Footnotes
You’re receiving this because you opted in for a course or offering from Caroline Donahue and Book Alchemy. Footnotes has moved to Substack. Welcome to our new home!
Welcome!
Whether you’re a long-time Book Alchemy reader, or a long-time Footnotes subscriber — or both — I’m thrilled to welcome you to the new format.
Ever since I started writing on substack a couple of years ago, there has been a shift in the dynamic, one that I’ve been craving for YEARS. At last, there has been conversation with readers. Writing letters to all of you has been a gift and an honor, but I’ve always worried about whether it’s been as helpful as it could be, because there was no easy way to keep the discussion going after I hit send.
Now, you have two ways to engage: reply to the email version, just as has always been possible, or leave a comment below, and dive deeper. This way, I can get to know you better and — even more important — you can get to know each other better.
Writing thrives in a supportive community, and that’s what I hope this will become.
The new Footnotes
Since I write posts about writing, craft, and the psychology of creativity every Monday (similar to what you’ve received via Footnotes in the past) I can now share something new each month under the Footnotes name.
In each issue, you’ll get a roundup of what I’ve read and been inspired by over the past month, both articles and books. You’ll also get a round-up of the most popular posts of the month.
I’m eager to make all of this as useful as possible for you, so please comment with requests and topics that you’d like to see me cover, both in Footnotes as well as other posts.
Let’s get started, shall we?
August Inspiration
August is my birthday month, so the combination of the heat we face in the Northern Hemisphere and the existential questions that creep in before I mark another year in age leave me craving meaning, big time.
Inspiring articles from August:
- ’s piece on Why Awe Matters was just the ticket on a warm day.
Poet
’s call for more reckless abandon really fired me up.My recent obsession with poetry inspired a student to send me this article on the “burning haibun” form and now I’m dying to write one. The links from the article to examples are really worth it.
If you need a good laugh and enjoy very dry British humor, this from
made me properly guffaw.
Books I’ve loved this month
Jessi Jezewska Steven’s short story collection, Ghost Pains, had me from go. Possibly because there were a lot of Berlin stories, but also because the writing is weird and wonderful. I’ve already gotten a copy of her novel to read soon.
Megan Nolan’s novel, Ordinary Human Failings,1 also had me in a vice grip the few days I read it. There is something about Irish writing that gets me every time. Trigger warning: this book does include the death of a child.
Patrick Grant, of Great British Sewing Bee fame, wrote a book called Less about the history of the clothing industry in the UK with some aspects of production in the US included. I found it fascinating, partly because I am including a plot thread (pardon the pun) about the clothing industry, but mostly because I’m a human who wears clothes and uses things.
Sociopath, by Patric Gagne, the audiobook edition, has been my companion as I walk and ride transit around town the past month and I’ve loved every minute. Perhaps the fact that I write murder mystery might be part of it, but it’s a riveting and informative read no matter what. (Thanks again for this tip,
!)
Books you’ve loved this month
We have a thread going, sharing favorite reads for August and you can grow your TBR pile even taller by checking that out here:
Posts that struck a chord
The posts that generated the most discussion this month:
Everyone was extremely relieved to learn that you cannot make time in German, and writing schedules must adjust accordingly.
Because this is our first issue, I’ve made this favorite from July free for everyone to read for the rest of August: The adventure you unlock by asking what’s in the box? (I always ask now)
- interviewed me for The Inkwell, and we spoke in-depth about the Indie publishing. It was great fun, and the comments section is incredible.
An extra tip
This past Friday,
and hosted an incredibly generous and inspiring summit for writers. It talks about how those who've written + published books (or dream of doing this) can get inspired to promote their writing while having fun and making a decent living. It’s still available and free to watch here. Highly recommended!Requests?
Let me know what topics you want to hear about in future articles and what topics you want links to feature in future issues of Footnotes. I’m excited to research for all of us. If you read any of these, share thoughts as well and we can keep the conversation going.
Thank you so much for being here!
xx,
Caroline