What did I stumble onto...

A little primer on what this newsletter is all about

Photo by Crystal Kay on Unsplash

Welcome to Salted Wetzel with a Side of Mustard, my corner of the author world to engage with readers. Along the way, we’re sharing Original Fiction, Fridge Philosophy, The CHOW (The Clueless Hack On Writing), and Extra Mustard.

OK… But who are you?

Writing and storytelling have been a part of my identity for most of my life.

In the Fall of 1990, my first byline appeared in the Foothill High School (Bakersfield, CA) student newspaper The Epic. The article was short, maybe 200 words, about some students receiving state recognition for academics. But I was proud. I taped the article on my parents’ refrigerator. I looked at “By Vince Wetzel” for at least a month. I was hooked. I wanted to write.

I went to college, earned a journalism degree, and worked as a sportswriter for the Antelope Valley Press and the Oakland Tribune. I loved it, except when I viewed my bank account and didn’t see my spouse at night. So, in 2000, I left newspapers for public relations and California politics, and I still work in that world today.

During that hiatus, I like to say I wrote three half-novels, but my focus was on my family. This meant being a partner to my wife, a youth soccer coach, a driver, a Lego master, a fan of dance recitals, an attendee of school functions, and a liver of life while my writing lay dormant.

Fast-forward to 2018. I was getting on a plane to attend a college football game with a buddy. The Wi-Fi and in-flight entertainment were unavailable. I had a laptop and an idea, so I wrote the first chapter on the flight. I knew the ending, and I had a plan to get through the middle.

That first chapter became Friends In Low Places, my debut novel released in 2021. It tells the story of five friends who go on a trip to the same lake every year for 20 years, and you see the evolution of their friendship and how they mature from teens into men.

Lose Yourself takes readers on a journey through the lives of six individuals, each grappling with expectations and choices against the backdrop of the final game of the baseball season. 

Read more about my books here.

So here I am…

Part of me was hesitant to create a newsletter. One side of my brain screamed, "You self-serving narcissist! How dare you think that anyone wants to read what you have to say?" (We’ll see if that plays out.) Another part of me was intrigued by the idea of having a space to post original content, stories, thoughts, instant messages, etc. outside of the big four Social Media Platforms. 

The Mission

When you have your first novel, it’s a novelty. The support of others is pure. And the fact that you published a book is its own accomplishment.

As I moved toward publishing my second novel, I understood that I wanted writing to be a part of my identity. I wanted to write, publish, and share my stories. I knew that future success was dependent on expanding my fans beyond friends and family and the novelty of writing a book. I needed my writing to extend beyond the book and more into a “Mission Statement.”

What did I want to get out of this? What would success look like? Where were the guide rails for obsessions and new shiny things?

I created the Mission Statement:

Tell stories I find intriguing and earn enough to recoup my investments

The goal is the process. The mission focuses on what brings me joy and provides a goal that is achievable.

Over the past year, that mission has been challenged. With all the advice columns, tips, tricks, and hacks available to authors, it’s hard not to question everything.

This is when the mission comes into play. Do these shiny things move me toward my mission, or are they distractions? This question continually focuses on what’s important and what grace is for the things that are not in my capacity.

What to expect

So, you’ve subscribed. Or you’re thinking of it. And you’re wondering…

Is this dude going to spam me with another newsletter with content I don’t care about?

I feel your pain. How many times do you need to know about another birthday meal deal for Buca di Beppo or the last 12 hours to get up to 65% off of Dodger gear?

Your time and your email space is valuable, so my goal is to respect your time and space with worthy content, including:

• Original Fiction: All of my novels and short stories take place in the same universe. The novels are the tent poles that come out every couple of years, and these stories will fill out the tapestry. I’ll be updating you on characters you know while introducing characters from future work. I’m excited about this content. I’m also writing multi-part fictional serials to explore mid-length fiction.

• Fridge Philosophies: What started as a passive-aggressive way to provide some helpful advice to my teens by placing inspirational quotes on the refrigerator has become a weekly mantra for me to work better, live intentionally and be present. I’ll be sharing these Fridge Philosophies along with what they mean in my life.

• The CHOW: Either it will be my own Clueless Hack on Writing, where I will provide updates on projects and my struggles and triumphs… Or it will be Creative Heroes on Writing with writing friends sharing their perspectives on the creative process.

• Extra Mustard: A digest of sports takes, great podcasts I’ve heard, books I’ve read, weird observations, etc.

A work in progress…

My mom says I was the kid who would run and jump off a cliff expecting a vine to grab. So, I’m going to jump off this cliff, learn, grow, and improve. So, if you’re an early subscriber, show grace and patience.

Currently, all of this is free, and I don’t expect to have paid subscriptions for a while. But eventually, I may have paid subscriptions for archived content. We shall see. Right now, my focus is finding a consistent cadence and sharing it out to the world.

Thank you!

If you’re still here and reading this, it means you are interested in what I write. I appreciate you and can’t wait to share more in the coming years.