Don't let the assholes bring you down!! (Yes, I know it doesn't work that way.) But seriously, those tiny-yet-vocal folks are probably pretty miserable overall if their to-do list includes getting pissy about a *free newsletter remaining free* while you do *more work* in the hope you might make a few bucks.
I'm a subscriber and book buyer and I humbly suggest that you add a "buy me a coffee" button to your substack if such a thing is an option.
1) It'd piss off the assholes even more, win.
2) It'd let folks tip you when you've made particularly terrible life choices...I mean, uh, been extra hilarious.
3) It might let folks who balk at "buying content on the internet" support you in a one-off way.
Thanks! I've received more positive emails today alone than I have negative ones from the past two weeks combined. You guys really are great. Sometimes I forget that and get distracted by the negativity.
Hearing how so many are griping about free content has made me want to be one of those that help you get to 3% subscribers. I'll be signing up today. I might even buy a book. ;) Love your work.
I’m sorry you received one of these nasty emails from a fellow Australian. Unfortunately, we have our share of arses too. I very much enjoy your email, and while I can’t become a paid subscriber, I’m waiting with bated breath (and crossed fingers) to be able to buy your books for my daughter very soon. A group of roos, btw, is called a mob
It's so weird that people complain about your move to substack. It's not like you're taking away the free Monday newsletter; that's a thing that's still happening. When I learned you were moving to substack I got excited because I could read even MORE of your stuff and the extra videos are great to watch. Happy to pay and support the people I'm relying on for entertainment. I wouldn't go to a movie theatre and be upset that I have to pay for a ticket.
I am so glad to read that we are not the only family who hide our messy, chaos most of the year - except for very rare occasions.
Sadly, the preparation for these rare "open-to-the-public" occasions involve some yelling, tears and "mommy's special words".
As the father of this brood of 5, I naturally accept the blame for all shortcomings and try to execute my assigned duties to the best of my limited abilities.
God bless your family and we love your free newsletter.
I would have paid the $5 a month to get the one newsletter per week. It is the highlight of my Monday. Getting the bonus one on Thursday is wonderful. I hope you reach the threshold for quitting your day job soon so you can get to more writing for us!
Would love for you to calculate how many of us subscribed just to spite those assholes? I wasn’t planning on subscribing because I like to keep the aire of someone who is financially “lean”. But realistically I dropped more on an oatmilk latte yesterday than two months of extra newletters. Considering it’s the only thing I look forward to on mondays, $5 is well worth it for the extra content (and to piss off those Karens)
Oh my. Not sure if this helps, but when I first started adjunct teaching, I had the craziest person I’ve ever had but I couldn’t have known that at the time. Upon hearing my tale, a veteran teacher friend remarked that she must be an old battle ax, bc she just shrugged & rolled her eyes. Interestingly, she asked if by chance that student was a nurse. She was! You see, my veteran friend was a nursing prof & had heard this brand of whining before. Fast forward 9 years, 8 of them full time. I’m the battle ax that laughs with other profs bc I’m the lucky one wo much of the not-much whining at all since I teach grad students not undergrads. Plus I don’t even cringe anymore at the whining. Is there sometimes decent feedback in the whining? I look for it & move on. My point? Right now these folks may ruin your day. Your audience is that of polite parents & non parents but family oriented 🙋♀️ which isn’t likely to be steeped with whiners overall. Someday you’ll lol w the Gaffigans over the crazies & change topics to Catholics: suburban v urban, or how few kids is too few to please God. Or, my law school prof ends her con law class w this advice each term: Don’t be an a-hole (you’re not!) & don’t let the a-holes get you down!
Well done! Some how your well written rant/PSA has made me a subscriber. Who woulda thunk?! Not sure I feel comfortable with your Jedi mind tricks but I'll allow it for now.
Dealing with the public is always going to highlight those few "bad apples." I know it hurts - I have two instances in customer service that I still can't shake from 2 years ago, out of the hundreds of people I have had as customers. TWO. My confidence about my abilities as a customer service representative plummeted. And I still occasionally get folks that get angry that they have to pay for shipping and ask me to pay it for them.
They're out there, but they are the minority. I'm not one to speak, but seriously, don't let them ruin your day. <3
I remember in my soul the hurt of the difficult students too, years later. The jabs in evals. Hurts badly enough that I borrowed another prof’s tact: Let the TA pull out the useful feedback to avoid ruining my day/week/life in the personal/complaining feedback if I read them. Of course I can’t avoid the bitter emails 🫣
I completely understand, and that is a great tactic! I was a TA and got some nasty feedback, too. lol The professor I worked for was really good about just taking everything with a grain of salt. It's difficult when the students show up the last week before finals asking what they can do to pass - and get angry because, well, there's nothing you can do now.
So, in addition to all the other supportive comments, I’m stuck on this: You have a day job?!?! One we don’t know about? I’ve been on your list for nearly 2 years I think, have bought some of your books, and was happy to subscribe as soon as you announced it...and I thought your day job was “drive the kids around and write stuff to make people laugh.” I REALLY hope you get to 3% -- your writing is totally worth it! Hugs from Sweden! (Oh, and try and ignore the party-poopers)
Wow, that’s really sad that people feel emboldened enough to send you hate mail. Being a cynical Gen Xer, I shouldn’t be surprised, but I really am. I’m just happy that I can get your content (paid or free) without 86 pop up ads every time I open your emails. Your advertising style is refreshing and welcome.
Almost every author I’ve ever followed/interacted with have supplemented their book sales with other monetized content. Some hit the road on boom tours, some have virtual book launch parties, some host their own book clubs, some publish cookbooks, some have related merchandise, and one particularly ambitious author opened her own independent book store. I recognize that it takes many years to become an established author and develop a following. It takes even longer to really make money. Even then, precious few become independently wealthy on their writings alone.
Hang in there! Writing is an art form that isn’t always given the proper appreciation it deserves. Thank you for entertaining us weekly, if not daily, with the funny goings-on of you and your family.
Thank you for the newsletter every week, love the content and the entertainment! Sorry there are idiots out there ruining your day with hate mail, just wanted to give you my thanks :)
I can't think of too many, if any, writers whose blogs I read that do not charge something so it's not like you are the first to do this. Why should you give your time and creative abilities to us for nothing? Just because your skills don't produce a tangible item (well, books but you know what I mean) doesn't mean your product should be free.
On the newsletter front, I giggled when you said Waffle "does whatever she wants". Reminded me of an 1880 census document I ran across of a small family in Colo. The occupations listed were the usual "farming", "housework", etc. But for the 15-yr-old daughter, her occupation listed was "does as she pleases". I guess Waffle is in good company. And, it will pay dividends when she's an adult. That would have described our daughter at age 2-18 but it has served her very well ever since: determination and independence is a truly beneficial attribute. You just have to get through it somehow or other!
Don't let the assholes bring you down!! (Yes, I know it doesn't work that way.) But seriously, those tiny-yet-vocal folks are probably pretty miserable overall if their to-do list includes getting pissy about a *free newsletter remaining free* while you do *more work* in the hope you might make a few bucks.
I'm a subscriber and book buyer and I humbly suggest that you add a "buy me a coffee" button to your substack if such a thing is an option.
1) It'd piss off the assholes even more, win.
2) It'd let folks tip you when you've made particularly terrible life choices...I mean, uh, been extra hilarious.
3) It might let folks who balk at "buying content on the internet" support you in a one-off way.
But really, do it for reason #1.
Thanks! I've received more positive emails today alone than I have negative ones from the past two weeks combined. You guys really are great. Sometimes I forget that and get distracted by the negativity.
I think you won the internet today with this comment! Well done and hear hear!
Amen! I too am a subscriber and owner of his books, and if there’s a way to block those jerks do it! And I’d buy James a cup of coffee every day!
Hearing how so many are griping about free content has made me want to be one of those that help you get to 3% subscribers. I'll be signing up today. I might even buy a book. ;) Love your work.
Thanks! I app the support.
I’m sorry you received one of these nasty emails from a fellow Australian. Unfortunately, we have our share of arses too. I very much enjoy your email, and while I can’t become a paid subscriber, I’m waiting with bated breath (and crossed fingers) to be able to buy your books for my daughter very soon. A group of roos, btw, is called a mob
A mob of kangaroos. That's amazing and somehow completely appropriate.
I came here to say ^this^ (kangaroos=mob) - from one of the nice Australians, i.e. not like some other wanker.
😂 awesome! And congrats on the upcoming joy!
It's so weird that people complain about your move to substack. It's not like you're taking away the free Monday newsletter; that's a thing that's still happening. When I learned you were moving to substack I got excited because I could read even MORE of your stuff and the extra videos are great to watch. Happy to pay and support the people I'm relying on for entertainment. I wouldn't go to a movie theatre and be upset that I have to pay for a ticket.
I'm with you on that. Although people have been doing some crazy things for a long time to get out of paying to see movies.
Yeah, friends in the trunk at the drive in was a real thing for us in high school……
I am so glad to read that we are not the only family who hide our messy, chaos most of the year - except for very rare occasions.
Sadly, the preparation for these rare "open-to-the-public" occasions involve some yelling, tears and "mommy's special words".
As the father of this brood of 5, I naturally accept the blame for all shortcomings and try to execute my assigned duties to the best of my limited abilities.
God bless your family and we love your free newsletter.
Regards,
David Cortright
I would have paid the $5 a month to get the one newsletter per week. It is the highlight of my Monday. Getting the bonus one on Thursday is wonderful. I hope you reach the threshold for quitting your day job soon so you can get to more writing for us!
Thanks! I get a little closer every day.
Would love for you to calculate how many of us subscribed just to spite those assholes? I wasn’t planning on subscribing because I like to keep the aire of someone who is financially “lean”. But realistically I dropped more on an oatmilk latte yesterday than two months of extra newletters. Considering it’s the only thing I look forward to on mondays, $5 is well worth it for the extra content (and to piss off those Karens)
Not going to lie, the spite today was good for business. The troll campaign seems to have backfired.
So glad to hear!
Well, I just subscribed to spite the idiots, and from the comments, so did others, so tell the trolls thanks for adding to your income! :-)
Yes!
Oh my. Not sure if this helps, but when I first started adjunct teaching, I had the craziest person I’ve ever had but I couldn’t have known that at the time. Upon hearing my tale, a veteran teacher friend remarked that she must be an old battle ax, bc she just shrugged & rolled her eyes. Interestingly, she asked if by chance that student was a nurse. She was! You see, my veteran friend was a nursing prof & had heard this brand of whining before. Fast forward 9 years, 8 of them full time. I’m the battle ax that laughs with other profs bc I’m the lucky one wo much of the not-much whining at all since I teach grad students not undergrads. Plus I don’t even cringe anymore at the whining. Is there sometimes decent feedback in the whining? I look for it & move on. My point? Right now these folks may ruin your day. Your audience is that of polite parents & non parents but family oriented 🙋♀️ which isn’t likely to be steeped with whiners overall. Someday you’ll lol w the Gaffigans over the crazies & change topics to Catholics: suburban v urban, or how few kids is too few to please God. Or, my law school prof ends her con law class w this advice each term: Don’t be an a-hole (you’re not!) & don’t let the a-holes get you down!
I love your work. Have a little problem with time to read all your emails now that I am a paying subscriber, but that is a pleasent problem. 🥰
Maybe the audio version will help you out. You can listen while doing 95 other things at once.
I am loving the option to have it read to me! It makes me more productive and now even doing any cleaning is a little fun.
Well done! Some how your well written rant/PSA has made me a subscriber. Who woulda thunk?! Not sure I feel comfortable with your Jedi mind tricks but I'll allow it for now.
If that's the closest I ever come to being a real Jedi, I can die happy.
Dealing with the public is always going to highlight those few "bad apples." I know it hurts - I have two instances in customer service that I still can't shake from 2 years ago, out of the hundreds of people I have had as customers. TWO. My confidence about my abilities as a customer service representative plummeted. And I still occasionally get folks that get angry that they have to pay for shipping and ask me to pay it for them.
They're out there, but they are the minority. I'm not one to speak, but seriously, don't let them ruin your day. <3
I feel this in my soul.
I remember in my soul the hurt of the difficult students too, years later. The jabs in evals. Hurts badly enough that I borrowed another prof’s tact: Let the TA pull out the useful feedback to avoid ruining my day/week/life in the personal/complaining feedback if I read them. Of course I can’t avoid the bitter emails 🫣
I completely understand, and that is a great tactic! I was a TA and got some nasty feedback, too. lol The professor I worked for was really good about just taking everything with a grain of salt. It's difficult when the students show up the last week before finals asking what they can do to pass - and get angry because, well, there's nothing you can do now.
So, in addition to all the other supportive comments, I’m stuck on this: You have a day job?!?! One we don’t know about? I’ve been on your list for nearly 2 years I think, have bought some of your books, and was happy to subscribe as soon as you announced it...and I thought your day job was “drive the kids around and write stuff to make people laugh.” I REALLY hope you get to 3% -- your writing is totally worth it! Hugs from Sweden! (Oh, and try and ignore the party-poopers)
Thanks! And, yes, the kids certainly feel like several full time jobs, but there's another actual job on top of that.
Wow, that’s really sad that people feel emboldened enough to send you hate mail. Being a cynical Gen Xer, I shouldn’t be surprised, but I really am. I’m just happy that I can get your content (paid or free) without 86 pop up ads every time I open your emails. Your advertising style is refreshing and welcome.
Almost every author I’ve ever followed/interacted with have supplemented their book sales with other monetized content. Some hit the road on boom tours, some have virtual book launch parties, some host their own book clubs, some publish cookbooks, some have related merchandise, and one particularly ambitious author opened her own independent book store. I recognize that it takes many years to become an established author and develop a following. It takes even longer to really make money. Even then, precious few become independently wealthy on their writings alone.
Hang in there! Writing is an art form that isn’t always given the proper appreciation it deserves. Thank you for entertaining us weekly, if not daily, with the funny goings-on of you and your family.
Thanks! Everything you said about other authors is so true. We're all doing whatever we can.
Thank you for the newsletter every week, love the content and the entertainment! Sorry there are idiots out there ruining your day with hate mail, just wanted to give you my thanks :)
I can't think of too many, if any, writers whose blogs I read that do not charge something so it's not like you are the first to do this. Why should you give your time and creative abilities to us for nothing? Just because your skills don't produce a tangible item (well, books but you know what I mean) doesn't mean your product should be free.
On the newsletter front, I giggled when you said Waffle "does whatever she wants". Reminded me of an 1880 census document I ran across of a small family in Colo. The occupations listed were the usual "farming", "housework", etc. But for the 15-yr-old daughter, her occupation listed was "does as she pleases". I guess Waffle is in good company. And, it will pay dividends when she's an adult. That would have described our daughter at age 2-18 but it has served her very well ever since: determination and independence is a truly beneficial attribute. You just have to get through it somehow or other!
Lol, that 15-year-old is my hero