Two Different Mountains We were interviewing a writer whose work I admireand he mentioned that someone told him that we now have the technologythat can write articles for you, super fast And he said Wait, no, what I enjoy is writing the article,not holding it in my hand and saying "this is the thing that I did” I have nothing against minced garlic in a jarbut what I really like is when I have the time to chop the garlic myselfwhen I tell myself that it’s important Important enough to take two...
7 days ago • 1 min read
Friday Inspiration 488 VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: We’re doing a limited-run water bottle starting today. It has my “What Does Your Urine Say About You?” Chart printed on the side. Is it a reminder to stay hydrated? (yes!) Is it a pee bottle? (up to you!) Is it a conversation piece? (yes!) Can you get one after June 20th, 2025? No. Pre-orders start today, and will close next Friday, June 30th, so if you want one, or know someone who would love one as a gift, here’s where you can order one...
13 days ago • 3 min read
Friday Inspiration 487 This video is my first time seeing a sweep boat in action, and my first reaction was "DAMN that thing looks unwieldy," so it’s really cool to watch someone expertly navigating it on Idaho’s Salmon River. (video) I don’t know if I’ve previously mentioned the Rotating Sandwiches website in this newsletter before, but I have to believe that if you’re reading this newsletter, you know a) someone who would appreciate the Rotating Sandwiches website OR b) someone who would be...
20 days ago • 2 min read
Analog Monologue I have a million unread emails in my inbox and I’m doing this instead, I say to myself, as I try to not fall off the ladder—or at least remember to let go of the trigger of the circular saw before I do fall off the ladder. I also should probably clean the bathroom, start writing that thing for next week, research that other thing, put the new wheel on Jay’s bike, call an arborist about that tree limb, make an appointment for a haircut, and do a bunch of other stuff that would...
21 days ago • 4 min read
Friday Inspiration 486 I have recommended the 1996 Geena Davis + Samuel L. Jackson filmThe Long Kiss Goodnight before in this newsletter, so it felt really good to have a YouTube film critic with a large following endorse it as “one of the most underrated and overlooked action movies of the 1990s,” as well as explain why it’s so good (and why Mitch is one of Samuel L. Jackson's favorite characters he's played!). (video) Years ago, I was climbing a multi-pitch route with a French friend who...
27 days ago • 2 min read
Friday Inspiration 485 Today is the last day to sign up for this session of my How To Tell One Story online writing workshop! As of my writing this on Wednesday evening, there were still a couple spots available. We’ll open registrations again in August, but this is it until then. If you’re curious about writing, or want to write and just need a framework and some “kind and encouraging lessons” (as a past student put it), you can read more about the course and/or sign up at this link:...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
The Actual Size Of The Hill Is Irrelevant About twice a week, sometimes more, I ask myself if I am truly up for the challenge that day: The Hill. It’s always on my way home, in the final mile of my run, and I can avoid it by making a left turn during the second-to-last mile, going a different way home—the flatter route, the easy way out. Most days I tell myself a story about not taking that easy way, that the route to personal growth is always the difficult one: The Hill. Some days, though, I...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Friday Inspiration 484 AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM ME: After 150+ people took my How To Tell One Story online writing course this past winter, we've decided to offer it only in limited windows for the rest of 2025. The first signup window is May 16 (today!) through May 23, and we're limiting the number of spots. Why limit the number of spots? Because of one big change: When you complete the course, I'll give you personalized feedback on the story you wrote during the course. That of course takes...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Friday Inspiration 483 This is a year old, but WOW, building a scale model of the timeline of the history of the universe in the Mojave Desert—in a day. (video) Anton Krupicka doesn’t write very often on his Substack, but the last piece he wrote about why his dad continues to shovel snow into his mid-70s, and about his longtime friend Joe Grant, and about singlespeed bikes, was a great read. I had a nice chat last week with Tyler Dempsey for his Another Fucking Writing Podcast show, and after...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
