Thanks, Jill! Yes, it seems that serials draw coteries. That has its own reward, but is perhaps more moderate than the potential might seem. I wonder if some of the difficulty of serialized fiction has to do with a different attitude toward reading that particular genre. Marilynn Robinson once said during a Q&A that she writes fiction longhand, typically on the couch and while wearing loungewear. By contrast, her nonfiction is banged out at a computer while she is highly caffeinated.
The essay, the Note, the interview -- these all require a different kind of reading that is more conducive to the Substack app or a screen. I've found myself not reading as much fiction on the platform because I don't often have the urge to respond to fiction. It's something I take with me to the couch or to bed, typically when I'm trying to get away from my screens. And there are a thousand podcasts to compete with the audio versions during chore time or whenever I might be listening.
Perhaps I'm unusual in that way, but I prefer my fiction in print, and I often prefer my reaction to it to either be private or to incubate longer than the typical comment thread allows.
I always prefer the tangible word over screens as a reader. Yet, as @Anne Trubek observed in her most recent post, there are too few of us left who actually buy books (and lordy I’ve done my part to bring the average up)
Appreciated his good news/bad news about serializing his novel here. Interesting interview to read.
Thanks, Jill! Yes, it seems that serials draw coteries. That has its own reward, but is perhaps more moderate than the potential might seem. I wonder if some of the difficulty of serialized fiction has to do with a different attitude toward reading that particular genre. Marilynn Robinson once said during a Q&A that she writes fiction longhand, typically on the couch and while wearing loungewear. By contrast, her nonfiction is banged out at a computer while she is highly caffeinated.
The essay, the Note, the interview -- these all require a different kind of reading that is more conducive to the Substack app or a screen. I've found myself not reading as much fiction on the platform because I don't often have the urge to respond to fiction. It's something I take with me to the couch or to bed, typically when I'm trying to get away from my screens. And there are a thousand podcasts to compete with the audio versions during chore time or whenever I might be listening.
Perhaps I'm unusual in that way, but I prefer my fiction in print, and I often prefer my reaction to it to either be private or to incubate longer than the typical comment thread allows.
I always prefer the tangible word over screens as a reader. Yet, as @Anne Trubek observed in her most recent post, there are too few of us left who actually buy books (and lordy I’ve done my part to bring the average up)
Yes, I’ve bought plenty this year.