Daniel Piper on Substack
substack.com
Daniel Piper on Substack
I never stopped to ask, “Who is the typical Yale alumnus? Who am I editing for?” One of my principles is that there is no typical anybody; every reader is different. I edit for myself and I write for myself. I assume that if I consider something interesting or funny, a certain number of other people will too. If they don’t, they have two inalienabl
... See moreWilliam Zinsser • Writing to Learn: How to Write - and Think - Clearly About Any Subject at All
Had a good talk with some WOP alum about names and pseudonyms. Some names have cultural roots, and we wondered if you wanted to be aligned or mysteriously separated from that. When it comes down to “nominal determinism,” by Greek last name translates to “lazy cripple” so I’m not too sad to drop it. I like the angle of, your self-assigned name is th
... See more‘You’re our longest-serving contributor,’ said Carleton, flinching at the bang. ‘Our most admired. Indeed I should say our most popular.’ I’m beginning to speak like him, he thought: Thomas Hart is catching, that’s the trouble. ‘I’ve often heard it said that it’s a consolation – that’s the general feeling, as I said to the board – to wake on Thursd
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