Okay, this was amazing -- about 40-45 years too late for me, but I loved it anyway. I was the one getting up at 5:00 am (only for me it was 3:45 because I started at 6:00 am.) And I was writing again by 8:00-8:30pm, until I passed out at my desk. I never made it as a successful writing, because I didn't apply myself, but then I found Sub…
Okay, this was amazing -- about 40-45 years too late for me, but I loved it anyway. I was the one getting up at 5:00 am (only for me it was 3:45 because I started at 6:00 am.) And I was writing again by 8:00-8:30pm, until I passed out at my desk. I never made it as a successful writing, because I didn't apply myself, but then I found Substack, and shortly after that, I retired.
And here's where it gets interesting. I no longer care one way or the other if I publish legit. I'm here on my 'Stack for anyone to find: https://benwoestenburg.substack.com/about thinking I want to make a success of THIS. I can be my own boss here. I don't have to worry about all those little nit-picking things I had to before. I just have to build a following, hopefully pick up a few PAID subscribers, and just ride the wave. I publish my stories regularly; I have a serial novel completed, and am working on two others. I've placed myself in a position where it doesn't matter to me one way, or the other. I may eventually try to sort through my stories (they're novelettes and novellas) and put them together to send out into the wild, but if I get enough PAID subscribers, I might set up a POD.
I do things this way because I hear from other writers how much they are stressed by self-imposed deadlines. Being retired, I can write at my own pace. If I don't want to write today, I don't fret over it. Weekends are meant for the wife. (She gets a 3 day weekend.) I don't expect an agent to scroll through my stuff and say: "Wow, I can get this published for him." If I've learned one thing, it's that things don't work like that in the real world. At the moment, I'1m making a grand total of $460/year, and do you know what? That's more than I've ever made before. I just need to carve out a small corner of the 'Stack for myself and let things take care of themself. As long as I write good, quality stories, I'll always have readers. It might only be 445 today, but in five years, it could be 4400, or 44,000. It's a roll of the dice, or a turn of the card, only now, I'M the house and I hold the cards!
Great Substack. I do like the way you lay it on the line: take me or leave me, your choice! I read the start of the Bashful Courtesan, but then, boom, had to pay to read it all. I think your prices are really good, and in line with what I'd charge, if I charged. I still have to set up a pay button and all that. I think Substack is a brilliant way forward. At least I hope so for me. I may have had enough of bashing my head against the publishing wall. Or maybe not, I'm such a masochist.
Thanks for that Ben! I am just starting out on Substack. I'm not even sure how someone can find me on that platform, but I really enjoy it. It's Memoirist in the Museum, or ROSEHURST431. Substack. You can see what a newbie I am at this! Will check out your Substack, and if you want to have a look at mine, that would be great. Hopefully you can find it!!
Okay, this was amazing -- about 40-45 years too late for me, but I loved it anyway. I was the one getting up at 5:00 am (only for me it was 3:45 because I started at 6:00 am.) And I was writing again by 8:00-8:30pm, until I passed out at my desk. I never made it as a successful writing, because I didn't apply myself, but then I found Substack, and shortly after that, I retired.
And here's where it gets interesting. I no longer care one way or the other if I publish legit. I'm here on my 'Stack for anyone to find: https://benwoestenburg.substack.com/about thinking I want to make a success of THIS. I can be my own boss here. I don't have to worry about all those little nit-picking things I had to before. I just have to build a following, hopefully pick up a few PAID subscribers, and just ride the wave. I publish my stories regularly; I have a serial novel completed, and am working on two others. I've placed myself in a position where it doesn't matter to me one way, or the other. I may eventually try to sort through my stories (they're novelettes and novellas) and put them together to send out into the wild, but if I get enough PAID subscribers, I might set up a POD.
I do things this way because I hear from other writers how much they are stressed by self-imposed deadlines. Being retired, I can write at my own pace. If I don't want to write today, I don't fret over it. Weekends are meant for the wife. (She gets a 3 day weekend.) I don't expect an agent to scroll through my stuff and say: "Wow, I can get this published for him." If I've learned one thing, it's that things don't work like that in the real world. At the moment, I'1m making a grand total of $460/year, and do you know what? That's more than I've ever made before. I just need to carve out a small corner of the 'Stack for myself and let things take care of themself. As long as I write good, quality stories, I'll always have readers. It might only be 445 today, but in five years, it could be 4400, or 44,000. It's a roll of the dice, or a turn of the card, only now, I'M the house and I hold the cards!
Great Substack. I do like the way you lay it on the line: take me or leave me, your choice! I read the start of the Bashful Courtesan, but then, boom, had to pay to read it all. I think your prices are really good, and in line with what I'd charge, if I charged. I still have to set up a pay button and all that. I think Substack is a brilliant way forward. At least I hope so for me. I may have had enough of bashing my head against the publishing wall. Or maybe not, I'm such a masochist.
Sorry Ben, I didn't realize I had to hit the button that said "next".
Thanks for that Ben! I am just starting out on Substack. I'm not even sure how someone can find me on that platform, but I really enjoy it. It's Memoirist in the Museum, or ROSEHURST431. Substack. You can see what a newbie I am at this! Will check out your Substack, and if you want to have a look at mine, that would be great. Hopefully you can find it!!