Why I write
Snippet #1
I’ve always loved stories. And I’ve always loved telling stories.
Basically, as soon as I could form words, I wanted people to hear them.
That makes me great at parties (the breadth of my trivia(l) knowledge runs deeper than Lake Superior), though if left unchecked, I will talk your ear off.
Storytelling has always been one of my favorite things. But storywriting? Oh, that’s the good stuff. It’s the kind of work that feels like play…where I just follow the sparks and snaps inside my brain and see where they lead. I was spellbound by stories growing up, and in school, writing was the skill I was most proud of and the one I tried to nurture the most.
Writing has always been fun for me. It still is.
When I launched Surreal Sports Stories in 2020, the world was in lockdown, and I was swimming in boredom, confusion, and a whole lot of existential angst. At the urging of someone who believed in me, I funneled all that chaotic energy - and my bottomless well of sports trivia - into something new.
For the record: I didn’t know what I was doing then. I barely know what I’m doing now. But that’s life for you.
Five years later, I still find joy in the research, in the rhythm of a well-told story, in figuring out what I actually think. I’ve written about athletes whose graves were desecrated, about the time People Magazine picked the wrong man for Sexiest Athlete Alive, and more pro wrestlers acting like petty punks than you’d believe. And I still love it…every weird, wonderful minute.
So now I’m adding this: the Surreal Sports Stories Substack (still workshopping the name). It’s my way of continuing the work, sharing stories you’ve never heard, and dropping them straight into your inbox. No effort required on your part. Just read, react, and maybe tell a friend.
It’s been five years. Here’s to many more.
Stay steady, y’all.