If you’ve got a question about self-publishing, whether it’s about platforms, formatting, selling direct, KU, or whatever, I’ve got the answer. And if I don’t have the answer, I’ll try my darnedest to find out. Let’s demystify self‑publishing one question at a time!

What if I ignored the negativity?
What if I stopped worrying what other people think of me?
What if I wrote what inspired me?
What if I trusted myself?
What if I followed my dreams?
What if I took a deep breath, shut out the noise, and wrote?

What if?

open.substack.com/pub/theresag...

When I stare at the screen or poise pen to page, I have to shut off the “what if no one likes me” nonsense. Instead, I play What if…

🧵

Writing is a solitary practice. Even if I’m in a crowded coffee shop, a library, or taking the Metra into Chicago, I’m putting those words on the screen all by myself.

🧵

This year, I’ve written a LOT. I’m publishing four newsletters, I’m writing my seventh novel, have written ~23,000 words in the thriller I’m ghostwriting, and I journal every single morning.

I’ve got a lot to say.
🧵

And yes, I want you to love my words, to share my words. I want to move you, or make you laugh, or make you think, or simply provide an escape for a minute or two or however long it takes to read whatever I’ve written.

🧵

Whether it is or it isn’t (it is), I’m still going to write. I’m still going to use my voice and string letters into words and words into paragraphs, etc. etc.

Yes, I want people to read my words. You better believe I do.

🧵

I’ll figure it out as I go, I remind myself. If they’re sick of me, they’ll unsubscribe. Some will even report me as spam, which makes me sad, but I’m not everybody’s cuppa. Does anybody even care? DEFINITELY. I know this, because you tell me.

Is this thing on?
🧵

The museum and school would raise most of the money, the park district would provide the land, and the World’s Fair would kick in $200,000, but only if the building was completed on time.

Join me April 16 for my free webinar about Chicago's most famous landmarks!

lp.thelocaltourist.com/lloc-live25

In 1892, the “temporary” Inter-state Industrial Exposition had been holding court at Michigan and Adams for twenty years. Art Institute President Charles Hutchinson proposed replacing the Expo with a building that both the institute and the fair could use.

When the city secured the World’s Columbian Exposition, which was basically a LOOK AT ME coming out party, the Art Institute of Chicago negotiated a win-win plan for another new building. This time, they were in it for keeps.

To reflect that mission, they renamed it the Art Institute of Chicago, and it outgrew its space multiple times in the next several years.

The demand was so great they went through not one, but two new buildings.

Seven years later, the Chicago Academy of Design declared bankruptcy and a group of businessmen bought their assets at auction, incorporating as the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts.

This new-ish organization enlarged the concept to become an institute with an expansive school and museum.

But even in the mercenary, rapidly expanding city of Chicago, art was necessary, and in 1866, the Chicago Academy of Design began with thirty-five artists.

Within 4 years, the Academy needed more room and moved into a five-story building on Adams Street, but the 1871 fire destroyed the building.

Want to learn all about how he fought for over two decades to save Chicago's Front Yard? Join me for me FREE webinar on April 16 all about the city's most famous landmarks!

lp.thelocaltourist.com/lloc-live25

Over the years, that strip of land grew and became more and more desirable, until the park that was supposed to be forever open, clear and free decidedly was not, and by 1890, Michigan Avenue landowners, including Aaron Montgomery Ward, had had enough.
👇