Being the 42nd edition of Assorted Nonsense, the official newsletter of Donovan Street Press Inc.
Some of you are wondering whether I’ve gone mad. To be clear, I don’t think I’ve ever been completely sane. Oh, it’s a fairly benign insanity, but let’s face it: if I was completely sane I probably wouldn’t be serializing my novel Captain’s Away! here on Substack instead of seeking a conventional publishing contract. Especially after working so hard on the novel.
So why am I doing it? (I mean, other than incipient insanity?)
The short answer is that publishing it here on Substack makes me happy.
It takes me back to my teen-aged years when I wrote stories for the fun of it. I’d make myself a cup of instant coffee (I didn’t have access to fancy coffee back then when dinosaurs roamed the earth), tuck myself into my comfy room in the basement, and just write. I’d write whatever tickled my fancy: Battlestar Galactica fanfic, Star Trek fanfic, and all sorts of other stories. I’d write for myself, my friends, my family, school. I wrote because I loved doing it.
I still love writing but it’s got a bit tainted over the years. You kinda get this ache after a while that you haven’t been more successful at it. You’ve worked hard, published some books with mixed results, and a part of you thinks, well, if I just keep at it eventually I’m bound to “succeed,” whatever that means (get recognized for my genius? Get picked up by a big publisher? Have my stuff made into a TV show or movie?) You mingle with writers who’ve known that kind of success so you know that it’s theoretically possible.
In his book One Train Later Andy Summers of The Police writes about being a guitarist in various bands back in the sixties, long before his success. Every now and then another musician would acquire some measure of fame (Eric Clapton, Eric Burdon… maybe you had to be named Eric) while the rest of them languished in obscurity. Eventually Summers enjoyed his day in the sun, but it only came after many years of futzing around in the wilderness. I feel like that’s where a lot of us indie writers are right now. Pining for our day in the sun, seeing it happen to a tiny portion of our friends and acquaintances (Robert J. Sawyer, Robert Charles Wilson… maybe you have to be named Robert), hoping that with hard work and luck it will happen to us too, but aware that, in all likelihood, it probably won’t.
And this is how you suck all the joy out of what you love doing.
I don’t want that to happen to me.
A person’s got to keep their priorities straight. I’ve already had a successful career in broadcasting. More successful than I ever could have imagined, actually. I got to do all sorts of fun stuff, made a good living, retired at a reasonably young age to focus on my passions. How much good fortune is one person entitled to in this life? I’ve already had more than my fair share.
And then there’s the question: why do I write?
Why does a person play games? I don’t know about you, but when I’m playing a game, sure I’m playing to win, but that’s not the main reason I’m playing. Really, I’m playing to have fun. To enjoy the company of the people with whom I’m playing. If I were to just play to win I’d have a lot less fun, and I’d risk bitterness upon losing.
Karate is another great example. I’d like to get my black belt eventually, and learn as much about the sport as possible, but it’s not the main reason I’m practising Karate. I will only go so far in Karate. I have certain physical limitations, and not just because of my age. But none of that matters because it’s just a great way to stay in shape, and I like the people I’m practising Karate with.
Why do I write? Because I love writing. I love organizing my thoughts on paper, I love trying to figure out how to tell compelling, enjoyable stories. Beyond that, I love being part of the writing community in this country, on this planet. Making any money at it, building up a proper readership, garnering some respect for the work I’m producing would be terrific, sure, but it’s not the main reason I’m doing it.
And thank God for that. Because that level of success is not likely to happen to me at this point in my life.
But with that knowledge comes power and freedom. It means that I can go about this writing business however I please. I don’t have to do what the writing and publishing gurus tell me I ought to. I don’t have to seek out agents, I don’t have to seek out big publishing contracts. I don’t have to spend my money needlessly and foolishly on Amazon and Facebook ads. I can have my own little publishing company. I can concentrate on the work itself. I can tell the stories I want to tell my own way and distribute them however I like. And in this way maybe I’ll find success my own way, on my own terms.
And that is why I have chosen to serialize my novel Captain’s Away! here on Substack.
Captain's Away! Chapter One
Captain’s Away! is a long form, weekly serial. New chapters come out every week (more or less). Comments and suggestions welcome as we go along.
Advance Readers Wanted
Donovan Street Press Inc. is looking for advance readers for upcoming books. If you’re interested, drop us a line at contact@donovanstreetpress.com
Podcast
Re-Creative: a podcast about creativity and the works that inspire it.
This week Mark and I were joined by Christopher Guerin, poet and music aficionado, who is on the podcast to champion the work of classical Indian musician Ravi Shankar.
Christopher spent twenty-six years in the symphony orchestra business, including twenty as President of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. After that he went on to work for Sweetwater (“the world’s leading music technology and instrument retailer”) as a VP.
Since retiring, he’s been putting his English degrees to work as a writer. He started out writing short stories and has become a poet, focused on ekphrastic sonnets. (In his case, poems that describe, or are influenced by, specific images.)
We take a deep dive into the history and current state of poetry before discussing the music of Ravi Shankar.
Shankar’s sitar music was in the background as Christopher wrote his sonnet sequence, My Human Disguise.
“Ravi Shankar’s music is so overwhelmingly complex and free that when I have it in the background I can concentrate on the poems and rhymes in a way that I can’t with any other music,” Christopher explains.
He’s also a huge fan of Shankar’s daughter, Anoushka, in particular a piece called Jannah.
“You can hear the same piece over and over again and you’ll think it’s brand new because of the complexity of the music,” he says.
Christopher makes a great case for authors to listen to raga while they write.
All previous episodes are available online, comprising the first 2 seasons, over 40 conversations with creative people from all walks of life about the art stoking their imaginative fires.
New review for my memoir Adventures in the Radio Trade on Goodreads:
“As a long-time fan of CBC radio, I was intrigued by this book. It provides a fascinating insight into both the behind-the-scenes aspects of radio production, and the personalities that listeners are familiar with. The author has seen and heard alot after spending a lifetime at CBC, and this book shares those experiences with his readers. A great gift for any CBC fan, or anyone interested in the art of radio production in general.”
~ David Gallant, Goodreads*
*Full Disclosure: It wasn’t actually David Gallant, it was his wife, using David’s account. Both David and his wife are friends of mine. But my friends are allowed to leave reviews too. :-)
Coming Soon from Donovan Street Press Inc.
The Gates of Polished Horn by Mark A. Rayner.
Huey and the Wasteland by Matt Watts
A Peculiar Symmetry by Tanah Haney
Appearances
Coming up:
Three Oaks Craft Fair in Summerside Prince Edward Island
Thanks for reading!
Follow Joe Mahoney and Donovan Street Press Inc. on: Goodreads, Bluesky, Threads, Mastadon, Facebook, and Instagram
This has been the forty-second edition of Assorted Nonsense, the official newsletter of Donovan Street Press Inc.
Love the musing about why a person would write. I come down right on your side: for the same reason you play games. I needed this piece today, to remind me that writing doesn’t have to be a struggle.
I couldn't agree with you more Joe. Frankly, if I couldn't write any longer I honestly don't know what would happen to me. Tall bridge anyone? I don't expect to ever make any real money writing. In my experience, that's a fool's errand. I don't really read much on Substack, other than Atwood, but I will try and find the time for Captain's Away. My intention is good, we'll see how well I do with the follow up. Thanks Joe for all of your assorted nonsense. And besides, you have a good pension. You will be fine financially. I guess you're battling with your ego. If it's anything like mine, you have a good fight on your hands,