Mirror Moment
Mid-year gut check and horizon assessment
Welcome back to
, a (mostly) short fiction newsletter inspired by stock photography.As a writer on this ever-undulating platform, it has become part of my daily routine to check my subscriber count and see if it’s changed from one day to the next—or hell, from one hour to the next.
It’s something I wish I thought about less, and as I embark on the second half of my first year on Substack, I hope to focus more on tangible results than dubious outcomes. To celebrate the checked boxes and the new leaves turned over—the runs batted in, and other sports metaphors I don’t fully understand.
Now, I could tell you how many subscribers I currently have, declare my next milestone goal, and even show you a screen shot of my X and Y axes….
But I’m not going to do that. Instead, I’m going to make my mirror moment about everything I’ve accomplished here in the last six months. Because I checked a crap ton of boxes, you guys. And a lot of those boxes are checked because of you.
☑️ I started a short fiction newsletter of my very own creation, with my very own name on it
☑️ I wrote a story and published it online—for the whole world to discover
☑️ I wrote 35 more stories and published them online—for a growing audience of readers to enjoy, and for even more of the world to discover
☑️ I connected with people through their writing, and mine
☑️ I learned how to better give and receive feedback
☑️ I improved my craft
☑️ I honed my editing skills
☑️ I became a Canva wizard
☑️ I made friends
☑️ I braved new genres
☑️ I showed up in public spaces and shared my thoughts … PUBLICLY😲
☑️ I showed up for readers by posting consistently
☑️ I showed up for writers by reading, liking, sharing, and commenting on their work
☑️ I earned 13 recommendations from other Substack writers
☑️ I recommended 15 other Substack writers to you
☑️ I found community
☑️ I gained confidence
☑️ I made mistakes and learned from them
☑️ I took risks
☑️ I missed marks
☑️ I hit reset (a few times)
☑️ I learned a lot about people and how good they can be
☑️ I said yes to scary things
☑️ I heard no, and it didn’t break me
☑️ I made my family proud
☑️ I tried my best
☑️ I grew up
So yeah.
I pretty much nailed it.
What’s on the horizon?
More stories. More essays. More films. More art.
If you’re wondering if I’ve considered starting a podcast called Talk Fiction, the answer is YES. OBVIOUSLY.
And if you’re wondering where I’ve landed on the whole traditional publishing saga, it’s approximately here:
I know my strengths. I know my weaknesses. I know what matters to me in relationships, whether they be friendly, professional, romantic, or otherwise. And just like I knew in my heart that I was not going to meet the love of my life in a bar or at a singles improv night1, I know in my heart that I’m not going to find my literary agent by peddling myself like a sad-eyed dog through a bunch of slush piles. I’m just not. If I’m destined to find representation, it will be by some serendipitous means that are completely out of my hands.
I will work. I will write. I will share. I will repeat indefinitely.
If it’s meant to be, it will be.
And if not, fuck it. 🎤💥
I’m also going to take a page out of Kara Cutruzzula's book, which happens to be out of Seth Godin’s book The Purple Cow, and start doing things that AREN’T being done in the publishing industry2.
Starting with number one on this list:
➡️➡️From
People don't give away their debut novels for free.
People rarely publish daily, whether that's articles or podcasts or newsletters.
They may not share connections or data with their frenemies.
They don't premiere three new musicals every year or live-stream their auditions.
They don't say "I charge a flat rate of $1,000 per article."
They don't create one-sentence resumes.
They don't cold contact 500 people with a warmhearted email.
They don't make experiences exceptional, even though that's all anyone wants — remarkable, exceptional experiences.
To be moved. To feel. ⬅️⬅️
If you’re a reader or writer on Wattpad, come follow me @megoolders. My debut will be published there in the not-too-distant future. It will be free to read and free to love. If you don’t know what Wattpad is, don’t fret. Many more updates to come on that front, so stay tuned.
I want to circle back to my checked boxes and say a big, juicy, heartfelt thank you to a handful of individuals who helped make those boxes checkable for me over the past six months3:
Tom Pendergast, Amran Gowani, Wil Dalton, J.E. Petersen, Maegan Heil, Brian Reindel, Justin Deming, Michael Estrin, Wendy Fry, Susan C. Williams, and you, reader, whether this is your first visit to Stock Fiction, or you’ve been around the block a few times already.
It was a fantastic first six months for me, and I hope you plan to stick around for the next six. ‘Cause it’s gonna be awesome.
See you next Thursday for brand new fiction.
Yours really and very truly,
He was a friend of a friend of my roommate, and we met in the dining hall. We still represent each other’s work 24 years later.
All of these good people entered my orbit by serendipitous means. Just saying.
Writers write. That's the only thing you have to prove, and you only have to prove it to yourself.
Keep up the great work! Happy half-year anniversary. Looking forward to what comes next.
Happy belated six months, Meg! You have inspired me during what has also been my first six months on Substack. I'm doing my best to keep up with reading and commenting for my Substack friends. Thanks for reminding me keep levity, humor, and imagination in things because I can tend to get too serious. All still a work in progress. You're the shit!