I love the just stepped on a mine movie trope. You hear the little click and you know before the character does. You’ve seen it too many times and it doesn’t matter. What matters is how this character steps off the mine without blowing up. You know the director’s going to drag this out as long as possible. There’ll be a final cigarette. A hand-off of that love note for the fiance back home. Then it’s time. Something has to be done. Sometimes the bomb tech manages to defuse it. Sometimes there’s a quick-change of weights. Sometimes, more often, the landmine was a dud. Whew. Maybe the writers are wishing the metaphorical landmines are less dangerous.
Thanks for this, Lauren. I haven't written stories for a year, because I'm still getting over the hell of being engaged in literary Twitter for years, and dealing with grifters and backstabbers. I have a lot of good friends who write, and support me, but I let the bad ones take me down. And seeing the MLM writer groups appear here made me want to leave substack, too. Getting followed by a who writer who "reads 996 other substacks." No one reads that many Substacks, it's like when writers followed 9,000 people on Twitter. And ask for review trades. Or pitch with a hashtag, and beg for likes so an agent might see it...
Oof, I'm starting to feel stressed. I'd rather go mountain biking in 35°F weather than deal with those people. And I do! I'm slowly getting back to not giving a shit about them, and writing what I care about.
What a strange world writers live in. A lot of this was news to me, and fascinating. And obviously stress-making. Landmines indeed. And so full of unnecessary jabber. Sometimes I wonder what life would be like if we only said necessary things. Like really quiet and cool, maybe. I liked it better when public radio still played music. Now it's ALL TALK. All the time.
Sounds like for writers, choosing friends should be done very carefully.
I joined Twitter just before it became X, so I could read gossip about the royal family. These people all fascinate me because it's like Greek mythology happening in real time. But they too, need to be careful about who their friends are. The Greeks knew that.
It all comes back to writing what you like to read. I mean, it took me years to get here, but that's where the fire is. I love X so if I write about it, there's some fire there. I'll do my inadequate best to write about it. Anyhoo. ILY.
I thought “Joel Osteen” when you referred to the people wanting $10k to edit your work. Same grift. And you’re right about not knowing who most of those writers are in whichever groups are “writers”.
I just got a book on the history of the Holodomor. It’ll never be a bestseller. But I’m reading it.
I tell my daughter a version of this for ballet. No one on instagram can you show you how to dance like you. It's not a bad thing--it means you have to work for it. Thank you for the reinforcement.
In your book where you talk about how bartenders who piss everyone off get better tips and now this. Maybe there's a living in pissing people off because every now and again people are willing to pay extra just to hear a little truth. Also what Mary said.
Wait—I wanted to be a writer to get rich. Is this the wrong place?
You are a goddamn angel.
Not that I believe in angels, but you get my drift.
"Everyone’s talking about these esoteric essays and I just learned the word esoteric."
…pretty words arranged all fucking pretty on a plate like foam and burnt hay.
Nailed it!
Thanks for this, Lauren. I haven't written stories for a year, because I'm still getting over the hell of being engaged in literary Twitter for years, and dealing with grifters and backstabbers. I have a lot of good friends who write, and support me, but I let the bad ones take me down. And seeing the MLM writer groups appear here made me want to leave substack, too. Getting followed by a who writer who "reads 996 other substacks." No one reads that many Substacks, it's like when writers followed 9,000 people on Twitter. And ask for review trades. Or pitch with a hashtag, and beg for likes so an agent might see it...
Oof, I'm starting to feel stressed. I'd rather go mountain biking in 35°F weather than deal with those people. And I do! I'm slowly getting back to not giving a shit about them, and writing what I care about.
What a strange world writers live in. A lot of this was news to me, and fascinating. And obviously stress-making. Landmines indeed. And so full of unnecessary jabber. Sometimes I wonder what life would be like if we only said necessary things. Like really quiet and cool, maybe. I liked it better when public radio still played music. Now it's ALL TALK. All the time.
Sounds like for writers, choosing friends should be done very carefully.
I joined Twitter just before it became X, so I could read gossip about the royal family. These people all fascinate me because it's like Greek mythology happening in real time. But they too, need to be careful about who their friends are. The Greeks knew that.
It all comes back to writing what you like to read. I mean, it took me years to get here, but that's where the fire is. I love X so if I write about it, there's some fire there. I'll do my inadequate best to write about it. Anyhoo. ILY.
I thought “Joel Osteen” when you referred to the people wanting $10k to edit your work. Same grift. And you’re right about not knowing who most of those writers are in whichever groups are “writers”.
I just got a book on the history of the Holodomor. It’ll never be a bestseller. But I’m reading it.
I always wonder what goes on behind the endless accolades in every industry.
I tell my daughter a version of this for ballet. No one on instagram can you show you how to dance like you. It's not a bad thing--it means you have to work for it. Thank you for the reinforcement.
Thank you
I used to dream of being a famous and resepected writer, then I realised I would have to talk to people about my books, so now I just write.
In your book where you talk about how bartenders who piss everyone off get better tips and now this. Maybe there's a living in pissing people off because every now and again people are willing to pay extra just to hear a little truth. Also what Mary said.
Damn cuz, I needed every word of this so much.
And now you’ve been dragged into yet another group chat. Lolllll
I do admit I want to go to one of your book signings now so I can trap you into a hug.