Tell Me How I'm Doing?
Hey there.
Hope all is well with you, readerfriend.
So, this week I messed up and hit the publish button on a piece I had just written, By the time I realized what I had done/ it was too late. Which means my Friday essay got born on Wednesday. Oh well. I’m an idiot sometimes. What can you do? Even so, I didn’t want folks who are used to hearing from me on Friday mornings to have to miss out on their tiny fix.
And so here I am.
This isn’t an essay, of course. I didn’t have the time to write another one. Instead, I figured that maybe today would be a good time do something I have been wanting to do for some time now.
To ask you folks how the hell I’m doing with all of the Thunder Pie stuff.
Your support really means a great deal to me. It’s been two years and a couple months of this current version of TPie and I’m pretty proud of it. But I know that, without each and every one of you, it would be kind of useless.
So loan me your mind? Take a few minutes of your day to reach out to me here in the comments below? Or via email if you’d prefer to communicate that way? Reach out and tell me what you like about my writing. And maybe what you’d change if you could. I’m open to suggestions, although there’s no guarantee I’ll follow up on them. What I will do is respond to each of the comments or emails I get. I promise you that.
I fucking love writing so much because I know I am lost in the wilderness when I go there. And although I guesss I believe I’ve gotten better at it since I started this Substack: time/ work/ money/ life…they all slow down the process of growing and improving. I know I move at a snail’s pace compared to some writers who can devote much more of themselves to sitting down and banging out a thousand words a day, every day. Or damn near every day.
I feel so lucky though, to even be able to get to write once a week. And to have a small select audience who gives a shit. I know there are some who subscribe but never even read my stuff. I appreciate you all very much. But for those of you who do dig into my work, tell me what you think about any facet of my words, my photos, my subjects, anything. I want to know what you love/ what you like/ what you wish was different. Getting new subscribers is really hard. What would you think might help me with that?
Or am I basically selling something that not many people would want? Is my writing universal enough or is my voice too strange/ too out there/ too this or too that?
If you could have me write more about a certain topic, what would that be? And more importantly, why?
Do you think I ever bullshit about anything? Do you suspect that I have written anything less than true about my real life when I have written about it? I have always wanted readers to feel as if I am believable. It means everything to me. I want to be respectable and relatable and believable above all else.
Am I, in your opinion?
Okay. That’s enough. I really am extremely grateful for your support so far. Being able to write my world has seriously helped me through some really hurtful experiences these last couple of years.
In some ways, each of you has saved me, week after week after week.
For that, I can never repay you,
Have a good weekend.
Serge.
sergebielanko@gmail.com
No surprise here, I love this space, the words, the photos. All of it. I value your honestly. Your willingness to bare (and yes, I almost wrote bear...) your soul. It's raw, this writing, and that's what makes it feel real. It's why your words resonate with me.
I think you can guess what I'd love to read more of. But I think that's a part of your soul you aren't prepared to share right now. And maybe that's better. For you. For me. That it remain a mystery. Someday though I wanna hear it all. I'll bring the wine.
In this world, where it's so easy to feel disconnected, your words break down that barrier. They give me something to look forward to, like the prize buried in the cereal box (why doesn't adult/low card cereal come with prizes? we all need prizes).
In much the same way your writing has helped you through hurtful experiences, it's helped me process the same in my world. Great writing does that.
Random aside--I'd totally rep TPie merch...
When I can find my reading glasses it’s a pleasure to read Thunder Pie. There are months that I am so busy that I don’t take the time to check in, and then i start to think I’m wasting 10 bucks but then that’s my fault. You always write far more than I can process and sit still reading, so it’s a good long couple of reads for me, and interesting since my own life is somewhere between boring ( my fault) and peacefully blessed. While we have never met, the person you represent here seems quite transparent, interesting and well meaning. I like the fact that you love your wife and kids. That’s so important to me as a reader. So sick of hearing about people sneaking around and getting so tangled up in the vices that they lose the heart and soul intimacy of their relationships. You guys seem to make time for each other and the kids. You’re honest with your ups and downs. It’s important to see how that’s just normal and part or dealing with being vulnerable. Being real. I like the balance you and Arle seem to have.. the comfort of knowing you’re all in and nobody’s leaving anyone. That somehow you guys will remain, whatever weather blows in. That’s a comfort to read about. You may not even realize that it matters to readers. Maybe that’s weird. It’s stability even when things don’t feel that way. I like the voice, the nature, the analogies and poetry. The kid stories. Reflactions and insights. Not much one for dead birds or stumbling upon skull heads but I accept that there is also a comport in history and old rusty finds. Goes nice with Arles talent with photography. I thing y’all are blessed to patch together a beautiful tapestry with your families. Guess I will stick around. Read up when i find my glasses. Thanks. - G