You Must Work To Code

A list of 7 things worth talking about.

Bit of a shake-up this week. I’ve noticed that over time, this Substack has settled into a nice rhythm: a story one week, then a list the next.

For the foreseeable future, this the plan.

The code, if you will.

1.

TEN BULLETS by Tom Sachs (Video)

This ‘staff induction’ video by American artist Tom Sachs really struck a nerve. I’m sure all ten of the dictates in Ten Bullets won’t be new to everyone making stuff (I find people tend work most of this out on their own), but the presentation, the vibe and the film itself are so right-on.

Work To Code is Bullet #1. Subtitled: ‘Creativity is the enemy.’ What does this mean? A: Have a system or a process and apply your creativity to the outputs of this system/process. Don’t spend you career recreating the system/process.

Just work to code.

2.

THE SET (Podcast)

I have no idea why this podcast isn’t lighting up my feeds. A detailed look at how police corruption thrived during the NYC 80s crack epidemic. The makers interview the cops involved, the officials tasked with stopping them, and a whole of lot of people in between. The stories here are insane. More Abel Ferrara’s Bad Lieutenant (1992) and King of New York (1990) than NYPD Blue. Highly recommended.

3.

NEW BOOKS

Two friends have new books out and both sound great.

Kate Mildenhall’s book launch had free pizza and was standing room only — the novelists version of stadium rock — and her new novel The Hummingbird Effect sounds equally epic. Tess McCabe’s new one is so expertly titled that I don’t even need to pitch it to you. It’s called Self Promotion without Social Media.

4.

LESSONS IN SERIALISATION BY M. TRASK (Article)

Substack’s growing affect on fiction is something I’m keeping an eye on. This piece — by a writer I’m completely unfamiliar with — walks the reader through a few of the pitfalls of serialised fiction generally, before settling on a way forward re: Substack. Could work. Here it is:

Lessons in serialisation: why episodic storytelling rules

5.

THE LONG NOW (Spotify Playlist)

I’ve had this on the in the background the last couple of days and I like what it’s doing to my house.

6.

WHITE RIOT by Joe Thomas (Novel)

I’m in the early chapters, but the sparse style is right up my alley. Very David Peace crime fiction set in Thatcher’s Britain.

7.

LINE EDITING HELL (An experience)

I’m currently doing line edits on two manuscripts at once:

Don’t do this. Take this as rare professional advice from yours truly.

END OF LIST

— IAIN

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