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Maura McHugh's avatar

Welcome, Lynda! And I partly started my Substack to get rid of the need for perfection, to keep writing, connecting, and pushing along and to remember that perfection is the surefire to strangle art. Life is messy, strange, joyous and awful, and maybe our writing is best when we aim for that tangle rather then some icy mirror of reality, carefully polished.

I loved your piece and keep them coming. ❤️

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Lynda E. Rucker's avatar

Yes -- "that icy mirror of reality, carefully polished" -- it's so tempting to hide there, and social media has taught us you're better off doing so. But it suffocates art.

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Maura McHugh's avatar

❤️🪞😀

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Brent E. Cagle's avatar

I’m so glad I backtracked and read this. I’ve been wanting to write, just to write, and have written a draft for my first post in Substack, but haven’t hit publish, too worried about being vulnerable, and yes, it being perfect. Thank you for your writing, and you inspire me.

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Lynda E. Rucker's avatar

Aw, Brent, thank you! I'm so glad it was helpful, and I'm looking forward to your substack!

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Cheri Douglass's avatar

The front porch, the storm and the cicadas and someone you are losing in the next room. The first 3 things any southerner finds great comfort in. The last which removes it all. Life is so - complex doesn't begin to describe it. The unreality of it all is overwhelming sometimes.

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Lynda E. Rucker's avatar

Yes, yes, yes to this comment, Cheri--all of this. Thank you.

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Valda's avatar

I love how your writing always rings true and makes me think! Thanks! I'm in the middle of an email to you that I'll send tomorrow. And sending hugs and memories of us laughing till our faces hurt at EdgeLit. xxx

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Valda's avatar

PS this is Tracy (I forgot I had a username on this thar Substack!)

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Georgina Bruce's avatar

This is awesome, Lynda! I've also just got a copy of your new collection so I'm going to be wonderful Lynda-full for a while! As for perfection... no such thing xx

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Lynda E. Rucker's avatar

Awww thank you! I hope you enjoy the collection.

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