The Writing Life The world of Substack: Eleanor Anstruther & Simon K Jones on serial fiction
Jun 16, 2025
Guest Eleanor Anstruther, author of thought-provoking novels like A Perfect Explanation, dives into her latest work, In Judgment of Others, a dark satire unraveling psychosis amid a theatrical backdrop. She and Simon K Jones explore the unique benefits of Substack for writers, emphasizing community-building and reader engagement. Their conversation touches on the craft of serialization, the balance of humor and empathy, and the evolution of indie publishing. Eleanor also shares her journey from manuscript rejections to finding validation through her Substack audience.
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Satire On Visible Vs Hidden Psychosis
- In Judgment Of Others is a dark satire exploring which psychoses society accepts and which it shames.
- Eleanor uses dual productions of Blythe Spirit to layer public and private perceptions of madness.
Unreliable Witnesses As A Reader Trap
- Eleanor uses unreliable witnesses and magical thinking to blur truth and belief for readers.
- She invites readers to decide who to trust, creating self-reflection on judgment.
Finish The Draft Before Serialising
- Finish the whole book before serialising complex, multi-layered novels to avoid heavy re-threading.
- Serialization suits different projects, but complex structures demand a completed draft first.
