nice to read about Paul's kids (at least one of them) since they have only existed in the background of the story so far. The scene would come more alive if the kid was referred to by name, rather than called 'his son' or 'the boy', which is more impersonal and distant. Just a thought.
Thanks for the feedback - much appreciated. I agree with the name sentiment but as they haven’t been treated as primary characters in the story names haven’t arisen. Perhaps in future iterations of the novel names will emerge. :)
There is actually a parallel scene in an earlier chapter (Tomorrowland I believe) when Paul rides a roller coaster with his daughter. Very similar moment, with more descriptive emphasis placed on the ride rather than the wait. This gives me the idea to tie those two events together more cohesively, somehow…
Interesting. I'm sure you have good reasons for your choices. I just noticed that, from the reader's perspective, a nameless character is easier to forget, which contributes to the fact that the roller coaster scene dropped out of my memory altogether... I guess it depends what you want to bring into the foreground and highlight in this story.
Indeed! I might think I have good reasons, but those same reasons might just be stuck in an echo chamber of my own making. Writing a full length novel as a first foray of public writing expression definitely wasn’t the most well thought out decision I’ve ever made.
Every chapter, phrase, word, letter, and space contains infinite possibility to the point of paradox and paralysis, and your reflections are priceless.
so true! Having written a couple of full length novels myself, I know exactly what you mean. I think of this process as a heroic journey. Every writer who makes it through deserves a medal.
(I hope Paul does not have an eye glass prescription with the numbers 1111)
The Apple Store experience sounds familiar, I think my husband was in line ahead of you. You might have noticed. Tall guy with a beard, turns around and exits the line when he only had 3 people in front of him. Yeah, that guy, he was running on empty, usually saying to himself, ‘I have to get the hell out of here, I’ve had enough.
How in the world, or ( universe) are you going to end this??
Reallllly looking forward to the ending — releasing chapters has not been easy even though the book is already written. How naive I was at the beginning of all this. It’s been a real Fool’s Journey but I wouldn’t change a thing. 😜
Thank you! When I think of the Fool archetype I think of courage and naïveté. Along the lines of what I shared with Veronika — I just jumped into the unknown writing a full length novel with zero experience and zero internet presence. Not that I thought it would be easy by any stretch, but definitely didn’t think it would be this hard. The first draft of this book was almost triple the word count, and the transformation to what you are reading now took took much longer than it did to write 125k crappy words in the first place 😆
A full unsolicited reply , from someone who knows nothing about it… delete when you are finished if you’d like, just for you really.
I am so glad I am just a reader. The only thing that I would be consistent with, is worrying about whether other people would appreciate my work .From a ‘just a reader point of view’, I believe you are needlessly ‘hitting yourself over the head’ with your own
COMPLETED BOOK. What’s that you think I said? Yes that’s it, you wrote and completed a book! Yup, repeat after me, I wrote a ……………
(insert swear word if it suits you, I would) novel!
So what, not many 👀’s
on your work. I’ve stopped by other Substack authors with many subscribers, and I don’t see the draw. From what I have read about well known authors, or interviews I have listened in on. Writing is an every day affair. I have attached an interview from a very well known author who wrote fiction ,from VT. Actually when you read about the Northeast Kingdom, or just ,The Kingdom, in this interview, this is an area in VT I spend more or less, 6 months out of the year in. There are other video interviews from this author if you are so inclined, you’ll find them on VPR ( VT public radio) . He was always known as being very generous when it comes to teaching others about writing novels, or more so, what he has learned as an author, in a very unassuming way.
I started reading your novel and stayed, because I had already read other posts from you. So I trusted you as an author and stayed for the journey. Happy I did.
Also, the chapters were a short read, compared to some that post too long .
Only read a small number on Substack, cuz life is happening outside my door and I am a big part of that outside arena 😊. Another author that I love on Substack , mentioned to me that his friend thought his posts were too short, and she needed to read through them twice to get the whole feel of it. She wanted him to write a more lengthly post. While he does not write consecutive chapters , he mostly writes fiction, prose, though it is often mixed in with reality. Sometimes difficult to tell, which makes the work all the more intriguing. I told him I do read it through twice, if I need to get a better understanding. I often do the same with you. I told him I tend to drift off when an author’s post is too long. Coming back to it later, which changes the full ‘flavor’ especially when I comment, I have already lost track of how it made me feel. So I told him to tell his friend, ‘twice is nice’. ( he was asking my opinion, so I gave it, unlike this reply)
Onward to the last chapter! And then have yourself a celebration ; you presented an entire novel on Substack, and to hell with whatever else you thought about it.
I so appreciate Paul’s finely tuned differentiation between daily mind chatter and deeper essence. Such an important skill and a practice we all could benefit from. And the jarring contrast of “civilization” and rural life, boy do I get that one after moving to the sticks 7 years ago. Whenever I do need to go into town, I’m aware now of how much more patient and tolerant I’ve become of crowds, lines, noise. But only because I know I can escape it sooner than later!
nice to read about Paul's kids (at least one of them) since they have only existed in the background of the story so far. The scene would come more alive if the kid was referred to by name, rather than called 'his son' or 'the boy', which is more impersonal and distant. Just a thought.
Thanks for the feedback - much appreciated. I agree with the name sentiment but as they haven’t been treated as primary characters in the story names haven’t arisen. Perhaps in future iterations of the novel names will emerge. :)
There is actually a parallel scene in an earlier chapter (Tomorrowland I believe) when Paul rides a roller coaster with his daughter. Very similar moment, with more descriptive emphasis placed on the ride rather than the wait. This gives me the idea to tie those two events together more cohesively, somehow…
Interesting. I'm sure you have good reasons for your choices. I just noticed that, from the reader's perspective, a nameless character is easier to forget, which contributes to the fact that the roller coaster scene dropped out of my memory altogether... I guess it depends what you want to bring into the foreground and highlight in this story.
Indeed! I might think I have good reasons, but those same reasons might just be stuck in an echo chamber of my own making. Writing a full length novel as a first foray of public writing expression definitely wasn’t the most well thought out decision I’ve ever made.
Every chapter, phrase, word, letter, and space contains infinite possibility to the point of paradox and paralysis, and your reflections are priceless.
so true! Having written a couple of full length novels myself, I know exactly what you mean. I think of this process as a heroic journey. Every writer who makes it through deserves a medal.
100% agree! Paul’s son’s name just showed up — the book is a living creation after all. Whatcha think?
Absolutely. These creatures develop a life of their own. Not just the characters, but the books themselves. You are becoming a new father 😅
Congratulations!!
11:11 ,Something good on the ‘Horizon’?
(I hope Paul does not have an eye glass prescription with the numbers 1111)
The Apple Store experience sounds familiar, I think my husband was in line ahead of you. You might have noticed. Tall guy with a beard, turns around and exits the line when he only had 3 people in front of him. Yeah, that guy, he was running on empty, usually saying to himself, ‘I have to get the hell out of here, I’ve had enough.
How in the world, or ( universe) are you going to end this??
Lol! Your husband sounds like my kind of guy.
Reallllly looking forward to the ending — releasing chapters has not been easy even though the book is already written. How naive I was at the beginning of all this. It’s been a real Fool’s Journey but I wouldn’t change a thing. 😜
Ok, why a ‘fool’s journey’ if I may ask? I think I know the answer, but would never assume.
You don’t have your answer that, and I am glad you ultimately continued forward.😛😊
Thank you! When I think of the Fool archetype I think of courage and naïveté. Along the lines of what I shared with Veronika — I just jumped into the unknown writing a full length novel with zero experience and zero internet presence. Not that I thought it would be easy by any stretch, but definitely didn’t think it would be this hard. The first draft of this book was almost triple the word count, and the transformation to what you are reading now took took much longer than it did to write 125k crappy words in the first place 😆
A full unsolicited reply , from someone who knows nothing about it… delete when you are finished if you’d like, just for you really.
I am so glad I am just a reader. The only thing that I would be consistent with, is worrying about whether other people would appreciate my work .From a ‘just a reader point of view’, I believe you are needlessly ‘hitting yourself over the head’ with your own
COMPLETED BOOK. What’s that you think I said? Yes that’s it, you wrote and completed a book! Yup, repeat after me, I wrote a ……………
(insert swear word if it suits you, I would) novel!
So what, not many 👀’s
on your work. I’ve stopped by other Substack authors with many subscribers, and I don’t see the draw. From what I have read about well known authors, or interviews I have listened in on. Writing is an every day affair. I have attached an interview from a very well known author who wrote fiction ,from VT. Actually when you read about the Northeast Kingdom, or just ,The Kingdom, in this interview, this is an area in VT I spend more or less, 6 months out of the year in. There are other video interviews from this author if you are so inclined, you’ll find them on VPR ( VT public radio) . He was always known as being very generous when it comes to teaching others about writing novels, or more so, what he has learned as an author, in a very unassuming way.
I started reading your novel and stayed, because I had already read other posts from you. So I trusted you as an author and stayed for the journey. Happy I did.
Also, the chapters were a short read, compared to some that post too long .
Only read a small number on Substack, cuz life is happening outside my door and I am a big part of that outside arena 😊. Another author that I love on Substack , mentioned to me that his friend thought his posts were too short, and she needed to read through them twice to get the whole feel of it. She wanted him to write a more lengthly post. While he does not write consecutive chapters , he mostly writes fiction, prose, though it is often mixed in with reality. Sometimes difficult to tell, which makes the work all the more intriguing. I told him I do read it through twice, if I need to get a better understanding. I often do the same with you. I told him I tend to drift off when an author’s post is too long. Coming back to it later, which changes the full ‘flavor’ especially when I comment, I have already lost track of how it made me feel. So I told him to tell his friend, ‘twice is nice’. ( he was asking my opinion, so I gave it, unlike this reply)
Onward to the last chapter! And then have yourself a celebration ; you presented an entire novel on Substack, and to hell with whatever else you thought about it.
https://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/unbound/bookauth/hfmint.htm
Thank you for this. Frank Mosher seems like a fascinating guy. Will reply off thread.
I so appreciate Paul’s finely tuned differentiation between daily mind chatter and deeper essence. Such an important skill and a practice we all could benefit from. And the jarring contrast of “civilization” and rural life, boy do I get that one after moving to the sticks 7 years ago. Whenever I do need to go into town, I’m aware now of how much more patient and tolerant I’ve become of crowds, lines, noise. But only because I know I can escape it sooner than later!
Amen. Life’s been so loud lately I should probably take a page from Paul’s book myself and allocate some time to slow down and tune in. 😝