A YEAR AGO TODAY I made my first posting on Substack. In addition to serializing a draft mystery novel, I’ve posted poetry, short essays, and thought pieces on politics and culture. Here’s what I’m doing now:

I’ve withdrawn the money my subscribers have paid in support of my Substack endeavor, and I’ve contributed it all to the educational branch of the Colorado Music Festival, which is called the Center for Musical Arts. It is based here in my hometown of Lafayette, Colorado, and I admire what it stands for and does to encourage music education. The Colorado Music Festival performs during the summer at Boulder’s Chautauqua Auditorium, and its music is extraordinary. If you are planning a visit to Colorado in the summer, be sure to check it out:

https://coloradomusicfestival.org/

I will move ahead with publishing occasional comments and literary compositions, but, at least in the short term, with less frequency. I want to work more on the mystery story and other projects.

I will leave the political commentary to the various pundits on Substack and elsewhere. Without meaning promotion, I will say that I subscribe to Kareem Abdul-Jabaar, Paul Krugman, Robert Reich, Kate Kern Mundie, Heather Cox Richardson, and the Cambridge Ladies Dining Society. Some of these write on political and economic matters, some on art, and some on literature. Abdul-Jabaar writes on many subjects. A young commentator, so I’ve been told, is going to write fiction and commentary, and I wish her well, because she has sought my advice. https://substack.com/@willowsutton

My experience with Substack has been positive. I’ve adhered (fairly closely) to a schedule of publishing weekly, and the “deadline” pressure has been good for me, a former newspaper editor. I’ve mentioned to several people who have asked that I think the discipline of supporting my ideas and opinions has been very good for my aging brain (80 next month). What’s more, I’ve learned any number of things during the process of researching, facts and background on topics that interest me and have amounted to continuing education.

At the same time, Substack isn’t perfect. Although I’ve found it possible to limit its “feeds” to the writers that interest me, I know that it, too, is annoying, useless, and perhaps a mind drain similar to the other social media platforms. At times, I have wondered if I should avoid recommending it to others without explaning that it can be another thief of our time and brain energy.

For your information, I use the artificial intelligence platform Perplexity, and appreciate its pattern of revealing the provenance of its information. This helps reassure me of its accuracy, or at least its sources. I have not used it for help in writing.

I am concerned about how AI is being used, especially for medical or psychological guidance. I recommend a podcast at the New York Times on the subject: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/16/podcasts/the-daily/chatgpt-ai-delusions.html. Short of that, please be wary; it is a machine.

Finally, I am very grateful for the support I have had for this first year of writing for publication. I do not expect any additional monetary support, but I am always thankful for the encouragement and feedback. My friends and family are truly amazing, and I am grateful to the Substack posters who advocate truth, common sense, beauty, and critical thinking. Move forward with respect, hope and gratitude!