Oh man, I could relate to this to a painful degree, particularly the part about returning triumphantly to The A.V. Club. I was hoping that 2024 would be a big year for me. Instead, it's the writing equivalent of a rebuilding year, in which I put things in place to do better- hopefully- in the future. If I were you, I would still be riding high off the success of the Airplane book. That's everywhere. I always experience a surge of pride for you whenever I see it. Being a freelance writer is a difficult way of making a living (I'm coming on a full decade of full-time struggling!) that somehow never seems to get easier, but you've got to claim your victories along the way. I have between one and seventy-three books that will be published in 2025 (hopefully!), and I will be overjoyed if any of them get a small fraction of the attention your book did. I know I've got great stuff to look forward to in the year ahead, but it can be hard to be positive when life is full of unpleasant surprises. But onward and upward! 2025 hopefully will be better. I remain cautiously optimistic.
Thanks for all this writing and for sharing a bit of yourself, Will. While it might not always feel this way, your ability to write across outlets and assignments IS an advantage. No matter what, I'll continue to read your work while rooting for a better 2025!
If it’s any help, “Surely You Can’t Be Serious” was the only item I put on my secret Santa list. I’m over 100 pages in and will be reading more tomorrow… On an airplane!
Oh man, I could relate to this to a painful degree, particularly the part about returning triumphantly to The A.V. Club. I was hoping that 2024 would be a big year for me. Instead, it's the writing equivalent of a rebuilding year, in which I put things in place to do better- hopefully- in the future. If I were you, I would still be riding high off the success of the Airplane book. That's everywhere. I always experience a surge of pride for you whenever I see it. Being a freelance writer is a difficult way of making a living (I'm coming on a full decade of full-time struggling!) that somehow never seems to get easier, but you've got to claim your victories along the way. I have between one and seventy-three books that will be published in 2025 (hopefully!), and I will be overjoyed if any of them get a small fraction of the attention your book did. I know I've got great stuff to look forward to in the year ahead, but it can be hard to be positive when life is full of unpleasant surprises. But onward and upward! 2025 hopefully will be better. I remain cautiously optimistic.
I am belated in serving up my gratitude and admiration for discussing Young Guns II with Mortensen. I effing love that movie.
Thanks for all this writing and for sharing a bit of yourself, Will. While it might not always feel this way, your ability to write across outlets and assignments IS an advantage. No matter what, I'll continue to read your work while rooting for a better 2025!
If it’s any help, “Surely You Can’t Be Serious” was the only item I put on my secret Santa list. I’m over 100 pages in and will be reading more tomorrow… On an airplane!