May 2026

Loop #020

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7 members active in May

12% participation

Published 0 of 7

Lance Mason

I'm working on an essay about how to relate to the world when the future you're trying to build requires you to communicate in words

Coco Liu

I have no idea. I have more ideas about China, but want to write about something else.

Michael Dean

The 4 modes of prose (inquiry, expression, interiority, critique)

Charlie D. Becker

Weekly cadence of higher quality writing

Activity

Wednesday | May 13th, 2026

MAY 13, 2026 | 5:19 a.m. ET

Alicia McKay checked in for May 2026

Working on: "The Subjective Era"

For decades, we’ve worshipped at the altar of the objective: science, reason, facts, and truth. The outputs of that focus, including technology, underpinned our relentless march for progress. Until they didn't. The sun is setting on The Objective Era. We are entering The Subjective Era. Arguing that declining trust in traditional democratic institutions (government, media, academia) is combined with a shift to distributed and relational authority, accelerated by AI. Leaders in business, government, media and academia need to catch up before they lost to the sophisticated machinery of the populist right. The reign of the technocrat is over.

Tuesday | May 12th, 2026

MAY 12, 2026 | 8:00 p.m. ET

Alicia McKay published "Why people still protest Jacinda Ardern"

What happens when our lives are shaped by systems we can't vote out

MAY 12, 2026 | 11:30 a.m. ET

Lance Mason checked in for May 2026

Working on: "I'm working on an essay about how to relate to the world when the future you're trying to build requires you to communicate in words"

The purpose is to get better at thesis development when working on an Essay with multiple references, and removing unrelated material. My hypothesis is I could write with a clearer head and increase my publishing volume and quality if I build a habit around my writing schedule. Right now I have a writing framework that is repeatable but I apply it haphazardly. My intention for next month is to hone in on how to add more personal experiences to my essays.

MAY 12, 2026 | 11:30 a.m. ET

Lance Mason started "I'm New to Essay Club!"

My name is Lance Mason, and I am a writer and licensed Accountant from New York.I’ve been writing fo...

Introductions

MAY 12, 2026 | 9:22 a.m. ET

Lance Mason joined Essay Club

Welcome to the community!

Monday | May 11th, 2026

MAY 11, 2026 | 7:00 p.m. ET

5 members RSVP'd for "Essay Club: Paul Graham"

MAY 3, 2026 | 8:00 p.m. ET

Michael Dean published "The Semantic Press"

Reimagining Tocqueville's remedy to tutelary power in the age of AI

2 comments

Anchit commented May 11 at 6:59 p.m.

Shobhana Viswanathan commented May 4 at 7:16 p.m.

Saturday | May 9th, 2026

MAY 9, 2026 | 3:08 a.m. ET

Anchit checked in for May 2026

Working on: "Weekly essays"

Friday | May 8th, 2026

MAY 8, 2026 | 8:00 p.m. ET

Anchit published "Welcome to Anchit's Blog"

MAY 8, 2026 | 3:00 p.m. ET

4 members RSVP'd for "Weekly Working Session"

Thursday | May 7th, 2026

MAY 4, 2026 | 7:11 p.m. ET

Matthew Beebe requested feedback on "Annular Eclipse"

1 response

Coco Liu gave feedback May 7 at 11:16 p.m.

MAY 7, 2026 | 11:13 p.m. ET

Coco Liu checked in for May 2026

Working on: "I have no idea. I have more ideas about China, but want to write about something else."

In China, I’m finding that my writing ideas are all China related. It’s not necessarily bad but I enjoy delving in different topics each month. I will see what I come up with.

MAY 7, 2026 | 5:18 p.m. ET

Melissa Silva checked in for May 2026

Working on: "Permanent Underclass + Meditation Essay"

A piece on why I think the permanent underclass gets way too much traction and finally editing finishing my essay at a silent meditation retreat.

MAY 7, 2026 | 3:33 p.m. ET

Michael Dean checked in for May 2026

Working on: "The 4 modes of prose (inquiry, expression, interiority, critique)"

I'd like to write an essay on the syllabus I'm making and how I'm putting it together. While Essay Architecture has covered the "patterns" of writing, I want to take a shot at covering the "modes" (mindset/process). Currently think about modes as two sets of opposites: inquiry <-> expression, interiority <-> critique. Looks like we'll have 12 essays total, so trying to find 3 that are representative of each bucket.

MAY 7, 2026 | 11:04 a.m. ET

Michael Dean started "New personal website"

I've been dabbling with a new personal website over the last few days and wanted to share it here! S...

Wins

MAY 7, 2026 | 10:57 a.m. ET

Michael Dean started "READING: Joan Didion"

We'll read Didion together on 5/18, so we can use this thread to share thoughts on her writing. In t...

Craft Talk

MAY 7, 2026 | 10:53 a.m. ET

Michael Dean started "READING: Paul Graham"

We're going to read a Paul Graham essay together on Monday, 5/11, so wanted to share his site & ...

Craft Talk

MAY 7, 2026 | 9:16 a.m. ET

Charlie D. Becker checked in for May 2026

Working on: "Weekly cadence of higher quality writing"

I have two goals in one this month. I'm committing my hand to a weekly cadence, and I want to try to be actually writing essays rather than blog posts. What this means is I'll have sharper arguments or tighter stories rather than just thoughts or bit announcements wrapped in prose.

Wednesday | May 6th, 2026

MAY 6, 2026 | 8:00 p.m. ET

Coco Liu published "China, where strength lies in scale"

Ecosystem thinking at its finest

Monday | May 4th, 2026

APR 29, 2026 | 8:00 p.m. ET

Matthew Beebe published "Ghost Meatballs"

How a traumatic dinner party taught me to give up on cookbooks

3 comments

Michael Dean commented May 4 at 7:34 p.m.

Shobhana Viswanathan commented May 4 at 7:21 p.m.

Dolores Lucero commented May 4 at 7:18 p.m.