(Chook: Australian slang for chicken. A cooked chook is a common prize in a pub raffle raising money for local charities. Photo by John Towner, Unsplash).
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A while ago a friend shared a link of Patti Smith reading a poem to her Substack subscribers. She was broadcasting late at night from her dimly lit bedroom in the U.S. No styled or staged background, just a regular room with books lying about, a peace symbol leaning against the wall, a lamp shining at us brightly, throwing light on a low comfy looking bed —our view from the desk where via Substack, she regularly sits to have a chat, do a reading or give some news.
Subscribers? Substack? I’d been hearing the word a lot lately, but what was this thing all about? I signed up to Patti for free, and pretty soon was receiving regular missives direct from her bedroom to my inbox. It was a different experience to watching her clips and posts on Instagram or elsewhere on social media. It felt far more intimate and special — I was completely taken by Patti’s almost motherly, low vibe, late night chat and pretty soon I was hooked.
As a free subscriber I could receive Patti’s clips but if I wanted to comment on her posts and engage with other members, I could sign up for a paid subscription ($50US per year). Cheaper than Netflix by far! Behind the scenes I could get other bonuses like episodes of her new extended prose work, The Melting. which she began writing in the early days of the pandemic
I took the plunge and joined. Took a deeper plunge and made a few comments on different posts, engaged with other members by liking theirs. Was most active in January 2023 when to mark the Year of the Rabbit, Patti had us totally entranced as she read excerpts from her childhood book, Uncle Wiggily Starts Off by Howard R. Garis. I’ll never forget these precious moments with Patti and Uncle Wiggily, as she so playfully stretched the story out over several sessions leaving us in complete suspense.
Spurred on by this charming experience I developed a thirst for more. All Substack authors recommend their faves and it’s easy to browse your own interest areas. I came across Tim Lott’s Writing Boot Camp. Always interested to see what other writing teachers are doing and keen for tips for my own writing, I signed up. Tim, an award winning British author of fiction and non fiction (who I’m ashamed to say I wasn’t familar with til now ) has great essays on different areas of writing craft, an excellent podcast on the art of story called Storyville and much, much more. His generous, provocative, no bullshit approach appealed to me and I was content to remain a free, no extra benefits member until…
A note in my inbox from Tim Lott: ‘Who will become my 100th paid subscriber?’
How could I resist such a call to action? Like entering the chook raffle at the pub, it was a longshot, surely there’d be many others scrambling for the honour.
‘Take me,’ my finger responded, as I pressed the join button, expecting to have missed the boat.
But lo, next day, a notification arrived— the chook was mine!
Now I could comment, take part in discussions, agree/disagree, read chaps, listen to readings and so on.
As with Patti, I’ve been popping in and out — reading, viewing, listening, and depending how much time I have — commenting or not. It’s been very stimulating to say the least.
Since then I’ve started following more authors, buzzing like a little bee from this one to that — Salman Rushdie, George Saunders, Elle Griffin, Hattie Crisell.
Like everything on the internet, it can become all consuming.
Especially in April 2023 when I launched Writer’s Journey on Substack.
But the chook raffle has a long life it seems, or maybe it is just how this community works. Now I will come to the point of this story —
In a lovely moment of serendipity, guess who won the prize for being my very first subscriber and recommender on Writer’s Journey Substack.
Tim Lott!
I was his hundredth and he was my first!
And that’s the wonder of Substack!
For those joining me for the first time here, whether you are writers, artists or creatives from other modalities — I’m inviting you to tell your stories in the comments below — how you got started, what you are working on now, what are the highs and lows of your writing, reading or creative day? What are the hardest things, what are the most enjoyable?
If you are not up to engaging today, don’t worry, there’ll be more opportunities. I’ll be sending out weekly offerings, while keeping you up to date on Writer’s Journey’s various activities.
But the big news is….
I’m publishing excerpts of my latest book in serialised form here on Substack, so you are my first readers!
Looking for Duras, Finding my Mother: a Mekong Journey, is a travel memoir about searching for traces of my literary hero, the French Writer, Marguerite Duras, who lived the first 18 years of her life in Vietnam and Cambodia, then known as French Indochina. There will be an opportunity for you to not only to read but support, engage, give feedback and get behind the scenes.
I’m still figuring out how it all works but if you do want to support this endeavour on a monthly, yearly or foundation member basis, feel free to hit the paid subscription button.
Best wishes
Jan
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Want to know more about Writer’s Journey? Check out our workshops, retreats and journeys: India-Nov 23, Morocco - Feb 24 , Japan- March 24. Italy/ France June 2024
Photo of mailboxes by Daria Nephriakina, Unsplash.
Thanks to Biff Ward for the title of this article.
Thank you Jan, sounds like a great platform! You’ll be pleased to know I’ve just completed my novel and am now pitching to Agents. Thank you for the writer’s journey to Angkor Wat that birthed the idea and inspired me to write. 😊
Great!