An Open Letter To Real Writers
I have a small but growing number of writers who subscribe, or otherwise read, my lilliputian newsletters. That is gratifying for someone like me who writes as a hobby, not for a living. I don't charge for my newsletter and have no immediate plans to do so. It can be a tough game and I don't have the skills to compete. Hopefully I have something to add to the soup and that’s enough for me. And for me, the whole purpose is to improve my writing. Actually, it has improved over the years. My stuff isn't nearly as dreadful as it used to be.
I’m contemplating putting a “tip jar” on my site in the future though because I have actually received tips from my blogs back in my “Blogger” days. (No more Google)
It's a great thing when it happens. It's kinda like someone you are playing golf with saying, "nice shot!" What I hear them saying is, "You ain't good, but you do hit some nice shots once in awhile." It's reality and it's part of the fun. In that way, for me, writing is the same as my golf hobby. I suck at both but I enjoy it and I keep trying to improve. Once in a while I make a birdie but mostly I make bogeys and a few doubles.
All this boring drivel is leading up to the whole purpose of this post.
I came across this article by another Substack writer who understands this whole "independent writer game." So I include this link and recommendation to those real writers who read some of my stuff.
Almost everyone else can drop out now to avoid even more terminal boredom for those who don’t care about writing as a business. But to you actual writers, this is the best examination and analysis on the subject I have yet encountered. Actually, it's the first one. It’s all about business, and writing is a business that is changing in profound ways. Where is it going, you ask? I don’t know, but the author has some great speculations worth contemplating.
I'll ping the writers who aren't on Substack on my social media accounts. Thanks for reading. I hope this is helpful to you.
The author is Thomas Pueyo and he nails it in this article.