To answer your question as a writer, songwriter, and ever-struggling musician:
I keep going because I don't know what else to do, or what else I would *want* to do. I just want to share what I make with others and connect in a way where I can make myself understood. I hope for praise, I am often disappointed... my purest enjoyment comes from the process of making things, so that has to be enough as no one is beating a path to my door for more songs/articles/essays/poems....
I have enjoyed reading your work and, regardless of if you continue, I believe we share the same desire for connection and nagging compulsion to make something worth engaging with. I just want you to know it doesn't fall on deaf ears.
That's beautiful, Andrew. Thank you for the kind words, and for contributing to this creative scrum.
This really strikes at the heart of the matter: "We share the same desire for connection and nagging compulsion to make something worth engaging ..." (I probably could have saved everybody a lot of time just posting that instead!)
Thanks for this, Steve. You've definitely hit a chord with me. I go through a similar process of assessing whether I should keep writing on substack every so often, usually when I get overwhelmed with the writing, tired of the algorithm, and envious of other writers who seem to grow their subscriber base much more easily. There's also that moment when I figure out what I'm giving up to do this in terms of time and effort and question my sanity.
I'm going through that assessment process right now and have come up with some of the same reasons you have to keep going. Writing is what I do to communicate what I'm thinking and feeling more precisely. Does anyone in real life want to know my 'deep' thoughts on rock music? No, but some of my readers do.
There's also the addictive pleasure of discovery about something I thought I knew about but find out I didn't know the half of. Not to mention that rock music is full of incredible and often outrageous stories that provide ongoing entertainment for myself and others.
And, frankly, I was shocked when I got my first subscriber and someone--anyone!-- wanted to read my writing here on an ongoing basis. I'd done a lot of professional writing but had never had a personal blog, and what a high to have people read something you're passionate about and respond to it. I can't give it up now. It's become an addiction!
I love this: "Writing is what I do to communicate what I'm thinking and feeling more precisely. Does anyone in real life want to know my 'deep' thoughts on rock music? No, but some of my readers do." It's perfect.
Hey Steve, thank for the shout out! As you know, I work with a lot of writers and the question I always start off with is: "What do you want from this experience?" I'm never surprised when people don't know because my own answer changes from book to book. Mostly I ask this question (of others and myself) to make sure my desire isn't tied to outcomes, which are out of our control. There are things I want for each book that I desire in the same way I want the world to be a better place. I can't will my book into being a bestseller any more than I can will world peace. I can't change the world, but I can contribute to the change. That's what making art feels like, even the hacky way I do it, a contribution. But some days it matches the feeling you get when you experience art that takes the top of your. head off. Those are the best days and worth working toward no matter what the sacrifice.
Absolutely, to all of this. This has definitely been self help for me. I had fallen into a very dark hole and this crazy app pulled me out of it. I stay because I don't trust myself to leave, and because I do love reading and writing. I love the series you do with your daughter. One of your Eaton fire stories is why I found you. I did a poll recently about what I should write about. It overwhelmingly said whatever I want. Take that for what it's worth. Some of my best performing posts have been totally random. I think the "brand" culture or feeling like we have to have a schtick is all bs. I love it when fellow musicstackers just open up about what's on their mind, like you did here. We are a community. Crazy, complicated, fanatical, diverse, etc. But we all seem to love good music, stories, humor and just "hanging". I say do as you please.
Well said! Great reminder: "We are a community. Crazy, complicated, fanatical, diverse, etc. But we all seem to love good music, stories, humor and just 'hanging.' I say do as you please."
Yes to all of that! I think people here are interested in the person/people behind the screen at least as much as they are in whatever that person might write about.
Well put, and I'm glad you're still here! The digital world is better for having you and RTL in it.
I keep going for a couple of reasons: First, I'm still chasing the feeling of someone putting a tape in your hand and saying, "You gotta hear this!" Second, I like the idea of taking a thought or idea and chiseling it into something that will resonate with others.
As for AI, I, too, would love to see it used for tasks like sifting through large blocks of code or conducting medical research. Why people use it to talk about things like records is beyond me.
You're a constant north star, Kevin. And is there anything better than this feeling? "I'm still chasing the feeling of someone putting a tape in your hand and saying, 'You gotta hear this!'" I'd say that's worth fighting to hold onto that.
>>many of us are still here simply because we love reading and writing, and we value connecting with others who share those interests (even if we don’t get rich or famous in the process)<<
Bingo. I started a Substack as a way to share my memoir of working in the record biz, without really thinking about what I'd do when I finished telling that story. By the time I did finish it I had gained and interacted with many readers and other writers and found myself really enjoying the community, so I decided to just keep writing about whatever music-related topic happens to be on my mind at the moment.
Ellen's comments below ring true to me - I'm occasionally overwhelmed with the self-imposed pressure of weekly posts, and wonder why or even if the world has any interest in my 'deep thoughts' every week, but it's become an enjoyable habit and is the only 'social media' I interact with so for the time being, I'm stickin' with it. . .
Thanks, Hugh. I love that you came here with one intention and allowed yourself to evolve over time. That's the beauty of all this as far as I'm concerned. Keep it up! "By the time I did finish it I had gained and interacted with many readers and other writers and found myself really enjoying the community, so I decided to just keep writing about whatever music-related topic happens to be on my mind at the moment."
Love this momentary pause and reflection. I think it's good to do once in a while to get yourself on a track you find valuable. I keep doing what I'm doing because, like you say, I love reading and writing. I find that whenever I produce something it's because I have something to say or show. It's my form of self-expression. I also love the community of writers, subscribers, and followers I've met through Substack. We should all keep doing what we love while we can.
A lot of this resonated with me. I am here because i need an outlet. Self help. Community. That later point was part of why I admire you. Anyone could post here. We all do. But you resolved to bulld and connect at a time of walls and echo chambers. I appreciate that you do this at a time when we are encouraged to put our interests first. You remember and prioritize what we share. Not a love for a particular artist or genre, but a love for music in general. So i am glad i met you, value what you do, and have been shaped by your influence.
The feeling is mutual, Emm. I'm so glad we connected here and have had the chance to collaborate. "I am here because i need an outlet. Self help. Community."
A little existential reflection is good, but don't overthink it. Writers write because they must (the alternative is awful, NOT writing). You have one of the best substacks and zines out there. I urge you to keep going and follow whatever editorial path you feel like. Although it doesn't always seem apparent, your writing (and editorial direction) are appreciated and beloved by many readers. Thank you.
Thanks for the kind words. Existential reflection happens to be a specialty of mine, I just don’t always share on here! 🤣
(Note: I had originally included a sentence that I wasn’t posting this seeking positive feedback and validation about my writing, but that felt presumptuous. See? Overthinking!)
Great piece. Why do I do it? Well, I'm just getting started. But I've been thinking about how much I needed a creative outlet just about daily for decades, doing nothing about it. And, you know, as much as I hate to admit it, I think the constant pressure to monetize everything is part of the reason.
I'd just about start a project, then back out because it didn't seem "worth it." Among other, insecurity-related reasons. I think part of the "worth" I was stuck on was the internet's capitalist drumbeat in the back of my head.
Now? I just want to share cool shit I find with other people. Maybe get better at writing along the way. And be part of a community. The older I get, the more important that last part becomes to me.
In truth, I think age (and therapy) has helped me learn that making money is not part of my identity, despite what I'm told online every day.
At the beginning of this article, I recalled Vonnegut's exhortation from "A Man Without A Country" and was very pleased to find it near the end, because I think there is no purer justification to create than that.
The best reward for most original work is the satisfaction of a job well done. If there is any recognition beyond that from the public, that is icing on the cake...and you already have that in spades.
Why do anything? Because it is more worthwhile than not doing anything, and may enrich someone else's life in the process. So, thank you!
PS: The prelude to the Vonnegut quote you included is a similarly provocative call to action: "If you want to really hurt your parents, and you don't have the nerve to be gay, the least you can do is go into the arts. I'm not kidding. The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable."
To answer your question as a writer, songwriter, and ever-struggling musician:
I keep going because I don't know what else to do, or what else I would *want* to do. I just want to share what I make with others and connect in a way where I can make myself understood. I hope for praise, I am often disappointed... my purest enjoyment comes from the process of making things, so that has to be enough as no one is beating a path to my door for more songs/articles/essays/poems....
I have enjoyed reading your work and, regardless of if you continue, I believe we share the same desire for connection and nagging compulsion to make something worth engaging with. I just want you to know it doesn't fall on deaf ears.
That's beautiful, Andrew. Thank you for the kind words, and for contributing to this creative scrum.
This really strikes at the heart of the matter: "We share the same desire for connection and nagging compulsion to make something worth engaging ..." (I probably could have saved everybody a lot of time just posting that instead!)
Thanks for this, Steve. You've definitely hit a chord with me. I go through a similar process of assessing whether I should keep writing on substack every so often, usually when I get overwhelmed with the writing, tired of the algorithm, and envious of other writers who seem to grow their subscriber base much more easily. There's also that moment when I figure out what I'm giving up to do this in terms of time and effort and question my sanity.
I'm going through that assessment process right now and have come up with some of the same reasons you have to keep going. Writing is what I do to communicate what I'm thinking and feeling more precisely. Does anyone in real life want to know my 'deep' thoughts on rock music? No, but some of my readers do.
There's also the addictive pleasure of discovery about something I thought I knew about but find out I didn't know the half of. Not to mention that rock music is full of incredible and often outrageous stories that provide ongoing entertainment for myself and others.
And, frankly, I was shocked when I got my first subscriber and someone--anyone!-- wanted to read my writing here on an ongoing basis. I'd done a lot of professional writing but had never had a personal blog, and what a high to have people read something you're passionate about and respond to it. I can't give it up now. It's become an addiction!
I love this: "Writing is what I do to communicate what I'm thinking and feeling more precisely. Does anyone in real life want to know my 'deep' thoughts on rock music? No, but some of my readers do." It's perfect.
Hey Steve, thank for the shout out! As you know, I work with a lot of writers and the question I always start off with is: "What do you want from this experience?" I'm never surprised when people don't know because my own answer changes from book to book. Mostly I ask this question (of others and myself) to make sure my desire isn't tied to outcomes, which are out of our control. There are things I want for each book that I desire in the same way I want the world to be a better place. I can't will my book into being a bestseller any more than I can will world peace. I can't change the world, but I can contribute to the change. That's what making art feels like, even the hacky way I do it, a contribution. But some days it matches the feeling you get when you experience art that takes the top of your. head off. Those are the best days and worth working toward no matter what the sacrifice.
You are a constant inspiration, Jim.
THIS —> "I can't change the world, but I can contribute to the change."
Likewise amigo!
Absolutely, to all of this. This has definitely been self help for me. I had fallen into a very dark hole and this crazy app pulled me out of it. I stay because I don't trust myself to leave, and because I do love reading and writing. I love the series you do with your daughter. One of your Eaton fire stories is why I found you. I did a poll recently about what I should write about. It overwhelmingly said whatever I want. Take that for what it's worth. Some of my best performing posts have been totally random. I think the "brand" culture or feeling like we have to have a schtick is all bs. I love it when fellow musicstackers just open up about what's on their mind, like you did here. We are a community. Crazy, complicated, fanatical, diverse, etc. But we all seem to love good music, stories, humor and just "hanging". I say do as you please.
Well said! Great reminder: "We are a community. Crazy, complicated, fanatical, diverse, etc. But we all seem to love good music, stories, humor and just 'hanging.' I say do as you please."
Yes to all of that! I think people here are interested in the person/people behind the screen at least as much as they are in whatever that person might write about.
💯
Well put, and I'm glad you're still here! The digital world is better for having you and RTL in it.
I keep going for a couple of reasons: First, I'm still chasing the feeling of someone putting a tape in your hand and saying, "You gotta hear this!" Second, I like the idea of taking a thought or idea and chiseling it into something that will resonate with others.
As for AI, I, too, would love to see it used for tasks like sifting through large blocks of code or conducting medical research. Why people use it to talk about things like records is beyond me.
P.S. Cheap Trick is 110% a power pop band. :)
You're a constant north star, Kevin. And is there anything better than this feeling? "I'm still chasing the feeling of someone putting a tape in your hand and saying, 'You gotta hear this!'" I'd say that's worth fighting to hold onto that.
Great & thought provoking post, Steve -
>>many of us are still here simply because we love reading and writing, and we value connecting with others who share those interests (even if we don’t get rich or famous in the process)<<
Bingo. I started a Substack as a way to share my memoir of working in the record biz, without really thinking about what I'd do when I finished telling that story. By the time I did finish it I had gained and interacted with many readers and other writers and found myself really enjoying the community, so I decided to just keep writing about whatever music-related topic happens to be on my mind at the moment.
Ellen's comments below ring true to me - I'm occasionally overwhelmed with the self-imposed pressure of weekly posts, and wonder why or even if the world has any interest in my 'deep thoughts' every week, but it's become an enjoyable habit and is the only 'social media' I interact with so for the time being, I'm stickin' with it. . .
Thanks, Hugh. I love that you came here with one intention and allowed yourself to evolve over time. That's the beauty of all this as far as I'm concerned. Keep it up! "By the time I did finish it I had gained and interacted with many readers and other writers and found myself really enjoying the community, so I decided to just keep writing about whatever music-related topic happens to be on my mind at the moment."
Love this momentary pause and reflection. I think it's good to do once in a while to get yourself on a track you find valuable. I keep doing what I'm doing because, like you say, I love reading and writing. I find that whenever I produce something it's because I have something to say or show. It's my form of self-expression. I also love the community of writers, subscribers, and followers I've met through Substack. We should all keep doing what we love while we can.
"...while we can." That's it in a nutshell, right? Some people golf, others join running clubs or softball teams. We read and write, togther.
A lot of this resonated with me. I am here because i need an outlet. Self help. Community. That later point was part of why I admire you. Anyone could post here. We all do. But you resolved to bulld and connect at a time of walls and echo chambers. I appreciate that you do this at a time when we are encouraged to put our interests first. You remember and prioritize what we share. Not a love for a particular artist or genre, but a love for music in general. So i am glad i met you, value what you do, and have been shaped by your influence.
The feeling is mutual, Emm. I'm so glad we connected here and have had the chance to collaborate. "I am here because i need an outlet. Self help. Community."
A little existential reflection is good, but don't overthink it. Writers write because they must (the alternative is awful, NOT writing). You have one of the best substacks and zines out there. I urge you to keep going and follow whatever editorial path you feel like. Although it doesn't always seem apparent, your writing (and editorial direction) are appreciated and beloved by many readers. Thank you.
Thanks for the kind words. Existential reflection happens to be a specialty of mine, I just don’t always share on here! 🤣
(Note: I had originally included a sentence that I wasn’t posting this seeking positive feedback and validation about my writing, but that felt presumptuous. See? Overthinking!)
This is a really good article I enjoyed it to the MAX! 🔥🙌💯
Awesome!
Glad you’re staying! MM
Me too!
Well done.
Thank you!
You’re very welcome.
Great piece. Why do I do it? Well, I'm just getting started. But I've been thinking about how much I needed a creative outlet just about daily for decades, doing nothing about it. And, you know, as much as I hate to admit it, I think the constant pressure to monetize everything is part of the reason.
I'd just about start a project, then back out because it didn't seem "worth it." Among other, insecurity-related reasons. I think part of the "worth" I was stuck on was the internet's capitalist drumbeat in the back of my head.
Now? I just want to share cool shit I find with other people. Maybe get better at writing along the way. And be part of a community. The older I get, the more important that last part becomes to me.
In truth, I think age (and therapy) has helped me learn that making money is not part of my identity, despite what I'm told online every day.
You hit on a lot of good points here, but I think the age element is part of where I currently am, for sure.
At the beginning of this article, I recalled Vonnegut's exhortation from "A Man Without A Country" and was very pleased to find it near the end, because I think there is no purer justification to create than that.
The best reward for most original work is the satisfaction of a job well done. If there is any recognition beyond that from the public, that is icing on the cake...and you already have that in spades.
Why do anything? Because it is more worthwhile than not doing anything, and may enrich someone else's life in the process. So, thank you!
PS: The prelude to the Vonnegut quote you included is a similarly provocative call to action: "If you want to really hurt your parents, and you don't have the nerve to be gay, the least you can do is go into the arts. I'm not kidding. The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable."
Love this! “Why do anything? Because it is more worthwhile than not doing anything, and may enrich someone else's life in the process.”
I read this on the heels of the Dave Eggers article in The Guardian today. I think the answer to the Why? is often in the asking. Nice piece.
Thanks! That Eggers book is fantastic.