How getting involved in online publishing and starting my own mag opened doors for me both creatively and professionally, alongside finding an agent and failing to sell my first novel
Brilliant, Blake, thank you! I hope you don't get sick of my comments, but these posts truly inspire me, and so much of what you write resonates with my own introspection and journey as an author (Btw, I absolutely adored "Molly" - I was devastated but deeply impacted, perhaps even transformed somehow, by that book. I elaborated more in my review on Amazon, but for what it's worth, it meant a great deal to me!).
thank you Michael! never sick of the comments, and really appreciate your kind words about the post and the book both. i really appreciate the amazon review! tyty
Another great post Blake. I will emphasize again how important your words are to writers everywhere. Pulling the curtain back and taking some of the mystery out of publishing should help anyone interested in the truth. Gordon Lish always taught that, “Art is a difficulty overcome.” 👍
My reviews are not run of the mill. I use whatever was in the book that inspired me to write something in the first place. Often my reviews have nothing to do with the book per se. In your case your book made me realize how wrong I was initially about your earlier work and my overly critical assessment of it. And for that I am sorry and ask for your forgiveness. You are both a great writer and person and I admire you very much.
thanks for saying so. i totally get it. i love lish and i also like fucking with his monotheories with more punk shit. there's lots of different styles. i also dug zimble zamble zumble back in the day. i appreciate you coming back to read again. cheers
Thank you for these posts, Blake! It’s refreshing to have a glimpse that balances artistic concerns with the nuts and bolts of publishing as you've experienced them. I especially appreciate your focus on finding organic connections, being thoughtful and specific about how we show up for our own work and within the community.
hi blake! i just wanted to say thank you for putting these posts together. they've been enormously helpful, as someone who's just starting with trying to put work out and practice, but who also has no real idea of what they're doing. all of which is to say, these have been illuminating. thanks again, hope you're well <3
It was in the reading of this post and clicking on the link to see Scorch Atlas that I realized... I bought that book when it came out, and don't even know if I ever finished it. I picked it up at a Border's inside Emeryville Public Market on the border of Oakland in California. (I miss Borders, their downfall besides B&N being a monster I attribute to the fact that they were my favorite mainstream bookstore for a long time where I could go and KNOW I would find the weirdest shit from the strangest presses, not just the big "X" at the time, because it was more than five back then.)
Fuck me sideways. Unfortunately that entire library (along with house, life, livelihood, etc.) was lost to me when I was arrested on federal charges in Missouri. A friend stripped my Communal Refugee house cum Artist's Colony and hustler refuge bare, sold everything to the Dogtown and Ghost Town West Oakland crackheads, or scrapped it himself, including my appliances, and managed to help get me my attorney with proceeds from. Well, from other venues.
Like I needed another book to read.
And this series is excellent. (Catching up after a hectic few weeks in my own head.) Thanks for it.
Brilliant, Blake, thank you! I hope you don't get sick of my comments, but these posts truly inspire me, and so much of what you write resonates with my own introspection and journey as an author (Btw, I absolutely adored "Molly" - I was devastated but deeply impacted, perhaps even transformed somehow, by that book. I elaborated more in my review on Amazon, but for what it's worth, it meant a great deal to me!).
thank you Michael! never sick of the comments, and really appreciate your kind words about the post and the book both. i really appreciate the amazon review! tyty
Another great post Blake. I will emphasize again how important your words are to writers everywhere. Pulling the curtain back and taking some of the mystery out of publishing should help anyone interested in the truth. Gordon Lish always taught that, “Art is a difficulty overcome.” 👍
thanks M! i'm glad that effect comes through - and love yr Lish quote - perfect
I really loved your book “Molly” and wondered if you ever read my review of it? So sorry for your loss Blake.
oh thanks very much - i stopped reading reviews at a certain point late but i will def go check it out now, really appreciate the care
My reviews are not run of the mill. I use whatever was in the book that inspired me to write something in the first place. Often my reviews have nothing to do with the book per se. In your case your book made me realize how wrong I was initially about your earlier work and my overly critical assessment of it. And for that I am sorry and ask for your forgiveness. You are both a great writer and person and I admire you very much.
thanks for saying so. i totally get it. i love lish and i also like fucking with his monotheories with more punk shit. there's lots of different styles. i also dug zimble zamble zumble back in the day. i appreciate you coming back to read again. cheers
Thank you Blake.
Hooooooly shit dude. This one is so fully dialed in and clear. Loved it and think you’re doing something very good telling this stuff this way 🤙🏻👍🏻
thank you adam!
Thank you for these posts, Blake! It’s refreshing to have a glimpse that balances artistic concerns with the nuts and bolts of publishing as you've experienced them. I especially appreciate your focus on finding organic connections, being thoughtful and specific about how we show up for our own work and within the community.
thank you gina! really glad to hear it all, and thanks for saying so - it's interesting stuff to think aloud about, hushy as it usually is. onward :)
hi blake! i just wanted to say thank you for putting these posts together. they've been enormously helpful, as someone who's just starting with trying to put work out and practice, but who also has no real idea of what they're doing. all of which is to say, these have been illuminating. thanks again, hope you're well <3
thank you ra, really glad to hear it's been helpful, keep going!
This is fantastic.
It was in the reading of this post and clicking on the link to see Scorch Atlas that I realized... I bought that book when it came out, and don't even know if I ever finished it. I picked it up at a Border's inside Emeryville Public Market on the border of Oakland in California. (I miss Borders, their downfall besides B&N being a monster I attribute to the fact that they were my favorite mainstream bookstore for a long time where I could go and KNOW I would find the weirdest shit from the strangest presses, not just the big "X" at the time, because it was more than five back then.)
Fuck me sideways. Unfortunately that entire library (along with house, life, livelihood, etc.) was lost to me when I was arrested on federal charges in Missouri. A friend stripped my Communal Refugee house cum Artist's Colony and hustler refuge bare, sold everything to the Dogtown and Ghost Town West Oakland crackheads, or scrapped it himself, including my appliances, and managed to help get me my attorney with proceeds from. Well, from other venues.
Like I needed another book to read.
And this series is excellent. (Catching up after a hectic few weeks in my own head.) Thanks for it.