Any questions?
And now for a commercial break...
Sooooooooooo I’m going to try doing something for paid subscribers.
A question and answer about the writing process.
This is not in the hope of monetizing the Stack to the point where I can retire to a Caribbean island, not least as because — as any of you who’ve encountered me in real life know — I’d be far happier hanging out somewhere forested and mountainous and spooky where a stranger with a complicated and melancholy backstory comes to town once a week, and then all uncanny hell breaks loose.
It’s more that some, bless you, have actually paid for this so-called experience, and I want to make that feel worthwhile. My son amusingly suggested that those who pay should get the benefit of receiving fewer posts, but he’s not a very nice person.
So: If you have a question about the process or job of writing, be it how to start, how to keep going, or anything else, please ask it concisely in the comments of this post. I’ll pick five of these and do my best to answer them usefully in a post next week.
That post will be viewable by paid subscribers only. I’ll come back to some of the other questions in further weeks. This way, people who are just here for the general musings don’t miss out, but anybody who would like some additional, more specific content gets it. Does that seem a reasonable idea?
If paid subscribers have any ideas about what else they’d like, please let me know in the comments too. Also, if there’s something that would make anybody feel it was worth parting with their hard-earned cash for this Substack, rather than spending it all on beer as God intended, I’d love to hear that as well.
And do bear in mind that if you subscribe on a monthly basis and I turn out to be even more boring than you feared, you can hastily unsubscribe again with a single click.
What I most want to avoid is the feeling of a two-tier system. I’d like to find a balance where paid subscribers feel they’re getting added value, but everybody else doesn’t feel like they’re being kicked out to stay in the Motel 666 near the freeway, where there was that spate of horrific unsolved murders last year and the carpet smells of cheap coffee and despair.
The general thoughts and recommendations on art and music will always be available to all. Frankly, I’m grateful that you listen.
Assuming these emails don’t all immediately end up in the trash.
Hello Michael(s)!
Cheers for this opportunity. So my question... bugging me since 2004. When the "The Lonely Dead" (Straw Men Book 2) was published, i was confused to see that it was written as a stand alone novel. Building the character of John Zandt in the first book, is one of the most amazing things i have ever read. The soul of this character is like a dark volcano slowly erupting black hole matter...Ward Hopkins was also a great one.
Rebuilding those characters in "The Lonely Dead" and "Blood of Angels", i felt it was mission impossible. I knew them from the first book and had strong feelings. Having to re-read their story and re-feel them, it took something away from me and in the end i failed to be sucked into books 2 and 3 in the same way as in "The Straw Men".
So the question: Does it bug you also? Did you consider the option of Book 1 to be mandatory in order to read 2 and 3? Was it maybe a publisher's recommendation? I understand that three stand alone novels is the financially viable option and i would probably advise that.
I hope i don't sound like a snob critic. I am not! Your books make this world a better, and slightly scarier, place and i am always waiting for something new (Michael Rutger where are you? We need a third book...).
Thanks!
I am subscribed now, for my sins. Insert pithy comment about tuppenny happenny snips of money disappearing from our accounts adding up to something or other.
Tax season is nearly over. I am a person who when she was Young (I am 60 {sixty!} tomorrow) wrote obsessively. At some point, maybe in my early 30s I decided that I really had nothing new or interesting to say. Then I went on antidepressants. I work in ceramics now, and mess with yarn.
At any rate, I am interested to read the Q & A. I am listening to a Lovecraft podcast of the fine John Langan right now, and hearing people talk about how they write is fascinating.