Oof. I share some general career existentialism, having been an English teacher for 34 years, increasingly wondering about the relevance of my work, simultaneously knowing it’s what the world needs. I did what i could, loved the times I had, am
Happy to take the off-ramp to retirement before the collapse of books, publishing and analog community building is complete.
Taking a longish view, I'm actually hopeful. So much of publishing had become so cowardly, it had a tumble coming. Good work is still finding a way but I think the flourishing future will emerge in different models, with a greater variety of narrative forms and an avenue that centers on voice. I have a lot of faith in boredom and impatience as market engines. They'll do their work. Until then, great stuff grows in the shadows.
I stepped into Substack w extreme hesitation having stiff-armed social media with fervor, but am seeing it as a beginning illustration of what you describe. May it be so!
I'm finding Substack to be consistently intelligent, articulate, thoughtful, and empathetic. I am perpetually telling myself that I don't have time, rereading what I've written and cringing, and resolving to quit, but I keep sticking.
Oof. I share some general career existentialism, having been an English teacher for 34 years, increasingly wondering about the relevance of my work, simultaneously knowing it’s what the world needs. I did what i could, loved the times I had, am
Happy to take the off-ramp to retirement before the collapse of books, publishing and analog community building is complete.
Taking a longish view, I'm actually hopeful. So much of publishing had become so cowardly, it had a tumble coming. Good work is still finding a way but I think the flourishing future will emerge in different models, with a greater variety of narrative forms and an avenue that centers on voice. I have a lot of faith in boredom and impatience as market engines. They'll do their work. Until then, great stuff grows in the shadows.
I stepped into Substack w extreme hesitation having stiff-armed social media with fervor, but am seeing it as a beginning illustration of what you describe. May it be so!
I'm finding Substack to be consistently intelligent, articulate, thoughtful, and empathetic. I am perpetually telling myself that I don't have time, rereading what I've written and cringing, and resolving to quit, but I keep sticking.