I talked to you for two minutes in the coffee shop. You got talent. I was a recruiter in advertising after struggling trying to make it as a writer. I say you should reread “TOMORROW, TOMORROW, TOMORROW” what every woman your age has read, especially the ones who went to MIT!!!’ Think like Sadie in that blessed book. Your writing needs just a little more bite. I also suggest Chuck Klostermann, Merrill Markoe, and David SEDARIS. They write stuff that makes you laugh out loud. Hard to accomplish. And if you like fashion criticism, no one did it better than Mike Redmond and a site called “The SUPERFICIAL.” Buzzzfeed bought it and the whole thing died. But the guy had a way touching on the zeitgeist by mercilessly critiquing the fashion sensibilities of “celebrities.”
Hey, you can also continue be a “nice,” positive-positive-positive writer with daily affirmations and all. But remember where you are. Chicago. Home of the “Onion.” Be a little more snarky—that’s what I’m trying to say.
P.S. it’s brutal writing. Few are chosen. So do have that backup gig!….And while you are at it—design a winning ad campaign for Discover—because they have never ever had one. They always did junk mail at an unheard of level…..
Thank you and great meeting you (briefly) the other day!
I really appreciate your recommendations, and am excited to look into this... I actually have read tomorrow, tomorrow, and tomorrow-- so you nailed that one on the head :D
We'll see about balancing the snark with positivity... I've yet to find the right balance.
Then drama before me. I was amused by the interaction you were having with the engineer from Arizona. He was telling you all about his “tech ethic” and all the nitty-gritty details in his startup, and you were there doing your little old, poor me Jane Austen I only write a Substack impression. You were so excited to hear about this guy’s company, not mentioning for a second they you went to MIT. And he rambled on about the big number crunching aptitude he had and on and on…….and meanwhile,…..I’m on your substack reading that you’re more than an MIT grad—-you’re a Presidential Scholar!!!!! And you’re being so, so nice to this guy who likely thought numbers weren’t your thing…..And hey, so anyway—you practice what you preach in your writing mission statement: to be nice.. So I can confirm that your writing is authentic.
And I hope you and the guy from Arizona are on at least your third date.
Again. Read funny people if you want to get more jokes to steal and use as inspiration to write that magic article that that takes you viral.
And….Go to Second City to take improv classes. Or the Annoyance Theater. And buy the best book ever written in Chicago. The Onion’s “Our Dumb World.” Every page has something funny. It’s a truly amazing piece of humor.
Notorious: Portraits of Stars from Hollywood, Culture, Fashion, and Tech
By Maureen Dowd, the Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for the New York Times, known for her sharp and incisive commentary on politics and culture. She is the author of three bestselling books: Bushworld, Are Men Necessary?, and The Year of Voting Dangerously. She lives in Washington, DC……
She’s got a thick tongue and acid wit….
Her book just came out. She interviews the important people: Kevin Costner, Uma Thurman, Kate Winslet, et al. Saw the thing at Barnes and Noble. They also got books of Dad Jokes on sale at the front table!!!!!
I talked to you for two minutes in the coffee shop. You got talent. I was a recruiter in advertising after struggling trying to make it as a writer. I say you should reread “TOMORROW, TOMORROW, TOMORROW” what every woman your age has read, especially the ones who went to MIT!!!’ Think like Sadie in that blessed book. Your writing needs just a little more bite. I also suggest Chuck Klostermann, Merrill Markoe, and David SEDARIS. They write stuff that makes you laugh out loud. Hard to accomplish. And if you like fashion criticism, no one did it better than Mike Redmond and a site called “The SUPERFICIAL.” Buzzzfeed bought it and the whole thing died. But the guy had a way touching on the zeitgeist by mercilessly critiquing the fashion sensibilities of “celebrities.”
Hey, you can also continue be a “nice,” positive-positive-positive writer with daily affirmations and all. But remember where you are. Chicago. Home of the “Onion.” Be a little more snarky—that’s what I’m trying to say.
P.S. it’s brutal writing. Few are chosen. So do have that backup gig!….And while you are at it—design a winning ad campaign for Discover—because they have never ever had one. They always did junk mail at an unheard of level…..
Loringrocke
Thank you and great meeting you (briefly) the other day!
I really appreciate your recommendations, and am excited to look into this... I actually have read tomorrow, tomorrow, and tomorrow-- so you nailed that one on the head :D
We'll see about balancing the snark with positivity... I've yet to find the right balance.
I was having a really bad day.
Then drama before me. I was amused by the interaction you were having with the engineer from Arizona. He was telling you all about his “tech ethic” and all the nitty-gritty details in his startup, and you were there doing your little old, poor me Jane Austen I only write a Substack impression. You were so excited to hear about this guy’s company, not mentioning for a second they you went to MIT. And he rambled on about the big number crunching aptitude he had and on and on…….and meanwhile,…..I’m on your substack reading that you’re more than an MIT grad—-you’re a Presidential Scholar!!!!! And you’re being so, so nice to this guy who likely thought numbers weren’t your thing…..And hey, so anyway—you practice what you preach in your writing mission statement: to be nice.. So I can confirm that your writing is authentic.
And I hope you and the guy from Arizona are on at least your third date.
Again. Read funny people if you want to get more jokes to steal and use as inspiration to write that magic article that that takes you viral.
And….Go to Second City to take improv classes. Or the Annoyance Theater. And buy the best book ever written in Chicago. The Onion’s “Our Dumb World.” Every page has something funny. It’s a truly amazing piece of humor.
sorry to hear that, but I totally get it. when you're in a bad mood you do not want to listen to someone be disgustingly saccharine :D
and hahaha thank you. it's honestly selfish-- i like myself more when i'm nice.
with regard to the funny-- i'm on it! i dug up a sedaris book at home and i'm jotting down jokes to steal as we speak
Book recommendation for you:
Notorious: Portraits of Stars from Hollywood, Culture, Fashion, and Tech
By Maureen Dowd, the Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for the New York Times, known for her sharp and incisive commentary on politics and culture. She is the author of three bestselling books: Bushworld, Are Men Necessary?, and The Year of Voting Dangerously. She lives in Washington, DC……
She’s got a thick tongue and acid wit….
Her book just came out. She interviews the important people: Kevin Costner, Uma Thurman, Kate Winslet, et al. Saw the thing at Barnes and Noble. They also got books of Dad Jokes on sale at the front table!!!!!
“Life is a joke. And the punchline a killer.”
America’s most famous writer said that. Can you name him/her?
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/04/college-hopefuls-have-a-new-ultimate-dream-school-its-not-harvard.html?link_source=ta_thread_link&taid=68023eeae9ab490001b5e75d&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_content=main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=threads