Archiving the Old to Prep for the New
News & Updates
“What’s Jenise up to?”
(Little-known fact about me: I adore alpacas.)
Dear Readers:
Starting in November and through the end of December 2022, I’ll post only my previously published works here on Substack.
Okay, you can stop groaning, now. 😂 What’s going on?
I’m getting ready to publish new works in 2023. I beg your patience as some of my previous works will be familiar to some of you.
What’s Going On?
First, I’m moving my current works to Substack because I know, one day, my personal website JeniseCook.com may cease to exist. It’s been years since anyone has posted a comment on my website, and community thrives here on Substack.
Second, I’ve been in a slump the past two-plus years, in that writer’s “black hole” or “fog of war” in the battle with words to create something new. Writer’s block is real, and I’ve experienced it off and on over my lifetime. No worries, just frustration.
To remedy that, I’ve recently spent more time IRL (in real life), enjoying the people around me and the nature where we live, surrounded by national forest…
I’ve awakened the chef in me by cooking from scratch more often…
I’m a new raised-beds gardener, “homesteading” at our tiny home…
I’ve relished more meditative time in my spiritual life and have started Night Owl Christian on Substack. (November’s focus is on gratitude; come on over!)
Heck, I’ve even had a pickleball lesson (don’t judge me, Lol).
What’s Coming in 2023?
I know what’s not coming: a publication schedule. (Maybe in 2024.) 😂
You’ll continue to read haiku verses, free verse prose, and short stories…all new. I may post longer pieces. I may entertain a series. Who knows? My mind is open to new works and genres. I may be as surprised as you next year, and that’ll be a fun adventure. Substack allows me to enjoy writing something new, and the freedom to experiment.
Thank you to fellow Substackers: Justin Deming, Dascha Paylor, Mark Starlin, and Bill Adler for encouraging me simply by posting your works on a consistent basis.
I Appreciate You
For those of you who have followed me from Medium, from my old Newsletter, and from other publications, thanks in advance for not groaning too loudly when one of my works you’ve already read appears in your inbox during November and December. I hope you’ll still select the “Heart” icon and maybe leave a comment to encourage the algorithm angels at Substack to bless me with new readers.
I deeply appreciate your readership and your online friendship. You mean a great deal to me.
Let the writing adventures begin in 2023!
Your Turn
Feel free to leave a comment…
Or, send me an email…
Hey Jenise, good to see you here! I am still using Scribophile, but I'm using Substack to build my platform as I plan my book launch (November 2023.) I'd love for you to subscribe to my newsletter too. I'm https://cathyshieldswriter.substack.com. Perhaps we could be guest writers for each other's newsletters ! I never did Medium, but Substack is so easy!
The bulk of my Substack newsletter is old stories I previously published on Medium. No one has seen or read those stories in years. So I have no reservations about posting them on Substack and giving them a new audience. Jack Herlocker will occasionally remember one of the old stories, but he says he enjoys reading them again. Most of my Substack readers didn’t come from Medium, so the stories are new to them.
A good story is a good story, no matter how old it is. Post away!
I burned out earlier this year and couldn’t bear the thought of writing anything. Having that backlog of Medium stories allowed me to keep my newsletter going. Now I am easing back into writing again. Best wishes.