2. your growth - evidence that being a human, with a passion, and energy, community-led, articulate, well, it all has its place and folk want it. How incredibly affirming - for you, I suspect, but for those of us who want more of that in the world we hang out in.
c. this post is a template for others who might embark upon the sort of community building you are clearly very good at.
d. yay, reading along with folk, online ... who'd have thunk it?!
As I think you know, enthusiasm, passion and encouragement are infectious! Create a space of encouragement and the people will come. Thanks for your continuing support!
Simon, thank you SO MUCH for all the time and thought you've invested in explaining. I saw you and others recommending just deleting the app.
I've deleted the app! Could never find the same thing twice, and the volume of 'Not- Simon's' stuff was overwhelming.
Andrea v kindly posted, (thank you Andrea 😇) saying she goes straight to your website but 'course l can't find that post now!
So, just one quick question: I googled F&T and then added it to my home screen. Is there a more elegant way that basically does the same thing - isolating your website with an icon, but without the big 'G' obliterating it?
Thank you for being so patient. I began to think I'd have to abandon Wolf Crawl, but I'm feeling a bit more hopeful.
Oh I'm so glad! I was getting worried that lovely people like you would abandon the read alongs unless I made it easier to work. I don't think these techies in California make these apps with normal people in mind!
Juliet I'm so thrilled to see you'll be on the Wolf Hall journey next year. I've taken so much from your W&P thoughts over on Discord, so it will be a joy to spend next year in the company of your words 💕
Hello Sarah, Thank you for your kind words, which l echo back to you, too ♡! It's lovely that there will be some familiar faces from The Last Days of Disco(rd), and l look forward to seeing you on The Crawl 🐺 x
Thank you so much for your very clear and helpful explanations in this post. I am in another online bookgroup that uses Substack and have avoided the app for all the reasons. But the F & T website! Chef’s kiss! Very much looking forward to the two read-alongs in 2024. Thanks again!
Looking forward to re-reading along with everyone - by the time of the Wolf Hall Weekend at the end of June next year we will be getting close the last part of Bring Up The Bodies - perfect timing. Thanks so much for setting this up Simon, and for choosing Hilary's trilogy.
Hey David! I was going to include some "news" about Wolf Hall Weekend in this post, but my inner-editor decided to keep it short, tidy and on-message. I'll get to it next week!
Working through Bring Up The Bodies right now and trying to figure out how to break it up. Those chapters are long!
Good morning Simon, I’ve read your post and the information about Substack.
I suspect, from what I’ve learned, that the confusion with Substack as a reader is that it was designed with the writer in mind in he first instance, leaving the reader with almost too many rabbit holes down which to tumble!
As a writer here, too, I'm grateful to hear any thoughts on what things make the reader experience clearer/easier. Hopefully this post of Simon's has helped :)
So it depends on the read-along. War and Peace, there is a daily thread in chat for that day's chapter. A discussion post comes out on Wednesdays, and that covers the reading from Monday through to Sunday. You can save this post until you've finished that chunk of reading.
Wolf Hall. The post comes out on Mondays, starting on 1/1. People can join the discussion there when they've read that week's reading.
So it's super relaxed. Just read whenever it works for you and join the discussion whenever suits you.
Excited to embark on this adventure with you all. Wondering if I should engage in some light reading of the napoleonic wars (I know nothing about them) or dusting off anything I learned in high school about world history? If that's a question for paid subscribers that's fine too. Thanks!
Hey Anna! I wouldn't worry too much about swotting up before hand. We will fill you in as we go and it is a good thing not to get too overwhelmed by the geopolitics. At the end of the day it is all about the characters. When the story begins, Napoleon is undefeated on the battlefield and is marching against Austria, Russia's ally.
Hey, thanks so much for running this read along, I’m going with WH and can’t wait to engage with others about it, it’s my first read along and I’m excited. I love the content on substack but often don’t find it easy to navigate so I’m hoping that won’t be too much of an issue. Thanks again 📖 🤍
Great! Hope this post helps. My best advice is to not use the app (even delete it) and just use my website and read my newsletters. The app is very confusing but is not necessary at all. Enjoy!
There's quite a few out there! I really enjoyed the Neville Jason, but I think I'm going to go with the Jonathan Keeble one next year. He's one of my favourite narrators.
I’ve seen a lot of people complain about it. Shoutout to you for doing the leg work. I hope this goes well- I’m cheering for you! You’re giving me ideas and encouragement for the future.
Simon - this is great on so many levels.
a. your enthusiasm ... totally infectious
2. your growth - evidence that being a human, with a passion, and energy, community-led, articulate, well, it all has its place and folk want it. How incredibly affirming - for you, I suspect, but for those of us who want more of that in the world we hang out in.
c. this post is a template for others who might embark upon the sort of community building you are clearly very good at.
d. yay, reading along with folk, online ... who'd have thunk it?!
As I think you know, enthusiasm, passion and encouragement are infectious! Create a space of encouragement and the people will come. Thanks for your continuing support!
A pleasure to ripple such loveliness out
I am so excited for both readalongs, thank you so much for all the time and love you put into this, it really shows and makes it so special!
Yay, Sophia!
Are you going to be reading both at the same time? 😮👏
Simon, thank you SO MUCH for all the time and thought you've invested in explaining. I saw you and others recommending just deleting the app.
I've deleted the app! Could never find the same thing twice, and the volume of 'Not- Simon's' stuff was overwhelming.
Andrea v kindly posted, (thank you Andrea 😇) saying she goes straight to your website but 'course l can't find that post now!
So, just one quick question: I googled F&T and then added it to my home screen. Is there a more elegant way that basically does the same thing - isolating your website with an icon, but without the big 'G' obliterating it?
Thank you for being so patient. I began to think I'd have to abandon Wolf Crawl, but I'm feeling a bit more hopeful.
Thanks so much, Simon
Oh I'm so glad! I was getting worried that lovely people like you would abandon the read alongs unless I made it easier to work. I don't think these techies in California make these apps with normal people in mind!
I'm not sure about a more elegant way. I would bookmark this page: https://footnotesandtangents.substack.com/p/cromwell-trilogy where ever is best for you, and use that as your way of finding everything. If that makes sense?
Thank you Simon. I 'think' it's starting to feel less confusing. Thank you for you kindness.
Juliet I'm so thrilled to see you'll be on the Wolf Hall journey next year. I've taken so much from your W&P thoughts over on Discord, so it will be a joy to spend next year in the company of your words 💕
Hello Sarah, Thank you for your kind words, which l echo back to you, too ♡! It's lovely that there will be some familiar faces from The Last Days of Disco(rd), and l look forward to seeing you on The Crawl 🐺 x
Thank you so much for your very clear and helpful explanations in this post. I am in another online bookgroup that uses Substack and have avoided the app for all the reasons. But the F & T website! Chef’s kiss! Very much looking forward to the two read-alongs in 2024. Thanks again!
Thank you! Trying to make this the best experience, and the app is getting in the way of that right now. Looking forward to next year!
I have nothing of substance to add other than I AM SO EXCITED ❤️
❤️❤️❤️
Looking forward to re-reading along with everyone - by the time of the Wolf Hall Weekend at the end of June next year we will be getting close the last part of Bring Up The Bodies - perfect timing. Thanks so much for setting this up Simon, and for choosing Hilary's trilogy.
Hey David! I was going to include some "news" about Wolf Hall Weekend in this post, but my inner-editor decided to keep it short, tidy and on-message. I'll get to it next week!
Working through Bring Up The Bodies right now and trying to figure out how to break it up. Those chapters are long!
Good morning Simon, I’ve read your post and the information about Substack.
I suspect, from what I’ve learned, that the confusion with Substack as a reader is that it was designed with the writer in mind in he first instance, leaving the reader with almost too many rabbit holes down which to tumble!
Hey Jane. I think you are absolutely right. From a writer's point of view, it is a perfect platform. But that means there are a lof of features.
But writers must always be mindful of their readers! I hope this post helps? Do let me know if anything is still not clear.
As a writer here, too, I'm grateful to hear any thoughts on what things make the reader experience clearer/easier. Hopefully this post of Simon's has helped :)
I’m so hyped for the read along! And thanks again for putting this together and all the work you put into it, we really appreciate it
Excellent! I think I get more excited every day!
Locked and loaded. Rode Mike at the ready! 🎙️
Peeeeerfect.
Are you doing both (!), or just W&P or just WH?
Who me or Alexander?
Alexander. Sorry, should have been explicit!
W&P. Will watch WH form the sidelines, :) I do need to write too form time to time, and you know ... then there's $$ question 😅
Heh, nice. W&P for me someday. But WH first.
Oops did I not say Wolf Hall?.
Yes, makes sense. I'll look for your post Monday and that's when the discussion begins.
Thanks for always replying so promptly!
No problem! I hope you enjoy!
Hi Simon. I'm not able to access the chat for the Wolf Crawl. Have tried many things...Could you send me a link that I can bookmark?
Hey. Here's the chat for week 1: https://open.substack.com/chat/posts/b1ea9ba4-0055-4711-b92c-f5dafb6a7292
And the post: https://footnotesandtangents.substack.com/p/across-the-narrow-sea-paternity
I'll put up a chat for week 2 at the weekend and it will appear here: https://substack.com/chat/824058
Does that help?
Hi Simon, quick question: does the discussion begin on Jan 1? 1st reading "due" on 1/1? Email will come from you that day?
So it depends on the read-along. War and Peace, there is a daily thread in chat for that day's chapter. A discussion post comes out on Wednesdays, and that covers the reading from Monday through to Sunday. You can save this post until you've finished that chunk of reading.
Wolf Hall. The post comes out on Mondays, starting on 1/1. People can join the discussion there when they've read that week's reading.
So it's super relaxed. Just read whenever it works for you and join the discussion whenever suits you.
Does that make sense?
Excited to embark on this adventure with you all. Wondering if I should engage in some light reading of the napoleonic wars (I know nothing about them) or dusting off anything I learned in high school about world history? If that's a question for paid subscribers that's fine too. Thanks!
Hey Anna! I wouldn't worry too much about swotting up before hand. We will fill you in as we go and it is a good thing not to get too overwhelmed by the geopolitics. At the end of the day it is all about the characters. When the story begins, Napoleon is undefeated on the battlefield and is marching against Austria, Russia's ally.
Can’t wait to dive in, Simon. Thank you!
Hey, thanks so much for running this read along, I’m going with WH and can’t wait to engage with others about it, it’s my first read along and I’m excited. I love the content on substack but often don’t find it easy to navigate so I’m hoping that won’t be too much of an issue. Thanks again 📖 🤍
Great! Hope this post helps. My best advice is to not use the app (even delete it) and just use my website and read my newsletters. The app is very confusing but is not necessary at all. Enjoy!
Thanks, I’ve opened on browser and it’s so much easier 👍🏻
Very excited to be hopping in for this, this year! Any recommendations on an audiobook for War and Peace?
There's quite a few out there! I really enjoyed the Neville Jason, but I think I'm going to go with the Jonathan Keeble one next year. He's one of my favourite narrators.
This is great man. You’re increasing the readership on the platform. Bravo!
Cheers! I'm surprised by how few substack guides I see aimed at readers.
I’ve seen a lot of people complain about it. Shoutout to you for doing the leg work. I hope this goes well- I’m cheering for you! You’re giving me ideas and encouragement for the future.
Beautiful. Empower people to make the most of the space. I look forward to seeing what you come up with!