Thank you for sharing all that. Change is a PITA but hindsight shows us the gifts.
This may not be pertinent, but I want to thank you for inspiring one of the best trips I've taken.
A long time ago, probably in your web developer/blogger period, you went to SXSW and reported having a great weekend without paying beaucoup bucks. That there were free things to do at SX was a revelation.
All that info hung around in my memory bank for about ten years until my hubs and I were with friends discussing trips we could go on together. I brought up SXSW. I started researching events to attend, got us RSVPed to a bunch of them, and the created an itinerary.
We had a helluva fun trip and learned lots. We went to the free corporate events where companies took over various Austin restaurants. One of those included a popup visit from a hero of my engineer husband. And the health expo. I still buy tea from a company I met there. And a couple of big entrepreneur showcases on Sixth.
And that's just the headline news version. So, thank you. I'm glad we went when we did. Because ... change.
As someone who attended the first three Smarter Artist Summits and not only met you, Sean, and Dave but a WHOLE LOT of other indie authors, I really appreciate what you did back then and the communities and publications your collective efforts inspired (and that, in some cases, have become massive!). You and the others inspired me to jump into the writer/indie pub world with gusto. I'm a sloooow writer so I don't have lots of publication credits just yet (but a bunch of things are wrapping up finally!) but after the Summits, I hosted my own mini-conference, became a NaNoWriMo Municipal Liaison and then meetup organizer (and thank you again for speaking at one of those events!), and now that I'm in St. Louis I continue to run a writing meetup and am one of the co-organizers of Fictionistas (for fiction writers on Substack - join us!).
Currently, despite everything I have a hand in, I'm looking for my next big thing, and like you, I'm not afraid of change. I don't know what I'll be doing this time next year, but I'm excited (mostly!) about the journey. Thanks for the inspiration and connections, and always remember that your efforts have impacted the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of people in both small and gigantic ways. I subscribed to your Substack as soon as I saw it and I will enjoy following your journey and seeing where life takes you next!
Thank you. :D This was, indeed, inspiring as F##k. :)
I think there's been a lot of narrative in general that change is bad, that it's always going to be for the worse, and it's worse when the change actually isn't good and is being done by people who have power of you. It's a blessing that you let yourself ride the waves into a better situation where you were able to leave amicably, without destruction. All that change was going somewhere good - it's a spiral, even if the hiccups are painful.
I used to be good at change, so maybe it's time I changed and go back to that. :) Looking ahead and trying to be in front of it, maybe even doing it. I do know a lot of writer-introvert types, and they are amazing, but I'm a weird ambivert that doesn't have as much difficulty with some of these things, so it's time I make use of that.
This was great. Not only was it brave to make the change, it was just as brave to talk about it out in the open. It's funny how we can follow what we think is our path only to find it's led somewhere we didn't want to be. The god thing is it's never too late to find a new one.
This is a great read, and one that answered some questions I'd secretly harbored but never felt curious enough to google: What ever happened to the guys from the Self Publishing Podcast??
I was a big fan during the early days, and an eager participant in the Kickstarter (I doubt you'll remember, but I coordinated and published a book of fan stories set in Alterra called 'Beyond the Gate'). I fell out during the pivot from SPP, though I've always fondly remembered you, Sean, and Dave. The SPP community was truly amazing. I'm glad things ended amiably.
Now I'm sitting here having existential thoughts, because I too am no longer what I used to be. :)
I actually just rejoined S&S on the writing side and was excited to start working with you again! But shortly after, I read Sean's post and was bummed you'd just left. But after reading that post (and this one), I'm really excited for you. I remember browsing YouTube and saw a trailer for "Reginald the Vampire" and immediately thought, "wait...that can't be..." And then watching it and feeling really pumped for you.
I've just subscribed here and to your new podcast. Looking forward to seeing what comes next from you.
Change is a constant! Thanks for sharing the journey, I think we're often on the outside looking into other people's lives/businesses but not really knowing what's happening under the hood.
I recently heard the concept of "identity retirement"... I feel like we often build our identities around our work or businesses, so being able to "retire" them and create new ones is pretty cool.
I swear there's a book and Netflix show in there somewhere. Your journey, along with Sean and Dave's, is fascinating to me and inspiring. Thanks for sharing on Substack!
I get what you say about "divorce" sounding to acrimonious.
When I started studying acupuncture, it was because this was one field I'd NEVER get bored of (and I didn't), and a practice that got easier the longer I practiced (it did), and for over 20 years, I lived, loved and breathed Oriental medicine. And when it was time to close the acupuncture practice—I now had kids, and I didn't have any "healing/mothering" (same diff) energy left for people outside the family, and also, writing had taken back that spot in my heart that the love for acupuncture had been occupying—I did, and it simply felt done. Complete. It felt like my inner marriage to acupuncture had been perfectly right, and now that it had done for us what it was supposed to do, we parted ways. Knowing that it was good and is no longer right. It was the weirdest thing, but I didn't grieve it one bit.
And "closure" feels wrong, too, because acupuncture and Oriental medicine have shaped me so deeply, they'll always be a part of me and how I think. But I'm no longer an acupuncturist at heart. I'm a writer (again). And for now, I'm just going with "completion" to describe the word.
Anyway, I'm excited to hear more of your story going forward! On to new scary adventures!
Oh man, that pic at the Lone Star Court is giving me all the feels. I have a lot of feelings about that time of my life, and many of them are very very bad, but that was a really good trip. 💕
We are all constantly learning, growing and changing. And you are right, we can either fight against inevitable changes, or learn to lean into them, and flow.
Thank you for sharing all that. Change is a PITA but hindsight shows us the gifts.
This may not be pertinent, but I want to thank you for inspiring one of the best trips I've taken.
A long time ago, probably in your web developer/blogger period, you went to SXSW and reported having a great weekend without paying beaucoup bucks. That there were free things to do at SX was a revelation.
All that info hung around in my memory bank for about ten years until my hubs and I were with friends discussing trips we could go on together. I brought up SXSW. I started researching events to attend, got us RSVPed to a bunch of them, and the created an itinerary.
We had a helluva fun trip and learned lots. We went to the free corporate events where companies took over various Austin restaurants. One of those included a popup visit from a hero of my engineer husband. And the health expo. I still buy tea from a company I met there. And a couple of big entrepreneur showcases on Sixth.
And that's just the headline news version. So, thank you. I'm glad we went when we did. Because ... change.
As someone who attended the first three Smarter Artist Summits and not only met you, Sean, and Dave but a WHOLE LOT of other indie authors, I really appreciate what you did back then and the communities and publications your collective efforts inspired (and that, in some cases, have become massive!). You and the others inspired me to jump into the writer/indie pub world with gusto. I'm a sloooow writer so I don't have lots of publication credits just yet (but a bunch of things are wrapping up finally!) but after the Summits, I hosted my own mini-conference, became a NaNoWriMo Municipal Liaison and then meetup organizer (and thank you again for speaking at one of those events!), and now that I'm in St. Louis I continue to run a writing meetup and am one of the co-organizers of Fictionistas (for fiction writers on Substack - join us!).
Currently, despite everything I have a hand in, I'm looking for my next big thing, and like you, I'm not afraid of change. I don't know what I'll be doing this time next year, but I'm excited (mostly!) about the journey. Thanks for the inspiration and connections, and always remember that your efforts have impacted the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of people in both small and gigantic ways. I subscribed to your Substack as soon as I saw it and I will enjoy following your journey and seeing where life takes you next!
Thank you. :D This was, indeed, inspiring as F##k. :)
I think there's been a lot of narrative in general that change is bad, that it's always going to be for the worse, and it's worse when the change actually isn't good and is being done by people who have power of you. It's a blessing that you let yourself ride the waves into a better situation where you were able to leave amicably, without destruction. All that change was going somewhere good - it's a spiral, even if the hiccups are painful.
I used to be good at change, so maybe it's time I changed and go back to that. :) Looking ahead and trying to be in front of it, maybe even doing it. I do know a lot of writer-introvert types, and they are amazing, but I'm a weird ambivert that doesn't have as much difficulty with some of these things, so it's time I make use of that.
2024: The Year of the Phoenix (part 2)!
This was great. Not only was it brave to make the change, it was just as brave to talk about it out in the open. It's funny how we can follow what we think is our path only to find it's led somewhere we didn't want to be. The god thing is it's never too late to find a new one.
Proud of you :) Glad to hear you're happier now
This is a great read, and one that answered some questions I'd secretly harbored but never felt curious enough to google: What ever happened to the guys from the Self Publishing Podcast??
I was a big fan during the early days, and an eager participant in the Kickstarter (I doubt you'll remember, but I coordinated and published a book of fan stories set in Alterra called 'Beyond the Gate'). I fell out during the pivot from SPP, though I've always fondly remembered you, Sean, and Dave. The SPP community was truly amazing. I'm glad things ended amiably.
Now I'm sitting here having existential thoughts, because I too am no longer what I used to be. :)
I actually just rejoined S&S on the writing side and was excited to start working with you again! But shortly after, I read Sean's post and was bummed you'd just left. But after reading that post (and this one), I'm really excited for you. I remember browsing YouTube and saw a trailer for "Reginald the Vampire" and immediately thought, "wait...that can't be..." And then watching it and feeling really pumped for you.
I've just subscribed here and to your new podcast. Looking forward to seeing what comes next from you.
Change is a constant! Thanks for sharing the journey, I think we're often on the outside looking into other people's lives/businesses but not really knowing what's happening under the hood.
I recently heard the concept of "identity retirement"... I feel like we often build our identities around our work or businesses, so being able to "retire" them and create new ones is pretty cool.
Doesn't make it any easier, of course. ;)
Great stuff and great addition to Sean's email.
I feel this - I am on this journey and not what I used to be.
I WAS the COO - part of the corporate American machine - tech executive for the last 20 years right here in Austin.
Now - I make up stories and write them down, hopefully soon I can make a buck or two while I am at it...
Thanks for sharing and I can't wait to see what's next!!!
I swear there's a book and Netflix show in there somewhere. Your journey, along with Sean and Dave's, is fascinating to me and inspiring. Thanks for sharing on Substack!
Thanks for sharing.
I get what you say about "divorce" sounding to acrimonious.
When I started studying acupuncture, it was because this was one field I'd NEVER get bored of (and I didn't), and a practice that got easier the longer I practiced (it did), and for over 20 years, I lived, loved and breathed Oriental medicine. And when it was time to close the acupuncture practice—I now had kids, and I didn't have any "healing/mothering" (same diff) energy left for people outside the family, and also, writing had taken back that spot in my heart that the love for acupuncture had been occupying—I did, and it simply felt done. Complete. It felt like my inner marriage to acupuncture had been perfectly right, and now that it had done for us what it was supposed to do, we parted ways. Knowing that it was good and is no longer right. It was the weirdest thing, but I didn't grieve it one bit.
And "closure" feels wrong, too, because acupuncture and Oriental medicine have shaped me so deeply, they'll always be a part of me and how I think. But I'm no longer an acupuncturist at heart. I'm a writer (again). And for now, I'm just going with "completion" to describe the word.
Anyway, I'm excited to hear more of your story going forward! On to new scary adventures!
This is such a fantastic piece. And there were so many bits that I needed to hear (again). Thank you. I’m grateful you shared this.
I’ve been hanging out in my own cave for a while, so it’s great to see you climbing out into the sun!
I look forward to seeing what you do.
Oh man, that pic at the Lone Star Court is giving me all the feels. I have a lot of feelings about that time of my life, and many of them are very very bad, but that was a really good trip. 💕
We are all constantly learning, growing and changing. And you are right, we can either fight against inevitable changes, or learn to lean into them, and flow.