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Letter From The Founder
It’s getting beyond a joke now. We have so many talented and prolific people in the STSC that these emails are quite literally bursting at the seams. As I compile this weeks Omnibus I am getting messages flash up saying I am near the emails maximum lengths, I am pasting links that work and then don’t, all kinds of nonsense.
What we have here is quite literally too much for the internet to handle.
This issue you will find 24(!) essays, 4 stories, 3 poems, 2 podcast episodes and a film recommendation. Madness.
So apologies if any of the links don’t work or the formatting ends up looking a bit weird this week. I guess this is what happens when you assemble so many great creators all in the same place.
Until next week,
Live well,
Tom.
Essays
We need a space for reflection by Vita
Vita is back with some extremely helpful advice on how to go about being more reflective. Essential and deeply practical stuff as always.
Hello by Andy
STSC member Andy has made a substack. So read this introductory piece and subscribe. Looking forward to what he has to offer in the coming weeks.
Substack badges? What a rotten idea! by Terry
As a 100% certified Substack White Badge Holder I couldn’t agree more with Terry’s sentiment here. And that Good, The Bad and The Ugly video reference was just the icing on the cake.
The Unbearable Lightness, The Search for Gravity by Luke Burgis
Luke has got a lot of stuff going on at the moment it seems, and all of it looks extremely interesting from what I can see. The book club launch for his community looks particularly noteworthy.
Sick of Being Sick by Yardena
Get well soon Yardena.
your witchy writer friend checking in by Kimia
I’m not usually a fan of bullet points but for some reason it works perfectly here. Maybe I’ll have to revise this opinion. The STSC mention doesn’t hurt either!
A Science of Discontent by Pr0ph3t
Possibly the best discussion of Dune that I have ever read. Pr0ph3t has struck gold (or spice, if you prefer) yet again. Even if you are not a fan of Herbert or are ambivalent to Dune you will still get a lot out of this essay.
An Art Show at the Pyramids Reframed My Thinking and My Photos by Samantha
Beautiful writing, beautiful observations, beautiful photography. I guess this is what we have come to expect from Samantha and her Egyptian odyssey. I never miss an issue.
Saying Goodbye by I'm The Canary
Not much I can say about this piece because the work itself says it all. Read it and you will know exactly what I am talking about.
You've Seen My Rock Bottom by Cody Clarke
Contrast that with me, and any number of other genuinely good filmmakers who have started out with inordinately low budgets, and consumer cameras, and made the most of them, and continue to. You’ve seen our rock bottom—you’ve seen what we can do with nothing. Or talent, or lack thereof, is plain as day. Which means, if you’ve ever liked any of my films whatsoever, ever thought I had anything ‘to me’, I’m probably one of the greatest filmmakers of all time.
Cody is a treasure. History will be kind to him and if it isn’t then that’s history’s loss.
The Decision Dilemma - Chapter 1 by Victor Casler
He’s releasing a book! How exciting. I can’t wait for the rest of this one and I will now implore you to sign up for Victors substack immediately.
Bookmark #582 by Deepansh
almost all ideas are good, but not all ideas are good right now. this is my only advice for anyone who wants to sit and write because it is hard.
A great short essay, filled with hard won wisdom. I could have done with something like this when I was just starting out on my own writing adventure.
My dad refuses to drink water by Alex
and…
Being far from family sucks by Alex (again)
Right. I normally have a strict one essay per issue policy but this piece by Alex is a two-parter and he managed to persuade me with kindness so here we are with an Alex double bill. Enjoy. Hopefully other people won’t get ideas as these things take long enough to compile as it is.
Thought Bananas 20 by Charlie Becker
For what it’s worth I am instantly a fan of this new format from Charlie. I think he’s onto a winner here. See for yourself and tell me if I’m right or if I’m right.
Consequence-Weighted ROI - A First Step by Stephanie
Although I have never tried it I imagine that writing about technical subjects and using mathematics while also making it readable must be quite a feat. But Stephanie pulls it off effortlessly here. There is truly important stuff in this essay too.
All Flows by Lou
An extremely honest depiction of a certain phase of the writing process that I’m sure everyone who types at a keyboard goes through from time to time. I know I have, anyway.
Deschooling Productivity by Timothy
I find Timothy’s whole deschooling project remarkable to watch from the sidelines and with every new essay I am genuinely forced to think as well as learning something new. This latest is no exception to this trend. Timothy’s entire body of writing is worth going over in detail.
Travel Diaries #37 - Pavement by Gavin
A Pavement gig review, in 2022. What a world. Question is: can you really go back to those Gold Soundz?
Fahrenheit's Fountain of Ambient Understanding by Trilety
Besides the always wonderful, genuine, unique and excellently crafted prose in her essays Trilety also boasts some of the best essay titles in the game. Real recognise real, as the kids say.
Sculptors and Speakers by Charles Schifano
Charles argues- brilliantly as always- that there are two types of writers, sculptors and speakers. And now I have read this I am seeing it everywhere, in everything I read and even in what I myself am writing. As is often the case with a Charles essay, I wish I had written this one.
Reflection #18 by Clint
The little angel on one shoulder and the little devil on the other. Boy, could I relate to this one.
Frank By the Fire by Frank
Frank ventures out into audio, which is entirely befitting for a man who has written so eloquently on old time radio dramas. I hope this new audio reading and discussion format will continue from Frank as it clearly has a lot of promise
Drowning in The How by Craig Burgess
Just why are we all watching people make oil paintings, instead of making our own?
This was great. I’m not being ironic, or backhanded or insincere. I thought this essay was really, really good.
All Alone in Our Own World by Lyle
Great to see Lyle stretch his wings and show off his writing skills while still stick to that honest, heartfelt style that drew us to his work in the first place. This was fantastic.
Fiction/Poetry
Fragments of Wake by Sajan
Love the way the dialogue is handled in this one. An extremely effective technique that I may well have to steal.
Vinnie Searched (Super short story) by Kieran Majury
I really enjoyed this one. It simply grabs you and pulls you along. Great stuff.
The Debut Project: Chapter the third by Vanya
Vanya is one of my favourite fiction writers around today. A truly unique voice and stylist. This whole novella project has been a delight to read so far.
HRVST Ch. 21: The Cavern of Memory by Edward
Edward is so dizzyingly prolific that it is hard to keep up. Just an outpouring of creativity. Another person who I need to encourage to make physical books so they can take pride of place on my shelves.
We will note a condescension in form. by James Maynard
The Crown of sonnets from James continues and continues to delight. If you are new to this cycle I suggest you go back to the very first poem and dig in.
Chaos In The Mind Of Mine by gkgaius
Two short but extremely impactful poems by the multi-talented GK here. An unexpected treat.
Not Playing Possum by Adam Kozak
As well as being an excellent poem (well, two excellent poems) this also gives us a fascinating little glimpse at Adam’s creative process. I’m always drawn to ‘behind the scenes’ stuff like this.
Podcasts
‘Kinawful (Tragedies of Modernity #24) by Thomas J Bevan and Craig Burgess
Don’t believe the title (which will make sense as you listen in), this one turned out alright actually. Not saying you’ll learn anything or have any epiphanies though, mind…
Artificial Intellgience (Wednesday Audio #79) by Craig Burgess
Had to remove the embedded window link to save space. You’ll have to click the above sentence instead. Which I recommend you do as this episode is a good ‘un. And Craig hasn’t made a typo there, this is art you see.
TJB Film Recommendation
TJB Film Recommendation
The Killing Of A Chinese Bookie (1977)
D. John Cassavetes
W. John Cassavetes
S. Ben Gazzara, Timothy Carey, Seymour Cassel
I’m surprised we haven’t gotten around to discussing John Cassavetes yet, the maverick filmmaker and grandfather of independent cinema.
And like all true artists Cassavetes work is uniquely his and layered with moments of self-portraiture, with Chinese Bookie being no exception. In the tragically gregarious nightclub owner Cosmo and his seedy bunch of dancers and no-hopers who he has real deep affection for we see a lot of the perennially cash strapped film director Cassavetes and his band of loyal actors (of whose ranks Ben Gazzara, who plays Cosmo, was a part.
So Cosmo as fantasist cultivating his own nightclub dreamworld is the artist and the gangsters, led by the manic Timothy Carey (of The World’s Greatest Sinner ‘fame’) represent those who would impede upon and control such dreamers. These are the moneymen, the suits, and they are not like your standard Hollywood gangsters. They are the system rather than those who style themselves as outsiders.
What you have here then, underneath, is a great film that gets into deep themes of authenticity and selling out wrapped up in some of the genre trappings that the title implies. A great film from a unique and irreplaceable voice.
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.
Not sure if Craig and I will be recording a new episode of the Tragedies of Modernity podcast tonight but if we do it’ll be at 8pm GMT and 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!
The STSC Omnibus #43
I’ve been known to miss certain entries out of these Omnibus issues. It seems that this week I forgot to include myself!
Gosh, the fabulous links in this epic post will keep me busy for at least the next fortnight!