that museum thing--that happened to us a few years back at the Guthrie Theater in Mpls. they do something weird with the escalators while the play is going on, and you can't use them, so we took the only elevator we could find, which was a service elevator. I have no idea where we ended up but after a long time we did end up back at home. Also, memory and stories--I'm not here to push my book, but that is one of the main themes of my new memoir.
You did say that . . . and I misread it. Sorry! What I was going to mention, in case that was the case, is that the best way I have discovered to attract readers to your work in general is to try to blow their minds here, in these posts and on Notes, with no prompting to read further. No doubt you already know that.
honestly, i meant "here" quite specifically--that i wasn't leaving a comment here, on your post, in order to flog my book but that what you wrote about memory and story resonated with me, because it's the main theme of my new book. and to your other point, i've been told I'm doing substack "wrong" because i'm treating it like a blog (i used to blog daily back in the day, and both of my books grew from my blog posts). but i am writing on substack primarily to make myself write every day, which I had not been doing. if my posts bring folks to my books that would be lovely. but mostly i'm just very happy to be writing again. thank you for all your answers and thoughts!
I think the way you are using Substack as a prompt to write is an excellent use of it. When people said you are doing it "wrong," what did they suggest you do instead?
weekly lovely crafted essays, as opposed to fairly quick daily observations. (and they're right---i love reading other people's substack essays.) but at the moment i am happy with what i'm doing because writing every day makes me happy.
getting lost with someone vs. alone makes a difference, i think. there's adventure along with anxiety that you can share. even when i've been lost alone and a little scared, i can't deny a thrilling undercurrent. it wakes you up. in the scene you describe, i like how everything feels surreal, as if suddenly all the other people in the museum disappeared and only the two of you were left.
I would like to take credit for creating the surreal atmosphere. It was in fact the case we were entirely alone during the outside bit, although there was evidence with tables and chairs museum personnel used the space. It had a post-apocalyptic feel as we wandered around. It's definitely different to do anything joyful or scary with another person versus alone . . . although R makes everything fun even when it should not be fun, and I can imagine being with a different person and wishing I were alone. xxL
I’m very taken with the walk in the museum. Like dream where you can’t return to the way in and have to make decisions - sometimes odd ones - to keep moving. I love to follow your writing. Little surprises the whole way.
I am thinking how your narrative of getting locked with Richard outside the museum and then being even more lost on the museum grounds would differ from an account of being by yourself through this walk through space. Your account sounded companionable and amusing for the most part, because of your upbeat outlook. Now I'm just spiraling down a mental rabbit hole wondering how you would tell this story if you had been on your own.
That's an excellent prompt. I am consciously looking for moments where I can capture some sort of joy or pleasure. Part of the reason is wanting to seduce the reader into a world that will offer them pleasure imaginatively. Because I am a human, it's easy to drift into contemplations of loss and defeat. They make for writing that in my case at least is dreck.
I’m very pleased that ‘you are here’ and we are all together.
"Looking back, I’m proud I didn’t try to wriggle away from her comparison."
"The movie is a child sent to camp with all the wrong clothes." Thank you.
that museum thing--that happened to us a few years back at the Guthrie Theater in Mpls. they do something weird with the escalators while the play is going on, and you can't use them, so we took the only elevator we could find, which was a service elevator. I have no idea where we ended up but after a long time we did end up back at home. Also, memory and stories--I'm not here to push my book, but that is one of the main themes of my new memoir.
When you say you are "here to push your book," do you mean you are writing on Substack mainly to promote writing elsewhere?
that was supposed to say I am NOT here to push my book.
You did say that . . . and I misread it. Sorry! What I was going to mention, in case that was the case, is that the best way I have discovered to attract readers to your work in general is to try to blow their minds here, in these posts and on Notes, with no prompting to read further. No doubt you already know that.
honestly, i meant "here" quite specifically--that i wasn't leaving a comment here, on your post, in order to flog my book but that what you wrote about memory and story resonated with me, because it's the main theme of my new book. and to your other point, i've been told I'm doing substack "wrong" because i'm treating it like a blog (i used to blog daily back in the day, and both of my books grew from my blog posts). but i am writing on substack primarily to make myself write every day, which I had not been doing. if my posts bring folks to my books that would be lovely. but mostly i'm just very happy to be writing again. thank you for all your answers and thoughts!
I think the way you are using Substack as a prompt to write is an excellent use of it. When people said you are doing it "wrong," what did they suggest you do instead?
weekly lovely crafted essays, as opposed to fairly quick daily observations. (and they're right---i love reading other people's substack essays.) but at the moment i am happy with what i'm doing because writing every day makes me happy.
getting lost with someone vs. alone makes a difference, i think. there's adventure along with anxiety that you can share. even when i've been lost alone and a little scared, i can't deny a thrilling undercurrent. it wakes you up. in the scene you describe, i like how everything feels surreal, as if suddenly all the other people in the museum disappeared and only the two of you were left.
I would like to take credit for creating the surreal atmosphere. It was in fact the case we were entirely alone during the outside bit, although there was evidence with tables and chairs museum personnel used the space. It had a post-apocalyptic feel as we wandered around. It's definitely different to do anything joyful or scary with another person versus alone . . . although R makes everything fun even when it should not be fun, and I can imagine being with a different person and wishing I were alone. xxL
true, who you’re lost with makes a huge difference!!
I’m very taken with the walk in the museum. Like dream where you can’t return to the way in and have to make decisions - sometimes odd ones - to keep moving. I love to follow your writing. Little surprises the whole way.
Thanks!
I am thinking how your narrative of getting locked with Richard outside the museum and then being even more lost on the museum grounds would differ from an account of being by yourself through this walk through space. Your account sounded companionable and amusing for the most part, because of your upbeat outlook. Now I'm just spiraling down a mental rabbit hole wondering how you would tell this story if you had been on your own.
That's an excellent prompt. I am consciously looking for moments where I can capture some sort of joy or pleasure. Part of the reason is wanting to seduce the reader into a world that will offer them pleasure imaginatively. Because I am a human, it's easy to drift into contemplations of loss and defeat. They make for writing that in my case at least is dreck.