I love this as a writer who is just starting out. I think sometimes the pressure to send out a newsletter every week lingers on my shoulder, but I am learning to pace myself in different seasons of life. I write when I feel inspired. There’s something really thoughtful you wrote that resonated with me: “Write from the scar, not the wound. “
I love that. I am gonna write that down in my journal.
Yes! that point about the piece needing more time or research if it simply won't cooperate is golden. I have a few ideas that have been sitting in the back of my head for years at this point, waiting to be worked out enough to write about them. And I also agree so much with the personal writing -- that you want to be at the point where the very personal thing is actually able to be universal. Michelle Cushatt gave a talk on writing about hard things -- and she had this checklist for evaluating if you were ready to write about something. I've returned to the questions often, because they're so good, but one is, "Do you NEED to write about this?" In other words, are you writing about it because you need your reader's response, or are you writing about it so that they can connect to a common experience and know how to apply something in their own life. I think this is the very tricky distinction in memoir as well. If it's too raw, it feels like trauma porn, and I always wonder if the person writing it is really okay, or if it traumatized them again to tell the story.
This is a great list. To me, the Rubin book really explains the creative process clearly. And the librarian gossip is indeed alluring...
I loved this bit, as the default position seems to be you need to specialize in something specific:
"There is a sense on Substack that tight, branded niches are an essential component of success, but I’m not sure I buy that. Of course, having a clear focus or niche can be helpful, but tidy packaging us usually not why we love the writers we do. We love them because of the worldview and tone of voice they’ve developed. If you like a writer’s worldview, you’ll read their work matter if they’re writing about cake or war or sex. I’m convinced that distinctiveness comes from focusing on the process, not the outcome."
All of the points you share here resonate, but number one is something that I have come to recognise for myself too (before I read your post, but you articulate this much better than me!).
I need to let my writing sit and breathe, both here on Substack and with some academic work that I am currently focused on. It’s taken a few years for me to realise this!
"If you like a writer’s worldview, you’ll read their work matter if they’re writing about cake or war or sex." THIS! Such a wonderful point. I really appreciated and benefited from this post, thanks Rosie. Also, I had never heard of the Pomodoro technique but sounds fun. I'll give it a try!
Several timely reminders in here, especially (for me), that "if it’s not coming together, it’s not a writing problem – it’s a research/reporting problem", which I've called the story's not ready to be told. I'm in that place again right now! Thanks, Rosie, for the patience boost.
#3 always has a habit of hitting me when I’m in bed almost asleep or driving. Catch me diving under the covers (so the phone light doesn’t wake the baby!) or, in the car, opening notes and hitting that speech-to-text button. Game changer, that.
It was a great read, and all your points are very well thought out and constructed. As a newbie here on the platform, I primarily practice numbers 1 and 8 and agree with integrating and digesting info more rather than forcing a piece. Thanks so much for sharing.
I love this as a writer who is just starting out. I think sometimes the pressure to send out a newsletter every week lingers on my shoulder, but I am learning to pace myself in different seasons of life. I write when I feel inspired. There’s something really thoughtful you wrote that resonated with me: “Write from the scar, not the wound. “
I love that. I am gonna write that down in my journal.
Yes! that point about the piece needing more time or research if it simply won't cooperate is golden. I have a few ideas that have been sitting in the back of my head for years at this point, waiting to be worked out enough to write about them. And I also agree so much with the personal writing -- that you want to be at the point where the very personal thing is actually able to be universal. Michelle Cushatt gave a talk on writing about hard things -- and she had this checklist for evaluating if you were ready to write about something. I've returned to the questions often, because they're so good, but one is, "Do you NEED to write about this?" In other words, are you writing about it because you need your reader's response, or are you writing about it so that they can connect to a common experience and know how to apply something in their own life. I think this is the very tricky distinction in memoir as well. If it's too raw, it feels like trauma porn, and I always wonder if the person writing it is really okay, or if it traumatized them again to tell the story.
This is a great list. To me, the Rubin book really explains the creative process clearly. And the librarian gossip is indeed alluring...
I loved this bit, as the default position seems to be you need to specialize in something specific:
"There is a sense on Substack that tight, branded niches are an essential component of success, but I’m not sure I buy that. Of course, having a clear focus or niche can be helpful, but tidy packaging us usually not why we love the writers we do. We love them because of the worldview and tone of voice they’ve developed. If you like a writer’s worldview, you’ll read their work matter if they’re writing about cake or war or sex. I’m convinced that distinctiveness comes from focusing on the process, not the outcome."
Such a great, thoughtful list! As someone writing about grief, "write from the scar, not the wound" hits hard. Thank you!
Thank you. I was beginning to feel a bit deflated about my inability to pick a lane...but this will come 💞
All of the points you share here resonate, but number one is something that I have come to recognise for myself too (before I read your post, but you articulate this much better than me!).
I need to let my writing sit and breathe, both here on Substack and with some academic work that I am currently focused on. It’s taken a few years for me to realise this!
"If you like a writer’s worldview, you’ll read their work matter if they’re writing about cake or war or sex." THIS! Such a wonderful point. I really appreciated and benefited from this post, thanks Rosie. Also, I had never heard of the Pomodoro technique but sounds fun. I'll give it a try!
Several timely reminders in here, especially (for me), that "if it’s not coming together, it’s not a writing problem – it’s a research/reporting problem", which I've called the story's not ready to be told. I'm in that place again right now! Thanks, Rosie, for the patience boost.
Great to get advice from someone who's done this for a while. I'm gonna give the 25 mins a day a go! Thank you Rosie.
#3 always has a habit of hitting me when I’m in bed almost asleep or driving. Catch me diving under the covers (so the phone light doesn’t wake the baby!) or, in the car, opening notes and hitting that speech-to-text button. Game changer, that.
I love these sage reminders. Greatly appreciate this post!
My books are behind me, but the things that matter are right here in this picture. :)
Very helpful - thank you! I needed these words today👍
It was a great read, and all your points are very well thought out and constructed. As a newbie here on the platform, I primarily practice numbers 1 and 8 and agree with integrating and digesting info more rather than forcing a piece. Thanks so much for sharing.
It was like you wrote the list for me. Rules 7 & 8 resonate with me. I liked this article so much that I subscribed.
Writing is a method of paying attention to the experience of being alive