I marvel, I ruminate, I grieve, I rage, I laugh, I give my opinions good or bad. Maybe it's multiple personalities. I don't know. Maybe it's how I'm supposed to live my life.
You're writing from the heart with deep emotion, and that's the most important thing of all. And I agree - it's hard to write anything light these days.
Thank you, Wendy. I'll get back to the lighter pieces but first I have to fight these battles. I thought I could take a break but it looks like I can't. I just felt I should explain.
Don't we all? Some of the sixty-odd essays I've published in the last two+ years are comic, some very dark, some lyrical, some succinct, some complex. We are multi-faceted beings. Ask my Westies!
Yes, it would make more sense if I were writing in many different venues, but in my case I'm pretty much sticking to my two blogs at Substack. (My cross to bear--I do this to myself.)
Every time I write something political I lose subscribers. If only I didn't notice, but I do. I don't have that many subscribers to start with.
I let it bother me enough that I stayed away from the politics and advocacy for a while, but it's like denying an entire part of me. I can't do that anymore.
I'm looking for venues where my essays will fit. I've posted on Crooks and Liars, Daily Kos, and a few others, but C&L (my favorite) tends to shy away from personal essays and goes for the informational. Every piece but one (about Hillary) has been accepted in past years but I look at their pages now and don't see where I might fit.
I haven't. I've used Submittable a couple of times when required but I really don't know how to use it as a source for my pieces. Don't know anything about the others.
I'm ready to spend some time trying to figure them out. I definitely want a bigger audience, especially for the advocacy pieces. Time to give up staying in my comfort zone.
I understand being consistent in writing, however, I feel like that can lead to disingenuous writing! I more do agree with your style Romana, writing everything and anything your heart desires! It might not fall under a certain niche, but at least it’s genuine! Great read here!
Ramona, I've decided that I'm gonna write about what interests me, first and foremost. I think my readers are interested in those things too. If not, everything else will take care of itself. <3
A Māori activist in the 1980s (Mike Smith - New Zealand) tried to chop down the lone tree on a well known Auckland landmark - One Tree Hill. Such an eloquent man, he argued that society, and people's opinions, is a bell-shaped curve and the popular view is the middle ground. Sometimes you need to get to edge in order to shift public opinion - to move the middle ground. It's why Greenpeace activists jump into the ocean in front of whaling ships.
If we only write for the middle ground, the status quo will never be challenged - and the status quo is not healthy, anywhere!
Wow, Riley, I love what you said here! That last paragraph...yes!
And of course I had to look up the story of Mike Smith and One Tree Hill. It looks like he had second thoughts later but all praise to activists who understand the importance of history and legacy!
I feel the same way. If we are speaking from the heart about things that matter, whether light or heavy, that should suffice for our readers, including ourselves.
I haven’t started my substack yet for those very reasons. I can’t decide what on Earth to focus on! I can’t even decide on a title! But I’m getting closer so I now just need to be brave
Nor me. Life is all over the place. Of course our thoughts are. I read your words of a dark and heavy heart, and know I’m not the only one just feeling ‘it’. Thanks for your honest sharing. 👏✍️
So with you. I sometimes compare myself to others who have found a niche and stick to it, but my writing is also all over the place, in terms of both topic and tone. I hear you.
My youngest son works for a large Maine based workers comp company. He learned first thing this morning his team will be handling claims from the shooting at the bowling alley. I immediately thought no, I don’t want him to see or hear any of the horror that occurred last night. And then I thought of the family and friends of the dead and injured and the employees who witnessed the unspeakable event and I felt selfish for the feeling I had about my own child and how he would deal. Life is so tragic at times that it sears your soul.
I know. They are never ending. He’s expecting his first child next year - our first grandchild - and I worry what kind of world this child will grow up in. When I had our two sons I never dreamed of this country or the world it being as bad as it is now.
I struggled with those same thoughts when I had my own children, and again when my grandchildren came along. I think about my parents and what must have gone through their heads when WW II came along just around the time I was entering kindergarten. It must have been terrifying.
My own fears as a parent came when we learned of the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis, when JFK was assassinated, and then later when we lost RFK and MLK within the same year. It felt as if the entire planet was about to explode and there was nothing we could do about it.
I guess every generation has a lot to confront. I know we’ve been here (fascism)
before, just maybe not to level it is now with one party no longer believing in democracy. Sorry to get political! Just hope we can stay engaged and defeat it. Keeps me totally stressed.
I think your brand is honest pieces covering a wide-range of topics. I haven't found you to be all over the place at all. I've found you to be thoughtful whatever you write about.
Keep on being you. I’m here for it. I’m here to read what you have to say on whatever you need to write about. I’m in the same boat. Rowing upstream in my case, but I’m still in the water rowing.
Hi Ramona, It's all been said, but I think you need to say what is in your heart. All over the place, so be it. Last week after the Hamas - Israel conflict began, I couldn't write - I was "wordless " after three years. It wasn't til I took the time to write what was in my heart that I could move forward.
You're writing from the heart with deep emotion, and that's the most important thing of all. And I agree - it's hard to write anything light these days.
Thank you, Wendy. I'll get back to the lighter pieces but first I have to fight these battles. I thought I could take a break but it looks like I can't. I just felt I should explain.
Don't we all? Some of the sixty-odd essays I've published in the last two+ years are comic, some very dark, some lyrical, some succinct, some complex. We are multi-faceted beings. Ask my Westies!
Yes, it would make more sense if I were writing in many different venues, but in my case I'm pretty much sticking to my two blogs at Substack. (My cross to bear--I do this to myself.)
Every time I write something political I lose subscribers. If only I didn't notice, but I do. I don't have that many subscribers to start with.
I let it bother me enough that I stayed away from the politics and advocacy for a while, but it's like denying an entire part of me. I can't do that anymore.
I'm looking for venues where my essays will fit. I've posted on Crooks and Liars, Daily Kos, and a few others, but C&L (my favorite) tends to shy away from personal essays and goes for the informational. Every piece but one (about Hillary) has been accepted in past years but I look at their pages now and don't see where I might fit.
I guess I keep hoping Substack will do it for me.
Maybe it's time to check out Submittable, Chill Subs, and/or Duotrope and reach a wider audience--unless you've done that already.
I haven't. I've used Submittable a couple of times when required but I really don't know how to use it as a source for my pieces. Don't know anything about the others.
I'm ready to spend some time trying to figure them out. I definitely want a bigger audience, especially for the advocacy pieces. Time to give up staying in my comfort zone.
Go for it! Duotrope has the most specific analytics and it's a bargain at $50/year. Chill Subs is quirky and fun.
I just signed up with Duotrope. I had no idea! Now I'm heading over to Chill Subs. I already like the name. Thanks again.
Bonne chance! I've used all three at different times.
I understand being consistent in writing, however, I feel like that can lead to disingenuous writing! I more do agree with your style Romana, writing everything and anything your heart desires! It might not fall under a certain niche, but at least it’s genuine! Great read here!
Thanks, Kevin. I'm always amazed to find comrades whenever I think I'm mostly alone in these thoughts. I love our conversations here!
You’re very welcome! And me too, Ramona!!
Ramona, I've decided that I'm gonna write about what interests me, first and foremost. I think my readers are interested in those things too. If not, everything else will take care of itself. <3
I agree. I think we may be surprised at how flexible our readers are, once we open up and just go for it.
I'm Thelma and you're Louise! Off the cliff we go together.
LOL. I was game until you said 'Off the cliff...'.
Good point. Let's just pretend to smoke some Marlboro reds and drive really fast for a while, then call it a night. My bedtime is coming up soon.
I stand with you, Ramona.
A Māori activist in the 1980s (Mike Smith - New Zealand) tried to chop down the lone tree on a well known Auckland landmark - One Tree Hill. Such an eloquent man, he argued that society, and people's opinions, is a bell-shaped curve and the popular view is the middle ground. Sometimes you need to get to edge in order to shift public opinion - to move the middle ground. It's why Greenpeace activists jump into the ocean in front of whaling ships.
If we only write for the middle ground, the status quo will never be challenged - and the status quo is not healthy, anywhere!
Wow, Riley, I love what you said here! That last paragraph...yes!
And of course I had to look up the story of Mike Smith and One Tree Hill. It looks like he had second thoughts later but all praise to activists who understand the importance of history and legacy!
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/regional/287488/one-tree-hill-tree-chopper-now-has-some-regrets
You and me both ♥️
I feel the same way. If we are speaking from the heart about things that matter, whether light or heavy, that should suffice for our readers, including ourselves.
I haven’t started my substack yet for those very reasons. I can’t decide what on Earth to focus on! I can’t even decide on a title! But I’m getting closer so I now just need to be brave
You'll know when it's the right time. Meanwhile, stick around. We're always here to help. ❤️
Nor me. Life is all over the place. Of course our thoughts are. I read your words of a dark and heavy heart, and know I’m not the only one just feeling ‘it’. Thanks for your honest sharing. 👏✍️
Thank you as well. No, we're not alone.
I have family that live near Lewiston so this event really haunts me.
I'm so sorry. The pain seems somehow worse when it hits so close to home. If only we could end this.
So with you. I sometimes compare myself to others who have found a niche and stick to it, but my writing is also all over the place, in terms of both topic and tone. I hear you.
Good to know. Any other way seems artificial to me.
My youngest son works for a large Maine based workers comp company. He learned first thing this morning his team will be handling claims from the shooting at the bowling alley. I immediately thought no, I don’t want him to see or hear any of the horror that occurred last night. And then I thought of the family and friends of the dead and injured and the employees who witnessed the unspeakable event and I felt selfish for the feeling I had about my own child and how he would deal. Life is so tragic at times that it sears your soul.
Oh, that's tough. I feel for him. Even peripherally, it's going to be life-altering.
These horrors just never end.
I know. They are never ending. He’s expecting his first child next year - our first grandchild - and I worry what kind of world this child will grow up in. When I had our two sons I never dreamed of this country or the world it being as bad as it is now.
I struggled with those same thoughts when I had my own children, and again when my grandchildren came along. I think about my parents and what must have gone through their heads when WW II came along just around the time I was entering kindergarten. It must have been terrifying.
My own fears as a parent came when we learned of the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis, when JFK was assassinated, and then later when we lost RFK and MLK within the same year. It felt as if the entire planet was about to explode and there was nothing we could do about it.
I guess every generation has a lot to confront. I know we’ve been here (fascism)
before, just maybe not to level it is now with one party no longer believing in democracy. Sorry to get political! Just hope we can stay engaged and defeat it. Keeps me totally stressed.
Don't be sorry. We're in this together. I sincerely want to keep the channels open. 💕
Me too! Thanks.💕
Brava to you Ramona!
I think your brand is honest pieces covering a wide-range of topics. I haven't found you to be all over the place at all. I've found you to be thoughtful whatever you write about.
Keep on being you. I’m here for it. I’m here to read what you have to say on whatever you need to write about. I’m in the same boat. Rowing upstream in my case, but I’m still in the water rowing.
Thanks, Sally. There is some solace in our solidarity. Makes me feel as if the entire world hasn't gone mad. Maybe there's hope yet. ❤️
Hi Ramona, It's all been said, but I think you need to say what is in your heart. All over the place, so be it. Last week after the Hamas - Israel conflict began, I couldn't write - I was "wordless " after three years. It wasn't til I took the time to write what was in my heart that I could move forward.