Octobrrr (honestly so sorry for pun it's not even that cold yet)
Hey friends! Happy October! I know in recent months I’ve just sent out links in this newsletter, but I’ve decided that from now on, this is going to be the place where I tell you what’s actually going on in my life. The Real Deal, if you will. I know it’s not relevant to that many people, but in my defense, not that many people subscribe to this newsletter. I also will no longer be checking for typos, because typos are part of my true authentic self.
I’m starting a new job at a nonprofit in two weeks, and I want to finish up next rounds of a few writing projects before I do. I’m honestly so excited to have a job again. I’ve worked part-time non-writing jobs on and off in the last five years, depending on how much writing work I have, and I think I’m much happier when I have one. Before I start, though, I’m trying to finish a rewrite on a feature I wrote. It’s a political drama about a fictionalized young Josh-Hawley-type. This month was exciting because this website gave it a high ranking and put it on their mailing list. I know mailing lists don’t sound THAT exciting, but I’ll take what I can get. Also, this is a mailing list, and I assume it’s the highlight of your day. If you’re interested in reading it, let me know and I’ll send it out.
My Audible show YES WE MUSTARD is out in the world. A lot of people have rated/reviewed it, and I’d love if you did the same (or thank you if you already have…tell your friends!). It feels vulnerable to talk about the logistics of my career (“career”), but my chances of writing another book for Audible depend on people reviewing it. It’s also kinda scary to talk about upcoming projects because everything has such a slim chance of getting made, and I fear being asked about things that never come to fruition. But on the other hand, that’s sort of a silly fear. I’m very grateful I get to write. But I’m also grateful I get to do other things.
I continued my steady trudge forward on the satire-front this month. I mocked the Facebook outage for Bustle (I churned this article out in record time, because for once in my life I was not wasting my life on Instagram). My friend Alex Connolly and I wrote this one for the New Yorker (illustrated by the wonderful Jason Katzenstein) and this one for the Bold Italic. The very talented Sharon Levy and I worked on this one for The New Yorker too - particularly relevant in light of the Facebook outage.
On a personal level, I’ve decided I want to spend more time in the woods, which is to say, I bought a pair of overpriced hiking boots. Just to get this out of the way - I AM influenced by Cheryl Strayed’s “Wild,” but I am NOT influenced by “Walden,” because honestly he’s so judgmental. Like, dude, take a Xanax and calm down. I’m going on two wilderness trips in the next three weeks, and boy oh boy do I intend to Google what Poison Ivy looks like before I leave. My sister is lending me her tent. She also offered me powdered eggs? I tried and failed to get the tent set up last weekend (after watching me for about an hour, an old lady in Central Park asked if I couldn’t find a nice young man to do it for me), so tomorrow night, I’m going to camp in my sister’s backyard. She will help me set it up, and then I will sleep in it, just to see how it feels. You COULD make fun of me, but you likely won’t, because she lives in the suburbs, so you won’t be there. The only people who will be there are my sister and her babies. She is nice and they are not yet sentient, so I’m probably safe.
And as for a book rec! On the wildness note, I’m very much enjoying “The Overstory.” I’m only 1/3 of the way through, but it’s about nine people whose lives will probably intersect to either save the planet or watch it die. I feel very immersed in one character’s story in particular - she lives in a cabin in the woods and works for the Bureau for Land Management (like Jennifer Coolidge’s boyfriend in White Lotus). I have since Googled how to get a job there. It seems hard, especially since I don’t know how to drive and/or fight fires.
It’s maybe not fair to recommend a book I haven’t finished (although this is my newsletter…I set the rules….but I’m also insecure…). Anyway, I LOVED “A Walk in the Woods” by Bill Bryson. I did get mad at him at the end for saying something ignorant about addiction, so Bill, if you’re reading this, let’s talk it out. But other than that, it’s very funny and enthralling and unfortunately has lead me to believe I can hike the Appalachian Trail.
And of course, here are some photos of my nieces. These kids are gonna fuckin’ kill me (with being cute).
Ok, that was a mouthful!! If you’d like to become a paid subscriber, that would be nice, but no pressure.
Talk to you in a month!!
xoxo
Ginny