It appears to be some kind of experience that is objectively subjective, concurrently asynchronous, connected via disconnection - that which definitionally cannot be defined.
Oh, you meant what is this newsletter? That’s much easier.
If you’re new here or if you’re unaware, this is a place where I write my often-disjointed and always-a-little-out-there blog posts and short stories. It began a year ago as a simple excuse for me to write. At the time, I had recently read somewhere that a writer isn’t a writer until they have written one million words, and so as any challenge-addicted person is, I challenged myself to write a million words. Then I would be a real writer. So, I slapped together a Substack, sat down at my keyboard, and tapped my thoughts away into the internet. Almost fifty thousand words and a year later, I have written a lot (for me, and virtually nothing for many), and I have learned much more.
If you’re not new here, you may be wondering, “where is Words are Hard…?” Well, this is it… but new and shiny.
Let me break down what this blog is, including what’s staying the same, and what’s changing.
What’s New
First of all, the name! ‘Literary whiplash’ is a phrase I used in one of my earlier posts, Day 3 to be exact (check it out if you want). Throughout my time writing here on Substack, I’ve always been happy to bounce from topic to unrelated topic, attempting to consolidate my thoughts together into one coherent blob. I feel that phrase better captures the chaotic nature of this blog. Don’t get me wrong, Words are Hard… was fun, but as a title it doesn’t resonate with the spirit of my writing, and I function almost entirely off resonance.
Second, I’m adjusting the structure of the newsletter. I won’t be tracking days or word counts in each post anymore, but I will continue to track my word count somewhere (likely in the About section).
Lastly, I have a website (yay!) which just points to my Substack (oh…) for now. Also, I’ve changed the layout of my Substack page slightly to make it easier for new readers to find their ways around.
That’s pretty much it for the changes, if you have any strong feelings about them, please let me know. I am sucker for the people.
What’s staying the same?
Pretty much everything else is staying the same.
I will continue to alternate between blog posts and short stories depending on which type of fairy visits me while I’m sleeping the night before.
Posts will be about the same length, but I might occasionally experiment with shorter or longer formats.
All content will always be free, and my paid subscribers continue to voluntarily, mightily, benevolently support my budding writing career. Reach for the stars, I always say.
Thank you all, and as always…
Totally nailed it,
Michael