New post in THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DESK’s web-only section “New York Diary” on my very first visit to Ridgefield, Queens, taking in the sights and strangely feeling right at home. Go to my Substack page and read it there and please press Like if you do!
davidgibsonwriting.substack.com

That’s the American way. You don’t like it, ban it. I read there has only been three such events in 20 years. So it’s not a regular thing.

Not everyone is a protester. We agree but we don’t want any of that kind of energy.

Mont St Michel?

@dgibsonwriting.bsky.social New post today on my Substack, THE ABSTRACT AFFINITY, on the paintings of Becky Yazdan. Another post on Friday, on the photograph book "A Setting Sun" by Gregg Evans.
davidgibsonwriting.substack.com

Over time I’ve found it to be my main voice as a writer, as an essayist

I’ve written a few. But i find art more accessible as a subject for interpretation

I see that you also write book reviews

But I’m not generally in search of heroes. I’m more interested in my striving writer peers.

That’s cool. I met a lot of these visiting writers and even some in years since

When i was in college i came into contact with many amazing short story writers like Tobias Wolff and Andre Dubus

I’m looking forward to reading your stories.

Tell me more

I am always reading something but it takes me a long time to finish it. Mostly I've been reading a lot of art history, some poetry, etc. The Uses of Art by Sal Randolph is one of the most memorable of them.

The old Twitter was great because it wasn't specialized. I didn't have to focus on, say, only people from Manhattan, or only writers, or only visual artists. I could interact with whomever I chose. I've always been someone with diverse interests.

The fact is I don’t really know anyone on here except for a handful who I met originally on the old Twitter or irl

Okay i’ll check the link.

I’m not heavily invested in any social media platform to communicate with strangers about their beliefs. I’m here to talk about art, writing, and ideas relative to them. Politics are well outside my wheelhouse. I feel a mass unfollow coming.

Yes well that’s where I am. The mistake is to limit one’s self to Notes, which didn’t even exist until recently. I started my Substack in early 2021 when you had to search for other newsletters and reply to posts on their individual pages. Less scrolling more texting.

My unwillingness to be forced into the narrow confines of a political argument is by no means compliance.

It’s called “social
media” not “I say what I like and that’s the last word on the subject media” nor is it “any man who dares reply to me will immediately be denigrated as “reply guy” media.”
Society is more complex than a simple dichotomy that serves the limits of your own argument.

Those two words can’t be the whole discussion. Some of us follow our strengths and continue to create uninterrupted, that’s how we maintain the society in which we want to live. A society with no active creativity is not sufficient.

There’s always more books!

Or people who run small presses

Interested to meet writers of Literary fiction especially the short story.

Never been much into horror writing except Anne Rice. Not a big fan of getting scared

Not sure how I feel about Bluesky. Where are the creatives? I feel like all the protestors came here and the writers went to Threads. Both platforms seem too one dimensional

Naw. The human aspects are doubly appreciated amidst the current political maelstrom

Everything now is just one big reaction. This is what HE wants. We have to do what we each want. For me that's writing.

Despite what’s going on in the world, my role and my talents are what continue to energize and give meaning to my own life. We all make a difference in our own way.