<![CDATA[How I Learned: DREADLINE]]>https://www.howilearnedseries.com/s/dreadlinehttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vXGy!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd4ac295d-3929-4831-8df2-bdfa7aed3c12_500x500.pngHow I Learned: DREADLINEhttps://www.howilearnedseries.com/s/dreadlineSubstackTue, 26 May 2026 08:08:19 GMT<![CDATA[A 'Note' But Make It An 'Article']]>https://www.howilearnedseries.com/p/a-note-but-make-it-an-articlehttps://www.howilearnedseries.com/p/a-note-but-make-it-an-articleFri, 17 Apr 2026 16:09:52 GMTI’ve been struggling with an essay I’m writing (in theory) for a forthcoming anthology. IT’S SO HARD. Like, it’s as if I’ve never written a complete anything. Not even a D-minus middle school book report on In Dubious Battle. (Also, I had the flu last week and lost nearly all functionality? First time I’d gotten sick-sick in years?)

I have to file tonight. That’s it. Last chance. It’s a gift to have been invited to contribute and the editor IS A SAINT. Today, she reminded me of Tom Hulce in his final scene of Amadeus, and she told me not to die. I heard her and loved the reference (the trailer alone is miraculous), but also I was like, wait is she expecting fucking Mozart?

I think I know why this assignment has been murder for me, despite it being a humor piece(!). But that is another essay (optimistic) for another time (optimistic), about knowing what kind of writer you are (derogatory).

ALL TO SAY: Jill Talbot, though. Jill Talbot has been key to my survival for keeping this damn thing pushing. Her piece “All Or Nothing, Self-Portrait at Twenty-Seven”* has been my inspiration.

It’s holding fast. It’s all keeping on.

xo Blaise

*You can also read it on Brevity.

Tom Hulce in Amadeus
Not today, Salieri. Not today.

Previously on How I Learned

]]><![CDATA[DREADLINE Thoughts On 28 x 20]]>https://www.howilearnedseries.com/p/a-note-about-28-x-20https://www.howilearnedseries.com/p/a-note-about-28-x-20Mon, 26 Jan 2026 20:49:19 GMTHello, new subscribers. Welcome and thank you for your support.

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]]><![CDATA[I Regret Sending That Email]]>https://www.howilearnedseries.com/p/i-regret-sending-that-emailhttps://www.howilearnedseries.com/p/i-regret-sending-that-emailFri, 24 Oct 2025 17:21:04 GMTThe day before yesterday, I sent out a new micro-essay to my subscribers. It was riddled with errors and typos. There were passages that didn’t land and story beats that didn’t make sense.

I needed to…

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