Announcement #1: I’m taking a break for the month of January
I published my first Rant nearly a year ago, on 24 February 2023. Since then, I’ve posted over 30 of these Rants, most of them somewhere in the neighborhood of 3,000 to 4,000 words. That totals up into the 100,000-word range or so—the minimum wordcount, by the way, for an Oxford doctoral dissertation (well, back in the day, anyway, when I was a post-graduate student there...God, I hope they’ve reduced that requirement since then.)
In short, I’m a tad tuckered out, Rant-wise.
So I figure taking a month off will be good for me. Perhaps for you, too. We can all recharge our Rant batteries.
HOWEVER, I’m not going to be doing nothing this next month. The more interesting and actual reason I’m taking a short break from Rant-writing is that I want to finish a different writing project that I’ve been working on.
Namely, a novel titled The Cure of All.
The Cure of All is Book 3 in my tetralogy, 2084 Quartet, which is, to quote my own blurb, a series of four novels of science fiction driven by political fact(ion).
Book 1, Signifier/, and Book 2, /Signified, of the tetralogy are already available to read on my other Substack newsletter called, appropriately enough, 2084 Quartet. Please check it out at:
And, of course, if you haven’t already subscribed to 2084 Quartet, please subscribe—for free!
Many thanks.
Announcement #2 (the more noteworthy one!): Are you interested in writing a Guest Rant???
I’d love to have some readers of Rants become writers of Rants. Here’s what I have in mind.
The reason I Rant about cultural studies, critical theory, popular culture, and the whimsies of language is because I’m stupidly excited by this stuff. I think it all cool and important stuff to explore, to discuss, to debate, to understand better. I think knowing more about this stuff can help us navigate more capably the maze of our own social moment. In short, to me, thinking critically about this stuff is the bomb. And that’s why I want to share it with you.
So, my query to you is this: Do you feel the same way about something? That is, do you have good knowledge about and considerable experience with something that you think is so important that you want to share your expertise with others?
If so, I’d very much like to hear what that something is. And I’d very much like to give you the opportunity to share your stuff with readers of Rant Against the Regime.
That’s right! I’m offering you the chance to write a Guest Rant! I know! OMG!!!
If you’re interested in writing such a piece, here’s how to go about it, please.
Guest Rant Guidelines
1) As the title of your Rant, complete the following statement using a few words or a short phrase.
I really wish people knew more about X .
Please note that your topic can be as grave or as whimsical—or anywhere in between—as you like. For examples:
I really wish people knew more about the benefits of fly fishing.
I really wish people knew more about the craft of visual storytelling in film.
I really wish people knew more about online affective computing.
I really wish people knew more about the potential of plant medicine therapy.
I really wish people knew more about aquifers.
I really wish people knew more about the importance of international education.
I really wish people knew more about Beanie Babies.
I really wish people knew more about our stupid Electoral College.
2) In the body of your Rant, in whatever order or mixture you think best, please provide at least the following three things.
1. A specific definition of your topic. (That is, what you mean exactly by “the benefits of fly fishing” or “the craft of visual storytelling in film” or “online affective computing” and so forth.)
2. How and why you’re qualified to write about this topic. (In other words, what is your claim to knowledge, experience, and authority in this subject?)
3. Exactly why you wish people knew more about this topic. What does it matter? Why is it important for people to be better informed about this issue? So what?
3) Your Rant can be as brief as you like, but please try not to write more than about 2,000 words or so.
If you absolutely need more space, let ‘er rip. You and I will work together to get your Rant into a shape satisfactory to both of us.
If you have questions, please email me. If you want to take a shot at writing a Guest Rant, please write away and email it to me at: kirkclaytoncombe@gmail.com.
NOTE: I can’t guarantee that I’ll publish your piece on Rant Against the Regime. But I can guarantee that I’ll do everything I can to help you work your Rant into publishable shape so that you, too, can garner Substack fortune and fame!!!
Many thanks.