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Letter From The Founder
So here we are again. After the multi-medium creative extravaganza of the latest Symposium and the fact that the next one will be about fiction, it is no surprise that this week many of the contributors have reverted to their bread and butter of writing essays.
But fortunately they are all outstanding and so I can continue to brag about how this is the greatest collective of creative talent online today.
This was my goal since day one, to gather talent but underappreciated and overlooked creators and create a rising tide to life all boats. And it’s working. Also my goal was to encourage and support people to go beyond mere posts and to write books and create physical tangible objects that we can buy and own. To move from the screen-mediated and back into reality.
So given that I am thrilled to see that Vanya has completed his novella and is serialising it over at his Substack before releasing it as part of his debut story collection. You should check out his writing immediately, especially if you are yet to do so.
Things are truly starting to come together over in STSC-land…
Until next week,
Live well,
Essays
bookmark #566 by Deepansh
i talk to people, and i understand their hopes, fears and dreams. i talk to them and they spill it all away, they spill their life into words, as if some dam has been broken. it occurs to me, and this happens quite often, that they, themselves, are the barrier they so desperately want to jump across.
100% truth as always from Deepansh
The Decision Dilemma by Victor
Regular readers will know that I am always encouraging our writers here to turn their works and thoughts into books and collections rather than individual posts only. So this announcement from Victor is very good news as far as I am concerned…
The Reformation Will Not Be Centralized by Pr0ph3t
Here we stand. We can do no other
This borrowing of the famous Martin Luther quote is the perfect motto for Pr0ph3t and the vital work he is doing with his newsletter. Essential reading as always.
Strange Magic at the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum by Samantha
One of the beautiful things about travel is how it makes us see our home and our everyday world with fresh eyes on return. This is the theme of many, many great stories and essays. This latest from Samantha is a great example of the genre in action.
WWWW 001 by Lou Bel
I do enjoy a good digest, a carefully curated set of links and recommendations. It’s why I began this very Omnibus. And it is also why I am excited about this new venture from Lou Bel here.
Old is new by Andrew Bryant
We systematically over-value the impact of new technology because we, as humans, are biased to pay more attention to new things.
Some important thoughts from Andrew here that help us see beyond the hype of the present to deeper truths. An excellent piece.
Siddhesh Recommends - October '22 by Siddhesh
As I said with Lou Bel above, I do enjoy carefully sourced recommendations from people whose taste I trust. So this week I am doubly lucky it seems, and so, therefore, are you.
A Death at Home by Maya
This was outstanding both in terms of the writing itself and the resonance of the message contained within. This is exactly the kind of piece that I personally love.
On being weirder by Craig Burgess
I’m not saying that I can take all of the credit for transforming Craig from a normal, professional designer and would-be online ‘value adder’ to a weird absurdist storywriter and maverick podcaster, but I think I (and all of us at the STSC) have certainly exerted some kind of influence. Whether that is good or bad (it’s good) is up to the reader.
Reviving Local News from the Bottom Up? by Stephanie
I’d never pondered the idea of a local news Substack but it makes perfect sense. As with her other pieces on risk Stephanie is looking at the real overlooked problems and presenting- what to my mind at least- are both fresh and viable solutions.
Lots of laws... by Terry
Say hello to our new member Terry. He’s extremely prolific but having delved into his Eclecticism archives I can see he is a great voice and that we are lucky to have him. Check out his work and give him a sub.
Game. On. by I’m The Canary
Another STSC newcomer in the wonderfully named I’m The Canary. As you read this piece and her archive the name will make sense. A unique voice with a real story to tell.
Hi NAME, it's Joe Biden and I'm Counting on YOU to read this newsletter by Alex
First of all I need to hold my hand up and apologise to Alex for missing his piece ‘my grandpa, my car, and also me’ off last weeks Symposium. I hope that saying EVERYONE SHOULD SUBSCRIBE TO ALEX’S SUBSTACK BECAUSE IT IS GREAT in all caps will be sufficient atonement.
Second of all I need to say that this piece is simply excellent.
Sobriety Anxiety Resurrected in the Carwash by Trilety
My sobriety is finally at that age where it can drink.
What a line. And as you go back you’ll find that each and every Triletys piece has a similar gem of a turn of phrase. Extremely talented, she is, as well as having that unflinching honest that I believe all great writers need.
Notes on Giving Criticism by Charles Schifano
Talking of unflinching honesty, Charles gets into the nature of giving criticism with reference to Barthelme, Goldman and more in this brilliant essay which I personally can find nothing critical (in the negative sense) to say about whatsoever. Charles is one of the very best at what he does.
The Post Social Network Internet by Clint
Probably Clint’s best essay to date in my eyes and not just because it (correctly) praises the STSC for being one of the truly good places to be online. This essay is clear-eyed, polemical without being hysterical and I believe will be of genuine use and provide genuine insight to many who feel bemused by what the internet has become.
So long and thanks for all the Tweets by Mark Dykeman
… and on the subject of which, Mark touches on what many are feeling and lays out exactly why he has stopped using what was once his favourite website. The comments section to this one shows just how much what Mark lays out here is resonating with people.
You've done your trick, now pass it on! by Timothy
As a very average Right Back I received plenty of ‘verbal encouragement’ when playing football in school, so this piece by Timothy certainly struck a chord with me. It brought back memories of freezing to death in shorts, shined breaking sliding tackles and more things that I had forgotten (/repressed). I also learned a lot through the examples and stories given here, which is the hallmark of Timothy being a great teacher.
I knew this would happen by Lyle McKeany
Just look at the accompanying photo in this piece. I’d love to go to a writers retreat. I’m going to contain my envy and say through gritted teeth that I look forward to seeing what work Lyle produces during this time away.
Fiction/Poetry/Art
The Debut Project: Chapter the first by Vanya (and Ilia)
IT’S HERE!!!
If you are an STSC member (and you should be) you will be just as excited as I am to see that Vanya is starting to release his highly anticipated novella. And from reading the first chapter I can say that this is everything I hoped it would be and more. I can’t wait to read the whole thing and have Vanya’s debut collection take pride of place on my bookshelf.
IN TOO DEEP #5 by G K Gaius
… and the same sentiment goes for G K who is quietly putting in the work and creating some excellent fiction of his own. To help people do this (or at least be able to help them build an audience) was always the goal of the STSC. I’m proud to simply be able to encourage out talented writers to keep excelling.
Raftman Dilemna – by Kieran Majury
Kieran 100% has that great way with the rhythm and timing of dialogue that I for some reason always associate with the Irish. I definitely need more fiction from Kieran.
Chained by Adam Kozak
(TJB: this poem speaks for itself. You can read it below before clicking the above link and exploring more of Adam’s fantastic creative work)
Gnawing, biting, bleeding, wounding
Yet not ever killing. Hanging
On, a chained ball dragged, reminder
Constant of what’s undone, ended
That will not return, not ever.
Orpheus walks out from Hell, but
No Eurydice then follows.
Look, or don’t look back, it matters
Not. There’s nothing to regain there.
Gone, gone, never coming back now.
Forward is the only option,
But it forces him to turn back.
Hold, great singer, hold fast. Forward
Go. Let not its teeth ensnare you.
All Sunsets Unveil The Stars by Edward
(TJB: the same applies to Edward, who is as adept with poetry as he is with fiction it seems)
The Sunset of Memories
Into Long Evenings of History
Unveils The Stars of Myths
When old gods willed man to honor or preserve a celestial memory crestfallen
Love before, life hereafter, they fixed into the firmament of stars
Into constellations they stitched, moments in honor, memories of their devotion
Long before, long after, the triumphs of cursed Achaean Agamemnon Atriedes
brazen rapacity
who sacrificed a daughter for wars orchestrated by fickle gods not humane too human
when lives were spilled on dusty plains for tribute, land, and treasures
weary sagacity
scribed in Alexandria, before Hypatia’s passing, before the last fires
heralded so long ago that a memory made history was honored as mythology
marked by the setting of thousands of sunsets, revealing millions of stars rising
The long tail of time turns memory into mythology
How about “The Dawning” – how does that sound? by Shiny Designs
Only one piece of visual art this week. But it’s a corker. Shiny Designs has a style all of her own.
Podcasts
Many Things To Talk About (Wednesday Audio #77) by Craig Burgess
No messin’ this week. No bumpf. Or so he claims. He also claims this is a classic retro Wednesday Audio episode. I’m not sure how the idea of the Wednesday Audio being so old that we are harking back to the bygone good old days of it makes me feel, to be honest.
TJB Film Recommendation
Blood Father (2016)
D. Jean-François Richet
W. Peter Craig, Andrea Berloff
S. Mel Gibson, Erin Moriarty, William H. Macy
This film is a blast. It knows what it is, it knows that you know what it is and it delivers accordingly.
Gibson gives one of his great performances (his real life booze issues lend weight to his voice over monologues as an AA attending ex con trying to keep his life together) full of charisma and magnetism. Perhaps the atonement themes were a little heavy handed for a Mel who was trying to come back from potentially career ending controversy at the time but I don’t care.
The script is tight, the tension is real and the supporting cast of grizzled vets such as William H Macy and Michael Parks do what we have come to expect of them. Everything is assured and competent and well-crafted and all of the wit and action and heartfelt moments land ad they should.
This is a briskly paced modern b movie gem.
Thanks as always for reading/listening and thanks in advance for pressing all of those various buttons at the bottom which help the Omnibus spread further.
Also I can again confirm that Craig and I will be recording a new episode of the Tragedies of Modernity podcast tonight at 8pm GMT. We’ll host it and record it live from the STSC community and then post it via this Substack tomorrow.
If you want to join us live and listen in and post questions/comments/heckles in the podcast channel chat you are more than welcome. You simply have to sign up to the community first.
I look forward to seeing you over at the Social Club.
Cheers!
Well done, as usual! Thanks so much for the kind words about my artwork, it's wonderful to see it in such good company.
Thank you very much for including one of mine, Thomas. I've previously read Charles ' and Mark's essays, both excellent, and am looking forward to reading the others