I so needed to read this today. I'm holding my breath as I have no idea how my debut novel will survive this hellish landscape all the while I'm trying to finish a new book with the WTF am I even writing for feeling. I fear we're not in a this too shall pass season but writing is what so many of us who read you regularly do. Please keep reminding up to continue and be patient and to use our words like we were told by our parents. Pens over pundits!
I'm going to spend the next few weeks racing through my draft -- my thought was this summer, before it all went south with election news, yet here we are :) I appreciate your thoughtful writing.
Actually, I've been finding that writing (more accurately, rewriting) is a great antidote to all the crap the media is throwing at us. I can shut myself off for a few hours and focus on the horrible stuff that's happening to my characters instead.
Great perspective on the impact of breaking news and trying to break through the noise to publicize anything outside the hype du jour! It's something everyone in PR deals with daily, but the runway to the US election will indeed be even more intense.
Firstly, congrats on being quoted! How exciting! Secondly, I understand. I’ve been struggling with working on my debut novel and writing dreams in general because if the worst happens this November, my books will never see the light of day thanks to the plans that party has ready to go. It’s emotionally exhausting to stay true to myself and my dreams when there’s a threat that large looming. Thank you for sharing this piece, glad to know it’s not just me!
Greetings. For the life of me I can’t figure out how to upgrade to a paid subscriber! Thanks for today’s column on JD Vance (7/16). I am distraught. Also, thanks for giving away so much free content but it’s time for me to pay up so please let me know how to do it! Thanks.
Sometimes writing is the only thing that keeps me sane. And sometimes the world is just too much and I "just can't even".
I hear that.
I so needed to read this today. I'm holding my breath as I have no idea how my debut novel will survive this hellish landscape all the while I'm trying to finish a new book with the WTF am I even writing for feeling. I fear we're not in a this too shall pass season but writing is what so many of us who read you regularly do. Please keep reminding up to continue and be patient and to use our words like we were told by our parents. Pens over pundits!
I'm going to spend the next few weeks racing through my draft -- my thought was this summer, before it all went south with election news, yet here we are :) I appreciate your thoughtful writing.
I've said that writing fiction has to be next to impossible nowadays because reality is so crazy. My own writing has bogged down as well.
We must persevere (both ways)!
Thanks for your words of wisdom. It's so important to be kind.
Actually, I've been finding that writing (more accurately, rewriting) is a great antidote to all the crap the media is throwing at us. I can shut myself off for a few hours and focus on the horrible stuff that's happening to my characters instead.
Great perspective on the impact of breaking news and trying to break through the noise to publicize anything outside the hype du jour! It's something everyone in PR deals with daily, but the runway to the US election will indeed be even more intense.
I was excited to see you quoted in the Esquire article, I was like “oh I know her” 😅 (ah the joys of Substack parasocial relationships)
Why thank you!
Firstly, congrats on being quoted! How exciting! Secondly, I understand. I’ve been struggling with working on my debut novel and writing dreams in general because if the worst happens this November, my books will never see the light of day thanks to the plans that party has ready to go. It’s emotionally exhausting to stay true to myself and my dreams when there’s a threat that large looming. Thank you for sharing this piece, glad to know it’s not just me!
Just wrote a newsletter along these lines. It’s so hard to keep up our energy and creativity during times like these.
Greetings. For the life of me I can’t figure out how to upgrade to a paid subscriber! Thanks for today’s column on JD Vance (7/16). I am distraught. Also, thanks for giving away so much free content but it’s time for me to pay up so please let me know how to do it! Thanks.
Thank you for this. Your column really helped me today emotionally.
Agreed! I was in the Capitol doing a press conference set to start at 8:30am on 9/11. And thank you for the mention.
Any time! And oh my gosh what a time that must have been.