Good, fresh writing!

November 30, 2004 2:11 PM

The best web mag you've never heard of. This is a truly GREAT collection of essays, written by a bunch of famous and not-so-famous folks. Updated twice a month. You will not get any work done today. One of those "bookmark immediately" sites!
posted by braun_richard (9 comments total)

braun: That webzine has a lot of great essays. I'll be busy for the rest of the week. Thanks.

I also like this monthly Chicago web magazine, Subsystence. Every month is a new design and new articles (music too). They accept submissions too, so submit something.
posted by alicila at 2:28 PM on November 30, 2004

As opposed to all those 'zines that don't accept submissions because their essays emerge from a process of spontaneous generation.
posted by u.n. owen at 3:21 PM on November 30, 2004

Weird, this essay mentions my hometown. I wonder if I know the girl he was with.

Good site.
posted by deafmute at 3:49 PM on November 30, 2004

LOVE this site, I'm an addict. If you are in L.A., you must absolutely check out Jill Soloway's Sit'n'Spin at the Comedy Central stage, where many of these essays are performed.
posted by OhPuhLeez at 3:59 PM on November 30, 2004

Was I the only one who read a handful of those essays and was repulsed by

a) How poorly written they were-- amateurish ramblings that tried to pull some deep significance out of the quotidian, and
b) How unabashedly reverent the authors were with the gilt of La-La Land? I was embarassed for them, wanted to wipe the drool from their mouths.

Sorry to be a sourpuss, but I don't get it.
posted by mowglisambo at 4:58 PM on November 30, 2004

This wasn't your run-of-the-mill, fat-guy snore -- this was an atonal symphony of snorts, gasps and wheezes, punctuated by what can only be described as the sound of an asthmatic dragon trying to snort cocaine out of an uncooperative elephant's asshole.

This site rocks! Thanks braun_richard.
posted by BradNelson at 5:02 PM on November 30, 2004

Was I the only one who read a handful of those essays and was repulsed...

No, not entirely. I liked some of what I read, but the problem with having a site that's devoted entirely to personal essays is that a lot of the content begins to sound vain.

After lit boom of memoirs a few years ago, I guess I'm ready for some good fiction. Or maybe I'm just cranky.
posted by box elder at 5:51 PM on November 30, 2004

How poorly written they were-- amateurish ramblings

I thought that was the best part.
posted by BradNelson at 5:54 PM on November 30, 2004

I'm with mowglisambo. These people took forever to get to the point. They have to remember, the reader is not their mother, and is not pre-disposed to believe that they are cute or clever. In fact, it's a good practice for writers to imagine that they are writing for an audience of their worst enemies and most severe critics.
posted by Faze at 9:42 AM on December 1, 2004