It’s spring in Ottawa, and that means cycles of freezing and thawing, and I’ve been living that, a little.
I’m so sorry to have missed the last couple of Fridays. I became aware of Substack-the-corporate-entity behaving badly around the same time that I received some difficult-to-process news (in the realm of Challenge and Disappointment, not Death and Calamities), and consequently I’ve been wallowing in a quiet mudbath of my own feelings. There’s no more graceful way to put this. But I miss writing here.
I have many, many thoughts about Substack-the-corporate-entity, and further thoughts about the commentary they’ve provoked, and no time or energy to address them in any fulsome or meaningful way. My wonderful assistant has been exploring non-Substack options that preserve the things that I like about this platform without inconveniencing any of you or changing the experience here too much, and I’ll keep you posted about how that goes. Many of you will recall that I first moved to Substack from a different service that shut itself down, so what I’m most interested in is finding a way to maintain a newsletter in a self-hosted way that isn’t subject to the whims or ethics of rapacious VCs.
In the meantime, I’d appreciate knowing from you what you value about this newsletter, what you’d hope wouldn’t change in a migration. Some of you are likely subscribed to other newsletters that have made the move to different platforms; how’s that been for you?
Wishing joy and nourishment and ease to you all, whether you’re celebrating holy days this weekend or just contemplating the light changing on the walls of your apartment. There’s more and more of it every day.
Sarah Gailey just moved their letter too and it changed over without a hitch for me. I just needed to add the new addy to my favorite list to keep it out of spam. Good luck with your search. I really just like reading about what interests you 😊
I actually dislike Substack's UX - I can't expand the comment box in multiple browsers - so I'd be happy to move to something new even with disruption. What I like about Substack is the ability to answer and thread comments, which most newsletters don't offer, so if whatever you follow on with has that, I'll be happy.
<3 That must have not been easy. I have been feeling increasingly aliented from substack discourse because what people say substack writers are like, are not the substack writers that I am subscribed to.
What I appreciate about your substack, is that I love reading your non-fiction writing, having a notification of work you have published (critique or fiction), and hearing about stuff that you love, without needing to have a social media account. I am increasingly feeling uncomfortable with the hum of twitter, and love being able to follow people whose work I appreciate without feeling like I need to *use* twitter.
So anywhere where you host your newsletter, I will happily follow. =) Even if it is a simple RSS on a blog.
I hadn't seen the NPR piece. It's lovely! Makes me lament that my 2020 was too busy for ACNH.
Your newsletter has been a string of pearls of light during some dark days, and a shared celebration during better ones. Friday open threads have pushed me to look at my week with gratitude and good spirits. It's wonderful to read everyone else's comments and get a window into spaces and perspectives adjacent to my own that would otherwise be hidden by the hedges of our disparate lives.
I agree with Risa upthread; Substack's UX kinda sucks, so everyone migrating away in the wake of the terrible revelations has been welcome. In addition to not being able to expand comment boxes, it's frustrating to have to log in via email link every time my session ends. I'd rather an ordinary login box, a Wordpress situation where I'm logged in via a third party (that has an ordinary login box), or just not be logged in at all.
Thank you! Move the newsletter to wherever you feel comfortable - and frequency as you feel moved is fine. :) I enjoy the pointers to published reviews and to too-good-not-to-share-tho-not-published reviews. Those help with my browsing. And news about what's caught your interest or become important is always good. Share what you wish. :)
Comments and threads are nice here, and I appreciate the ability to both get an email and track posts in my RSS reader of choice (gasp, such anachronism! /s).
I also use an RSS reader! (Feedly!) Yesterday it asked me if I wanted to do Twitter integration & I physically hissed at it, then thought, wait, maybe Twitter would be more palatable if I read 3-5 accounts for information at a remove. I haven't taken the plunge yet, though.
ooh, that could be a nice way to just look at a few Twitter faves....I use Feedbin. Hurray for old-school readers (still missing Google Reader, I have to say).
I think I most appreciate the sense of connection, even when I feel I don't have much to contribute. I'm on the east coast, and work long hours—by the time I see this on a Friday night, I'm pretty fried, honestly. But I'm so grateful to read a bit and hear what you're up to, to feel some sense of solidarity. And to read what everyone else has posted here.
To bad you have an issue with Substack and I really hope you'll find a descent alternative...
There seem to be some alternatives for it. (Ghost etc)...
I love your little emails containing your thoughts always carefully worded. It's inspirational to read your thoughts an email while enjoying my first cup of coffee for the day:)
I hope you'll find an alternative. I would very much miss your (mostly) Friday stories.
Hopefully you're not moving to some social media platform...
I'm an infrequent commenter...but what I value about the newsletter is the combination of thoughtful comment threads and conversations, and your beautiful writing about what you're doing and thinking. I'd follow that anywhere.
I'm sorry about the difficult news! I will support you on Substack or on another platform, just let me know :) Things I have most appreciated about Substack are a) simple design, b) email integration, c) comments, which I am sure are pretty easy to find just about anywhere :)
Best of luck, and I hope you get a relaxing weekend and to enjoy the coming of Spring!
I “met” you through Writing Excuses and then through your writing. This newsletter washes into my inbox like a letter in a bottle. Your words are warm, kind and gentle. That is gift enough
I just like to sit here and bask in the one line: "interior art for my first comic" and think... YOUNG AMAL! YOUNG AMAL SITTING AND PORING OVER COMICS ALL HER YOUTH INTO HER ADULTHOODING DAYS! YOUNG AMAL, SLIGHTLY OLDER AMAL HAS MADE HER FIRST COMIC!!!!
I'm sorry you've been wallowing in a mudbath of feelings. I hope that an option is found which suits you better, and that you come to a period of thaw and growth in a manner & time which suits you.
Things I like about this newsletter: I like reading your thoughts! I like the space to comment & interact, both with you and potentially with other subscribers. (Honestly I mostly miss livejournal, so anything that allows for that sense of community & interactivity but not shouting-into-the-void is what I am going to gravitate towards.)
The other newsletters I am subscribed to who are leaving Substack are split between the ones which are more truly weekly roundups, which have moved to solutions which do not include a comment option (buttondown and tinyletter) or are still deciding where to migrate to. I follow a bunch of folks on Patreon, but I kind of assume if you wanted to go that direction you would have at the last move.
I hope you have had a lovely week, and any holy days you have/are celebrating this month have and/are/will be wonderful! And regardless of holy days you celebrate, I hope the continuing increase in sunlight treat you well and gently.
Sarah Gailey just moved their letter too and it changed over without a hitch for me. I just needed to add the new addy to my favorite list to keep it out of spam. Good luck with your search. I really just like reading about what interests you 😊
Sending hugs Amal.
I'm just a simple person so I just need to get the newsletter in my inbox. :)
Good luck with your projects and events. Take care.
I actually dislike Substack's UX - I can't expand the comment box in multiple browsers - so I'd be happy to move to something new even with disruption. What I like about Substack is the ability to answer and thread comments, which most newsletters don't offer, so if whatever you follow on with has that, I'll be happy.
<3 That must have not been easy. I have been feeling increasingly aliented from substack discourse because what people say substack writers are like, are not the substack writers that I am subscribed to.
What I appreciate about your substack, is that I love reading your non-fiction writing, having a notification of work you have published (critique or fiction), and hearing about stuff that you love, without needing to have a social media account. I am increasingly feeling uncomfortable with the hum of twitter, and love being able to follow people whose work I appreciate without feeling like I need to *use* twitter.
So anywhere where you host your newsletter, I will happily follow. =) Even if it is a simple RSS on a blog.
I hadn't seen the NPR piece. It's lovely! Makes me lament that my 2020 was too busy for ACNH.
Your newsletter has been a string of pearls of light during some dark days, and a shared celebration during better ones. Friday open threads have pushed me to look at my week with gratitude and good spirits. It's wonderful to read everyone else's comments and get a window into spaces and perspectives adjacent to my own that would otherwise be hidden by the hedges of our disparate lives.
I agree with Risa upthread; Substack's UX kinda sucks, so everyone migrating away in the wake of the terrible revelations has been welcome. In addition to not being able to expand comment boxes, it's frustrating to have to log in via email link every time my session ends. I'd rather an ordinary login box, a Wordpress situation where I'm logged in via a third party (that has an ordinary login box), or just not be logged in at all.
Thank you! Move the newsletter to wherever you feel comfortable - and frequency as you feel moved is fine. :) I enjoy the pointers to published reviews and to too-good-not-to-share-tho-not-published reviews. Those help with my browsing. And news about what's caught your interest or become important is always good. Share what you wish. :)
Comments and threads are nice here, and I appreciate the ability to both get an email and track posts in my RSS reader of choice (gasp, such anachronism! /s).
Ooh, I didn't realize it was possible to use an RSS reader with a substack newsletter. Will explore that pronto.
I also use an RSS reader! (Feedly!) Yesterday it asked me if I wanted to do Twitter integration & I physically hissed at it, then thought, wait, maybe Twitter would be more palatable if I read 3-5 accounts for information at a remove. I haven't taken the plunge yet, though.
ooh, that could be a nice way to just look at a few Twitter faves....I use Feedbin. Hurray for old-school readers (still missing Google Reader, I have to say).
I think I most appreciate the sense of connection, even when I feel I don't have much to contribute. I'm on the east coast, and work long hours—by the time I see this on a Friday night, I'm pretty fried, honestly. But I'm so grateful to read a bit and hear what you're up to, to feel some sense of solidarity. And to read what everyone else has posted here.
To bad you have an issue with Substack and I really hope you'll find a descent alternative...
There seem to be some alternatives for it. (Ghost etc)...
I love your little emails containing your thoughts always carefully worded. It's inspirational to read your thoughts an email while enjoying my first cup of coffee for the day:)
I hope you'll find an alternative. I would very much miss your (mostly) Friday stories.
Hopefully you're not moving to some social media platform...
I'm an infrequent commenter...but what I value about the newsletter is the combination of thoughtful comment threads and conversations, and your beautiful writing about what you're doing and thinking. I'd follow that anywhere.
Really looking forward to reading your comic!
Hey Amal,
I'm sorry about the difficult news! I will support you on Substack or on another platform, just let me know :) Things I have most appreciated about Substack are a) simple design, b) email integration, c) comments, which I am sure are pretty easy to find just about anywhere :)
Best of luck, and I hope you get a relaxing weekend and to enjoy the coming of Spring!
I just like reading a brief missive with some of your currents thoughts and experiences. Thank you. 💗
I “met” you through Writing Excuses and then through your writing. This newsletter washes into my inbox like a letter in a bottle. Your words are warm, kind and gentle. That is gift enough
I just like to sit here and bask in the one line: "interior art for my first comic" and think... YOUNG AMAL! YOUNG AMAL SITTING AND PORING OVER COMICS ALL HER YOUTH INTO HER ADULTHOODING DAYS! YOUNG AMAL, SLIGHTLY OLDER AMAL HAS MADE HER FIRST COMIC!!!!
I'm sorry you've been wallowing in a mudbath of feelings. I hope that an option is found which suits you better, and that you come to a period of thaw and growth in a manner & time which suits you.
Things I like about this newsletter: I like reading your thoughts! I like the space to comment & interact, both with you and potentially with other subscribers. (Honestly I mostly miss livejournal, so anything that allows for that sense of community & interactivity but not shouting-into-the-void is what I am going to gravitate towards.)
The other newsletters I am subscribed to who are leaving Substack are split between the ones which are more truly weekly roundups, which have moved to solutions which do not include a comment option (buttondown and tinyletter) or are still deciding where to migrate to. I follow a bunch of folks on Patreon, but I kind of assume if you wanted to go that direction you would have at the last move.
I hope you have had a lovely week, and any holy days you have/are celebrating this month have and/are/will be wonderful! And regardless of holy days you celebrate, I hope the continuing increase in sunlight treat you well and gently.