I’ve been writing a woodworking blog almost every day since two-thousand-and-good-god five (2005). I pretty much have the hang of it now. And I’m happy with its mix of content, the variety of authors and its “voice,” for lack of a better word.
I have no desire to throw a monkey wrench into the works.
And yet, I’m 54. I have fewer years ahead than behind. And there are things that I desperately want to attempt, as both a writer and a woodworker. So for 2023 I will conduct an experiment. I’ve started a blog called “The American Peasant” on Substack.
If you’ve never heard of Substack, it’s a blogging platform that offers a paywall and is writer-friendly.
“The American Peasant” is the working title of my next book, and the blog will document its development in weird and somewhat dark detail. I’ll be posting the process behind the process. Draft chapters. All the construction drawings and SketchUp files and cutting lists I make for the projects in the book. All the dead ends that have no place in the book but are interesting to visit. The tools I am developing and modifying for this book. Plus the raw research – how I find information, chew it up and poop it into a book. Also, all the business decisions (and mistakes) that go into making a book in the hardest way possible.
I’m sure you have questions.
Q: Why not just post all this stuff here on this blog?
A: I want this blog to carry forward as it is. What I’ll be writing on “The American Peasant” will be raw, personal and less polished. The reader might encounter naughty words. Difficult ideas. And Unfiltered Schwarz. Here’s a concrete example: This book began when I took some psychedelic mushrooms on a German farm. Lost Art Press should appeal to a large swath of woodworkers. “The American Peasant” will not. For the first month or so, “The American Peasant” will be free for everyone so you can figure out if it’s for you.
Q: Why put it behind a paywall?
A: “The American Peasant” will be a lot of work for me. We try to give away as much information as possible at Lost Art Press for free. And we pay our authors generous royalties that are unheard of in corporate publishing. That’s why I have to teach classes and sell furniture – to make ends meet in my household. In other words, Lost Art Press is not some cash cow. The revenue from “The American Peasant” will go into the coffers at Lost Art Press to continue to support the difficult way we do business. Plus, I think the content will be well worth it.
Q: How much will it cost?
A: I’m still working on that. Probably $5 a month.
Q: How does it work?
A: It’s an email subscription service. Once you subscribe, you’ll get an email containing the entire entry every time I post. You’ll also be able to search the archives of past entries.
Q: You said this is an “experiment.” What does that mean?
A: This might fall flat. If it’s not worth the effort, I’ll pull the plug after a year, and readers will get a refund.
Q: When will it begin?
A: Now.
— Christopher Schwarz
I would love to subscribe but the first thing that popped up on the site was Twitter; not repeat NOT supporting Elon Musk! Our next new car will be electric but Tesla it won’t be. Otherwise this is a great idea.
Hi Brian,
That’s quite bizarre. Substack is not owned by or financially connected to Twitter. My substack is also not linked to Twitter in any way. Maybe try these links directly to the two posts?
https://christopherschwarz.substack.com/p/hello-peasants
https://christopherschwarz.substack.com/p/this-is-not-the-introduction
I’ll give it a shot Chris because I don’t want to miss any of your writing! And Wikipedia the font of all knowledge 😂 agrees that Substack and Twitter are not involved in any way.
I’m a Substack user and writer and can confirm that one is not associated with the other. The emphasis on Twitter is because writers on Substack tend to have very active Twitter accounts (Substack has been around for quite a while … far longer than you-know-who’s involvement with Twitter). There are many high-profile people writing on Substack, and you’ll probably find many people to follow. It’s a lovely platform.
I had no problem getting past the Twitter thing without having any contact with twitter. It was just one of several options to set up an account at substack. Otherwise I am in agreement with your thoughts vis-a-vis electric vehicles and one of their promoters. I’m holding on until there is an electric version of a vespa Ape, or some similar little electric utility truck. But in the meanwhile I’m planning to subscribe to The American Peasant as soon as I figure out how to make it take my money.
In Germany you can buy an electric off-brand of the Vespa Ape:
https://elektroroller-futura.de/shop/elektroroller/elektro-kabinenroller-futura2
I have considered buying one, I already have an electric Vespa and I love it.
Yeah, lets boycott everyone and everything that is different from us. That is openmindedness and tolerance and a healthy community!
I’m in. Thank you for all that you do.
Call me intrigued. How often do you expect to be posting? $5/month seems reasonable to me. I might be persuaded to forgo a coffee (or two) a month.
Twice a week (at least).
I am curious what you call the tool pictured at the top of your message. As a rural Land Surveyor I have a couple versions that are used in our work to mark “witness trees or Bearing trees”. We call them timber scribes, or more commonly scribes. Yours looks like it might be a folder, uncommon in my neck of the woods.
It’s a race knife. Also called a timber scribe. It is the tool at the heart of my next book.
Looks like the next crucible tool might need to be a race knife after a quick search looked pretty dry!
I love all the content here, I’d subscribe for more.
Live been a long time follower and have enjoyed seeing the evolution of this blog. In the earlier years, there was a search function to look up old topics or a buzzword that would link to a topic of interest. Perhaps I’m just missing it but I can seem to find a search function anymore. Is there a way to still search? I found that feature very helpful. Thanks!
Top of the right rail.
I’ve had problems finding the search bar also, on mobile. On desktop it’s top right, but on my phone browser you have to scroll almost to the bottom of the page to find it.
The right bar with the search function is only visible in landscape mode when using a mobile device (Android). It took me a while to notice that. 😊
You had me at “psychedelic mushrooms on a German farm”
Subscribed. See you on your 108th birthday
or on narrow screens SEARCH is pushed down just below the COMMENTS section.
I subscribed. Now do I have to open an account with Substack to read your entries?
I don’t think so. I subscribe to a few substacks and I think all they needed was my email….
Figured it out. Yes just an email, thanks.
You had me at “psychedelic mushrooms on a German farm”
I’m in
I like Substack. I’m subscribed to Colin Meloy’s. Now I’m subscribed to yours too.
hey I’m in. sounds like fun. keep up the transfer of knowledge.
Shocked to learn you hang out in German farms…
Germany has some very nice farms
And a really nice chocolate cake.
Yes. 100%. Sign me up. The economy has revealed that people are willing to, indeed like, pledging to support ‘influencers’ … but also podcasters, video-gamers, game-developers, entertainers, craftspeople, and the deserving.
In fact, if it wasn’t making a rod for your back, you might consider an occasional bit of podcast action as a sweetener for this deal. They’d call it “The Megan Show”. 🙂
I’m in. Great idea
Subscribed! Substack is great and I am glad you are joining that community! Cheers and look forward to reading your latest work!
Love this idea. I’m in and seriously rooting for more magic shroom stories!
Chris, I have some more FD Tees for the kids. Hope all is well. Scott
So I just learned two new words, “Substack” and “Paywall”.
I hope you give good instructions for Luddites like myself so I can check it out!
There goes the market for timber scribes. And the writing (even if you may hate it) completely hooked me – we need more spells, wards, and charms in this world.
I haven’t gone to Substack yet. Not until tomorrow morning. But I figure I owe you 5 bucks a month fir the last 17 years, so I’m in.
17 years? Holy crap. If I lived in Kentucky too, I think we’d be considered as married.
I’ve always wondered when you were going Khrushchev’s Shoe on us. It was inevitable, and I’ve looked forward to it.
Does the American Peasant blog have a subtitle? It should be “The Trouble with Tibbles.”
Sounds interesting. I’m subscribed. I assume payment details will come in due time?
Will there be a Fine Woodworking-style chapter on how to build a Federal Period chest-on-chest in a weekend using MDF with only a hatchet and saber saw?
Chris, if you will recall Steinbeck – “Socialism never had a chance because America has no Peasants, only temporarily embarrassed millionaires”.
Sounds really intriguing and quite meta. But the creative process interests me in all its manifestations; a continuation of a journey through the doors of perception.
And thank you for all you share and do.
Interesting concept, going to stick toe in the water.
Yes, I’m interested. Sounds like it would be a fun read.
After reading the first entry I can see why you’re looking to keep them separate! In any case, I’m intrigued, and along for the ride.
I hope this works out. I would love to support this effort. Charge away Mr. Schwarz.
Chris, you give so much for free to us that I have never felt put off if you need to charge for something or ask us to help someone (Arrou rasps, Evanfall Studios, the LBQT free class at LAP, etc). We all have a nut to crack.
Out of curiosity, as best I can tell, Evanfall Studios (and their awesome shooting boards – I have one I purchased in 2016) has gone out of business. At least, the website is no longer up. Do you happen to know if that’s the case? Between the fire, dam breaking, and family medical problems, I can see where he had other obligations and worries.
I’m excited to follow along!
RSS feed address for those who do that is https://christopherschwarz.substack.com/feed I much prefer it to email for this kind of thing.