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pretty powerful stuff / i believe and i'm doing my thing / i was telling my housemate yesterday as i showed her my (as yet unpublished) substack newsletter that i want an audience / need an audience / deserve an audience / but i ain't got no audience / the publisher game is like an eighth grade clique (she teaches 8th grade) then i turned on PBS news hour and it was about 'write america' and i thought cool maybe that's my ticket but it turns out they're for published writers or 'emerging writers' that they find somewhere i have no idea where and i felt the cliquishness again / so - that's a round about way of saying i do entertain frustration sometimes but i'm unbowed and still doing my thing / making it better each time / being consistent / fuck the world i'll continue doing my thing as long as it strikes a chord in me / atleast me / yes this country and this society is pretty screwed up / probly more than we really even know or want to know / you think the fall of afghanistan was rapid ?? watch this country unravel / great america / my piece 'why i write' https://rohn.substack.com/p/why-i-write was all about shining a candle in a dark world / one little candle shines bright in the night ramona / i suggest taking your rage and using it as fuel to do . . . something / whatever it is i applaud you for your honesty and for your outrage / fox news is a disease and conscious clear compassionate people are the vaccine

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Thanks, Rohn, I am doing something. I'm taking a clear-eyed look at where I go from here, and the challenges ahead should be interesting. I'll never stop writing. It's what I've done all of my adult life and I've naval-gazed about it more times than I can count.

Part of my efforts will be to build Writer Everlasting into something useful and meaningful. Talking about writing has always been my first love and it feels good here.

I went to that website, too, after seeing that piece on PBS News last night and was disappointed to see that it was really nothing more than an advertisement for programs that were either long past or only available to a live audience. The writers who had engaged in those dialogues would have been amazing to hear, but they didn't even provide transcripts. Boo!

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Oh, don't leave - I've just discovered you! I'm trying to get our Two Crones' Initiative up on Substack because I need to feel like I am doing something...maybe it's only preaching to the choir. You'll get notified, and maybe you'll do a comment or two? I sure do enjoy your writing columns!

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I'm not going anywhere! I'm just adjusting my writing priorities. I'm going to stay away from politics for a while--can't say forever with all honesty--but the culture wars are still hot and heavy and I may have to weigh in on them from time to time.

My main loves, though, are writing about writing and taking stabs at humor. We'll see where it leads!

I'll be happy to check into Two Crones when you get it started. And I'll add it to my blogroll. Thanks.

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Oh, this spoke to me loudly and passionately! I just dreamed last night that I was suddenly and without warning speaking to an audience and saying that I wanted their votes to become mayor while inside I was thinking: What??? I don't want to be mayor!! I have to get out of this situation! Woke up and thought, yep, my current lesson is about giving up some of the need to control, because...well, in large part because I'm not in control anyway! And do I even want to be?? As for Rohn's post below, yes, the world of publishing is a heartbreaker and a backbreaker. Ever since I stopped hunting for an agent and decided to self-publish my novel, I feel So. Much. Better. Lots of work to do to produce the best I can but no longer trying to win the attention of over-worked people who are chasing the next great thing.

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Wow! Congratulations on your breakthrough! Is there anything more liberating than to finally recognize what works for US? We chose this life. It would be great if we got to make the rules. Oh, wait! We can!

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I hit a point where I feel as if I'm writing into a void for no reason quite often. I maybe get feedback on one out of every 4-8 articles, and have a very limited number of followers. But I get glimpses now and again, that what I write may be making a small difference somewhere, mostly unseen by me. Even if it feels as if what you've written hasn't made any difference, you can't really know. I doubt that your effort was wasted, it just may be that, right now, it's not worth you putting that energy and care into it. Look after yourself.

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Yes, “wasted” is probably not the right word. None of it is wasted, even when it goes nowhere. But you’re right that at some point we have to weigh the results against the energy spent and be realistic about the toll it takes.

I wrote this quickly yesterday, and in a mood, but I read it again this morning and nothing has changed. I feel removed from the political scene, barely responding to any breaking news of the day. It’s as if I’m on R&R and it feels good. I only hope it lasts.

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Hi, Ramona, Missy here. Not much to add except to agree with the need to follow your heart as it leads you with love. It always has. I adore you.

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The feeling is likewise, you dear sweet woman you! I've already gone back on this, after Abbott's attempts at crushing women in his 'men will be men' state of Texas.

My heart says I can't quit now, even when the rest of me says we've had enough. So guess what? My heart wins. Again. 💖

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