That’s kind! I know this road and going to embark again with fiction maybe querying agents for the first time! (If my last agent isn’t a fit for the book). Yikes!!
One more thing that you mention, that funny enough I was thinking about in the context of my own newsletter: this is more like baseball than I think I'd allowed myself to believe. By that I mean, even the best baseball hitters fail like 70% of the time. As a writer, we're not going to hit a home run every time, or even most of the time, or even half the time -- we're lucky if we hit one even once in a while!
But the only way to hit one is to stand up there at the plate and swing, you know? I think we're all trained -- or maybe at least I've been trained -- to think of print journalism as perfection, in that every piece you see in the NYT, WSJ, etc. is the perfect version of something. So, I've felt the need to reach that same level in my own newsletter, even though I fall far from it -- I still put that pressure on myself.
But a newsletter isn't that at all -- it's like you say, it's a place to experiment, to *not* get too precious with, to air thoughts even if they're mostly or half formed. Not a thing to get too fussy about.
That's hard to accept! (For me, anyway.) But I think that's ultimately what makes a newsletter interesting, the journey you get to go on with the writer, rather than one perfect piece.
I think you're dead right, and I also find it SO hard to accept. The other analogy that jumps to mind is venture capital (and/or stock picking). If you look at the track record of some of the best investors of all time, it's often the case that they have some many losers, a handful of successes, and maybe one to three total moonshots, the returns of which were so great that they functioned to blow away everything else. Writing is weirdly like that too, and you feel it the most when you're a one man show like Substack and the current media environment force us all to be. But our perfectionism hasn't caught up to the reality, and maybe never will?? I don't love it! Aren't we fussy by nature and that's why we do this at all! But agreed and yes, I'm right there with you. :)
Congratulations Catherine!!! I’m so excited for this book! I’m also so PROUD of how hard you worked through such a devastating time in your life. You’re an inspiration! ❤️🔥
So kind as always! Thanks so much. Weirdly, to work on Mary Shelley while devastated might be THE right mode for working on Mary Shelley; it gets you closer to her and her experience, I think
How wonderful for you! I'm sure the fact you'd met this agent, and that you had an actual BOOK already published helped to convince others that you were the "real deal". Someone who can not only write, but get it across the finish line as well. No small thing! I can relate to your stress levels as you churn out the final, final, final version. I personally felt like my book was eating me alive as I went through a billion edits, and dancing around with, "is my version better, or the editor's?" before falling back on my first attempt. It's MY book after all. Anyway, may all the stars align for you in this new book. You certainly have a talent for fabulous titles!
He's doing better, thanks - and glad you like the title! I hear you on wondering about your versions vs. others' for sure. Wishing ATB with yours too and godspeed etc!
This is wonderful, Cat! I’m looking forward to it. I also immediately thought, Netflix adaptation! From my voice to the ear of God. Feels entirely possible.
So happy for you! And this book is going to rock. Wishing your boy the best and you easy fun writing. Can’t wait to read your witty smart take!!
Thanks so much, Jenn! I know you know this road; your work has been a touch stone for me, for real
That’s kind! I know this road and going to embark again with fiction maybe querying agents for the first time! (If my last agent isn’t a fit for the book). Yikes!!
poe is happy for you too
He of all people would see the dark humor, right? :)
mais oui
One more thing that you mention, that funny enough I was thinking about in the context of my own newsletter: this is more like baseball than I think I'd allowed myself to believe. By that I mean, even the best baseball hitters fail like 70% of the time. As a writer, we're not going to hit a home run every time, or even most of the time, or even half the time -- we're lucky if we hit one even once in a while!
But the only way to hit one is to stand up there at the plate and swing, you know? I think we're all trained -- or maybe at least I've been trained -- to think of print journalism as perfection, in that every piece you see in the NYT, WSJ, etc. is the perfect version of something. So, I've felt the need to reach that same level in my own newsletter, even though I fall far from it -- I still put that pressure on myself.
But a newsletter isn't that at all -- it's like you say, it's a place to experiment, to *not* get too precious with, to air thoughts even if they're mostly or half formed. Not a thing to get too fussy about.
That's hard to accept! (For me, anyway.) But I think that's ultimately what makes a newsletter interesting, the journey you get to go on with the writer, rather than one perfect piece.
I think you're dead right, and I also find it SO hard to accept. The other analogy that jumps to mind is venture capital (and/or stock picking). If you look at the track record of some of the best investors of all time, it's often the case that they have some many losers, a handful of successes, and maybe one to three total moonshots, the returns of which were so great that they functioned to blow away everything else. Writing is weirdly like that too, and you feel it the most when you're a one man show like Substack and the current media environment force us all to be. But our perfectionism hasn't caught up to the reality, and maybe never will?? I don't love it! Aren't we fussy by nature and that's why we do this at all! But agreed and yes, I'm right there with you. :)
Congratulations Catherine!!! I’m so excited for this book! I’m also so PROUD of how hard you worked through such a devastating time in your life. You’re an inspiration! ❤️🔥
So kind as always! Thanks so much. Weirdly, to work on Mary Shelley while devastated might be THE right mode for working on Mary Shelley; it gets you closer to her and her experience, I think
Indeed, as painful as it is, suffering can be an excellent conduit.
How wonderful for you! I'm sure the fact you'd met this agent, and that you had an actual BOOK already published helped to convince others that you were the "real deal". Someone who can not only write, but get it across the finish line as well. No small thing! I can relate to your stress levels as you churn out the final, final, final version. I personally felt like my book was eating me alive as I went through a billion edits, and dancing around with, "is my version better, or the editor's?" before falling back on my first attempt. It's MY book after all. Anyway, may all the stars align for you in this new book. You certainly have a talent for fabulous titles!
Glad you liked my comment. I hope your son is getting better.
He's doing better, thanks - and glad you like the title! I hear you on wondering about your versions vs. others' for sure. Wishing ATB with yours too and godspeed etc!
Your posts are more helpful than you know! Many thanks and all the best!
Really glad to hear that - thank you for reading!
This is wonderful, Cat! I’m looking forward to it. I also immediately thought, Netflix adaptation! From my voice to the ear of God. Feels entirely possible.
^^^this!!!
This is inspiring! Thank you for sharing.
You’re so welcome, Jenessa! Thanks for reading
Thank you so much for sharing this story!
You're so welcome. Thanks for reading, Karla!
Congrats! I love your encouragement!! Thank you for that
You're so welcome, Marisa! Thanks for reading
Congratulations on selling what I already know will be a brilliant book!
Lisa, thanks so much for the kind words! Cheers across the miles
Thank you for sharing. Can’t wait to read your book. Congratulations. Enjoy the writing process :-)
Congratulations! And thanks for sharing how you did it, including the posts that flop and the notes that net nothing. I needed this.
You’re so welcome, Tawnya! Glad it hit the right note for you
What a great story, thank you for sharing! Excited for your book to be in the world.
Paige, thank you! So appreciate the read and kind words
This IS inspiring! And so funny and well-written! CONGRATULATIONS!!
So well-deserved.
Thank you so much, Andrea! Really appreciate that, and glad it made you laugh
I love this so much. Well done for making this happen.
Thanks, Rosie - been following your book developments too!