Welcome to "The Writing Life"
A separate Substack, devoted to cheerier topics, and things I might write for fun
For those familiar with my work from Racket, TK, Rolling Stone, or elsewhere, let’s get the logistics out of the way first.The Writing Life is a new Substack, not a section of Racket but a separate site, offering less news and reporting, and more things I’ll write just for fun.
This includes two hobby-like projects already begun. One is a series on tricks of the writing trade, which I realized should be put into print before I hit drooling age. The other is the Anthology of Funny, a collection of favorite stories that pulled me out of the darkness over the years, and which I wanted to collect and explain in print mainly for my young sons, in case they ever find themselves as screwed up and lost as I was as a young man.
As I explained in a note on Racket today, the initial idea behind this site was based on typical bad planning on my part. I didn’t know Substack had a $5 minimum subscription rate, and was hoping to offer this material for less, for people not interested in news or op-eds. This is not an attempt to make more money. Again as noted in Racket, the material on this site will also appear over there, for those who want to read things on this theme (my understanding is, some do not). I imagine most everything published here will be free, so if you decide you don’t want to support the site financially, that’s fine. You’ll still be able to read everything here.
If you do decide to become a paid subscriber, however, I’ll be glad, and here’s why. In 30-plus years of media work I’ve made my living writing about the most depressing things in the world: financial corruption, police abuse, contracting fraud, media malfeasance, censorship, etc. The one beat I had for years that was more like comedy, shouldn’t have been, and was therefore depressing anyway: the presidential campaign. Even sportswriting got me in trouble. Comparing Eric Mangini to Augustus Gloop prompted a slew of “Don’t come to Cleveland!” emails, and even hometown Red Sox fans seethed when I said, I thought admiringly, “Kevin Youkilis fighting a middle reliever to a nine-pitch walk looks like a rhinoceros trying to fuck a washing machine.”
It’s possible I’m just wired that way and anything I write will come out vicious and angering, but I want to at least try writing happier things in my time left on the Orb. Also, I’m getting the sense that the world is moving in a direction where anything interesting anyone wants to say will have to be said in metaphorical form, to get past the next generation of algorithmic content-smashers. I’m way too easy a mark for those people as is.
The Writing Life will be about all sorts of things I like about the world, beginning with the aforementioned two projects but probably also including reviews, interviews with other writers, an old Devil’s Dictionary-style lexicographical venture I abandoned years ago, essays about family or the bears who live in my neighborhood or really anything at all that has nothing to do with politics. Anyone who knows my work ethic knows Racket will still be full, but writing is also how I relax, and this is what you can read here.
In sum, no, I’m not asking for money. Substack subscribers have been incredibly generous over the years, for which we’re already grateful. My wife and I have three very happy little boys thanks in large part to all of you. This is why you’ll be able to read this material whether you pay or not.
However, I wouldn’t mind eventually transitioning to a life of writing things that cheer people up, rather than flaying politicians, anchorpersons and intelligence officials for sport. It feels very possible anyway that the next political dissident movement will involve learning to look on the bright side. I’ve been aware for a while that this is frowned upon, but since the bright side has never been a professional comfort zone, I didn’t test those waters much. However, maybe it’s time. Perhaps we can all explore that theme together.
Again, I’ll do it with or without paying subscribers, but if you like what you read, a little encouragement will go a long way. I’d like to spend my kids’ teen years with more of a smile on my face, so if this material works for you, or if you think it could with a suggestion or two, please let me know.