Goodbye Gatekeepers, Creativity Rocks
Welcome to Continental Drift, forged in the disruption of a pandemic
I never liked playing the publishing game. A few decades ago, too many editors held sway in New York or at big town newspapers. These gatekeepers had the power to crush budding careers and maintain a cultural bias. How was the little guy ever going to get a shot at publishing their work?
Continental Drift represents a new game changer. The disruption of the regime is complete. The gatekeepers are an anachronism. Creative individuals can challenge the big dogs and win a piece of the market without getting permission first.
Past and Present
A lot of my early work is now rotting away in a landfill. Paper print is not permanent. Digital print, however, gives me a chance to revive the past. Many stories written 20 years ago still find relevance today, especially to a new audience. So I’ll recycle the words as a sort of time stamp on which to contemplate the present.
Continental Drift is a wide open opportunity to shift directions and go down alternative pathways. All the heavy gates and high barriers are gone. Getting solid feedback from subscribers allows me to keep the publication nimble and on track, if needed.
This unprecedented freedom bolsters creative endeavors to reach beyond the regular diatribes and bond with readers.
For instance, here are some new and old ideas floating around that may see the light of digital daylight:
Wanton Waste of Beauty: The Wildlife Trade in Southeast Asia
Orangutans and Oil Palm: Manipulating Animals and Deceiving Humans
The Five Stages of Eating and Loving Durians
Luck of the Elephant: Ageing Pachyderms Work the Streets
Tropical Rainforests: A Lesson in Rare and Common Abundance
Next Steps
Substack is the backend platform that springboards this creativity. It takes care of the mechanics and allows artists to shine. It puts both writers and readers in control of the narrative.
It was a long time coming, but well worth the wait. It’s worth your support to fan the flames of these disruptive technologies to thrive.
On my end, I’m excited to dive into the stories and topics and re-engage my voice after a hiatus. On your side, subscribing to the newsletter helps support the cause. It’s free for now, though you can pitch in to pay as a monthly or founding subscriber as well.
Earth Day is April 22. At a time when the entire globe is fighting the same cause, it is the right moment to launch a publication that hopes to contribute to a better awareness of our larger landscape.
I am grateful for the chance to begin this journey at a senior stage in life. I’d be more than thrilled to bring others along for the ride - whether smooth, bumpy or stuck - and chat about our observations.
Pack light.
Rick Scobi