John Kennedy Toole and A Confederacy of Dunces With Dan Baltic

We discuss the life and times of John Kennedy Toole (1937-1969), the influential author behind the classic novel, A Confederacy of Dunces. We're joined by independent writer Dan Baltic, who teaches us some of the lessons he has learned from Toole's life and career.
Dive into the captivating world of A Confederacy of Dunces, as we discuss the book's main character, Ignatius J Riley; learn how Toole's persistence (or lack thereof) serves as a cautionary tale for contemporary independent writers; as well as the parallels between Toole's struggles and Dan's rise as an independent author on the internet. Dan shares his experience building an audience on Twitter, publishing his first novel, and the lessons he's learned himself.
We try to unlock the strategies and goals of dissident writers, and how independent authors like Dan are able to produce great work outside of institutions and gatekeepers. We discuss the pros and cons of traditional publishing deals, vs. the world of independent publishing, and much more.
Chapters:
(0:03:46) - Toole's "A Confederacy of Dunces"
(0:15:45) - John Kennedy Tool's Life and Work
(0:29:40) - Persistence and Patience for Writers
(0:33:21) - Navigating the Confusion of Independent Publishing
(0:43:02) - Building a Twitter Audience for Success
(0:48:34) - Unlocking Twitter for Independent Writers
(1:02:17) - Success for Independent Writers
(1:13:09) - Lessons for Starting a Project
Dan Baltic:
Twitter - / baltic_dan
NUTCRANKR - terrorhousepress.com/product/...
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[@O.G.Rose.Michelle.and.Daniel]

This was a great conversation, and I really appreciated the chance to learn more about Dan Baltic’s journey and his appreciation of Toole, who I learned about from the Walker Percy biography by Samway. Toole was a genius. I also liked what Baltic said about the advantages of having control over your own enterprise, for you have more control over your use of time. I think that is great advice and can be a great goal for independent writers and thinkers.

[@AnthonyMetivierMMM]

Great chat.
I'm reminded of Aphorism 177 in Nietzsche's Human, All Too Human:
"Making oneself heard. One must know not only how to play well but also how to make oneself heard. A violin in the hand of the greatest master emits only a squeak if the hall is too big; there the master can be confused with any bungler."