A Burrito Backstory

In this episode of The RobCast, host Rob shares the deeply personal and revealing backstory behind his new book, 'Burrito,' a work written in second person and published in serialized form on Patreon. The journey begins with Rob sending the manuscript to his long-time literary agent, who then pitched it to several respected publishers. Despite the book's unique voice and creative risk-taking, every publisher declined—citing reasons like its exhausting reading experience, lack of market fit, and unclear audience appeal. Rob reflects on how these rejections, while initially surprising, ultimately affirmed his creative instincts and reinforced his belief in self-publishing. He finds irony and joy in the contrast between the publishers' cold assessments and the warm, engaged responses he receives from readers on Patreon. The episode culminates in Rob reading the first section of 'Burrito' aloud—a surreal, poetic dialogue between a man and a mysterious figure who may be Jesus Christ—exploring themes of identity, love, division, and the limitations of language. The episode closes with a meditation on creative courage, the importance of listening to one’s inner voice, and the quiet power of creating something that doesn’t need to be understood to be meaningful. Key takeaways include: 1) Rejection from gatekeepers doesn’t invalidate your work—sometimes it’s a sign you’re doing something original; 2) The most meaningful art often emerges from a place of personal need, not market demand; 3) Publishing platforms like Patreon allow creators to bypass traditional gatekeeping and build authentic community; 4) Language and identity are tools, not truths—what matters is the lived experience behind them; 5) Clarity often comes not from answers, but from the courage to keep creating. Rob’s tone is reflective, warm, and deeply human—celebrating the messiness of creation and the quiet grace of doing work that matters to you, even if no one else sees it yet.