#1. THANK YOU for lumping me in with Writers at Work and Sparkle on Substack. I don't feel I'm anywhere near being in those leagues so I appreciate you very much for mentioning Unstack Substack.
#2. Max also sent me the same message and I sat in front of my screen for days like a deer in headlights. Completely blank 😂 So thank you for doing the job I couldn't bring myself to do.
Your advice to him is very solid and sage. Standing O for you!!!!
Thank you so much for the advice and this post. You have given me confidence and hope in my writing journey. I appreciate you sharing some of those "feel good" chemicals with me by tagging me in your post haha.
I appreciate that you always approach this material with some healthy distance, Carlos, which makes it enjoyable to read here when it comes. There is a breathlessness to some of the public-square conversations that I find...overwhelming, even as someone who is trying to go all-in: "Being a writer IS JUST SO GREAT!!" While having a writing practice is definitely great, there are few jobs worthy of such unqualified caps-usage (Judge on a food/cooking competition merits all caps, in my view).
In terms of advice, the one thing I wanted to chime in on is networking. Every break I have gotten as a writer in my life came because of a connection. Some are obvious, like a successful and generous grad school professor, though you could argue I paid a lot of tuition for that one. But some have been from pretty far afield. A former co-worker at a job I left had a best friend whose father was a ballplayer and he was my first real interview. Most recently, a co-worker of my wife introduced me via email to a relative who also writes about baseball, and while at first I had no idea what to do with that, I gave it a shot and yada yada yada now I'm hoping to help out with some of his projects and he has been very generous in terms of supporting my work.
Networking is not my favorite and a lot of times it doesn't pan out (I won't share those examples), but when it hits, it hits different. So make sure the people in your life know what you're trying to do with your life and encourage them to talk about you with others who might be able to relate. Even two or three degrees removed from those you know, someone might be willing to open a door.
Yes! Thank you for adding this, Paul. It’s been true for me too — most of the opportunities I’ve had have come from someone I knew connecting me with someone else.
Thanks for your excellent advice Carlos. I'm a newbie here on Substack. I was previously on another platform and the posts that got most traction were all about how to make a living from writing, written by "entrepreneurs" who were making money by talking about how to make money from writing. It had little to do with how to be a better writer, although there are zillions of those too. What I wanted was heart-felt stories. I moved to Substack after I stumbled upon some wonderful stories and thought I'd try my hand here too. But no sooner did I sign up and the 'How to get your 10 millionth subscriber' started landing in my inbox. Ugh! I'm miles behind established writers, but as you suggested to Max, I'm here for all of the other benefits that come from writing and sharing - for me, it's stepping out of my comfort zone. If I make a dollar, then that's a bonus. Love your work Carlos and thanks for sharing your wisdom so freely. As coach Ted Lasso says, "I appreciate you."
First, this is amazing: "McSweeney’s pieces featured in a live event of the NPR show Selected Shorts, hosted by Andy Borowitz, where my work was read aloud by THE John Cameron Mitchell." Congratulations! So cool.
Second, what a wonderful letter you wrote Max and everyone coming to Substack for similar reasons.
I love the image created in my mind from your phrase “95% gathering the words”. a forager walking in deep woods, one of those straw back packs on their shoulder (the kind that lets all the dirt and crap fall out), carefully scouting random words hidden beneath the forest greenery. 😊
This has the makings of an excellent commencement address at a liberal arts college
Thanks! I promise I will do a better job than Harrison Butker
I have two big things to say:
#1. THANK YOU for lumping me in with Writers at Work and Sparkle on Substack. I don't feel I'm anywhere near being in those leagues so I appreciate you very much for mentioning Unstack Substack.
#2. Max also sent me the same message and I sat in front of my screen for days like a deer in headlights. Completely blank 😂 So thank you for doing the job I couldn't bring myself to do.
Your advice to him is very solid and sage. Standing O for you!!!!
Thanks! And of course! You’re right up there with them in my book
Thank you so much for the advice and this post. You have given me confidence and hope in my writing journey. I appreciate you sharing some of those "feel good" chemicals with me by tagging me in your post haha.
Thanks again,
Max
Of course! I’m so glad you’ve found it helpful
Goooo Max!!
Thanks for this: Just remember that time spent not writing isn’t wasted – writing is 5% writing words, 95% gathering the words.
I feel a lot better about binge watching Alex Rider with my kid.
I appreciate that you always approach this material with some healthy distance, Carlos, which makes it enjoyable to read here when it comes. There is a breathlessness to some of the public-square conversations that I find...overwhelming, even as someone who is trying to go all-in: "Being a writer IS JUST SO GREAT!!" While having a writing practice is definitely great, there are few jobs worthy of such unqualified caps-usage (Judge on a food/cooking competition merits all caps, in my view).
In terms of advice, the one thing I wanted to chime in on is networking. Every break I have gotten as a writer in my life came because of a connection. Some are obvious, like a successful and generous grad school professor, though you could argue I paid a lot of tuition for that one. But some have been from pretty far afield. A former co-worker at a job I left had a best friend whose father was a ballplayer and he was my first real interview. Most recently, a co-worker of my wife introduced me via email to a relative who also writes about baseball, and while at first I had no idea what to do with that, I gave it a shot and yada yada yada now I'm hoping to help out with some of his projects and he has been very generous in terms of supporting my work.
Networking is not my favorite and a lot of times it doesn't pan out (I won't share those examples), but when it hits, it hits different. So make sure the people in your life know what you're trying to do with your life and encourage them to talk about you with others who might be able to relate. Even two or three degrees removed from those you know, someone might be willing to open a door.
Yes! Thank you for adding this, Paul. It’s been true for me too — most of the opportunities I’ve had have come from someone I knew connecting me with someone else.
What a generous, funny reply! 🙏🏽
Thanks for your excellent advice Carlos. I'm a newbie here on Substack. I was previously on another platform and the posts that got most traction were all about how to make a living from writing, written by "entrepreneurs" who were making money by talking about how to make money from writing. It had little to do with how to be a better writer, although there are zillions of those too. What I wanted was heart-felt stories. I moved to Substack after I stumbled upon some wonderful stories and thought I'd try my hand here too. But no sooner did I sign up and the 'How to get your 10 millionth subscriber' started landing in my inbox. Ugh! I'm miles behind established writers, but as you suggested to Max, I'm here for all of the other benefits that come from writing and sharing - for me, it's stepping out of my comfort zone. If I make a dollar, then that's a bonus. Love your work Carlos and thanks for sharing your wisdom so freely. As coach Ted Lasso says, "I appreciate you."
Thanks, Silvana!
First, this is amazing: "McSweeney’s pieces featured in a live event of the NPR show Selected Shorts, hosted by Andy Borowitz, where my work was read aloud by THE John Cameron Mitchell." Congratulations! So cool.
Second, what a wonderful letter you wrote Max and everyone coming to Substack for similar reasons.
Third, thank you! I'm here to help.
I think I might tip you! Great advice xx
Thanks! Always appreciated 😊
Most loved ‘just outlast everyone else.’ Made me laugh.
Loved how balanced and real this was, yet somehow still inspirational? You’ve bummed me IN, for sure.
Such good advice. Thank you.
I love the image created in my mind from your phrase “95% gathering the words”. a forager walking in deep woods, one of those straw back packs on their shoulder (the kind that lets all the dirt and crap fall out), carefully scouting random words hidden beneath the forest greenery. 😊
So many good nuggets in this one. And Kristi is correct—very solid and sage advice. Good luck, Max!
Brilliant as ever
Love this! Especially the "be free" part! Working on it...
Thanks for your advice really needed it. I just started writing here on Substack.