The Re-Stains of the Day

 Hello everyone, I just thought of a blog post topic that might belong on my mad blog. In fact, I think I will put it on the mad blog soon.  But it is about writing and publishing.  And for some reason, while thinking about Substack a few minutes ago, I happened upon this topic that I find myself absolutely suddenly outraged about.  I mean I did not even know that this was percolating in my mind, but here it is.

Recently I saw a video where someone was questioning the expectation for writers to have "platforms," or rather, supply all the readers themselves before an agent and publisher accept them.  I also questioned this five years ago when it became a thing, and I was suggesting that the word "platform's" meaning had sneakily changed.  So anyway, finally some other people are seeing something sketchy about it, and I do agree. 

But there is something else that I find even more outrageous, and for some reason, I just now saw it so clearly in my mind after not really realizing how offended I am by this other thing.

So here it is... email lists.  This popular recent writing advice, or really just the stated news fact that you might not be able to reach anyone without your own email list, is another mandate from that same time where some people became popular and the experts began telling all of us failure people to be more like them, at least on the surface.  So what is offensive about being told to have an email list?

Well, the reason that email lists started to seem necessary is because the much more successful social media platforms were suddenly transformed from one of the best things that ever happened to us into a horrible thieving counter-monetized social life-stealing swindle.  And the same people who ruined facebook on purpose were the ones saying to now invest in email lists.

The overt bullying from political people to their own friends after thirty years in which they too did not succeed in helping immigrants is what I am talking about.  And to just say, well now you have to have an email list, is simply part of that hypocrisy.  Because at one point, there was a blessing that we had called social media, which included opportunities to reach people.  But up and ups and low down dirties all decided to ruin it for us. 

It is a fact, and people made their choice, and it can't be undone in order to hide it. Does it tarnish anyone's success? Not necessarily.  But not necessarily not, either.  Because wow, there were winners and losers, and did all the losers deserve it? Probably not. So what about the winners? Before I get on that tangent, I have one more thing to say about email lists and platforms.  The people who chase those things that seem to work and prescribe them to the rest of us who seem so inferior actually probably aren't seeing the real keys to success.  The real things that people who succeed on those levels do are likely to start years before and be very integrated in their lives as organic decisions that aren't that different from anyone who is doing what they really care about. And most writers do care and have something to say. I mean, sure, why not list the things that are working, why not give people the opportunity for relevant education, why not point out the clues that seem to suddenly work.  And yet, "you're going to need an email list because we are ruining this platform that we also told you to have," is nothing other than total bullcrap. Do you think that is sour grapes from me? Or is it the feces that you smeared all over the church of better writers.

 Pals, guess what, I saw my buddy named Danielle! At Starbucks!  from Jewish Board! It was so fun and she helped me not be scared of the story shield.  But I told her there was one that had to do with her because there is a Daniella and a Danielle and the evil forces might not know which one to attack. I mean you don't just tell someone that.  But I did but she is still my friend.

I think it is a reward because I volunteered to be a leader at the MSF event but nice I am not a good leader! I am going to have to tell the people I am not a good leader and don't know how to run the music.

But maybe they want to listen to Starbucks music. But I think that is what I should do now if find the playlist.

Ok thanks everyone.

 Hi everyone, this is Refried. It is 2:48. I feel back to normal but expect some visions for a day or so and figured out why it is happening. It is probably because of the Doctors Without Borders mapping event. God likes them and I have seizures sometimes when I pray for them. And that was also probably why the hurricane happened when I was at NCB, and there could also be an Asheville connection from when I prayed at the gas station that time. I am not saying that it is about me, but I have wondered what the meaning is and possibly that is the way that it is ironically not about me.

So anyway I know I seem like a kook now but it is actually the opposite. I am volunteering tonight in the meeting but my internet is not that great. But I think I will try to use my computer instead of my phone if I can. And I will log on at home and not Starbucks.

Soon I talk to Drena. I am glad I figured out why I was having slight spells of something.

Well have a good day everyone.

 Pals, if you do not get your book, please let me know or just order one later. I am sorry that sometimes the packages get torn or misdelivered etc.

The next batch is for Bronx Council for the Arts. There may be enough for the park or a normal few at pastors, priests, and guides. But there might not. So please be patient everyone and to my knowledge the Amazon page works so let’s none of us be too proud to just spend $5.

Hello everyone, this is Refried Bean. It is Monday, Sept 7. I just packed up three more books to mail out. So there are ten packages total. I hope they all get to the people and don't get sent back.

It is a good batch and now I have given away all my copies of the jumbo titles. But I think I still have two copies of the mice series but I think I will keep those for a while.

So that is interesting. That took a lot of work for a day or two. I mean maybe only a few hours.

So anyway now what.  I guess take my medicine soon. Or maybe take a walk. I think I will take a walk.

Maybe google the brain condition. My neurologist is keeping an eye on things. 

She said my brain adapted already to the low iron so there was not "damage."

ok,.. I just think this low iron situation is very bad. And sometimes I do not feel well.

But I think this is part of the process of dying and that is what is happening now.

So that is sad but it will be okay. 

I am glad to send out some more books.

I think I am at about 3000 total official, but really maybe 3500-4000 depending on what you count.

Some people are really happy to have the books.  Some people got left off but honestly it is not that easy.

But it is not that hard, either, like it is part of my normal work life.

Gice honestly my face is not totally back to normal and the weight loss stalled as well.

But it is okay. I feel okay and I have clean clothes and the roach motels are at the post office and the other shipment is on the way. Grocery money resets tomorrow and I am doing okay.

I will call my mom in a few hours and hopefully she is okay too.  I mean what if we aren't doing that great, that is also okay.

Ravneet helped me get through the weekend. I need to think about some of the conspiracy things. The New York conspiracy and how it is going to be fun in heaven. Like New York City is going to exist in heaven and there are a lot of good people headed there.  And some people didn't get their piece of the pie but just think about how cool most of us are. I mean we are nice people and a certain way.

 Hello everyone, this is Refried. It is 1:20 on Sunday, Sept 6. I am listening to a recording of a presentation that I liked at the SCBWI conference. Friday I found out that the agent of choice did not accept me.

Today I went to Starbucks and drank a mocha. Later I am going to try to go get pizza, but I need to take an iron pill, because I feel myself getting tired. It is a certain kind of tired that also has a mental spaciness.

Ravneet is helping me get through this weekend and I am doing okay. I think I might believe things to be a certain way for myself. Last night I got upset because I realized an amazon package was not delivered, and I suspected mail interference.  But this morning I see that things are in order.

My mom had a second hip surgery and my sister is taking care of her. I called her this morning and she was okay. But she had pain but I think she is getting through it.

Wow someone on the recording just said something really good. It is about middle grade not being dead.

Other stuff going on is my recent neurology appointment.  Dr. Gokhan said I do not have lupus.  I think I am going to call it autoimmune from now on.  Something made me laugh at the appointment.  It was a comedian on the show called "Sherrie," which was playing in the waiting room. And I laughed really loud, and then Dr. Gokhan later laughed when I said I might get a stroke from eating spicy food. 

So that is kind of funny but we do not know what anything means. I did not get any notes from either doctor at that hospital for these last two appointments. And I am kind of sad about that, because I like notes. But I think they suspect that I am skipping some meds. But I am doing the best I can.

So anyway. I think the agent of choice was my final effort. Thanks KG.

Well everyone, I hope you all have a good day. I am thankful for what I have, and sometimes I know when some of my jokes are only a little bit funny.

 Hello everyone, this is Refried. I just slept for a while, and I feel better. I had a dream where I was at a basketball game and a guy kept trying to make these shots from behind the goal and then another guy did some swishes and then I was at home and told my mom I was going to bilo to meet a friend so I left but then was on a bike or something and cut through a culdesac that doesn’t exist and there was this guy with a shiny pink tri corner outfit and he was a dad and he had left colorful twizzlers out on his porch area for the Easter bunny and then I was on Pelham road on a long boardwalk that went straight to bilo but it was at night and I had a light on my bike and a girl was in front of me talking to someone else about a film school project and then I woke up.

So that is neat about the twizzlers and Easter bunny.

I think I am okay about the other stuff on my mind and can get a pizza or something soon. I mean possibly I need to do a grocery order but I kind of want a pizza but now my bank accounts aren’t that great.

Does anyone have any thoughts? There are many different supernatural feelings for many different things and that is why I started thinking that anything positive might be more supernatural than we realize.

Anyway I need to clean my apartment some so I will take out the trash soon and maybe do laundry sometime.

I am glad I am caught up on sleep and medicine.