Art and Commerce and My 10th Novel
And some ways to work together this year.
I mentioned toward the second half of last year that This Creative Life as an active “brand” (sorry!) is winding down. But because the internet is forever and people keep discovering the podcast, there’s been a flurry of new subscriptions here.
Welcome! And hello to longtimers.
I’ve often wondered if I should just migrate TCL subscribers over to The Inbox Variations, but I don’t want to piss anyone off if they wind up on a list they did not explicitly subscribe to, so I haven’t done that. But I need to combine these two things eventually, so please consider heading over there to subscribe now where the two Substacks will seamlessly blend into one: TCL-style stuff about writing along with my author updates. In fact, it usually looks a lot like this thing you’re reading right now.
It’s been a very busy 2024 for me so far, but I’m seeing a little light at the end of the tunnel now and wanted to share a few things.
1. You and Your Writing
I’ve opened my calendar back up, refined my rate sheet, and am looking forward to working with some new developing writers this year. Whether you’ve got a finished project that needs perspective, or you’re just getting started, maybe I can help. The Services page on my site is live again.
If all goes according to plan, I’ll also be running a 6-week MFA-style workshop, live and online, a bit later in the spring, for Image Intensives. This is great if you want a live group experience where you can benefit from the magic of discussion and seeing what other writers are struggling with. Sometimes we have blind spots about our own work that are suddenly revealed in someone else’s. Be sure you’re following me on at least one platform to get the news when it’s announced (very soon), and if you don’t see it, drop me a line right on this post.
2. Me and My Writing
My tenth novel/twelfth book comes out on March 5. I’m very very proud of it and hope it finds the readers who need it most. It’s about Kyra, 13, who is basically best friends with and life partner of her single mom, which “works” until her mom’s sobriety wobbles, and then it very much doesn’t. Pre-order or get it in a couple of weeks.
3. Art and Commerce, 18 Years On
I’ve been in the writing business for a long time. There are the 18 years since selling my first novel, but there were also 10 years before that when I got my very first agent and wrote my first few (and yet unpublished) books.
To say “a lot has changed” between 2007 and 2024 is a vast understatement. My experience of publishing book #12 is almost unrecognizable when compared to how it all went with #1. The rise of Amazon and social media—with a pinch of pandemic and fascism—greatly changed the landscape.
Here on the eve of my next book, my excitement about the act of publishing has waned while my interest in writing good work and my desire for (and frustrations about) the right readers finding that work has intensified. Courtney Summers recently wrote about this very eloquently in her newsletter.
It feels like the right place to be, but the trick is making it all work so one can keep a roof overhead with bonus groceries and health insurance. It’s something I’m putting energy behind puzzling out this year and I do hope to have some answers eventually.
For now, please do consider moving on over to The Inbox Variations, where you’ll be hearing from me in a couple of weeks with a lot of recommendations and further thoughts about being this many books old.
~SZ