Such a pleasure. I wonder if the power is in the deceptive simplicity of the same questions bouncing around so many different brains, touching on the boundless range of creative practices encouraged out into the open by the community on this platform. Who knows, but it is magical.
How lovely to read through these snippets again... I love Eleanor's 8Q's - what an inspired post Barrie! Hopefully, we will see your own answers up there soon too Barrie and JoJo!
Good grief! I've just checked that link, thinking I must have missed a recent post due being unsubscribed by the ghost in the Substack machine but no, not only did I tap the little heart, I left a comment too... which pretty much makes me officially geriatric!
Or it makes my stuff instantly forgettable. You are very generous with your likes and comments - not just to me but to so many folk. You’re allowed to forget … I always say I have to forget a few bits to make room in my brain for new stuff!!!
Always the gentleman, thank you... of course we can't remember everything and certainly not because it was forgettable just that we read so much! And yes, making space is a necessity right!
It’s such an important observation … the multiplying effect of community, the strength and encouragement it offers, the support to be found and the learning to accelerate into … it makes it such a great place to hone your craft and live a creative life. Thanks for peeking in, Mark.
I love love love 8Qs and how simple and brilliant the questions are and the endlessly amazing answers they elicit. And I love Iove love this homage to it Barrie and JoJo!! Some of these are from my favourite 8Qs posts but my all-time favourite is Chloe Hope (who is my all-time favourite Substack writer). I was just scrolling back through them and I can see many I read, but plenty I missed that I must now go back and read!! I have been writing and rewriting my own answers to the questions for a looooong time and I would love to read Rebecca Hooper, Kendall Lamb and Susie Mawhinney’s answers!
I nearly included a Chloe Hope answer but there was almost too much to choose from. Another time, perhaps. We would love to read Susie’s answers too … oh, and yours!
I always think it is one of the best feelings, seeing how other folk use our words and creativity, how the ripples spread … it is at the heart of ‘be the pebble in the pond’, No 10 in our Encouragement Manifesto. So happy that our modest compendium has brought you joy - it’s only fair, that’s what 8 Questions brings. 💛
Attempting to understand how Substack works, I've managed to not figure it out, but love to post to those who have great writing in their hearts and respond. Yet often my posting don't get seen and I don't get it? Paywalls? Nah. I'm still, although published traditionally, wanting to create and SHARE.
It is so tricky … what works for one person, leaves another clawing at shadows … there seems no recipe, and I suspect that’s a good thing. Posting and responding to those who have writing in their hearts sounds like ‘success’ to me. Many folk here crave the traditional publishing route you have navigated already - congratulations … the same patience that life demands appears to be the key here too. Happy writing, Jill; thank you so much for commenting.
This comment with which you replied more than helped--it encouraged me to continually accept that change is necessary, even changes we don't admire or enjoy. Change must happen and adapting our thinking to ways we can help to become fuller as individuals in search of truths, even fictional truths, is great!
I didn't know about 8 questions and found the responses so interesting. I am very glad I started writing on Substack, it is such a refreshing alternative to other platforms, and am definitely in it for the long haul too.
I'm not a fiction writer and never will be, but I loved all of this insight into Substack, much from writers who have been around here for a long time. Thank you for sharing their thoughts! And I think I'm here to stay too...
I love that so many of the folk interviewed by Eleanor are ‘hard to pin down’ when it comes to their creative practices … fiction writers who also pen memoir, essay writers who paint, photographers who are brilliant with words - even encouragers who try a little fiction too … the ideas and advice, the process and practices, apply to so many of us. Super glad you’re in for the long haul, Betty. Me too.
Thank you for sharing with us what other Substack writers/readers have to say about their process and progress. I am happy to say I love the 20 or so writers who have become my Substack tribe. I love their work and am always honored that they choose to read my short fiction. They are, each one, a sparkling gem -- generous and kind and so very smart.
It is so fascinating understanding what makes folk tick … things we haven’t thought about or which don’t apply to us now but might in the future. It is such an interesting series … so hard to pick out highlights, which is always a good sign.
8Qs is deceptively powerful and always an interesting read. It was a pleasure and honour to be asked to join and thank you for quoting me!
Such a pleasure. I wonder if the power is in the deceptive simplicity of the same questions bouncing around so many different brains, touching on the boundless range of creative practices encouraged out into the open by the community on this platform. Who knows, but it is magical.
How lovely to read through these snippets again... I love Eleanor's 8Q's - what an inspired post Barrie! Hopefully, we will see your own answers up there soon too Barrie and JoJo!
Whisper it very quietly, we sneaked in there …
https://eleanoranstruther.substack.com/p/8-questions-for-feast-and-fables?utm_campaign=posts-open-in-app&triedRedirect=true
Good grief! I've just checked that link, thinking I must have missed a recent post due being unsubscribed by the ghost in the Substack machine but no, not only did I tap the little heart, I left a comment too... which pretty much makes me officially geriatric!
Or it makes my stuff instantly forgettable. You are very generous with your likes and comments - not just to me but to so many folk. You’re allowed to forget … I always say I have to forget a few bits to make room in my brain for new stuff!!!
Always the gentleman, thank you... of course we can't remember everything and certainly not because it was forgettable just that we read so much! And yes, making space is a necessity right!
I particularly love Ellie's comment about how she used to write alone and now it's in/for a community - spot on
It’s such an important observation … the multiplying effect of community, the strength and encouragement it offers, the support to be found and the learning to accelerate into … it makes it such a great place to hone your craft and live a creative life. Thanks for peeking in, Mark.
I love love love 8Qs and how simple and brilliant the questions are and the endlessly amazing answers they elicit. And I love Iove love this homage to it Barrie and JoJo!! Some of these are from my favourite 8Qs posts but my all-time favourite is Chloe Hope (who is my all-time favourite Substack writer). I was just scrolling back through them and I can see many I read, but plenty I missed that I must now go back and read!! I have been writing and rewriting my own answers to the questions for a looooong time and I would love to read Rebecca Hooper, Kendall Lamb and Susie Mawhinney’s answers!
I nearly included a Chloe Hope answer but there was almost too much to choose from. Another time, perhaps. We would love to read Susie’s answers too … oh, and yours!
There are so many to choose from! (And thank you ☺️)
Gosh, seeing those snippets I'm so proud of the amazing collection of guests I've had. Thanks, Barrie. This has made me very happy xx
I always think it is one of the best feelings, seeing how other folk use our words and creativity, how the ripples spread … it is at the heart of ‘be the pebble in the pond’, No 10 in our Encouragement Manifesto. So happy that our modest compendium has brought you joy - it’s only fair, that’s what 8 Questions brings. 💛
Attempting to understand how Substack works, I've managed to not figure it out, but love to post to those who have great writing in their hearts and respond. Yet often my posting don't get seen and I don't get it? Paywalls? Nah. I'm still, although published traditionally, wanting to create and SHARE.
It is so tricky … what works for one person, leaves another clawing at shadows … there seems no recipe, and I suspect that’s a good thing. Posting and responding to those who have writing in their hearts sounds like ‘success’ to me. Many folk here crave the traditional publishing route you have navigated already - congratulations … the same patience that life demands appears to be the key here too. Happy writing, Jill; thank you so much for commenting.
This comment with which you replied more than helped--it encouraged me to continually accept that change is necessary, even changes we don't admire or enjoy. Change must happen and adapting our thinking to ways we can help to become fuller as individuals in search of truths, even fictional truths, is great!
I didn't know about 8 questions and found the responses so interesting. I am very glad I started writing on Substack, it is such a refreshing alternative to other platforms, and am definitely in it for the long haul too.
Ah, lovely to have left a trail of breadcrumbs to Eleanor’s excellent work. And so happy you’re here and sticking around. Me too!
I'm not a fiction writer and never will be, but I loved all of this insight into Substack, much from writers who have been around here for a long time. Thank you for sharing their thoughts! And I think I'm here to stay too...
I love that so many of the folk interviewed by Eleanor are ‘hard to pin down’ when it comes to their creative practices … fiction writers who also pen memoir, essay writers who paint, photographers who are brilliant with words - even encouragers who try a little fiction too … the ideas and advice, the process and practices, apply to so many of us. Super glad you’re in for the long haul, Betty. Me too.
Thank you for your encouragement to me and so many others! I saved this post for future inspiration.
That’s so lovely. 💛
Thank you for sharing with us what other Substack writers/readers have to say about their process and progress. I am happy to say I love the 20 or so writers who have become my Substack tribe. I love their work and am always honored that they choose to read my short fiction. They are, each one, a sparkling gem -- generous and kind and so very smart.
It is so fascinating understanding what makes folk tick … things we haven’t thought about or which don’t apply to us now but might in the future. It is such an interesting series … so hard to pick out highlights, which is always a good sign.
Agreed!