A very dramaturgical posture. Although I was once strangely proud of a review in the Baltimore Evening Sun (a dating reference) that said something like "where was the theater's so-called dramaturg when they needed him?"
A colleague sent a sweet note yesterday about my editing, and I sent back thanks with my usual praise for the words and ideas I had to work with. (They need little beyond fine-tuning.) And she inspired a thought. I'm sure I'm not the first to come up with it, but I like the sparkle: A lapidary doesn't create the gem, but has the knowledge and skill to cut and polish it to reveal and enhance its best natural qualities. Hooray for the stones.
I, too, post commentary on substack. The Writer Next Door is new - post #14 will hit inboxes tomorrow. And I had to make a decision about charging readers. A fellow member of my writers' group encouraged me to charge. If I consider my writing valuable, which I do (at least it is to me), why would I give it away? A valid question.
Perhaps I will charge some day. I decided not to charge readers for a few reasons: 1) I want readers - and asking people to pay might diminish the number I get; 2) I'm not doing this to make a living. I'm doing it to write creative non-fiction, a lovely change from fiction, my regular gig; and 3) People's inboxes are jam-packed with advertisements/requests for payment.
Also, I try to keep my posts short - no more than a three-minute read - due to reason #3 above. FWIW.
I'll still read your posts, Benjamin Dreyer, even if I can't comment. Thanks for allowing me to comment one last time.
Thank you for taking the time and trouble to comment, Susan, and to comment so thoughtfully. When I started doing my series here, I made the decision that I was doing it for the fun of it, and to keep my typing fingers and brain occupied, and because, to be perfectly honest, I like regular feedback on what I like to think of as my thoughts.
To be sure, I wasn’t going to stop people from contributing to support my work, and I’ve been grateful for every paid subscription.
But the anarchy and rancor that’s been increasing in my comments sections have been getting out of hand, and this seemed to me to be the best, or at least the easiest, way to control it. Who knows, I might change my mind and take the comments paywall down at some point. But for the time being, I’m content with my decision.
Again, thank you for writing so thoughtfully, and I’m glad that you’ll still be reading.
Thank you, Benjamin. (And I'm sorry about the anarchy and rancor.) Quickly, another reason I don't charge is my name, unlike yours, isn't recognizable. You've earned your paid readers. Well done.
A very dramaturgical posture. Although I was once strangely proud of a review in the Baltimore Evening Sun (a dating reference) that said something like "where was the theater's so-called dramaturg when they needed him?"
I’d’ve been busting my buttons with pride!
Okay, on it!
Copy editors succeed at their job when their work goes completely unnoticed and the book flows like buttah.
A colleague sent a sweet note yesterday about my editing, and I sent back thanks with my usual praise for the words and ideas I had to work with. (They need little beyond fine-tuning.) And she inspired a thought. I'm sure I'm not the first to come up with it, but I like the sparkle: A lapidary doesn't create the gem, but has the knowledge and skill to cut and polish it to reveal and enhance its best natural qualities. Hooray for the stones.
Yup, good copy editors are invisible.
Thanks for sharing.
Paywalls...
I, too, post commentary on substack. The Writer Next Door is new - post #14 will hit inboxes tomorrow. And I had to make a decision about charging readers. A fellow member of my writers' group encouraged me to charge. If I consider my writing valuable, which I do (at least it is to me), why would I give it away? A valid question.
Perhaps I will charge some day. I decided not to charge readers for a few reasons: 1) I want readers - and asking people to pay might diminish the number I get; 2) I'm not doing this to make a living. I'm doing it to write creative non-fiction, a lovely change from fiction, my regular gig; and 3) People's inboxes are jam-packed with advertisements/requests for payment.
Also, I try to keep my posts short - no more than a three-minute read - due to reason #3 above. FWIW.
I'll still read your posts, Benjamin Dreyer, even if I can't comment. Thanks for allowing me to comment one last time.
Thank you for taking the time and trouble to comment, Susan, and to comment so thoughtfully. When I started doing my series here, I made the decision that I was doing it for the fun of it, and to keep my typing fingers and brain occupied, and because, to be perfectly honest, I like regular feedback on what I like to think of as my thoughts.
To be sure, I wasn’t going to stop people from contributing to support my work, and I’ve been grateful for every paid subscription.
But the anarchy and rancor that’s been increasing in my comments sections have been getting out of hand, and this seemed to me to be the best, or at least the easiest, way to control it. Who knows, I might change my mind and take the comments paywall down at some point. But for the time being, I’m content with my decision.
Again, thank you for writing so thoughtfully, and I’m glad that you’ll still be reading.
Thank you, Benjamin. (And I'm sorry about the anarchy and rancor.) Quickly, another reason I don't charge is my name, unlike yours, isn't recognizable. You've earned your paid readers. Well done.