I have an ongoing series on Medium where I basically write up conversations between my wife and me. I've never had a post go viral or get noticed by the Medium algorithm, but I will get half-a-dozen or so comments from folks, and sometimes I share links with friends on FB. I write for me. And my wife, because she gets a smile when she reads them.
Spot on, Michael! On my page intro I call it "...remarkable observations from an ordinary life."
A few weeks ago, I shared my 'stack with a local woman who spent years with Simon and Schuster. She made a point, later, of telling me how much she enjoyed the content. "It's so different from most everything else I read these days - and so refreshing!" What a relief. I was afraid she'd be bored by it. :)
My Rocky Point newsletter on Substack has a tiny audience but it provides me a way to remember parts of my life while also keeping to an aggressive schedule so that I get better at my writing gig. At this golden point in my life, I want to focus on lighter topics. I save my rage rants for when I misplace my keys or glasses or forget why I came into a room.
Writing and reading about “normal,” day-to-day life is cathartic and validating. Sprinkle in a few spicy stories or memories and you’ve got the recipe for relatability.
My mother did this beautifully for decades with a newsletter about cooking, family and her life on an island. I decided to reboot it to keep that vibe alive and this “work” has been far more enjoyable than I could have imagined!
Amie, I'm so glad you came here because now I've found YOU. And your mother. What a smart, loving tribute to a woman who wrote so wonderfully and shouldn't be forgotten. I'll bet she knew about Peg Bracken, who wrote the "I Hate to Cook" book. (She didn't really)
But more than that, I love your writing. Your 100-word pieces are clever and fun, as is the rest of what you write. I'm now a fan!
We run into real problems as writers when we try to write what we think our readers want to read and not what we need to write (that is, unless we only have one reader -- and it's our mom...).
Who are our readers? And how could we possibly please all of them?
I've spent some 35 years putting words together for someone else and I am WAY over that. The work paid the bills and it saved me from having to do many more unpleasant jobs. But it wasn't writing.
I'm guilty of trying to figure out what readers might want instead of going for it full blast, in my own words. That may be because it never worked for me before. When I was freelancing and relying on editors to accept what I'd written, I was writing for them, and they were editing for a specific audience. One they knew much better than I did.
That carryover doesn't want to go away. My inner critic always wants the last say, and while I think I can adjust to just writing about any old thing, it turns out I can't. Not yet, anyway.
But I have to disagree with your idea that what you did before wasn't writing. I don't know the details, but don't you think it was training? Would you be the writer you are today without it? I think all writing helps us grow. But again, I don't know the details.
But I'm with you on this: I'm way past working for someone else.
Comfort reading - maybe that explains my reading choices these days. About a year ago I discovered cozy mysteries - short stories, engaging, and typically with happy endings. I had never heard of them until about a year ago and now typically end my day absorbed in one. It is a very different choice for me - and I didn't understand. Hmmm. However, to answer your question, I say both - my writing helps me manage the feelings I would otherwise hold inside and my hope is that sharing my experience will help others in similar situations.
I don't feel as though I have much choice. If I'm not writing what I want to write, I'm not interested in writing. Doesn't bode well for a successful second career as a freelancer, does it?
In all seriousness, I launched Chicken Scratch to keep a promise to myself (and a few "love-me-no-matter-what" fans). I didn't want to look back on my life having never tried. Whether it goes anywhere important or not, I've fulfilled that mission. That's not to say I'm unfazed when a piece doesn't land well, and the feedback is minimal. I am always buoyed knowing that I've written something that resonates for a few folks. But, first, it has to resonate for me.
Elizabeth, I apologize for not seeing this sooner. I love this:
"In all seriousness, I launched Chicken Scratch to keep a promise to myself (and a few "love-me-no-matter-what" fans). I didn't want to look back on my life having never tried. "
That is such a wonderful way of looking at it. It HAD to be done! And you do it beautifully. ❤️️
I didn’t really discover him outside of Parks and Rec until he started his Substack newsletter. He’s delightful!
I remember the clips for that show but I never did see it. The YouTube clips are cute. They work well together!
I have an ongoing series on Medium where I basically write up conversations between my wife and me. I've never had a post go viral or get noticed by the Medium algorithm, but I will get half-a-dozen or so comments from folks, and sometimes I share links with friends on FB. I write for me. And my wife, because she gets a smile when she reads them.
Ah, the best of all worlds! (I have no luck at Medium anymore. I cross-post now and then to see how it's going and it never does!)
It's wonderful that you write for yourself and for your wife! Health to you and your family, smile more often and give a smile.
I'm definitely looking for pleasant stories about good people.
I know. There's something so NORMAL about them. I'm all for normal these days.
Spot on, Michael! On my page intro I call it "...remarkable observations from an ordinary life."
A few weeks ago, I shared my 'stack with a local woman who spent years with Simon and Schuster. She made a point, later, of telling me how much she enjoyed the content. "It's so different from most everything else I read these days - and so refreshing!" What a relief. I was afraid she'd be bored by it. :)
My Rocky Point newsletter on Substack has a tiny audience but it provides me a way to remember parts of my life while also keeping to an aggressive schedule so that I get better at my writing gig. At this golden point in my life, I want to focus on lighter topics. I save my rage rants for when I misplace my keys or glasses or forget why I came into a room.
It is a great way to remember details of your life and if you're having fun with it--double perks!
I think keys are imps in disguise and they hide themselves. No other plausible explanation.
That explains it!
Writing and reading about “normal,” day-to-day life is cathartic and validating. Sprinkle in a few spicy stories or memories and you’ve got the recipe for relatability.
My mother did this beautifully for decades with a newsletter about cooking, family and her life on an island. I decided to reboot it to keep that vibe alive and this “work” has been far more enjoyable than I could have imagined!
Amie, I'm so glad you came here because now I've found YOU. And your mother. What a smart, loving tribute to a woman who wrote so wonderfully and shouldn't be forgotten. I'll bet she knew about Peg Bracken, who wrote the "I Hate to Cook" book. (She didn't really)
But more than that, I love your writing. Your 100-word pieces are clever and fun, as is the rest of what you write. I'm now a fan!
We run into real problems as writers when we try to write what we think our readers want to read and not what we need to write (that is, unless we only have one reader -- and it's our mom...).
Who are our readers? And how could we possibly please all of them?
I've spent some 35 years putting words together for someone else and I am WAY over that. The work paid the bills and it saved me from having to do many more unpleasant jobs. But it wasn't writing.
I'm guilty of trying to figure out what readers might want instead of going for it full blast, in my own words. That may be because it never worked for me before. When I was freelancing and relying on editors to accept what I'd written, I was writing for them, and they were editing for a specific audience. One they knew much better than I did.
That carryover doesn't want to go away. My inner critic always wants the last say, and while I think I can adjust to just writing about any old thing, it turns out I can't. Not yet, anyway.
But I have to disagree with your idea that what you did before wasn't writing. I don't know the details, but don't you think it was training? Would you be the writer you are today without it? I think all writing helps us grow. But again, I don't know the details.
But I'm with you on this: I'm way past working for someone else.
Comfort reading - maybe that explains my reading choices these days. About a year ago I discovered cozy mysteries - short stories, engaging, and typically with happy endings. I had never heard of them until about a year ago and now typically end my day absorbed in one. It is a very different choice for me - and I didn't understand. Hmmm. However, to answer your question, I say both - my writing helps me manage the feelings I would otherwise hold inside and my hope is that sharing my experience will help others in similar situations.
I don't feel as though I have much choice. If I'm not writing what I want to write, I'm not interested in writing. Doesn't bode well for a successful second career as a freelancer, does it?
In all seriousness, I launched Chicken Scratch to keep a promise to myself (and a few "love-me-no-matter-what" fans). I didn't want to look back on my life having never tried. Whether it goes anywhere important or not, I've fulfilled that mission. That's not to say I'm unfazed when a piece doesn't land well, and the feedback is minimal. I am always buoyed knowing that I've written something that resonates for a few folks. But, first, it has to resonate for me.
Elizabeth, I apologize for not seeing this sooner. I love this:
"In all seriousness, I launched Chicken Scratch to keep a promise to myself (and a few "love-me-no-matter-what" fans). I didn't want to look back on my life having never tried. "
That is such a wonderful way of looking at it. It HAD to be done! And you do it beautifully. ❤️️
Thanks, Ramona. And, kudos to you for garnering another mention in @Understandably. I hope you're seeing some readership bumps from those. <3
Yes, I am! I'm so grateful to Bill for including me from time to time. I love his newsletters and I'm honored whenever he invites me!