Federer retired with grace as well...My parting thoughts: What will be seen as atrocities ahead? We are so severe in demonizing folks from 1910 for racism, sexism, homophobia, colonialism, et al- despite the cultural blinders that contort perspective. So it is likely we too are contorted. Perhaps the Car will be seen as an atrocity. Standing on the curb in NYC, it feels like a terrible travesty. And flushing toilets, watering lawns, and washing sidewalks with drinking water...egad! How nuts. Will we have to erase Mark Zuckerberg's name from SF General Hospital as his infamy emerges?
Cell phones ? Toxic zoom? Maybe ice cream will be the new smoking.
There are probably customs that we all take for granted which will be looked back on with horror by our great grand children...
Mary, I really like that you write about "controversial" stuff, and that sometimes you write the messy, ambiguous, contradictory things that go on in all our heads. I've thought about a lot of the things I've read here, the Incel article, the great post you did about the "viscera" of writing.... Those boys on the train just looking out the window. Things like that have been in my mind for years, and I can't express them as well as you can. Take your time, but not too long....
Loved what you've been doing here. Your posts aren't like anything on the internet, which is saying something. Still, if there are other novels, stories, and essays in the works, I'm sure many of us will eagerly await those. Goodspeed and thanks for your candor and humor and brilliance.
Yea sad to see you stop this... I felt honored to be able to read your musings and stuff but gosh we writers got to take care of our hearts and heads and ourselves.
What a wonderful message to read this morning...it's as though you are talking to me and also about me...how gratifying to have had the odd kind of intimacy and intensity you offer us all. A real gift. When you suit up again, I will be here - not impatiently....though happily. best of luck.
"Also—and for me this is really big—you have more time to respond than you do in person. In truth I can be very awkward socially and blurt out things because in person you’re expected to respond quickly and it's sometimes based on a wrong idea of what the person in front of me has just said or meant."
I think this is why writing, in general, is great for me.
See you later! See you soon?
I also struggle with the balance between story writing and doing this. But it sounds like you think a lot harder than I do, putting days of thought into each post. For better or worse, not the case for my Substack posts. And I find the practice of creating these non-fiction, essay-type pieces beneficial to my writing as a whole, so I'm not only working on fiction. It almost serves as writing recreation, whereas I come to fiction with much more intention.
Then again, I'm working on short stories. As a novelist, I can imagine needing to hide away in a cabin in the woods for multiple months to get a book done.
I, for one, will be waiting for you with _Bad Behavior_ and _Veronica_ in hand. I note that, though not invited as writer in residence, but also a writer myself, I've had a similar reaction--and have found it hard at times to continue and also write the novel I am finishing. I did manage a short story based on the novel. And it's out for review at literary magazines that, as you know, I've written about here on Substack. I have loved your newsletter--and will be a steady follower, awaiting your return. xo Mary
I love what you’re doing here. I also totally understand how demanding (and fun!) Substack can be. Hope to see your posts whenever the time is right for you.
Oh my geez, balance. Yes. I adore reading your work and this blog. Maybe don't fully suit up? Wear your p.j.'s! (now that sounds creepy....NOT my intention!) I hope you have warmth and love and joy on this rest.
Federer retired with grace as well...My parting thoughts: What will be seen as atrocities ahead? We are so severe in demonizing folks from 1910 for racism, sexism, homophobia, colonialism, et al- despite the cultural blinders that contort perspective. So it is likely we too are contorted. Perhaps the Car will be seen as an atrocity. Standing on the curb in NYC, it feels like a terrible travesty. And flushing toilets, watering lawns, and washing sidewalks with drinking water...egad! How nuts. Will we have to erase Mark Zuckerberg's name from SF General Hospital as his infamy emerges?
Cell phones ? Toxic zoom? Maybe ice cream will be the new smoking.
There are probably customs that we all take for granted which will be looked back on with horror by our great grand children...
Mary, I really like that you write about "controversial" stuff, and that sometimes you write the messy, ambiguous, contradictory things that go on in all our heads. I've thought about a lot of the things I've read here, the Incel article, the great post you did about the "viscera" of writing.... Those boys on the train just looking out the window. Things like that have been in my mind for years, and I can't express them as well as you can. Take your time, but not too long....
Loved what you've been doing here. Your posts aren't like anything on the internet, which is saying something. Still, if there are other novels, stories, and essays in the works, I'm sure many of us will eagerly await those. Goodspeed and thanks for your candor and humor and brilliance.
A normalizing post. Here for whatever you post ever, whenever, if ever again.
I love this column and look forward to it. I’m very bummed!
I love this post. Makes so much sense.
I do hope you return in a while to writing here. I always look forward to your refreshingly honest, original perspectives.
Dear intrepid, brilliant Ms. Gaitskill: I think you should do whatever you like. Thank you for lighting the way.
Yea sad to see you stop this... I felt honored to be able to read your musings and stuff but gosh we writers got to take care of our hearts and heads and ourselves.
What a wonderful message to read this morning...it's as though you are talking to me and also about me...how gratifying to have had the odd kind of intimacy and intensity you offer us all. A real gift. When you suit up again, I will be here - not impatiently....though happily. best of luck.
"Also—and for me this is really big—you have more time to respond than you do in person. In truth I can be very awkward socially and blurt out things because in person you’re expected to respond quickly and it's sometimes based on a wrong idea of what the person in front of me has just said or meant."
I think this is why writing, in general, is great for me.
See you later! See you soon?
I also struggle with the balance between story writing and doing this. But it sounds like you think a lot harder than I do, putting days of thought into each post. For better or worse, not the case for my Substack posts. And I find the practice of creating these non-fiction, essay-type pieces beneficial to my writing as a whole, so I'm not only working on fiction. It almost serves as writing recreation, whereas I come to fiction with much more intention.
Then again, I'm working on short stories. As a novelist, I can imagine needing to hide away in a cabin in the woods for multiple months to get a book done.
Wishing you well :)
You do what you need to do. We'll be here when you're ready.
Thanks for your posts. Hope you find the right balance between your writing for books and for blogs.
Best, Jack
I, for one, will be waiting for you with _Bad Behavior_ and _Veronica_ in hand. I note that, though not invited as writer in residence, but also a writer myself, I've had a similar reaction--and have found it hard at times to continue and also write the novel I am finishing. I did manage a short story based on the novel. And it's out for review at literary magazines that, as you know, I've written about here on Substack. I have loved your newsletter--and will be a steady follower, awaiting your return. xo Mary
I love what you’re doing here. I also totally understand how demanding (and fun!) Substack can be. Hope to see your posts whenever the time is right for you.
Oh my geez, balance. Yes. I adore reading your work and this blog. Maybe don't fully suit up? Wear your p.j.'s! (now that sounds creepy....NOT my intention!) I hope you have warmth and love and joy on this rest.
With love and gratitude, Susannah Mars