Dear Reader,
A New Project
A lot of years ago, just short of a score—I’m going to start measuring time in scores—I started writing a blog. It was as sad as this little southern snowman.
It was pretty lackluster as far as web design goes, even for the time. I won’t be linking it, because I also wasn’t all that worried about whether my name and face were public. Probably because I had no confidence that I’d gain any readers. Luckily, my privacy remains intact. (If you think posting on here feels like talking to a wall, you probably don’t remember the sucking vacuum of the Blogs of Olde.)
I did some writing for that blog that helped me grow as a writer. One practice I started there and kept up here on Substack is publishing my first drafts. I see a lot of other writers trying to learn and grow, and I love being a part of this network. I wish I could go back and show my younger self how many barriers indie writers have broken in the last twenty years. Back before my mother told me that most writers don’t make money writing books, and that I should go to college and become a journalist. (Love you, Mom, but you had to know that was never happening.)
I made a decision, looking back at all the posts on my old blog. I’m bringing back my first serial story. I’ll drop it in here untouched, all twenty-six chapters, and add a critique at the end. This way, my time spent writing on this Substack won’t take away from editing projects I plan to publish. The editing will happen publicly.
I haven’t read this story since I typed it up the first time. We will find out together what it’s about, how much work it needs, and how much my writing has changed. I don’t know about you, but I’m excited. At 18,000 words, this will be a beast to edit with an audience.
Wish me luck,
Jack