Jan
13
A while ago my aunt asked me if I was planning to work on a book, now that I’m in this season of parenting/life and have more time on my hands. Oh gosh no, I said, laughing a little. I guess I just don’t feel called to that. I wish I did, really. I wish the words felt pent up, ready to pour from me. Or even that I would lower a bucket and at first it would just be a hollow rattling sound but eventually, arduously, it would fill. Writing feels like such a wetwork excavation, and I feel so dry.
People have often asked me when I plan to write a book. It’s meant as a compliment, I know. Writing a whole entire book and of course getting that book published is such an massive accomplishment and endorsement, I have so much admiration for that path. Maybe that’s still in my future, I don’t know. It’s always just felt too hard for me, really. I can’t imagine the discipline to spend that much time in the liminal space of writing, especially without constant feedback and encouragement along the way. I can’t imagine coming up with that much material, to be honest. I have often felt best suited to exactly this type of writing here on my little blog, relatively short and without much structure. When people say you should write a book! I have often thought, well but I like this. I’ve recently been watching TikTok videos from a girl who talks about true crime stories and her comments are full of people telling her to get a podcast, but she’s so right for the short-form video format.
It is true there is more of a potential for a larger audience with a book. I wonder if that would even be something I’d want, though. Larger audiences are scary. Whoever is still out there reading this blog, bless you, because it’s not like I make it easy. The little email notification thing is long broken, no one really uses RSS readers any more, and I don’t promote on social media. I feel like whatever’s happening here between me the writer and you the reader, it’s pretty intentional and personal at this point. You’re not just stumbling upon me. And even if you are, that’s kind of special just because of how unlikely it is. Here I am, writing letters in bottles and tossing them willy-nilly into the sea, and there you are on some distant beach. That’s pretty cool.
I miss how the Internet used to be, how we used to discover each other as writers. I miss reading bloggers on a regular basis and how that was so motivating for my own writing, and how I just don’t feel that way from monetized Substacks or viral social posts. But who cares — the world has moved on. Crabbing about that feels like when I drive by this sign near our town that says “I MISS THE AMERICA I GREW UP IN.” You probably miss blatant racism, I always think, grouchily, but maybe they mean something more wholesomely nostalgic. Maybe they miss when everyone watched the same TV shows or didn’t have phones to stare at or kids played outside until moms stood on porches and called them in or food wasn’t full of processed garbage or microplastics, but what does it matter? The sign is silly, because here we are, hurtling ever forward. We can’t be mired in what we miss because we’ll never get it back, not really. I’d write a book about it but I’ll never have the right words.
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Bravo! Perfection.
Keep sharing right here, just like this. And thank you!
And this is exactly why I keep coming back here, where every once in a while I find a new post and when I’m even luckier it’s one like this that expresses my thoughts and feelings about a topic so well <3
Just a note to say I’m here reading. I’m always so happy to see a new post from you. I still use Feedly and there are two bloggers that I follow who still post. I also follow the Onion so it’s not too sad and empty.
Thank you for your writing.
I use Feedly too. I read a few fashion blogs that post almost daily still. Most of the mom bloggers rarely post, but I’m always delighted to see you all pop up!
I still use Inoreader and I’m so happy to see your name pop up every now and then. I selfishly hope you’ll never write the book that will get you the fame you clearly deserve, because it would mean you’d take this blog down and the last link I have to those precious 2000’s will be gone for good.
‘I feel like whatever’s happening here between me the writer and you the reader, it’s pretty intentional and personal at this point.’
Love this!! Yes, I miss the days of so many new blogger posts that I couldn’t keep up with them all. But I love hearing from those that stayed – you being one of the very few. Intentional, to be sure!
Very intentional! You and a handful of others are on my permanent bookmark list, and I check in now and then. Like Nic said, even better than a new post in general is one that resonates so strongly with how I feel as well.
Message in a bottle is exactly what it feels like. I’m glad you’re still throwing them in now and again!
I’m glad you show up periodically in my RSS feed! I miss blogs too, and I only wrote in one briefly, when my oldest was born.
Been reading for probably more than 15 years! Feedly alerts me. I love reading anything you post :)
I started reading you just before you got pregnant with Riley, which just seems crazy. I love your writing, and as long as you keep posting now and then, I’ll keep checking every week or so to see if there’s something new!
I totally get missing the old internet. I used to have a list of bloggers I would check daily, and it was long enough that it usually took over an hour to check everyone’ blog and read whatever was posted, but nowadays, it’s just you, Swistle, and Mimismartypants. Everyone else has moved on. I can’t complain, though…I tried keeping a blog, and I think I made it about a year, with very infrequent postings, and it’s been lying fallow since about 2016.
Now that I think about it, you, Swistle and Mimi were the first blogs I started really following, so it’s kind of nice that you’re the three still going!
Anyway, I’m starting to ramble. Thanks for sharing your writing with us!
I started reading around that time, too! Hard to believe he’s an adult!
I’m also still here, always pleased to find another one of your letters in a bottle on the beach.
Still reading after all these years, because every now and again I think “I wonder what Sundry(Linda)’s up to”. I never used RSS feeds with any regularity, and I haven’t had any social media accounts since before the end of The Before Times, so I’m here because your writing is memorable. Thank you.
I’ve been reading since Riley was little, too, & besides your immaculate skills with humor & words that I love reading, it also kind of feels like we used to live in the same neighborhood, you know? I don’t mean literally (although I did live in Bellingham when you were in Seattle, & now I live near Lincoln city, strangely enough) but I more mean: I think you’d remember Joy Unexpected, or Eden Kennedy, or Finslippy, etc etc & it feels like we were all kind of in the trenches with babies in our online neighborhood. You’ve always had such a way of making us all feel less alone in those trenches. I’m grateful you keep writing & doing it your way.
I’d like to voice my appreciation that you do still continue to post here!! I’ve been following along for- fricking- ever and it always brightens my day when I check in and find a new post (even if said post makes me cry lol).
I will forever keep Feedly (or something similar) for the days your writing shows up there. I’ve been reading since Riley was a baby, and feel the sort of kinship others have described.
Yet another reader that has been following your blog since Riley’s birth. I haven’t missed a single post in these 18 years, though I rarely comment. Your beautiful writing has helped so many of us feel less alone through the challenges of parenthood, marriage, and life itself. Thank you for every bit of it.
So glad I keep finding your bottles of writing (since Riley was a baby)! They are perfection.
I love reading your words, whatever the format. And I commiserate about the “old days” of blogging. xo
Still here and still loving your writing. Thank you for continuing send these messages in a bottle. Those last two sentences – gah! So wise and so true. Appreciate you, please never stop telling your stories.
I wonder if “when will you write a book” is an attempt to find another way to say “I love your writing and I will read anything you put out into the world, whenever and however you choose to do it.” Because that’s what it would mean from me — but I also hope you stay right here in this space too, and/or write literally whatever and wherever you want, because I still really appreciate hearing your thoughts after all these eyars. You and mimismartypants and Swistle are the reason I still use feedly, and I get a sweet little dopamine hit every time I see you’ve updated, so thank you for that.
I’ve been reading you since the Diaryland days! I remember clicking on a banner ad that led me to your page. That was what, 23-24 years ago? I was in high school at the time and I thought your life was so glamorous!
I read you via the Feedly RSS feed, but I’ve been reading your posts wherever they show up since Diaryland days, before the boys were born. Yeah, that long ago. Keep doing what you’re doing and I’ll keep reading it. :)
This is a cozy corner of the internet. Just perfect for sharing your stories and insights.
It’s been a while, but I am always so happy to come here and find a post from you!
I miss the old blogging days, too, and one of my goals is to get back into it in 2025, after a tumultuous few years, on a new site I created last year. I follow many Substacks and writers on other platforms, but when it comes to writing for myself, blogs hold a special place in my heart.
I laughed to myself when you mentioned the email notification function being broken. When I saw your post tonight, I first thought to myself, “Didn’t I used to get these in my email? I better resubscribe!”
Wishing you the best and can’t wait to catch up on the posts I’ve missed these last several months!
You just come into my mind randomly, and I’ll Google your blog to see what’s up—that’s how old-fashioned I still am. There is this idea that we should all be striving for a big break or fame or greatness, but when that’s all anyone is trying for, it just seems really not that great. I’m glad you’re keeping it old school, and I’ll keep reading as long as you are writing.
Thank you for taking the time to come back to all of us. You have a true gift with words and I always look forward to reading what’s going on in your head. It makes me feel less alone!
I miss blogs and free formats, as well. You are my favorite and thank you for the perspective, as I too have asked for a book. I love your style, is all. Thank you for sharing a post.
Feedly as an RSS feed still works and when I remember there are blogs out there I read this and others :-)
I’M HERE! I’ve been here since before R was born! I like picking up the bottles when they wash up on the shore!
Well said, to all of this. I really miss the blog/old world of the internet and writers too – I have my little blog up and running still even though I rarely post. But oh, the days when I would just sit down with coffee first thing and check in with all of my favorite writer friends that I’d never met! I also agree the substack/viral world just doesn’t feel genuine to me and I am trying to move further AWAY from things that feel soulless, not towards. What I’m getting at, dear Linda, is for the last 20 years or so I’ve read your blog, one of the biggest takeaways for me (and why I always come back) is how much soul and heart you put into your writing. I treasure it and I’m always amazed that I can read one of your posts and find myself, across the country in NYC, nodding my head and saying – yes, yes, yes, ME TOO. I am forever grateful for that. I’ll be reading as long as you keep writing.
I found you right around the time I graduated high school, now I’m 34 lol, still love your writing, you may the only website I remember off the top of my head and just randomly type in every now and then.
You always have the right words.
Reading since I found you in a mention in “from the back nine” so about mid 2000s? You and https://ilona-andrews.com/blog/ are the only ones I still follow. On the plus side, they have a ton of blog posts on writing for anyone interested in what it might take and I get the impression that sometimes the words just explode out, and other times it’s a deep sea mining effort. Also: short stories? I think some authors have started with these, could be worth a try?
I’m still reading.
I’ve been reading you since Riley was a suspicious baby and I am grateful you continue to write your bottle messages, if even only sporadically!
I’ve been reading since Riley was born as well. Still hard to believe he’s an adult now. I still remember the days in Seattle. Seems like a lifetime ago but not really. I miss all the old bloggers and spending time relaxing as I read all the posts.
From one of the more distant beaches, still checking for bottles from time to time. Always loved your writing, so please keep doing it in whatever format you choose.
This might be my first comment ever here (apart from congratulations on the birth of your sons) but I found you a stupid long time ago, when blogs were the place to get all your information and advice, before social media was a thing. My husband and I were considering having kids, and you were pregnant with Riley. You were (and still are) always that mum who was just ahead of me in pregnancy, parenting and life, giving me a glimpse of what might be around the corner, and how to cope with it.
I don’t use a feed reader or anything, but once a month or so, I think “I wonder if Linda’s posted anything”, and pop over here to have a look. I think you are the last blogger standing, since Amy stopped posting over at Amalah a couple of years back. Thanks. As long as you are here, I will be too.