Well, it’s been 3 months since my “Where Am I?” post and I’m still gone. My world has been shifting for the better. But for all the relief, I feel equal amounts of unease, mostly because of Desire Path.
Altogether, I’ve been short on time. I’m enjoying my day job—disgusting, I know—and working more hours. Commitments are ramping up and I’m spending time in third places. I could publish abbreviated essays but can’t stand by a piece without adequate thought and supporting research.
On top of that, Substack is saturated. More and more people writing and sharing. I like it. I like diving into thoughts, not scrolling by them. I like how vulnerable and eloquent people are. It (Substack and the newsletter surge at large) really feels like a new arena for writers and a fresh self-expressionistic vehicle that’s more considerate than the hungry, mega-platforms.
And right now, I want to read and receive, not give and publish. I want to learn and nod and look and accept.
Being an audience member is underrated. We all want to be the main character, and with the help of the internet, we are. But telling a story is complex. To tell a story is to live an experience and embody the punch line later. To tell a story is to attend your friends’ stories.
Right now, I’m listening…
[Fin]
“To hear, one must be silent.” ― Ursula K. Le Guin, The Earthsea Trilogy