Hard relate. Being an internet "creator" is exhausting. Fwiw, the vast majority of authors don't earn their living from it. I'm lucky live near many writers and pretty much everyone has a day job or family money.
You may not be able to see the impact you've made, but that doesn't mean you haven't made one.
Blake, this resonated with me so hard. I realized recently that I was grinding at freelance writing on top of a full time, very draining teaching gig (teaching writing at a time when Chat GPT is breathing down all of our necks) because it felt like what I was writing about mattered or was somehow helping people. But after the zillionth time someone asked me for yet another essay or book explaining why people leave religion or what harms the Catholic church has done, I realized that I just didn't have it in me any more to constantly have online takes on top of work on top of family on top of trying to write. And my newsletter hasn't grown much since I pivoted to writing about cancer because, bummer topic I guess? So Substack is not the viable source of income it promises to be unless we're willing to constantly self promote, which is not realistic for most of us. But so I admire your honesty in talking about these realities. More of us should.
Thank you for all your work Blake. It was so formative for me as I looked for answers in 2019 and on. Your work was a guidepost to so many other influential resources. You even introduced me to my favorite book series - Monk and Robot.
I heard someone call you the “Grandfather” of deconstruction due to you being one of the early voices. One of the things we learned in deconstruction is it is ok to change our minds and it’s ok to move on. Even now you are illustrating that in your quiet life and quiet grief, and fighting against grind culture. Thank you for everything, rest well!
So relatable.
It sounds like you’re doing what you need to in order to endure these awful times. Whatever you end up doing I hope it brings you joy and rest.
Hard relate. Being an internet "creator" is exhausting. Fwiw, the vast majority of authors don't earn their living from it. I'm lucky live near many writers and pretty much everyone has a day job or family money.
You may not be able to see the impact you've made, but that doesn't mean you haven't made one.
Blake, this resonated with me so hard. I realized recently that I was grinding at freelance writing on top of a full time, very draining teaching gig (teaching writing at a time when Chat GPT is breathing down all of our necks) because it felt like what I was writing about mattered or was somehow helping people. But after the zillionth time someone asked me for yet another essay or book explaining why people leave religion or what harms the Catholic church has done, I realized that I just didn't have it in me any more to constantly have online takes on top of work on top of family on top of trying to write. And my newsletter hasn't grown much since I pivoted to writing about cancer because, bummer topic I guess? So Substack is not the viable source of income it promises to be unless we're willing to constantly self promote, which is not realistic for most of us. But so I admire your honesty in talking about these realities. More of us should.
Beautifully said, as always.
Thank you for all your work Blake. It was so formative for me as I looked for answers in 2019 and on. Your work was a guidepost to so many other influential resources. You even introduced me to my favorite book series - Monk and Robot.
I heard someone call you the “Grandfather” of deconstruction due to you being one of the early voices. One of the things we learned in deconstruction is it is ok to change our minds and it’s ok to move on. Even now you are illustrating that in your quiet life and quiet grief, and fighting against grind culture. Thank you for everything, rest well!
Things to ponder:
God,
Light of my Soul.
Darkness heals my Soul.
Change is opportunity for my Soul.
Love agrees with my Soul.
Forgiveness is the key to unlock my Soul.
Meditation frees my Soul.
Conversation moves my Soul.
Heaven resides in my Soul.
Today I live for my Soul.
Endings are beginnings for my Soul.