The randomness of virality, low-budget sexy Greek films and more-budget sexy British spy thrillers, remakes and retellings galore, and the freedom to create on your own terms.
I am new to Substack. I can totally feel what you wrote about the three types of the viral note. Still trying to figure out how everything works here. Thanks a lot for your insight.
Welcome and thanks for reading! I’m sure you’ll soon get a good grasp of Substack. It can be confusing at times and there’s been a turn towards more traditional social media instant messaging through notes but it’s also a great place to explore at lease.
Thanks for the reply. So far I do feel that it's very much like social media, especially the posts on Note. I feel a bit like scrolling on facebook but without the advertisements
That's such an iconic film! I always associate him with Fantaghirò, which is strange because I was too young to remember Kim was in it 😂 Have to say he has convinced me in The Leopard.
Another whirlwind round-up Cristina, you are always making me feel like I need to catch up with so much! Including now feeling like I need to read Sedaris and watch Amelia and Monica (was there an allusion to Andrew?)
Oh yes, give a chance to David Sedaris. I always recommend Me Talk Pretty One Day as a starting point but any of his books will do. Unfortunately Amelia and Monica interact briefly - at least that's what the edited video shows- but I'm sure meaningful stares were exchanged 😂
This is precisely the piece I didn't know I needed to read - at least the first part about the algorithm and your people finding your writing. I've been pondering on that lately, even went on a journaling spree to uncover *why* I want more subscribers, and also why it seems that everyone else has more success than me around here. I calmed down and reframed my perspective since then, but your thoughts on it were very much welcome!
Oh, how I'd love to see that Cartier exhibition...! Enjoy it!
It was a bit of an 'aha' moment as I kept getting notifications about likes and restacks. I found it amusing and odd that something I hadn't created turned out to be my biggest hit and it made me reflect on how little control I had over what people end up finding worth engaging with.
It's a question that all of us here eventually think about as we look at what other people are doing and the response they're receiving and it's very tempting to think we're doing something wrong if we don't see the same level of engagement. But this was a good example that sometimes effort on our side doesn't even play a part on what people like.
Like you, I have reframed my perspective and try to focus on enjoying the process because that's the only thing I am in control of. The rest is in the hands of the algorithm and the favour of the audience.
It's the curse of comparison, which fuels envy - at least in me, I'm not ashamed to say it. Journaling on the source of my envy I found something beautiful, I want to be read by more people (like *those* people who get viral notes and have thousands of subscribers), because it's a fundamental need to be seen, to be known, similar to the need to have a quality real-life community where I can share more than chitchat. It's not a selfish drive, much less an economic wish.
Enjoying the process is really where it's at, it's the biggest source of joy. But we get stuck on the numbers sometimes...
I completely get what you mean, Monica. I went through that process a few months ago and it made me think about what actually mattered to me and I came to a similar conclusion: It wasn't the numbers per se but the desire to be seen. Being online and having access to so many other people is a double-edge sword for me: on the one hand it's showed me the incredible things others are creating and on the other, it's fuelled competition, which I think it's a natural response. The important thing for me is to realise that each of us is on its own creative path and to make sure I enjoy it while it lasts. Easier said than done but I'm trying 😅
Thanks for the round-up, Cristina. Glad your seat plaque Note went viral, I was highly amused – hope it's gained you new readers. Look forward to watching The Leopard and will explore your other recommendations.
Thank you, Wendy! I've tried to be a bit more succint this time with the recommendations 😂 If you watch The Leopard hope you enjoy it. I now need to watch Adolescence -which I believe you talked about recently and this morning was highly recommended to me by someone else.
I am new to Substack. I can totally feel what you wrote about the three types of the viral note. Still trying to figure out how everything works here. Thanks a lot for your insight.
Welcome and thanks for reading! I’m sure you’ll soon get a good grasp of Substack. It can be confusing at times and there’s been a turn towards more traditional social media instant messaging through notes but it’s also a great place to explore at lease.
I meant at ease, but I think I was thinking of leisure and I got it mixed up.
Thanks for the reply. So far I do feel that it's very much like social media, especially the posts on Note. I feel a bit like scrolling on facebook but without the advertisements
It can feel like that at times, but hang on in there and I’m sure you’ll also find people and publications you can’t get enough of : )
Can't believe Kim Rossi Stuart is Don Fabrizio... Keep thinking of him in Romanzo Criminale
That's such an iconic film! I always associate him with Fantaghirò, which is strange because I was too young to remember Kim was in it 😂 Have to say he has convinced me in The Leopard.
Another whirlwind round-up Cristina, you are always making me feel like I need to catch up with so much! Including now feeling like I need to read Sedaris and watch Amelia and Monica (was there an allusion to Andrew?)
Oh yes, give a chance to David Sedaris. I always recommend Me Talk Pretty One Day as a starting point but any of his books will do. Unfortunately Amelia and Monica interact briefly - at least that's what the edited video shows- but I'm sure meaningful stares were exchanged 😂
I don’t even know what team I am on as I kind of love them both!
They could form a throuple so we can all be happy : ) I'm disappointing all that flirting amounted to nothing.
This is precisely the piece I didn't know I needed to read - at least the first part about the algorithm and your people finding your writing. I've been pondering on that lately, even went on a journaling spree to uncover *why* I want more subscribers, and also why it seems that everyone else has more success than me around here. I calmed down and reframed my perspective since then, but your thoughts on it were very much welcome!
Oh, how I'd love to see that Cartier exhibition...! Enjoy it!
It was a bit of an 'aha' moment as I kept getting notifications about likes and restacks. I found it amusing and odd that something I hadn't created turned out to be my biggest hit and it made me reflect on how little control I had over what people end up finding worth engaging with.
It's a question that all of us here eventually think about as we look at what other people are doing and the response they're receiving and it's very tempting to think we're doing something wrong if we don't see the same level of engagement. But this was a good example that sometimes effort on our side doesn't even play a part on what people like.
Like you, I have reframed my perspective and try to focus on enjoying the process because that's the only thing I am in control of. The rest is in the hands of the algorithm and the favour of the audience.
It's the curse of comparison, which fuels envy - at least in me, I'm not ashamed to say it. Journaling on the source of my envy I found something beautiful, I want to be read by more people (like *those* people who get viral notes and have thousands of subscribers), because it's a fundamental need to be seen, to be known, similar to the need to have a quality real-life community where I can share more than chitchat. It's not a selfish drive, much less an economic wish.
Enjoying the process is really where it's at, it's the biggest source of joy. But we get stuck on the numbers sometimes...
I completely get what you mean, Monica. I went through that process a few months ago and it made me think about what actually mattered to me and I came to a similar conclusion: It wasn't the numbers per se but the desire to be seen. Being online and having access to so many other people is a double-edge sword for me: on the one hand it's showed me the incredible things others are creating and on the other, it's fuelled competition, which I think it's a natural response. The important thing for me is to realise that each of us is on its own creative path and to make sure I enjoy it while it lasts. Easier said than done but I'm trying 😅
Thanks for the round-up, Cristina. Glad your seat plaque Note went viral, I was highly amused – hope it's gained you new readers. Look forward to watching The Leopard and will explore your other recommendations.
Thank you, Wendy! I've tried to be a bit more succint this time with the recommendations 😂 If you watch The Leopard hope you enjoy it. I now need to watch Adolescence -which I believe you talked about recently and this morning was highly recommended to me by someone else.
Yes, Adolescence is terrific, Cristina. Still thinking about it.
I'm sure it is based on the trailer plus Stephen Graham is on it so really looking forward to watching it this weekend.