Middle Groundless
Oh, chute!
There used to be such a thing as “middle ground”, right?
I could swear I remember there being something we always called “middle ground”. Even the most polar issues and subjects always had a middle ground that most everyone recognized and acknowledged, even when they avoided it like the plague. The avoidance continues, but the acknowledgement seems to have vanished, and I find it alarming.
1. Why this, why now?
Honestly, I’m not sure I’m even ready to answer those questions. I actually started my SubStack a while back and just let it sit. It’s still not clear to me why I’m here exactly. No, I’m not getting philosophical. What I mean is that it’s not clear to me why I’m here on SubStack. I suppose I do have many things to say, which I would like to leave outside my door next to the welcome mat like mid-twentieth century milk bottles for someone, perhaps you, to collect if you want them.
2. What kind of community are you looking to build here?
Community. What an odd prospect it is for me to think about “building a community”. I’ve never been very community oriented. I don’t feel like I’m very well equipped for building, especially community building. Good thing no one is depending on the potential community I’m going to build.
3. Be specific! Be!-Be! Specific!
“Readers love clarity.” Know what else readers love? Writers, and I’m not even one of those. I think I’ll work on that before getting down to the whole “clarity” thing.
“Be clear when you explain what they should expect: how often will you be posting?” I have no idea. It took me long enough to actually write anything at all. Could be soon, could be later. I’ll try to establish a pattern at some point, but, ya know, chaos.
“Can they expect certain posts on specific days?” Expectations always get in the way of fully enjoying creative offerings. Let’s learn to let go of our expectations, eh?
“What will the free subscribers get?” They’ll get what they paid for.
“What does a paid subscription buy them?” It’s a surprise! I’m kidding, but I’m also not kidding. As I said, I’m beginning without clarity, from the very center of the coagulated fog of chaos, but hoping to find some clarity along the way. I will give readers some advice though. Don’t buy a subscription for yourself, buy it for someone else. Specifically, that person in your life who you aren’t very close to, yet you have a social obligation to give them the occasional gift. Buy them a subscription to my SubStack! It’s the perfect gift for that person for whom you have no idea what to get! Am I or am I not the worst salesman in the world!? Ugh.
4. The number four. Is it as unlucky as some superstitious people claim? I’ll never tell. Will I never tell because I’m a jerk or because I really have no idea? I’ll never tell!
