Going on a blind date in Tokyo with all of Twitter; No one buys books; I 100% forgive you.

3 Things this week and a poem

I buy books, and I know some of you do too (because I’ve sold them to you). But turns out no one else does (keep reading for context). What an honour to be part of a beautiful, heroic, endangered species.

Thanks for spending some of your weekend (and if you’ve gone paid—some of your money) with Things I Wrote Down.

Here are 3 links and a poem.

1. Going on a blind date in Tokyo (with Twitter)

Wasn’t it Bambi that introduced us to the concept of being Twitterpated? Here’s a literal modern day love story from Twitter (now known as X):

Nick Gray, the best-selling author of How to Make Friends floated the idea of a blind date in Tokyo. He’d cover the cost of flights, hotels and food for a meet up in the bustling city. And woman in Utah took him up on it.

He’s been live tweeting the experience on X. And the comments and the story emerging are awkward and fascinating and at times hilarious.

Go check it out and remember this post when you watch the future rom-com in theatres (or on a streaming service).

2. No one buys books

This article is a bit of a doozy. It went viral this week.

Elle Griffin

pulls the curtain to give a looksy at the world of publishing and puts numbers and dollar signs to the industry.

It’s not pretty.

Here’s a glimpse:

In 2020, only 268 titles sold more than 100,000 copies, and 96 percent of books sold less than 1,000 copies.

I love books. I read books. And I buy books. I always will. But the digital age changes everything. And the old club of gatekeepers, which still holds so much influence and power in the print world, is entrenched in its way.

No one buys books

The exploration both encourages and depresses me as an independent writer. One thing that becomes clearer is that Substack, the platform that I sent this email to you from, is where it’s at. It makes connections between readers and authors much more direct. And that’s a good thing.

Want to defy reality and this digital moment with a book purchase? You can buy my different works like Ten Silver Coins, She Has A Name, God/he, Popcorn Helmet and other books over at Amazon.

And, of course, you can always read my content for free as a subscriber, including a new chapter of TSC each week right here.

3. I 100% forgive you…

… if you’re sick of me talking about MAiD. The more I talk about it, the more heart-sick I am. I shared the Op-ed I wrote for the Christian Post here on Things I Wrote Down this week. It’s truly startling how the numbers are trending.

Over at

Unveil

we recently released episode 5 in our docuseries about the issue, taking a look at Organ Donation Euthanasia.

Wild times!

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“author write on”

Here’s a poem I wrote, part of a series for a friend, as an invitation to keep writing. Consider the lines—reading them, writing them, believing them—a defiant act to choose to create.

No matter your craft. No matter who will see it… keep creating.

author write on

even unfinished lines tell their own
stories
characters in cursive
molded with each stroke

and so this life has much to reveal
as pen travels the white
grain
tracing with feeling
your soft woodcarving

with quiet urgency 
and release of longing
words unwritten whisper forth

"author write on"