Coincidental with my finding a place to live in Melbourne this week, I’ve also broken my writer’s block on my design article. To quote Star Trekkin, “It's life, Jim, but not as we know it”. It’s still on a personal design process, but now I’m writing some neo-pulp fiction to illustrate the process in action (and contributing to the enduring veracity of Sturgeon’s Law as I do so). Now, onward to the round up of neat things for the week.

First, a piece from CT Liotta on why writers of fiction should try their hand at neo-pulp fiction (pulp without the social disgraces of the original style - racism, sexism, and so on). This was the piece that convinced me to add my own attempt at neo-pulp to my article on design. The golden age of pulps is rich with material to help budding writers - Lester Dent’s Master Plot Formula, Frank Gruber’s Foolproof Pulp Formula, and more. James Scott Bell’s book “How to write pulp fiction” is an easy read and a great intro to the subject.

“How did you go bankrupt?” Bill asked.
“Two ways,” Mike said. “Gradually and then suddenly.”
– Ernest Hemingway, “The Sun Also Rises”

The phrase “slowly, then all at once” has been bouncing around my head. I did some searching to find a potential etymology, and it turns out it’s a paraphrase of Ernest Hemingway. Lasting change is not achieved with a flash in the pan - bombastic fireworks look pretty but do not stick. Real permanent change is more akin to a creek slowly eroding its banks to change its shape. This article on West Virginia gives a brief glimpse into the inertia that change at the level of government must overcome.

This idea of change - that lasting change comes slowly and with persistent quiet effort - applies to our own lives. Who hasn’t dreamed of running away, starting fresh somewhere new. But the change we want is quite often achievable where we are - starting with habits, hobbies, friends, and family. One of the things that I felt when I made the decision to move 1800 km to a new city was a strong pull to just stop running. My reasons for moving are valid (Melbourne is better for what I want to do), but still, upheaving life again after a run of several years of hyper mobile life isn’t easy. I’m looking forward to spending the next few years here exploring the pursuits that brought me down here.

If you needed an antidote to spending so much time on your phone doomscrolling…this is it. A call to live life in the world, not through the distraction rectangle. The rise of Silicon Valley’s Deus Ex Machina has made this call feel more relevant than ever. I‘ve been doing more with pen, paper, and books of late (instead of wasting time on my phone). It feels good to create and not mindlessly consume - even if I’m just noodling some idea for a story, or a superchair.

Finally, this video is a peek into the ending of a different world. Thomas Lupo’s 110 year old family business of making wood columns and mouldings is in its twilight years. business that’s almost over. I had no idea this was even a thing, although it makes sense. The way Thomas reminisces about the early life of the business is a look into the past, before the glitter and financial engineering overtook the city.

I’m glad you’re here,
Justin

This work is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0