29 Comments
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Jeffrey Streeter's avatar

Congratulations, Troy! You deserve all the success and plaudits coming your way.

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Mr. Troy Ford's avatar

Many thanks, Jeffrey!!

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Holly Starley's avatar

What a delight to return to this and celebrate you, Mr. Ford 😉. I love your sensibility and wisdom and thank my lucky stars we’ve connected.

PS. Very much looking forward to what emerges in Lamb’s voice.

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Mr. Troy Ford's avatar

Thank you my dear ❤️🖤🩵

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Richard Donnelly's avatar

Unless I missed something, it looks like Lamb was available AFTER being serialized. I'm curious if this is the right way. Should the book have been available to buyers all along? Cuz with each installment, there are readers who will (hopefully) say enough! I want to buy this book!

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Mr. Troy Ford's avatar

I think that's a great idea, Richard - publish first, then serialize - though at least on Substack it's usually done the other way around. It was a boon for a new writer like me to see the support as I was serializing, it gave me the confidence I was lacking. Also, having the deadline to publish on Substack helped me because I was writing it as I went - also not usual, but that's how I did it. Thanks for your comment!

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Richard Donnelly's avatar

This is exactly right. The weekly Substack is a great motivator as you work on a book, chapter by chapter. Then when the book's done it gets published and offered for purchase as a whole. However, if the book is already done, possibly the best way is to publish, then immediately start running as a serial, for the reason I stated.

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Eleanor Anstruther's avatar

Correct. Published in bound copy after being serialised.

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David Roberts's avatar

Congratulations, Troy.

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Mr. Troy Ford's avatar

Thanks David!

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Deirdre Lewis's avatar

Congrats Mr Troy Ford. Can't wait to meet you some day.

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Mr. Troy Ford's avatar

Thanks D! I believe we will, someday... ;)

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Holly Starley's avatar

“The whiff of lunacy.” We all need a little of that to get by. I, too, came to Substack after being told that having an audience would be necessary to land an agent for a book proposal I’m still working on as we speak. And I, too, have found a community of writers and friends here that is everything. Pretty fucking delighted both of you, Eleanor and Troy, are part of that community. ♥️

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Eleanor Anstruther's avatar

Likewise, Holly 🙌🏻

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Meg Oolders's avatar

💜🥂Love this series, Eleanor. Especially when I can learn more about people who already intrigue me. (@Mr. Troy Ford 😉)

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Mr. Troy Ford's avatar

🤗

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Bertus's avatar

I love how different each set of answers is. And I totally agree monsieur Troy; this platform is fertile ground, good soil, seedlings and fledglings have a fair chance to find their form among more developed writers that are so wonderfully accessible. I often feel like being part of an ongoing writers convention, with new 'workshops' and exchanges every single day. A free range chicken on the best courtyard full of live animals (sorry, just build a chicken-coop for the new arrivals at our farm). Thank you both Eleanor and Troy, this was the one closest to my heart so far.....

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Mr. Troy Ford's avatar

haha Thanks Bertus - a chicken-coop for the soul? Sign me up! 🐥🐣🐤

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Wonderful words, Troy. Really loved reading all of this. It's been so great to have been with you here since early on. I don't even remember how we connected, but I'm so glad we did, because reading Lamb (well, anything you write!) continues to be one of the highlights on Substack. My mouth went 😲 (emoji for you ;) ) when you said "I’d also never written in first-person before because I found the frame of it limiting, but telling Lamb’s story through the eyes of the unnamed narrator has opened up a whole new dimension of storytelling for me." -- it's impossible to imagine the story being told in anything *but* first person!!

Keep it up, my friend. Long haul!

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Mr. Troy Ford's avatar

Thanks Nathan - I know, now that I've done Lamb, I fear I might be spoiled for third person! 😂 Gosh I don't remember how we connected either, but that IS the beauty of Substack - thanks for being there for me from the start. 💜

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Kimberly Warner's avatar

Your brain cells are doing just fine Troy, I’d say you might even have a few to spare so I’m getting in line if you ever offer to share.

So fun reading this and poking around your “behind-the-scenes.” And because you can’t live without ‘em: 🤩🤘📖

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Mr. Troy Ford's avatar

🤣🎩🐈‍⬛🫵❤️💯🤗😘

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Andrea C. Neil's avatar

I’ve been reading Mr. Ford’s Substack for a year or so - always entertaining and insightful and clever!

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Mr. Troy Ford's avatar

Merci A.C.! Love the new new title... :D xo

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Andrea C. Neil's avatar

thanks, it is the most apt so far...

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Kathleen Clare Waller's avatar

Your reflection on the paid model and workshop/criticism are interesting to read and spot on, I think. I also love the GIF and emoji tangent because it’s not really a tangent — it’s a personal style. You’ve really made something unique here, Troy, and it’s such a joy to read your work! 💫🤗

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Mr. Troy Ford's avatar

Thank you so much Kate - your support has been one of the shining examples of what we can do together on Substack, supporting each other in our early days. 💙❤️💛

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A.P. Murphy's avatar

Orwell's Brave New World?

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Mr. Troy Ford's avatar

You got it!

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