23 Comments
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X. P. Callahan's avatar

Amen. People overpost, a lot, especially when they're starting out here. I certainly did and have cut back by more than half. And may cut back again.

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Lev Raphael's avatar

Maybe they think it's a diary?

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X. P. Callahan's avatar

Heh. A diary is a complicated thing. I have never kept one (the title of my Substack notwithstanding). The closest for me is a simple daily notation of appointments, tasks, travel, movies, concerts, meetings with friends, birthdays, significant life events, and the like. It's useful in looking back and reconstructing the textures and emotions of daily life.

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Lev Raphael's avatar

I keep a voice diary that I write in after each lesson over the intervening week: important instructions, adjustments, highs, etc. That way I have a very complete record of the lesson in the recording and highlights, so to speak, in writing. I jot things down during or after listening to a lesson, but don't write every day since there's no need to.

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From Ritual to Romance's avatar

Very important. Some blog writers I read publish almost daily. I find that the quality is not consistent. Inspiration cannot be manufactured out of a desperate need to make money and be “productive.” It needs stillness and contemplation. Even distraction.

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Lev Raphael's avatar

The pressure can be internal, external or both, but it's worth resisting because as you say, quality suffers.

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Susan Oleksiw's avatar

So true. There are days when I hide from the world, work on a few photographs, and stare out the window. We all need to rest some days.

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Lev Raphael's avatar

Amen!

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LeeAnn Pickrell's avatar

I’m an editor too and I love my work. I spend more time at it than I do my poetry since that’s how I support myself. Always nice to “meet” other editors who love editing. But yes I need time and space away from screens.

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Lev Raphael's avatar

While teaching at MSU, I was encouraged by students and other editors to start my own editing business, which has flourished since 2017 at writewithoutborders.com. I've had a wide range of fascinating writers, some newbies, some experienced, working in varied genres. I managed to finish the last book in my mystery series between 2017 and the pandemic (or maybe it was the last two?), but have been working on personal essays in many subjects which keep me busy and have had close to 70 publications since 2021. The editing actually inspires me.

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Heidi Zawelevsky's avatar

Thank you, Lev, it’s so important to have rest with or without a hammock. Hope you are well!

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Lev Raphael's avatar

You too! We had a tornado warning and a thunderstorm this afternoon and I didn't get a migraine. 🍾

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Heidi Zawelevsky's avatar

Thank goodness! I sympathize with the migraines. Take good care.

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Richard Donnelly's avatar

Lev, if you enjoy editing, you're a saint : ) I have edited publications a few times, and it was brutal. You have to work with what you get, and the quality left much to be desired.

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Lev Raphael's avatar

I only take on clients at writewithoutborders.com I think I can help and who I would enjoy working with. Nothing saintly there. :-)

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Richard Donnelly's avatar

Thanks Lev. Editors bring a subset of skills that are unique-- tact, insight, deep knowledge of publications and audience. A writer needs these of course, but often are too subjective.

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Dennis Martin Brooks's avatar

Yes.

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Ginger Coy's avatar

I think a pay-per-piece model on Substack would benefit writers and readers alike.

This subscription based model encourages a grind and a hustle and it's fuzzy if your subscribers will be satisfied with whatever content you generate. Also a subscriber model encourages, aids and abets cult of personalities, whereas pay-per-piece elevates good writing.

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From Ritual to Romance's avatar

I like that idea too. Quillette is a good example of this model. They pay writers a competitive rate for individual articles. Many of their writers, however, are academics.

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Ginger Coy's avatar

Cool, I did not know that about Quillette and will look into further. I wrote Substack support about my idea of pay-per-piece and they liked the suggestion! Let's keep the momentum going! Click here for the link to Substack Support to further support this idea. https://substack.com/@gingercoy/note/c-52624092?r=7qu8k&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action

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Lev Raphael's avatar

My substack is free and always will be. I'm not here to make money, just share what I've learned over forty years of publishing and writing.

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Ginger Coy's avatar

I have also never used a paywall.

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Ginger Coy's avatar

Also, I'm in a group of a lot of Substack subscribers and I have a good 30+ people who really like this idea because they are all tapped out on paying for individual subscriptions.

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