I highly recommend #4. So much is revealed when you read it aloud. But you have to do something about it. I’ve read aloud a particular Substack of mine three times and found an extra stray word three times, but have not yet fixed it.
Seeing that portrait motivated me to find info about Garshin. First hit (besides Wikipedia) was an article titled "A genius at suffering", illustrated by that portrait. Poor man, not sure he would have heeded your rule #5.
You've included one of my favorite paintings, Repin's portrait of Vselobod Garshin. Garshin was the son of a high-ranking military officer; he went straight from school to fight in the Russo-Turkish war. He wrote a book about his war experiences, and tried to keep his hand in with journalism, but suffered so badly from PTSD that he took his own life about four years after this portrait was painted.
Repin used Garshin as a model in several of his works. You can see him in the rather gothic painting, "Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan on November 16, 1581", where Garshin is the son. There's a good copy of the work on Wikipedia, under Ilia Repin.
I was just googling for “paintings of writers” and was immediately captivated by the image! I’d never heard of the painter or his subject before (though the Ivan painting, when I got to it, was familiar) and was happy to spend time reading about both. Well, happy except for all the accrued sadness, which was saddening.
I also just subscribed, but it was because I find myself sharing your stuff so often with my kids and other enthusiastic readers, writers, and editors of my acquaintance that I realized it must be worth paying for. Write on! as we used to say. (Yes, you can put it in quotes, but I like it that way.)
Thank you for the series comma reminder, Benjamin. I’ll remember that when I finally sit down this weekend and write my shitty first draft of my liner notes. I have a lot of people to thank!
Excellent reminders. And far less fishy than 5 Easy Plaices.
I highly recommend #4. So much is revealed when you read it aloud. But you have to do something about it. I’ve read aloud a particular Substack of mine three times and found an extra stray word three times, but have not yet fixed it.
As to the old joke about how the best time to find a typo in something you’ve written is five seconds after you hit SEND?
It’s true.
As well I know.
I almost did that above. Instead I read my comment before I hit the blue arrow. It’s possible I’ve still overlooked something.
Seeing that portrait motivated me to find info about Garshin. First hit (besides Wikipedia) was an article titled "A genius at suffering", illustrated by that portrait. Poor man, not sure he would have heeded your rule #5.
I just posted about Garshin, too. Isn't that painting evocative!
#1. Yes!
#2 .Of course.
#3. I'm trying, although I truly only use italics for emphasis. (Or book titles.)
#4. Absolutely.
#5. The time to stop writing for the day is when the dog(s) declare it's time for them.
I can't keep quiet any longer. I have subscribed.
You've included one of my favorite paintings, Repin's portrait of Vselobod Garshin. Garshin was the son of a high-ranking military officer; he went straight from school to fight in the Russo-Turkish war. He wrote a book about his war experiences, and tried to keep his hand in with journalism, but suffered so badly from PTSD that he took his own life about four years after this portrait was painted.
Repin used Garshin as a model in several of his works. You can see him in the rather gothic painting, "Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan on November 16, 1581", where Garshin is the son. There's a good copy of the work on Wikipedia, under Ilia Repin.
I was just googling for “paintings of writers” and was immediately captivated by the image! I’d never heard of the painter or his subject before (though the Ivan painting, when I got to it, was familiar) and was happy to spend time reading about both. Well, happy except for all the accrued sadness, which was saddening.
I also just subscribed, but it was because I find myself sharing your stuff so often with my kids and other enthusiastic readers, writers, and editors of my acquaintance that I realized it must be worth paying for. Write on! as we used to say. (Yes, you can put it in quotes, but I like it that way.)
Hi Sally! And a happy new year to you and your humans.
Thank you for the series comma reminder, Benjamin. I’ll remember that when I finally sit down this weekend and write my shitty first draft of my liner notes. I have a lot of people to thank!