The Real Sarah Miller on Substack

WHAT IS THE REAL SARAH MILLER

I named my Substack The Real Sarah Miller because there are thousands if not billions of Sarah Millers in the world, and I want you to be able to tell me apart from them.  

It is possible you already know which Sarah Miller I am: Sarah Miller, 54, reluctant resident of semi-rural Northern California, proud Australian Cattle Dog Mom and author of essays like Heaven or High Water, The Movie Assassin, The Bridge Dog, Death to the Maxi Dress and My So-Karen Life.

You might have read one of these essays and now you’re thinking, “Oh, you wrote that!” or “You’re Sarah Miller?” or you might be thinking … absolutely nothing.

The first year I had this I had a small deal from Substack. That was a long time ago. During that time I was able to make a lot of stuff free, and then, the year after, I experimented. What I found was if I don’t charge, people don’t sign up.

If you've never read my writing before, also hello, and now I will sell it to you: It’s funny and it actually makes sense. Right out of the gate, that makes it better than most. I don’t have a particular subject. I write about everything and nothing in particular, about how we can’t politely ask governments and companies to stop killing us, about one of my favorite people, the Badger, and about dieting, and also about the opposite of dieting—food and food’s faithful friend, alcohol.  I’ve written about the pitfalls of watching Netflix and the problems of having relationships and several times I have just described a day in my life. I recently wrote for the New York Times about not having kids and being Generation X, but I swear to God my piece is not boring and I don’t brag about eating TV dinners.

What will I get with a free subscription to your newsletter?

Almost nothing. I don’t do free stuff anymore. I wish I could, it’s just not feasible.

What will I get with a paid subscription?

All my essays that I write for this newsletter, which is, honestly, probably where by best or at least most unvarnished work. Right now I do one a week. I keep working up to doing two. But honestly I feel like one thing a week from one person is kind of a lot to handle.

Why should I subscribe?

I will be writing for other publications rarely if ever, so, if you want to read my work, you’re going to have to find it here. Also, though I had a small Substack deal, it is long over, and this is where I make most of my income.

I have this dream that a Substack will feel like the old days, when I would wake up and toss off a few words about Miley Cyrus, send it to The Cut, not hear from the editor there who commissioned it and who, upon being eventually contacted, would admit “It wasn’t what I expected,” at which point I would send the thing to The Awl where the editor would write back “lol sob putting it up now,” and then lots of people would read it and I would feel happy. If you miss the Awl, you’re in the right place. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you might still be in the right place.

My most fervent hope is when The Real Sarah Miller Interviews shows up in your inbox you will feel a slight lift in your mood. Unambitious? Too ambitious? Probably both.