Dear Reader,
Welcome to my new and improved Substack, which I’ve rechristened just that. Because this is me writing for you.
In the age before social media, I did a LOT of blogging. You might remember blogs, she said cheekily. I made many, many dear friends, and also as an accidental result got lots of professional opportunities from it. Even before I upgraded to having my own domain name, I felt more of a sense of ownership there than anywhere else online. I didn't feel like I was someone else's product. Or like a product at all. Just like a writer and reader and human who wanted to connect with other likeminded writers and readers and humans.
(I taped a podcast/radio show this week and one of the hosts said some of my dialogue could be spoken by Katharine Hepburn, so I’m also writing this from beyond the grave. This is a photo of the reams of blog entries I wrote…well, okay, it’s actually Hepburn in Desk Set.)
I was a late convert to joining Facebook, partly for the reason above. I liked having my own space, where I could talk about whatever felt right that day. I was an early member of Twitter, purely because a friend and C's then-agent gave us invite codes when it was in beta. If you ever wondered how I scored gwenda as a handle, that’s how. But I left off using it for a few years because no one was there, and then I returned at the perfect time. I loved early Twitter for the way it felt similar to the community of bloggers and far-flung writers I knew and was a part of, and which migrated there quickly, but it was more casual, loose, even fun--early Twitter was a cocktail party without leaving home, and you didn't have to keep up with it, you just came and went as you pleased. Your Irish exit would be unnoticed. Your return would be noticed by whoever was around at the time. It was a great water cooler, especially for bookish communities.
I joined Substack last year and I don't feel it's clicked into the community-building space I wanted to make YET, so I'm going to be trying something new--by which, I mean something old. I want to take control of my digital life again and be able to reach the people who I want to connect with (and vice versa!). I'm very grateful to all of you who subscribed here already, but I want to do a better job writing for you. (I may also pop some things over on the blog at my website, so if you’re overwhelmed by emails, just check out that periodically. I get it.) But I’m hoping we can make something special and supportive together.
That said, I want to address some nagging elephant-in-room-sized feelings I’ve had re: Substack fatigue in the air, in case anyone is hesitant to sign up for this newsletter because of them.
I blame Elon Musk for this. Kidding, sorta. With the increasing instability and problematic nature of Twitter (the April 1, you gotta pay to verify who you are, really? REALLY?), and Substack's ubiquity and ease of joining, seemingly everyone I know or admire has signed up for one. Just like I did! And I talked about how much I liked it, and encouraged friends to do it. So I'm at fault too!
Here are the issues I see with this explosive growth--as always, it will work well for some, but will it create the more rich conversation I desperately want to happen, a return to that sense of connection? I know it already has for some. And as someone who has helped to build a thriving version of what I mean in real life at the Lexington Writer's Room, I know it's possible. It also seems, and I hate to say this, but show me the lie, a less welcoming space for some. Including, maybe, for readers of fiction (in whatever genre, and for authors who are not household names or promoted by Substack). Here's what I think is happening...
There's no way to KNOW right off the bat if you see a link flutter by that the post will actually be available or if it will be behind a paywall. I can't afford to sign up for a million paid Substacks, nor can you, and there's nothing more frustrating to me than reading what seems like a conversational, open post beginning only to find the rest of it locked away. AGAIN: I support several Substacks, and love the form. And for people sharing special expertise--like my agent Kate McKean's
--or those offering publications--leaps to mind--a professional quality product, or who really want to monetize their writing of all types and are making that clear up front, that's fabulous.But I want this part of my writing life to be an open door. I don't want a reader to decide not to sign up for my newsletter because something in the back of your mind tells you it will probably ask for your credit card or that you just pay for too many Substacks to consider adding another. So I’m going to tell you right now, no paywalls here. You will still be able to do paid subscriptions (and thanks to those who do them!), but I’m not planning to push them, and you don’t need one to get anything extra here.
I just really, really want to get back to owning my space out here on the digital range to connect with readers. The internet is getting spread too thin. Or maybe it’s just me, spreading myself too thin across it. Putting my little missives in the inboxes of you lovely people who opted into getting them allows me the comfort of knowing I’m not totally at the mercy of the ever-unpredictable algorithm roulette. At my personal website, anyone who wants to find me can too. Here, on my newsletter list, and there, are the places where you'll always be able to find me and hear about new work and shenanigans, no matter what billionaire ruins our other sandboxes.
That said... I don't plan to delete any of my social media accounts yet. I still enjoy them. But I'm certainly not to going to keep messing around on the Twitter alternatives, unless one emerges as a victor, and it's likely my Twitter will become mostly updates and links to newsletters. I'll still be on Facebook and Instagram, mostly for family stuff, and pet photos, selfies, and pretty book pictures, respectively.
So…bottom line: It’s going to be a busy, exciting year! And I hope you’ll join me for it. I'm writing two books, already have one new novel out and three co-written Audible novellas coming, so there'll be plenty to talk about--and not just THOSE THINGS, but doggos and cattos. And life in general. I might even throw in link round-ups. I will certainly talk about books I love. We might even have some spoiler discussion TV threads, in the chat, if that’s of interest. (WHAT SHOWS SHOULD WE DO?)
And, as always, if there's something you'd really love me to write about, let me know. I keep a list. In the meantime, thank you for making it this far.
Truly, wonders never cease. At least, I hope they don't.
TL/DR: Let's go back to the way things were, cue sweeping music. I'll be talking about stuff as the mood strikes me, which I intend to be more frequent, and we'll hopefully discuss in civil ways. This may become a failed experiment, but I'm hoping instead it will be a fun and successful one.
GIVEAWAY
AND I'll be giving away a prize pack to one of you, and please share, because I intend to give one away to new subscribers too. And if you haven't picked up Mr. & Mrs. Witch, I think it could use a little bump so consider it? I keep hearing people are waiting until October—you can always save the read for spooky season! My mom gave a copy to an 80-year-old friend after warning her it had spicy sex scenes, to which the friend replied, "Definitely give it to me then!"
Now back to tending my mom at the hospital (a spinal test went poorly, but she’s on the mend after a horrific day yesterday). The toothpaste they gave us is called sparklefresh, which sounds like cartoon toothpaste to me. The doctor also taught me the coolest term: antigravity strength. So we’re just waiting on her antigravity strength to return. She just read me a quote from someone’s Facebook she knows, about their small son’s declaration: “It’s a sad day today, Mama—I have to turn my stinkbug loose.”
Witchy Prize Pack!
One person who's already subscribed and one NEW subscriber in the next week will receive a signed copy of Mr. & Mrs. Witch, complete with C.R.O.N.E. sticker and a bonus pocket broom! US only, alas, because international shipping is done with gold coins these days, seemingly.
And…the obligatory book links!
Get Mr. & Mrs. Witch
Thinky Thoughts on the Digital Future of...Me
Hi Gwenda! How do we enter the giveaway or is it automatic just for being here? ❤️❤️❤️
I love the old internet, where we met! Also, requested that my library buy Mr. & Mrs. Witch (they buy more copies than I do).