A Year In Writing
About a year ago, I published my first work of online writing, No, Twitter is Still a Trash Fire, on Medium. Since then, I’ve published 36 articles, started a Substack account, and gained a few followers and subscribers.
If you’re one of those few reading this, thank you, really. It makes this whole endeavor seem more worthwhile and worth doing. Thank you for being here and sticking around. If you aren't subscribed, feel free to; there is no pressure, and it’s free.
Looking back at my old work, I notice all sorts of stylistic changes. I used to use big, chunky paragraphs, but now I use smaller ones to break up and emphasize certain ideas and sentences. Sometimes I do this way too much and need to start consolidating sentences. It’s been a year, and I’m still developing my style. I’m okay with that.
During part of the year, I used the Hemingway writing tool but found it to be incompatible with my current style and dropped it. Now I just use a basic grammar check before I hit send. I am open to using more writing tools in the future, right now I’m looking at Obsidian and creating a “swipe file” of good sentences and ideas.
I still refuse to use AGI like ChatGPT or Midjourney for any elements of my work. If you follow and read me, you are getting a 100% human product.
I’m also trying to improve my cover images to make them look more professional and eye catching. Some of them are still eyesores, I know.
Content In Review
Looking back, I had some big hits. Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines 2: Dead Before Arrival was a massive hit on Medium with 70 reads. Thank you to my readers on Medium. Our Skewed View of Government hit it big on Substack with 42 views and a 100% open rate. Again, thank you.
I started a short story that’s a little risky. I started writing Traumatic Terror, a short story about suicidal protests. You can read Chapter 1 right now.
I dove into the weird with Algorithmic Future Parts 1 & 2. I dove into my journey with Crypto. I wrote about tech, history, politics, video games and movies.
Websites that talk about growth emphasize building a niche, and I know I've made it more difficult by being a "variety niche." I don’t want to get bored with just politics, technology, or history. I feel it’s more interesting for both you, the reader, and me, the writer, to tackle a variety of topics. I feel I accomplished that this year.
The Dreaded Block
I dealt with a lot of writer's block. The night I was writing this article, I looked at two drafts I know will make it to the publishing screen and could not work on them. I felt uninspired, unmotivated, and, to be honest, lazy.
There were times this year when the creative mojo was flowing like a river, then I’d sit down, put my hand to the keyboard, and the dam would come. The words that would make classical writers and orators weep refused to come out of my head. It’s frustrating, and I need to improve on this blockage going forward. Especially since I want to establish a consistent upload schedule. Right now it’s Saturday evenings, but I’m thinking about switching to the mornings. I know it doesn’t fit the Midnight theme very well, but I need to hit readers when they’re fresh and have time.
I have 24 drafts waiting in the wings. One titled History isn’t Static has been abandoned for almost a year and needs to be deleted. What my Aeropress Taught me About Coffee might come out one day. There is a “cultural critique” series called American Decadence that needs to be worked on. I have a lot of material to work with in the coming year. But I also have a lot of abandoned projects that need to be cleaned out.
I knew growth would be slow. But looking back on 2023, I feel incredibly positive about the future of my writing career and the Midnight Variety Hour moving forward. I may have gained very few followers and subscribers, but success isn’t instant. You, the reader, probably want a consistent source of content, no matter my size or income. Have some happy holidays, whatever you may celebrate, and have a good 2024.
To the future
- Michael Vincent Hawthorne
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“Woke,” “wokeism,” “wokeness,” etc., are weasel words used to hide the truth about the Jews and the Frankfurt School.
https://cwspangle.substack.com/p/how-the-grift-right-gimps-for-the
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The Frankfurt School adapted Marx’s theories on revolution to include Freud’s theory of the subconscious. The Cultural Marxists’ main focus was to reshape the subconscious of Western men and women and thus create new type of person: one who would react passively to provocations of all kinds.
Cultural Marxists encourage abortion, birth control, divorce, homosexuality, “carrier women,” drugs, miscegenation, the destruction of the traditional family, and unrestricted immigration of racial foreigners into white countries. This is a reflection of what the Cultural Marxists preach: white reproduction is evil, and that which prevents white reproduction is good.
https://nordicresistancemovement.org/what-is-cultural-marxism/