Recommended by Rona Maynard
Something odd will cross my mind, or a memory will catch me off guard, or my monkey mind will swing from the ceiling fan, or a tiny ant will crawl up the bookcase next to my chair. Then I get curious and curiosity is the first step in an unknown direction
No one writes a moment like Abby, whose moments contain the world.
Essays about my dysfunctional family and my often fabulous gay father, coming out as a writer, depression, working a 12-Step program for recovery from disordered thinking and eating. Sometimes it's funny, sometimes it's sad. It's all me.
Like a heart-to-heart with a friend who tells the truth about the hardest things--and can laugh about them.
![[B]OLD AGE with Debbie Weil](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!i8Z0!,w_96,h_96,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdaaca764-d8d6-4a1b-bf58-61dbb72810fc_842x842.png)
Memoir, poetry, fiction, drama, and essays on all things human: explorations into our reason for being in the world. Living through language and ideas from a professor of English and writer.
Eclectic, erudite and deeply felt, Jay's essays are among the most consistently arresting in my Substack queue.
Nominated for Best American Essay and Pushcart Prize. Proudly niche since 2006. Faith, hope, grit and wit, in posts of 2 minutes or less. Subscribe FREE as long as Substack allows. No cost. No risk. No obligation.
Poignant, hilarious and quotable reflections on age, disability and much else from one of Substack's most original writers.
Why do I love Greek tragedy? These mythical stories of war, familial trauma, and isolation illuminate the beauty and darkness of our shared humanity. They tell me something new every time I read them; retelling them here is my passion.
Provocative, original essays for all readers who seek a clearer understanding of the present in the literature of the past.
I write about politics, gender, history, popular culture, and mass media—what moves me, what delights me, what irritates me, and what worries me—from movies and cable tv to mainstream news publications and broadcasts to commercials and ads.
Original takes on film and TV from a deeply attentive viewer whose perceptions expand my own.
Thoughtful tools, Substack-savvy data, and intuitive strategy — read by thousands. ☀️ Shape a publishing practice that’s truly your own: one that honors your creative instincts and draws the right audience for your work.
The virtual art room where creative people build their skills with an encouraging and passionate mentor.
