So much of the time I write like I have someone watching over my shoulder. It’s also so hard to write characters that are complicated and messy (aka, imperfect) without worrying that the reader is going to dismiss this at face value and then look to the writer (me) as somehow being a bad person. But I think that’s so much of the problem you’re describing--the reader barely glancing at the writing, already ready with their own judgements and biases. But this is such a good point!! The right readers will understand and ask questions and yearn to dig deeper into the text. Such a good reminder!! Also love this concept of lynchian rizz...you’re a philosopher fr
Hi Sidney! Thank you so much for taking the time to write such an insightful comment! and yes! Exactly!! The right readers will find you and will understand you. It really feels like true love when someone translates your intentions so beautifully. There’s certainly someone out there that will do that for you. If they don’t get it, they don’t get it. I’m living for you calling me a philosopher, by the way. Best compliment i’ve ever received! 🥹🫶🏻💐✨💌
Lynch is one of my biggest inspirations and you've just helped my mental quite a bit with this, thank you! Just last week I was visiting my family in Ohio and at one point I asked my step-father if he likes David Lynch's work and he said, "No, I could never understand it and I don't like to work for my entertainment." which kinda hurt lmao
Lol!! He’s not for everyone indeed! It’s always a pleasure to talk to people that not only are familiar with Lynch’s work, but appreciate it as much as i do! And the fact that he isn’t willing to explain everything about his filmography for people to understand him better makes him even unique. He just keeps you wondering, and i love that so much.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS!!!!! the smile that grew and grew on my face as i read this is unmatched!! i love the “they hate you cause they ain’t you” mindset and how you need criticism to be able to grow; this is my new fav post!!!
Ignore the haters, Amanda. Never apologize for something you wrote! Also, David Lynch is amazing. No one had ever seen anything like Twin Peaks on TV at the time. Every episode was an event! Besides the films you mentioned, I also loved Wild at Heart and The Elephant Man. That one will make you cry -- hopefully not in public, though 😂
doing everything in my power to embody this. moving away from the pressures of performance and approval, and just writing and publishing for the pure joy of it!
sometimes i wish the substack dashboard didn't push post stats so strongly because at the end of the day, its about the art and not numbers <3
You’re so right, Adriana! Numbers and art are things that shouldn’t be synonymous! And there’s nothing like your own approval! There’s really nothing like looking at yourself and being like “wow, i did that!”. Every artist should and will have their space, wherever it might be. 🥹🩷
Great post. Now that's a tip I'm going to use. Although the urge to give a comeback, a fitting reply and shut up whoever tries to put you down is too strong to resist. :(
I totally get that! I used to feel like this a lot! Trust me, these people only want to see you stressed out! They want attention from whoever they think is doing great, so they too can feel great. It’s truly not worth it. The best people thrive in silence, and they’re thriving because they know they did the best that they could with what they had!!
Very true. Engaging with them is nothing but the transference of negativity. On the plus side, there are people who'll celebrate your wins too! (My readers here on Substack are a big part of it, the likes, comments and reshares keep me going!)
I feel like this is, genuinely, exactly what I needed to hear right now.
Not directly linked to my writing - which I've fallen back into my lifelong love with this past half year - but I have been aching to finally get back into singing (I did, in and out of school, for years). I would love to learn guitar and maybe be able to start songwriting or making music in non-classical genres. There are two things impeding me - procrastination, which I've been trying to undo in all aspects of my life forever - and fear of people thinking it is bad.
I care so much about what people think that it makes me sick. The thought of people thinking I'm bad and terrible at the things I love makes me physically sick. I need to let go, I think.
aw, Molly! don’t ever give your fear a thought! The fact that you want to pursue something so beautiful and are ( i know you are) so talented in many ways is so impressive to me, and you should really be proud of yourself. And i know this is going to sound really cliche, but life is SO short. One day, the regret of not doing that is definitely going to be bigger than the fear of judgement, trust me! I’d love to hear your beautiful voice one day! whenever ur ready! 🩷💐💌
loved this post sm!! because really we need to let people interpret stuff how they want to avoid grasping at straws and exhausting ourselves to get people to understand us. lynchian rizz is such an interesting concept too. loved reading this 😋
atanda!!! i LOVE having you here!!! and yes, you’re totally right. Those two get it, get it. I’m so glad you liked my post, you made my dayyyy!!!!! 🥹🫶🏻🌸💐💌🩷
This is the vibe!! I’ve gotten a few really mean comments mostly on TikTok, and it always hurts for a second and then I razz them in a clever way & they never reply. Little dungeon trolls [derogatory]
Sonja!!! Everyone who’s ever mean towards you is so unhappy and also very crazy! You’re so talented and also SO GORGEOUS OMG. They are dungeon trolls that are definitely banished from our little kingdom. 🫶🏻🥹💌
I wished I knew about David's rizz when in 2008 this middle age men destroyed me at an art school entry interview because I said I loved David Lynch and could not verbalised precisely enough why.
You're piece here is still timely because middle age men never stop apparently and I really needed your words here to reclaim some time back in my week to just write something that build my goals vs those draining closed dialogues, or just- make room for joy alone.
So much of the time I write like I have someone watching over my shoulder. It’s also so hard to write characters that are complicated and messy (aka, imperfect) without worrying that the reader is going to dismiss this at face value and then look to the writer (me) as somehow being a bad person. But I think that’s so much of the problem you’re describing--the reader barely glancing at the writing, already ready with their own judgements and biases. But this is such a good point!! The right readers will understand and ask questions and yearn to dig deeper into the text. Such a good reminder!! Also love this concept of lynchian rizz...you’re a philosopher fr
Hi Sidney! Thank you so much for taking the time to write such an insightful comment! and yes! Exactly!! The right readers will find you and will understand you. It really feels like true love when someone translates your intentions so beautifully. There’s certainly someone out there that will do that for you. If they don’t get it, they don’t get it. I’m living for you calling me a philosopher, by the way. Best compliment i’ve ever received! 🥹🫶🏻💐✨💌
Lynch is one of my biggest inspirations and you've just helped my mental quite a bit with this, thank you! Just last week I was visiting my family in Ohio and at one point I asked my step-father if he likes David Lynch's work and he said, "No, I could never understand it and I don't like to work for my entertainment." which kinda hurt lmao
Lol!! He’s not for everyone indeed! It’s always a pleasure to talk to people that not only are familiar with Lynch’s work, but appreciate it as much as i do! And the fact that he isn’t willing to explain everything about his filmography for people to understand him better makes him even unique. He just keeps you wondering, and i love that so much.
Oh I loved this! The moment some insecure men entered my comments section I giggled and thought "got ya!"
YES!!! Our “i made it” moment for sure!!!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS!!!!! the smile that grew and grew on my face as i read this is unmatched!! i love the “they hate you cause they ain’t you” mindset and how you need criticism to be able to grow; this is my new fav post!!!
EVELYN!!! OH MY GOD!!! i’m so so glad you liked it!! this is the nicest comment ever i love u soooo much!! 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻💌🥹💐
Ignore the haters, Amanda. Never apologize for something you wrote! Also, David Lynch is amazing. No one had ever seen anything like Twin Peaks on TV at the time. Every episode was an event! Besides the films you mentioned, I also loved Wild at Heart and The Elephant Man. That one will make you cry -- hopefully not in public, though 😂
Hi Lia!!! Thank you for that! and i’ll definitely see The Elephant Man (not in public) lol! ❤️
Amen. Spot on.
Mark!!! Glad you’re back! Thank you!!
THANK YOU FOR THIS!!!!
THANK YOU FOR READING!!!! 🥹🫶🏻✨💌🩷🤞🏻
doing everything in my power to embody this. moving away from the pressures of performance and approval, and just writing and publishing for the pure joy of it!
sometimes i wish the substack dashboard didn't push post stats so strongly because at the end of the day, its about the art and not numbers <3
loved this read x
You’re so right, Adriana! Numbers and art are things that shouldn’t be synonymous! And there’s nothing like your own approval! There’s really nothing like looking at yourself and being like “wow, i did that!”. Every artist should and will have their space, wherever it might be. 🥹🩷
Great post. Now that's a tip I'm going to use. Although the urge to give a comeback, a fitting reply and shut up whoever tries to put you down is too strong to resist. :(
I totally get that! I used to feel like this a lot! Trust me, these people only want to see you stressed out! They want attention from whoever they think is doing great, so they too can feel great. It’s truly not worth it. The best people thrive in silence, and they’re thriving because they know they did the best that they could with what they had!!
Very true. Engaging with them is nothing but the transference of negativity. On the plus side, there are people who'll celebrate your wins too! (My readers here on Substack are a big part of it, the likes, comments and reshares keep me going!)
I feel like this is, genuinely, exactly what I needed to hear right now.
Not directly linked to my writing - which I've fallen back into my lifelong love with this past half year - but I have been aching to finally get back into singing (I did, in and out of school, for years). I would love to learn guitar and maybe be able to start songwriting or making music in non-classical genres. There are two things impeding me - procrastination, which I've been trying to undo in all aspects of my life forever - and fear of people thinking it is bad.
I care so much about what people think that it makes me sick. The thought of people thinking I'm bad and terrible at the things I love makes me physically sick. I need to let go, I think.
aw, Molly! don’t ever give your fear a thought! The fact that you want to pursue something so beautiful and are ( i know you are) so talented in many ways is so impressive to me, and you should really be proud of yourself. And i know this is going to sound really cliche, but life is SO short. One day, the regret of not doing that is definitely going to be bigger than the fear of judgement, trust me! I’d love to hear your beautiful voice one day! whenever ur ready! 🩷💐💌
loved this post sm!! because really we need to let people interpret stuff how they want to avoid grasping at straws and exhausting ourselves to get people to understand us. lynchian rizz is such an interesting concept too. loved reading this 😋
atanda!!! i LOVE having you here!!! and yes, you’re totally right. Those two get it, get it. I’m so glad you liked my post, you made my dayyyy!!!!! 🥹🫶🏻🌸💐💌🩷
gdhdhdh 🩷🩷
This is the vibe!! I’ve gotten a few really mean comments mostly on TikTok, and it always hurts for a second and then I razz them in a clever way & they never reply. Little dungeon trolls [derogatory]
Sonja!!! Everyone who’s ever mean towards you is so unhappy and also very crazy! You’re so talented and also SO GORGEOUS OMG. They are dungeon trolls that are definitely banished from our little kingdom. 🫶🏻🥹💌
awww you make me feel so loved thank you 🥹 our little kingdom is the best ehehehe good vibes only!!
i appreciate that you keep finding ways to encourage everyone to keep writing !!!!! i sure as hell know i need it 🫣🫣
OMG i do love a good pep talk! especially when it reaches talented people like you that totally deserve all the love!!!! 🤞🏻🤞🏻🥹🩷🌸💐💌👯♀️
i LOVE sir lynchy!!!!!! but also dislike how he's treated all of his lovers lol the consequences of falling in love with an artist 😩😩
AWWW and same lol! 😩
AMANDA!!! incredible piece as always. i love lynch and i love your interpretation of death to the artist. rock on my bae <3
SARAH!!!! I LOVE U SO MUCH!!! 🫶🏻🥹 you’re the besttttttt!!!!! 🤞🏻🌸💐✨🩷💌
I wished I knew about David's rizz when in 2008 this middle age men destroyed me at an art school entry interview because I said I loved David Lynch and could not verbalised precisely enough why.
You're piece here is still timely because middle age men never stop apparently and I really needed your words here to reclaim some time back in my week to just write something that build my goals vs those draining closed dialogues, or just- make room for joy alone.
Thank you!