Dispatches From the Fringe

Dispatches From the Fringe

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the writing life

Punking Your Story: A Guided Journey for Writers, Non-Writers, and the Rest of Us
Whether or not you identify as a punk or you’re just someone who’s drawn to the margins, telling your own story—even if it’s just to yourself—can be…
 • Seth Lorinczi
"Death Trip" East Coast Book Tour
Touring a book is a lot like touring a punk band—joyous, nerve-wracking, and lonely. But I wouldn't trade it for anything. If you're on the East Coast…
 • Seth Lorinczi
Who Was / Is Philip Agre?
Thirty years ago, the pioneering computer scientist and humanities professor predicted a world in thrall to AI. Now that it's arrived, he's nowhere to…
 • Seth Lorinczi
One Year on Substack: What I've Learned (Along with some "Growth Opportunities")
I came here to find readers, and maybe sell some books. A year in, some things haven’t quite panned out, while one brings unexpected joy.
 • Seth Lorinczi
Believing
If bravery is the capacity to act in the face of fear, Lisa Wells’ Believers is a stunning reminder of the power of courage, asking us to face our…
 • Seth Lorinczi
The Day After: Post-Book Launch High
After the blowout of last night, I'm slowly returning to earth as my book makes its way into the world. Here's a small taste of what it felt…
 • Seth Lorinczi
Going on a “Death Trip”: How I Unearthed My Buried Family Stories, Found My People, and Learned to Write
When I started my memoir I was lost, in more ways than one. Seven long years later, my life is very different: I know where I came from, I have a strong…
 • Seth Lorinczi
Grenade at Your Feet: The Anatomy of an Absolutely Wild 1970s Hijacking
When Professor Roderick Hilsinger boarded Ethiopian Airlines Flight 708, he had no idea he was headed for a "best-of" of in-flight nightmares. Here’s…
 • Seth Lorinczi
Luck, Intuition, and the Violence of Self-Help
I can’t prove it, but I believe everyone who’s survived traumatic environments relied on two things: Dumb luck, and leaning into their native intuition…
 • Seth Lorinczi
So I Got a Grant. Now What?
Awarded $3000 to finish my book, I had a choice to make: Hire a publicist or an editor? I came to the right decision, but the path leading there was…
 • Seth Lorinczi
The Squeeze
Seven years in, I’m finally holding my book in my hands, and I kind of feel like I’m disintegrating. That’s a good thing, actually. Here’s why.
 • Seth Lorinczi
Reel to Reel
Even when the plus signs are bright as day, we still tend to focus on the minuses. It’s not a character flaw, just the way we’re wired. Here’s one…
 • Seth Lorinczi
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