Why subscribe?

Substack readers and subscribers may already be familiar with my work on Racket, a news and commentary site that’s featured reporting on the Twitter Files, media malfeasance and Covid-19.

About a month ago I began writing a few things here and there, purely for enjoyment. These entries began with notes on writing. These are tricks of the trade I’ve picked up over the course of many years of writing professionally (and quite a few years of struggle before then). After listening to reader responses to those pieces, mostly positive, I’ve decided to put that project in this separate Substack, so Racket readers who don’t feel like reading bookish meanderings can open their email in-boxes without fear.

In addition to Tips on Writing, this Substack will offer another long-term project with a literary theme, something called The Anthology of Funny. Many years ago I was a depressed wreck of a self-destructive person who achieved superficially functional adult status through reading funny stories. Collectively they taught me a private absurdist religion by which I still live. The process took about thirty years. Before I get too old to remember what I loved about each, I decided to list — for my little sons, primarily — these 20-25 stories that changed my life, writing extended thank you note to each author. My hope is that if any of my sons have the misfortune to grow up like me, they could use this road map from the past to make it to sanity.

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