I really resonate with this - I'm finding substack overwhelming lately *because* of the more recent echo chamber nature of it. Despite your concerns about originality, though, this piece did read like a well thought out breath of fresh air, I really loved it.
So many people are fine with repackaging what they see working and adding nothing of themselves to it. "Stealing" from great artists is natural, but I think people have really over-learned this lesson. Maybe it's because the more you feed into the void, the more likely you are to get rewarded by the algorithm. And in that case, the quality doesn't matter.
Just trying to be original goes a long way. We are all gonna tackle the same subjects, but form and style matter. They make the difference.
Thanks for this piece! Really enjoyed reading your thoughts here. It made me reflect on how my thesis advisor in grad school used to say there were really only a few routes to reach an original contribution to a body of literature (this was discussing nonfiction). You can take two things that have been studied separately, but not together, and put them in conversation. You can find a new theoretical approach from which to view the thing, like doing a historical analysis of the it girl. You can zoom way out or way in, etc. Personally I find this idea freeing because it relieves me of the pressure to be an “original person” and is more about, how can I be creative about how I think about an idea? Sort of to your point also about emotional depth and choices. How can I make choices that increase the emotional truth of the piece?
as for the girlhood essays, hard agree - I think everyone is choosing the same view and the same lens and the same references - the main landscape in which things happen is the internet, the reference point is always the self, the entire essay takes place in the realm of “it feels like” vs actual processes in the world, even the aesthetics of the writing itself feel similar, etc.
This is such a great read! This is also what I've been thinking about Substack lately, and I'm glad writers are starting to point it out. This is an opportunity to reflect and come out as better writers.
This was SUCH an incredible read. A really well-structured essay about originality, which plagues all of us I think. I’ve been thinking about it a lot recently. You ended this on such a positive note that I sort of feel like my hesitations around originality have been totally remedied. Stunning.
thank you for the mention! i loved reading this and i had the same thought about substack lately, where all i see on my recommended page are girlhood essays and it girl debates. our own point of view however always adds something and if you're passionate enough to write about something, that's all that matters <3
I really resonate with this - I'm finding substack overwhelming lately *because* of the more recent echo chamber nature of it. Despite your concerns about originality, though, this piece did read like a well thought out breath of fresh air, I really loved it.
So many people are fine with repackaging what they see working and adding nothing of themselves to it. "Stealing" from great artists is natural, but I think people have really over-learned this lesson. Maybe it's because the more you feed into the void, the more likely you are to get rewarded by the algorithm. And in that case, the quality doesn't matter.
Just trying to be original goes a long way. We are all gonna tackle the same subjects, but form and style matter. They make the difference.
Thanks for this piece! Really enjoyed reading your thoughts here. It made me reflect on how my thesis advisor in grad school used to say there were really only a few routes to reach an original contribution to a body of literature (this was discussing nonfiction). You can take two things that have been studied separately, but not together, and put them in conversation. You can find a new theoretical approach from which to view the thing, like doing a historical analysis of the it girl. You can zoom way out or way in, etc. Personally I find this idea freeing because it relieves me of the pressure to be an “original person” and is more about, how can I be creative about how I think about an idea? Sort of to your point also about emotional depth and choices. How can I make choices that increase the emotional truth of the piece?
as for the girlhood essays, hard agree - I think everyone is choosing the same view and the same lens and the same references - the main landscape in which things happen is the internet, the reference point is always the self, the entire essay takes place in the realm of “it feels like” vs actual processes in the world, even the aesthetics of the writing itself feel similar, etc.
Obsessed with this piece and really needed to hear it tonight!!
This is such a great read! This is also what I've been thinking about Substack lately, and I'm glad writers are starting to point it out. This is an opportunity to reflect and come out as better writers.
This was SUCH an incredible read. A really well-structured essay about originality, which plagues all of us I think. I’ve been thinking about it a lot recently. You ended this on such a positive note that I sort of feel like my hesitations around originality have been totally remedied. Stunning.
thank you for the mention! i loved reading this and i had the same thought about substack lately, where all i see on my recommended page are girlhood essays and it girl debates. our own point of view however always adds something and if you're passionate enough to write about something, that's all that matters <3
aah thank you so much! i'm so glad u enjoyed!