The Sickness of Creativity

Art by Mitani Takuya

This month has been slightly better than January especially when it comes to my mental health. Still, a bit worried I’m going to slip back into that hole pretty soon here. Other than that, I recently bounced back from a lil bug, but I took full advantage of the sickness.

The cool thing about being sick is the multitude of different creative pockets you have access to when you’re swimming in that space. Anyone and everyone has access. It’s just a matter of opening up your inner doors and raising your antennas to their full length.

The ideas will come. My notes are full of fresh story ideas, scenes, and one-liners excavated from a mucus-filled space.

Mass State Lottery

I keep forgetting to mention I watched Mass State Lottery towards the tail end of 2024. Kelby Losack & J. David Osborne said great things about this flick shot by Lowres Wunderbread. My expectations were neutral, but they were blown away by the dizzying yet surreal serial killer murder mystery.

We get timeline jumps, great one-liners, woozy surrealism, and a sincere love for cinema that oozes out of every frame.

Mr. Crockett

This movie is such a hot mess and a major disappointment. Hulu’s Mr. Crockett has a cool concept, an intriguing tv host, and a whole lot of potential that falls flat. The tone is all over the place and the movie doesn’t know what type of movie it wants to be. There’s a lack of commitment to a singular vision that makes my heart hurt.

Cuckoo

I don’t know how I waited so long to watch this horror flick but it made my favorite movies of 2025 already. It’s weird, family focused, and hyper-tense. Bird metaphors on bird metaphors. Great acting and slick writing that had me tapped in the entire time. This is something I wish I wrote.

Substack Expansion Plans

I’m big on evolution across all arenas and I’m always pondering ways that I can improve the newsletter. I want this space to be an authentic creative reflection of me. I thought about starting a Patreon, but realized it wasn’t worth the investment of time and energy after talking with my favorite person about it.

Instead, I’ll be incorporating some of these ideas into Literary Loud. I’m thinking free fiction every now and then and more random essays. The paid tier is where I’ll post cover art, behind-the-scenes updates on novels, exclusive fiction, inspiration for books I’m working on, etc.

Reading a few quotes by Tyler the Creator has me rethinking and reframing the way I approach promo. It usually feels like a weight and I constantly harbor this worry of being annoying, but I’m letting that go and approaching promo with a newfound vigor.

“I know a lot of people who make things who don’t stand proudly by their stuff,” Tyler says. “I don’t know if they’re too cool or they don’t want to look thirsty, but they’ll put a song out once on their stories — and that’s it.

"You went through something. You figured something out in a structured format. You recorded it. Not just one take. Parts and parts. You edited it. You mixed it. The label paid some kid to make an album cover and they made the cover. It’s a whole thing.

“And then you mean to tell me that you’re going to be passive and just put it on your story once? Are you crazy, bro?

“I’m still promoting an album that came out a year ago. I put too much time and energy into this finished project just to put it on Instagram and forget about it. No. Promote. Let people know. Be proud of what you made.”

Writing Updates

The thing that has me most excited about Project Gothic Fashionista is the challenge behind the book. As many of you know, I tend to write slim things aka novellas. I like them lean and not to overstay their welcome. However, I know people have been wanting more substantial books from me and I always want to discover what a full-fledged Wamack novel looks like too even though Bullet Tooth is my longest work.

I’m thinking minimalistic prose with a maximalist attitude. We’re throwing everything and the kitchen sink in here. I have countless fashion bookmarks on social media, so many fashion-based tabs opened, and fashion articles, that would make your head spin. Probably the most researched book of my books.

I’m really hyping this baby up, haha.

Wolf

talks about collapsing cathedral novels a lot over at his substack. Big beautiful grandiose books that shoot for the stars. And that’s what I’m attempting to do this go round.

What about the actual writing updates?

I have so many short stories in rotation, it’s crazy. Project Scarecrow Gaze is gaining traction and the characters are slowly coming to life. It’s extreme horror so y’all know what that means.

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Currently Reading: Only the Living Are Lost by Simon Strantzas & Cosmic Horror Monthly #3 & Less Than Zero by Brett Easton Ellis & Crushing Snails by Emma E. Murray & The Holy Bible

Listening: Back from the Borderline, The Higherside Chats, Agitator, Victory Light

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It’s a shame how under-appreciated King Louie is outside of the Chi. The Drill rap grandfather is still going strong with “Tradition” though.

It’s unfortunate to see Capo and Killa Cam bumping heads again, but at least we’re getting some music out of it from Jim Jones. A beautiful soul sample and slick NY bars go crazy. Sometimes you gotta remind them who you are.

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Until next time…

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For business inquiries & blurb requests email grantwamack@gmail.com