what appears as "a sign" is demonic, not synchronistic. Yes, I am serious. I wrote about it here:
https://sharine.substack.com/p/synchronicity
That all said, I'll be honest that I don't read novels any more. I think the last one I read was required for an Advanced English class that was mandatory for my Communication Studies degree. It was a horrible book, but yet made the best seller list. But if you still feel deeply inspired by the story you want to create, doing the rewrite is a great idea!
Much like my relationship with winery memberships, I tend to keep only one or two Substack paid subscriptions. And, as with winery memberships, I have dropped several and then picked up new paid Substack subscriptions. It's often on a whim that I drop or add, and sometimes it's because my interests/tastes change. So, I could be in the mood to pay for your blog and then drop it for any number of reasons. Just being honest. It would have nothing to do with the quality of your topics and writing, which are excellent.
Lastly, I was in college as a returning adult when I turned 50. My desire for fame and fortune had nearly completely waned and I was content playing rock star in my local band at the time, We Play For Cash. When I see you in July, I'll give you a free download card to the last album we produced.
http://weplayforcash.weebly.com
So, 50 is a milestone year, and your amazing work on your family's land is surely a part of the work of getting to 50!
I am going to start with a radish ferment, and maybe some beet greens. I will let you know how they turn out. As for modern fiction, I have read some NYT bestsellers that were truly a waste of time. Literary fiction now is mostly an exercise in narcissism and grievance. Most fiction I have appreciated of late has been science/fantasy fiction, which is considerably though definitely not entirely free of woke ideology. I don't care to read any novel or nonfiction that makes me feel bad, which is pretty much the only point of woke writing. As for the kind words about my writing and the idea that you might consider paying to support me, THANK YOU! I'll trade you some homebrew for the download.
I never thought about it but now that you mention it, you're right that woke ideology is a guilt-shame-and-resentment mindfuck!
Perhaps there's potential for a work of fiction with real self-reliance advice heavily woven in (e.g. manual gardening, especially in the face of adversity, the Musashi outlook, etc.). I believe there's a growing hunger for that type of info in the population. As for the Substack, it can be your testing ground for ideas and topics. Subscriptions could be your indicator that you're onto something. Everything is difficult as you know.
That is absolutely what the novel is about, at it's core, what sustainability and resilience does and does not look like. I very much appreciate your advice, and it is very true.
Wow! Thank you for the update. Like the pond! And....mother nature is taking over....Great progress so great to see even from that far away lol
Thanks WHD.
1. The transformation from bare ground to flourishing garden is awesome. What a fantastic endeavor & now ongoing powerhouse of fertility & abundance you have created.
Very Very WELL DONE SIR!
2. Nice the appreciation of your work at the garden center from the 2 ladies is great.
3. As a uk state pensioner I can't afford any paid subscriptions to anything.
4. Polite suggestion regarding your book draft. It's your book. As such well done the "editor" for returning your money.
Why does your writing need editing? Please have aloo at these if you haven't already done so.
https://becomeawritertoday.com/book-editing-software/
Thanks as always Andy. Most of my content will always be free. My book needs editing because every writer needs a good editor if the writer wants to truly succeed, and a book is very rarely anything like as good as the writer thinks it is, myself included. But I will certainly look at that software - which I imagine is good for proofreading and maybe some syntax issues but not so good for logical breaks and weak character development etc.
What genre of novel?
I have an aptitude for writing, but wouldn't want to do it professionally, i.e. make a living from it. I'd never publish what was written from the heart. With me, the personal stays personal. Science fiction/fantasy schlock, I'd have no problem publishing. The critics can have a field day with it, and their commentary would feel like water off a duck's back.
Are you sure you want to make a living from Substack?
If you think you can do that and still perceive it as a hobby, go for it. That's a win-win situation.
My novel is something like a magical, post-apocalyptic farce. I figured people would enjoy reading it, who didn't get offended. As for making a living on substack, that would be great, though I would have to post a lot more, do some regular videos, etc. Though it is perhaps a sign, I lost two subscribers since I posted this.