What is this?
I am a journalist and novelist called Justin (or The Guyliner, long story), and my newsletter is a series of content formats, or strands if you like, so I’m writing something different every time. It’s a Substack featured publication which may well mean that it’s… good? I don’t know.
I think one email a week is more than enough for anybody, so that’s all I send. These content strands take it in turns to be the featured email of the week – there’s no fixed order or rota so some may come round more often than others. Here’s what I’m writing:
The truth about everything*
My original newsletter format, running since summer 2017. It’s an essay on… whatever. Perhaps inspired by something happening in the world right now, or a sparked memory. Just a new, fresh bit of writing from me.
Highlights: Cherry blossom | Routines | Connections | Losing Paul O’Grady
See all The truth about everything* essays
Ejector Seat
I used to struggle to make it past the pilot of any TV show, but I’m getting better. In Ejector seat, I watch the pilot episode of a TV show old or new, and ask myself (literally) whether it’s worth carrying on.
Mood Ring
A set of 3–5 waspish, yet very tongue-in-cheek, mini essays on the world at large.
I previously trialled Moodring on the Twitter Notes function when that looked like it was going to be the future, but then Twitter turned into the Death Star.
Word c•unt
Word c•unt (rhymes with mount, not blunt) picks out popular columnists, columns, or regular features in the media and has a closer look at them. Not in a horrible way. Just… in a way.
I will happily take nominations for future reviews from readers.
The Madonna Diaries
My writing on Madonna almost always get really positive feedback, yet I haven’t written much about her music. So, the Madonna Diaries, is a series of personal essays about Madonna’s back catalogue, looking at the artwork and video (if it’s a single) and cover my own memories of that period and the song itself.
