Oh and I just want to say, you're a sly fox, Simon for putting my name right there at the end, so I had to read through the entire thing to find where the bit that was (successfully) directed at my ego. And I know why you did it that way you clever, sly, fox, you. 😉😄
But really, THANKYOU. You are most definitely too kind and extremely generous to say such sweet things about my insignificant little offerings to the WWW. Just knowing you took the time to check it out in the first place would have been enough for me. I mean, come on dude! How do you find the time for all this?
With difficulty! :D I really want to find the time to read more fiction on Substack, as there's so much good stuff. If there was ever a reason to want to live forever, surely it would be to read all the stories?
As for putting the call-outs at the bottom...I've never been sure what the best way is to go about that. I feel like regular readers would prefer to get the main show (the story) and then have additional commentary and personal ramblings. On the other hand, having a light preamble before going into the main story could work too.
Oh, and your work is definitely not insignificant! Believe it.
Thanks for saying so Simon. You're really much better at this stuff than I am. Well, I started with an intro, because I started with family for subscribers and it felt rude to just throw the pages at them and say - there - read - so to soften it a little and share a little news of what's going on with me, so it still sounds like me. I try to keep it short though. I still do it because, well, you know, pick a format and stick to it... Regular readers will know well enough to skip down to the graphics if they don't care for my ramblings. But your way works well too, and I see a lot of people doing the same. I'm probably the one who should get with the program.
Something I've really enjoyed here over the last couple of years is how everyone is sort of poking at this thing and trying to figure out the best way of doing it. Then everyone picking up new ideas and tweaks from each other.
"Because this is a particularly frustrating and stressful time for the narrative to switch tracks, that is precisely what the narrative shall now do."
~Douglas Adams, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" (paraphrased)
This is a fun chapter and lays out nice background detail, and possible hints of things we'll see more of, but, after last weeks big twist, this wasn't where I thought we'd go this week.
There's no grand plan with these, they're mostly for fun and to build out the world. They're 'bonuses' because they're not integral to the main story. Practically they sometimes serve as a bit of a creative break for me, as well, where I can focus on a one-off fun thing for a week rather than wrangling more complex plot threads.
Writing by hand engages and develops completely different parts and pathways of the brain. This is well established. Younger generations are only barely being taught how to write. I always wonder about the deficit in brain development once they reach adulthood, and the societal consequences.
While I lean very heavily on a computer (and Scrivener specifically) to do my writing, if I have a thorny plot problem or am sorting through a range of ideas I'll invariably switch to a notebook and pen. As you note, it seems to use different parts of my brain and I find it more effective for problem solving specifically.
For direct writing and being productive, that's when I go digital.
A fabulous cast!
Oh and I just want to say, you're a sly fox, Simon for putting my name right there at the end, so I had to read through the entire thing to find where the bit that was (successfully) directed at my ego. And I know why you did it that way you clever, sly, fox, you. 😉😄
But really, THANKYOU. You are most definitely too kind and extremely generous to say such sweet things about my insignificant little offerings to the WWW. Just knowing you took the time to check it out in the first place would have been enough for me. I mean, come on dude! How do you find the time for all this?
With difficulty! :D I really want to find the time to read more fiction on Substack, as there's so much good stuff. If there was ever a reason to want to live forever, surely it would be to read all the stories?
As for putting the call-outs at the bottom...I've never been sure what the best way is to go about that. I feel like regular readers would prefer to get the main show (the story) and then have additional commentary and personal ramblings. On the other hand, having a light preamble before going into the main story could work too.
Oh, and your work is definitely not insignificant! Believe it.
Thanks for saying so Simon. You're really much better at this stuff than I am. Well, I started with an intro, because I started with family for subscribers and it felt rude to just throw the pages at them and say - there - read - so to soften it a little and share a little news of what's going on with me, so it still sounds like me. I try to keep it short though. I still do it because, well, you know, pick a format and stick to it... Regular readers will know well enough to skip down to the graphics if they don't care for my ramblings. But your way works well too, and I see a lot of people doing the same. I'm probably the one who should get with the program.
Something I've really enjoyed here over the last couple of years is how everyone is sort of poking at this thing and trying to figure out the best way of doing it. Then everyone picking up new ideas and tweaks from each other.
Yes, I've picked up a few tricks along the way myself.
That notebook was really eye-catching 🥰
I just have to do all the other pages now.
I love that prop notebook. Thanks for the mention!
Thanks, Jacqueline!
"Because this is a particularly frustrating and stressful time for the narrative to switch tracks, that is precisely what the narrative shall now do."
~Douglas Adams, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" (paraphrased)
This is a fun chapter and lays out nice background detail, and possible hints of things we'll see more of, but, after last weeks big twist, this wasn't where I thought we'd go this week.
Nice job on the book prop!
Ha, sorry about that! Though it would be more annoying to have begun the next main story, and then have a break next week.
This is true.
Enjoy your (I assume) holiday!
So cool! Like a bestiary thing... I think my fav is the flitter thing. but the Dopur are pretty scary too.
Dopur are scary because you don't know you're in trouble until it's too late to do anything about it.
Intriguing. Do you do this for planning purposes or as potential end product?
There's no grand plan with these, they're mostly for fun and to build out the world. They're 'bonuses' because they're not integral to the main story. Practically they sometimes serve as a bit of a creative break for me, as well, where I can focus on a one-off fun thing for a week rather than wrangling more complex plot threads.
Writing by hand engages and develops completely different parts and pathways of the brain. This is well established. Younger generations are only barely being taught how to write. I always wonder about the deficit in brain development once they reach adulthood, and the societal consequences.
While I lean very heavily on a computer (and Scrivener specifically) to do my writing, if I have a thorny plot problem or am sorting through a range of ideas I'll invariably switch to a notebook and pen. As you note, it seems to use different parts of my brain and I find it more effective for problem solving specifically.
For direct writing and being productive, that's when I go digital.