💬 Nat’s Update: New Things and an Update on Schooling
It’s cool weather here, as autumn has finally arrived. That’s exciting. I do like mild weather. How about you? Do you prefer extremes like super hot or super cold or middle of the road stuff? But anyway, here are a few new updates. Let’s start with writing, then school, and then go into something new for the site — micro-interviews.
A new short story and what’s next.
This past term I had another writing workshop. The first one I did involved me writing the second story in the Mercedes Masterson series which is called Her Last Halloween — which is a short story. This time around I had to work on the beginnings of a novel or anthology of short stories. I developed a concept for an anthology taking place in Rolla, Missouri, during the 1990s. I grew up in Rolla in the 90s, so it’s a nostalgia project. I’m not sold on if I will follow through with the anthology or not. I may. But for now I have one completed short story called Blood Frequency. I’m considering releasing it the week of Thanksgiving as it has themes of family and a happy ending, so I think it could be a delightful treat. This will be a paid short story though, I realized I’ve been giving away so much lately. But it’ll still only be $0.99. I also plan to make a paperback version, but I’ll hold off on that until probably at least January.
School is almost finished.
So, I’m getting really close to graduating from SNHU, where I’ve been attending online since January 2022. I’m taking one class this term (which ends right before Christmas) and next term (which begins in January) I’ll be taking my last two courses (which wrap up in March). So barring any hiccups between now and then, I should be able to petition for graduating and have a springtime graduation. I’ll have a bachelor’s. I’m majoring in English Language and Literature, in case you forgot.
I’m not gonna lie, I’m ready to be finished. I’m ready to get out there and begin working.
Confabulation — a micro-interview series.
On the Weaver’s Deep Thoughts site, I’ve been using a microblog. It’s where I post answers to Ask Nat, but I’ve also been trying to make it more of a home for shorter form blogging thoughts. In case I decide to leave microblogging platforms like Threads and Bluesky, or get run off like what Elon Musk did with Twitter.
These posts do not go to your inbox, as I’m sure you wouldn’t want little thoughts from me trickling into your email. But you can subscribe via RSS and have those posts delivered to your RSS reader of choice (this is the RSS feed link).
That said, I launched a new interview series that I’m posting there. I’ll be interviewing writerly types to start with for sure, and I’m trying to make those interviews double-edged, in that they include stuff about the writing world and a topic close to them.
The first interview is of publisher Robin Taylor of GenderWild Press. We discussed queer representation in media during the 90s — as he was growing up during that time in the Midwest as a trans person. You can read that interview here.
My next interview has been conducted and is of author Lana Casiello. We discussed her writing and her Hawaiian heritage. I’ll be writing that up and hope to release it later this month.
I’m making video recordings of these interviews, for note-taking purposes, but let me know if you’d be interested in seeing some clips from them.
The interviews themselves are written in an AP Style news format. So they should read like a short news story. It’s allowing me to flex that part of my writing some which may help me professionally — as I look to graduating in the near future and consider my prospects.
Site income and looking for Producer tier folks.
This year is winding down to a close soon — it’ll be New Year’s Eve before you know it. I thought I’d share some insights into how much income this newsletter has brought in this year. I started out bringing in nothing — which is typical. Last year, I brought in $32 off of paid subscribers, which I am grateful for. Ya’ll are awesome.
So far this year, I’ve brought in $84.70 in both subscriptions and sales of Jonah of Olympic through the newsletter library. That’s pretty awesome, I’m not gonna lie. It doesn’t quite pay for the site and the writers I bring in for you all, but it’s on its way, which is cool. Part of me hopes we’ll break $100 by the end of the year.
And I’m gonna toss out something that I don’t talk about often. If ever. While I do have the $1/month tier for subscribing, and I love that, I also have another tier called the Producer tier. I had it set mildly high, but I recently dropped it to $5/month or $50/year (two months free). The goal of this tier is to get people on board who want to really contribute to the writers I bring in. If you like the idea of taking on more of a leadership role and giving enough to help pay for writers of fiction and poetry, I’d love to have you. Check it out below:
This option is specifically for people who want to fund at a higher price what we're doing here. Producers will be directly funding the site and the authors and poets who submit free works for the readers. Get two months free on the annual plan. Check out the benefits below.
I’m not very good at doing this sort of stuff, asking for people to pay, but dang I’m trying and if you wanna give me advice or encouragement so that I get better at this — I’m game to listen.
Site makeover.
I also recently recolored the website. Check it out and let me know what you think in the comments.
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See you in December, folks! ⛄
