Transitioning…

Things and stuff in the world of literature are chaotic, exhausting, and impossible. I saw a post the other day that if you want to “break into” traditional publishing, you need at least 60K followers on some social media platform.

Fuck that!

Fuck that to hell!

I spent the better part of this past winter listening to the Wish I’d Known Then…For Writers podcast. I probably listened to about 30 episodes. It’s a testament to the two indie authors who started it: Sara Rosett & Jami Albright that they’ve kept it going as long as they have.

Bravo, ladies!

In addition to learning everything about being an indie author, I learned “indie author” <> “failure.” I learned there are indie authors out there absolutely slaying it. And I learned that writing is a practice that must be practiced—it matters naught if you are the second coming of Hemmingway, it only matters that you show up and write, create, period (.)

More than anything else, this podcast made me feel OK about being a not-even-remotely famous writer.

I’ve since read many of the books from many of the authors featured on the podcast. I learned that all manner of non-standard, off-spec, and utterly original approaches are being taken now-a-days. I learned that it’s OK to color outside the lines. And I learned that you have to be as savvy at the business end of the literary industry as you are at the writing end.

To that end…I’ve settled on Substack for now.

I have to be honest with myself. I have to be realistic. Despite the fact that I’ve managed to write three novels, a novella, and a children’s book (since 2015), I have a full-time job. I have a pair of teenagers: one in college + one about to be a senior in high school—how in the hel—

Plus, I currently live in two states: MN & GA—I spend about two weeks in each state each month. I have four aging parents, who are thankfully all still alive against all odds (I’m fifty-fucking-three for fuck’s sake—how in the hel—). The fact that they’re all still around is one of the great blessing of this lifetime. But it’s getting…difficult…on that front. Is there ever an easy time to write?!?!?!

As far as I can tell, being able to release fiction in a serial format is most conducive to my current circumstance. If you hop over to my Blake Donley Author Substack, you will find a gateway to all of my projects. You can subscribe (and even pay) to read the tripe I trowel out.

Until I can get in front of all the marketing bullshit required to get actual at-large readers, I’ll be forced to beg my friends and family to read the junk I manifest. I also know there are folks who refuse to read anything other than a sentient book formed of wood pulp, desperation, and tears. I salute y’all! Maybe someday, I can give you that. When that day comes, I’ll be the guy behind the table signing book with the stupid grin on his face.

Until then, catch my unconventional approach to “fictional author”—literally and figuratively—at Substack.

“Living life as an artist is a practice.
You are either engaging in the practice
or you’re not.

It makes no sense to say you’re not good at it.
It’s like saying, “I’m not good at being a monk.”
You are either living as a monk or you’re not.

We tend to think of the artist’s work as the output.

The real work of the artist
is a way of being in the world.”
― Rick Rubin, The Creative Act: A Way of Being

In that same book, ol’ Rick also said something to the effect that all the true artists innovated. They refused to imitate any successful template. Instead, they forged a new path and created an entirely new thing—a thing that didn’t exist previously.

I feel all of that.

—
© 2025 – ∞ B. Charles Donley