I don’t have any money to spare for substacks, and so my kneejerk is to selfishly say “please don’t do it!” Also what I like about Cup of Stars right now is exactly it’s formlessness, it’s lack of expectations, etc. Of course it’s edited, curated, but it does feel intimate in a special way that only free and improvised stuff can.
The other day a guy gave me a little staple-bound poem with a picture of his backyard inside. The poem was about the hard line his house’s shadow made, how it split the yard in half, and it was really beautiful. I’m just one guy, but Cup of Stars kinda feels like that to me right now, and I’d be sad to lose that.
As a young gay hopelessly in love with you in the para social relationship way, I’d pay for/am most interested in just hearing your thoughts! Moments from your life that you deem worth writing about, good food you’ve enjoyed, books you’ve loved&hated, hot takes, freckles on your friend’s faces that made you go ‘awe’. Feels like being in touch with someone I trust to be thoughtful. Whatever you do, I’ll be there! Thanks 4 being you.
I really want to continue reading work where you turn life and pop culture into art and sharp connections. "When Whales Fly" was so tender and insightful. I felt like I was seeing right into your head--it helped me clarify why all the conversations about The Whale have been so unsettling.
Although to be fair, I think you could bring just about anything to this space and I'd enjoy it? Recipe and restaurant recommendations? Yes. Quizzes? Yes. Long descriptions of a dream you had? Love it.
As your LJ friend from 2002 till the Russians took over, and also just a plain old reader who has rejoiced in seeing your work and profile grow ... "more writing like your old LJ" sounds amazing. Tossed-off, vein-opening, cringe-refusing, much-too-much and glorious at it.
I'm unlikely to be able to pay for it, so don't take my opinion too seriously, but I'm on board for basically anything. Obviously I am a writer and I'm here because I like your writing, so anything you say about that is extra-exciting, but if you want to plaster this space with weird uquiz results I'm also happy to read those. Or anything else, really.
I would absolutely pay $5-$6 a month. I really love Substacks that mix their content. I'd love to hear more about your writing process, books you'd recommend, things that inspire your fiction, polyamory, life stuff, outfit/style things, horror/spooky stuff, pieces on existing as a fat, queer, woman (as I am also one), whatever musings you'd like to share. I miss the days of LiveJournal and early blogs so anything that feels like that. I'm always grateful when I get to learn from you.
Thoughts about being fat, specifically fat joy—how we get there, how we live in our bodies, how we do it despite everything telling us not to. (Your piece in Guernica about Marjory the Trash Heap is one of my favorite essays ever.)
Also writing! Tips, tricks, struggles, wins, general insight
I also love getting recs from people I admire about things to read/watch/eat/wear/do
As a writer trying their best to copy/not copy you/love your work/be angry/jealous that you did something i wish i did... I would gladly pay a little monthly bit for a writing focused blog, with recommendations etc but also behind the scenes breakdowns of ur own writing and writing process. I.e. i cant afford an mfa plz send help
I loved your most recently email about flying while fat, The Whale, etc. Always open to reading about your personal experiences, cultural criticism, what you're reading/listening to/watching. Would also eat up any content about polyamory!!!!!!!
I'm all for bringing back Livejournal type personality quizzes! I'm a big fan of your writing, so I'd love to support you in whatever ways you need. I think showing us the writing process or other behind the scenes would be really interesting. But honestly, the weirder or specified the content, the better. Like I adore Samantha Irby's "Who's on Judge Mathis Today" series. So figure out what feels fun and necessary for you, and I guarantee we will follow.
Honestly, it isn't that your work isn't worth money (it is!), but I already pay for 3 substacks and 2 Patreons, and I don't have an endless budget, so. Whomp.
Would absolutely pay some. I really enjoy everything I've read so far and I would love to see some more exploration of themes like being, LGBTQIA+, living in a larger body and dealing with mental health. I see these things talked about rarely and the stuff that you have out there so far on these things has really been amazing to read.
I don’t have any money to spare for substacks, and so my kneejerk is to selfishly say “please don’t do it!” Also what I like about Cup of Stars right now is exactly it’s formlessness, it’s lack of expectations, etc. Of course it’s edited, curated, but it does feel intimate in a special way that only free and improvised stuff can.
The other day a guy gave me a little staple-bound poem with a picture of his backyard inside. The poem was about the hard line his house’s shadow made, how it split the yard in half, and it was really beautiful. I’m just one guy, but Cup of Stars kinda feels like that to me right now, and I’d be sad to lose that.
As a young gay hopelessly in love with you in the para social relationship way, I’d pay for/am most interested in just hearing your thoughts! Moments from your life that you deem worth writing about, good food you’ve enjoyed, books you’ve loved&hated, hot takes, freckles on your friend’s faces that made you go ‘awe’. Feels like being in touch with someone I trust to be thoughtful. Whatever you do, I’ll be there! Thanks 4 being you.
I really want to continue reading work where you turn life and pop culture into art and sharp connections. "When Whales Fly" was so tender and insightful. I felt like I was seeing right into your head--it helped me clarify why all the conversations about The Whale have been so unsettling.
Although to be fair, I think you could bring just about anything to this space and I'd enjoy it? Recipe and restaurant recommendations? Yes. Quizzes? Yes. Long descriptions of a dream you had? Love it.
As your LJ friend from 2002 till the Russians took over, and also just a plain old reader who has rejoiced in seeing your work and profile grow ... "more writing like your old LJ" sounds amazing. Tossed-off, vein-opening, cringe-refusing, much-too-much and glorious at it.
I'm unlikely to be able to pay for it, so don't take my opinion too seriously, but I'm on board for basically anything. Obviously I am a writer and I'm here because I like your writing, so anything you say about that is extra-exciting, but if you want to plaster this space with weird uquiz results I'm also happy to read those. Or anything else, really.
I would absolutely pay $5-$6 a month. I really love Substacks that mix their content. I'd love to hear more about your writing process, books you'd recommend, things that inspire your fiction, polyamory, life stuff, outfit/style things, horror/spooky stuff, pieces on existing as a fat, queer, woman (as I am also one), whatever musings you'd like to share. I miss the days of LiveJournal and early blogs so anything that feels like that. I'm always grateful when I get to learn from you.
Thoughts about being fat, specifically fat joy—how we get there, how we live in our bodies, how we do it despite everything telling us not to. (Your piece in Guernica about Marjory the Trash Heap is one of my favorite essays ever.)
Also writing! Tips, tricks, struggles, wins, general insight
I also love getting recs from people I admire about things to read/watch/eat/wear/do
As a writer trying their best to copy/not copy you/love your work/be angry/jealous that you did something i wish i did... I would gladly pay a little monthly bit for a writing focused blog, with recommendations etc but also behind the scenes breakdowns of ur own writing and writing process. I.e. i cant afford an mfa plz send help
I loved your most recently email about flying while fat, The Whale, etc. Always open to reading about your personal experiences, cultural criticism, what you're reading/listening to/watching. Would also eat up any content about polyamory!!!!!!!
I would pay for any musings you want to share with us.
I'm all for bringing back Livejournal type personality quizzes! I'm a big fan of your writing, so I'd love to support you in whatever ways you need. I think showing us the writing process or other behind the scenes would be really interesting. But honestly, the weirder or specified the content, the better. Like I adore Samantha Irby's "Who's on Judge Mathis Today" series. So figure out what feels fun and necessary for you, and I guarantee we will follow.
Honestly, it isn't that your work isn't worth money (it is!), but I already pay for 3 substacks and 2 Patreons, and I don't have an endless budget, so. Whomp.
There are lots of writing advice substacks already. I’d be interested to hear about what’s inspiring you lately! Songs, visual art, etc.
Yes, please! Ghosts, horror, houses, Bluebeard!
Would absolutely pay some. I really enjoy everything I've read so far and I would love to see some more exploration of themes like being, LGBTQIA+, living in a larger body and dealing with mental health. I see these things talked about rarely and the stuff that you have out there so far on these things has really been amazing to read.
I’m Zoe.