This story nailed it, that's exactly how the conversations go in the building I live in in France. Exactly the same, to a tee. Completely the opposite in Spain though, where I also technically live. Every building has a syndicate and everyone gets helped and everyone helps when necessary, without complaint.
By the way, is there a difference between condo and apartment, are they interchangeable? Always wondered.
Spain seems like a pretty amazing place. One of my business school friends uprooted and moved there a few years back and he seems to love it. Brent and Michael -- Substack's beloved travel writers -- have detailed their time there as well and it sounds fantastic.
As you might imagine, this story was inspired by the dipshits in my condo. Thankfully we've had some turnover in the building since 2022 and things have been running much smoother.
Re: apartment vs. condo, my daughter asks me the same thing and I can never find a definitive answer. Typically, an apartment is rented and a condo is communally owned. But in big cities people can own "apartments" as well, which might legally be considered condos. It's very confusing, and makes me sad I wasn't born rich enough to buy a McMansion in my neighborhood.
Usual culture war politics. They focus on Spanish politics first, but the TV channels here also keep them "informed" on what's going on in other countries. But, as in the US, the TV channels are partizan, so you get your CNN-type and your Fox News type. My father-in-law, for example, often tells me that you can't go out in London anymore because of all the stabbings. Even though I'm from London and go back regularly to visit family and can confirm that London is still as it always was. He also says that Macron of France is far-left, which cracks me up every time.
Best not to talk politics here, because you're often disappointed/surprised to discover someone you get on well with and is so kind, votes for a party that stands against all of those values. But even then, as long as you choose to agree to disagree and move on to different topics, you're still good.
Excellent use of repetition and other kid lit craft devices in your "children's" book. Deftly unhinged and rancidly topical.
Money? Where?
OH, the FUTILITY! WT-honest-to-God-F are we doing here?
I support you to the moon and back, buddy. Just probably never with money. Unless I get that seven-figure advance before you do. Here's to the wants in all of us. 🥂
I was very pleased with the quality of this piece, especially since I wrote it two years ago. In some ways I feel like I've improved dramatically, but at the same time I feel like I found my voice in late 2020 and these past few years have just been sharpening my implements.
Either way, I'm glad it held up.
You know, like every member of the creator economy, I just don't know what moves the needle on any metric. Should I write more or less here? Should I pitch McSweeney's more? Or give up altogether? Should I focus more on IG or YouTube or neither? Should I concentrate more on a new novel? Should I just sit around and read and disconnect from social media altogether? I honestly don't know how to answer these questions, otherwise I'd take decisive action.
I love writing this newsletter, but it's clearly not a money driver and it's still a very small audience with a fairly limited network effect. Hard to argue putting all my eggs in this basket is a good idea. IG has huge network potential, but how do I get people (or the algorithm) to care? It's just really tricky and hard to figure out where to put your attention. I don't intend to sound whiny here, either, just perplexed. Just gotta keep grinding, day by day.
Money's not a consideration here, though I do hope you'll buy a brand new hardcover of LEVERAGE when it comes out. Set aside $2.50 per month starting now and you shouldn't miss the funds too much when the time comes. I could be dead by then, which would certainly make my launch a lot buzzier.
You'll inevitably get more traction on IG and YouTube once your book is out, but I'm still not sure I, personally, would recommend you focus on trying to game either in the short term. Be there, yes. 100%. But be there for the people who are actually interested in who you are and what you're doing. And make sure it's fun for you and not a soul-sucking chore. Again - my advice, grain of salt, etc. This is that whole followers vs. fans thing that we don't see eye-to-eye on. 😉
You already have the agent and the book deal, so you don't NEED a big following ANYWHERE to prove you can do this. Lots of us aren't so lucky (yet.)
Your newsletter audience is "small," but we're scrappy, and we miss your work when it isn't here. I miss your flash fiction. More please, when you get to it. And just more because it's good practice and fun to experiment. And you're a novelist so telling stories of all sizes is how you're going to keep your implements sharp.
And OF COURSE I'M GOING TO BUY YOUR BOOK, YOU DOPE!!! I'm not that poor. I'm just really stingy and trying my best to plan for my income-less future as a writer married to a poorly paid gym teacher with two super smart kids who'll probably want to go to college someday.
I'll buy all your books. I'll even pay postage to ship them to you so you can sign them sarcastically.
P.S. When I finally publish a book, I'm not going to ask you to pay for it. But I am going to INSIST that you read every page. That's worth way more to me than $25.
You're probably one of the ones in between that I didn't bother to memorize cuz they weren't me. 🤪 You're not really a desert. Just desert adjacent. Forest leaning. Sledgehammer/wolverine/hand grenade/squishmallow. Do your kids play with those? Squishmallows, I mean, not the other ones. 😂
My daughter's a reader, too. And visual artsy. Two birthdays ago a friend got her a big box set of princess themed Barbie dolls. She was visibly horrified. My son is becoming a bit video game obsessed, but he takes brain breaks to go outside and dribble a soccer ball like it's a basket ball and practice light saber moves. My kids are not trendy. That's why I like them so much. 🙂
This story nailed it, that's exactly how the conversations go in the building I live in in France. Exactly the same, to a tee. Completely the opposite in Spain though, where I also technically live. Every building has a syndicate and everyone gets helped and everyone helps when necessary, without complaint.
By the way, is there a difference between condo and apartment, are they interchangeable? Always wondered.
Spain seems like a pretty amazing place. One of my business school friends uprooted and moved there a few years back and he seems to love it. Brent and Michael -- Substack's beloved travel writers -- have detailed their time there as well and it sounds fantastic.
As you might imagine, this story was inspired by the dipshits in my condo. Thankfully we've had some turnover in the building since 2022 and things have been running much smoother.
Re: apartment vs. condo, my daughter asks me the same thing and I can never find a definitive answer. Typically, an apartment is rented and a condo is communally owned. But in big cities people can own "apartments" as well, which might legally be considered condos. It's very confusing, and makes me sad I wasn't born rich enough to buy a McMansion in my neighborhood.
Well that clears up the confusion :/
Spain's great. Just try to not talk politics, and you'll get along with everyone here.
Spanish politics? Or any politics? Just curious. If/when I retire there my only concern will be the beach.
Usual culture war politics. They focus on Spanish politics first, but the TV channels here also keep them "informed" on what's going on in other countries. But, as in the US, the TV channels are partizan, so you get your CNN-type and your Fox News type. My father-in-law, for example, often tells me that you can't go out in London anymore because of all the stabbings. Even though I'm from London and go back regularly to visit family and can confirm that London is still as it always was. He also says that Macron of France is far-left, which cracks me up every time.
Best not to talk politics here, because you're often disappointed/surprised to discover someone you get on well with and is so kind, votes for a party that stands against all of those values. But even then, as long as you choose to agree to disagree and move on to different topics, you're still good.
You can't get "news" from the television. Also, "values?" Never heard of those.
Ugh -- grim times.
On a lighter note, I always just assumed that with everyone in America being tooled up, they also knew how to aim.
Excellent use of repetition and other kid lit craft devices in your "children's" book. Deftly unhinged and rancidly topical.
Money? Where?
OH, the FUTILITY! WT-honest-to-God-F are we doing here?
I support you to the moon and back, buddy. Just probably never with money. Unless I get that seven-figure advance before you do. Here's to the wants in all of us. 🥂
I was very pleased with the quality of this piece, especially since I wrote it two years ago. In some ways I feel like I've improved dramatically, but at the same time I feel like I found my voice in late 2020 and these past few years have just been sharpening my implements.
Either way, I'm glad it held up.
You know, like every member of the creator economy, I just don't know what moves the needle on any metric. Should I write more or less here? Should I pitch McSweeney's more? Or give up altogether? Should I focus more on IG or YouTube or neither? Should I concentrate more on a new novel? Should I just sit around and read and disconnect from social media altogether? I honestly don't know how to answer these questions, otherwise I'd take decisive action.
I love writing this newsletter, but it's clearly not a money driver and it's still a very small audience with a fairly limited network effect. Hard to argue putting all my eggs in this basket is a good idea. IG has huge network potential, but how do I get people (or the algorithm) to care? It's just really tricky and hard to figure out where to put your attention. I don't intend to sound whiny here, either, just perplexed. Just gotta keep grinding, day by day.
Money's not a consideration here, though I do hope you'll buy a brand new hardcover of LEVERAGE when it comes out. Set aside $2.50 per month starting now and you shouldn't miss the funds too much when the time comes. I could be dead by then, which would certainly make my launch a lot buzzier.
You'll inevitably get more traction on IG and YouTube once your book is out, but I'm still not sure I, personally, would recommend you focus on trying to game either in the short term. Be there, yes. 100%. But be there for the people who are actually interested in who you are and what you're doing. And make sure it's fun for you and not a soul-sucking chore. Again - my advice, grain of salt, etc. This is that whole followers vs. fans thing that we don't see eye-to-eye on. 😉
You already have the agent and the book deal, so you don't NEED a big following ANYWHERE to prove you can do this. Lots of us aren't so lucky (yet.)
Your newsletter audience is "small," but we're scrappy, and we miss your work when it isn't here. I miss your flash fiction. More please, when you get to it. And just more because it's good practice and fun to experiment. And you're a novelist so telling stories of all sizes is how you're going to keep your implements sharp.
And OF COURSE I'M GOING TO BUY YOUR BOOK, YOU DOPE!!! I'm not that poor. I'm just really stingy and trying my best to plan for my income-less future as a writer married to a poorly paid gym teacher with two super smart kids who'll probably want to go to college someday.
I'll buy all your books. I'll even pay postage to ship them to you so you can sign them sarcastically.
P.S. When I finally publish a book, I'm not going to ask you to pay for it. But I am going to INSIST that you read every page. That's worth way more to me than $25.
Said the Forest to the Desert. 🙂
Interesting you have me pegged as a Desert in that analogy. Not sure I fit either, though I'd consider myself more of a Forest.
You're probably one of the ones in between that I didn't bother to memorize cuz they weren't me. 🤪 You're not really a desert. Just desert adjacent. Forest leaning. Sledgehammer/wolverine/hand grenade/squishmallow. Do your kids play with those? Squishmallows, I mean, not the other ones. 😂
I think so. My daughter likes books and dolls and my son action figures, so not sure where they fit in the paradigm.
My daughter's a reader, too. And visual artsy. Two birthdays ago a friend got her a big box set of princess themed Barbie dolls. She was visibly horrified. My son is becoming a bit video game obsessed, but he takes brain breaks to go outside and dribble a soccer ball like it's a basket ball and practice light saber moves. My kids are not trendy. That's why I like them so much. 🙂