ACCORDING TO PLAN

Getting Closer to an Edge

On writing while watching the world burn

Jan 30 • Spencer Oakes

9

5

3

November 2025

Exercises in Grief

A strange year, all said...

Nov 21, 2025 • Spencer Oakes

20

3

4

October 2025

Bulldogs

My best story by far, part of a longer work. Some of it happened.

Oct 13, 2025 • Spencer Oakes

9

9

5

September 2025

The Magic of Masculinity

Thoughts on Adrian Nathan West's "My Father's Diet" and the final word on masculinity.

Sep 17, 2025 • Spencer Oakes

10

5

3

August 2025

Flattened by Genius

Thoughts on why the best novel I’ve read recently ended in disappointment.

Aug 19, 2025 • Spencer Oakes

7

3

4

July 2025

Becoming the Intruder

Thoughts on Bret Easton Ellis’s (unofficial) autofiction trilogy: Less Than Zero, Lunar Park, and The Shards.

Jul 7, 2025 • Spencer Oakes

7

5

5

G2

A (very) short story originally published in Blue Moon magazine.

Jul 1, 2025 • Spencer Oakes

8

4

April 2025

You're Nothing If You're Not Trying

Thoughts on working on multiple things, trying to be serious, and being the clown, ft. MF DOOM, Tim Heidecker, and the Beatles.

Apr 4, 2025 • Spencer Oakes

8

4

7

February 2025

Everything Is Over Before It's Begun

Thoughts on coming home and Sergio De La Pava’s "Every Arc Bends Its Radian"

Feb 8, 2025 • Spencer Oakes

5

2

1

December 2024

Writing that Makes You Want to Write

My year in reading and revising, including thoughts on Fosse, Heti, Krasznahorkai, Murnane, and others.

Dec 20, 2024 • Spencer Oakes

22

9

6

November 2024

On (Great) Expectations

The Substance, Megalopolis, and Garth Greenwell's Small Rain walk into a bar...

Nov 4, 2024 • Spencer Oakes

5

2

4

October 2024

My Brilliant Friend and Me

I paid $20 for ChatGPT Plus.

Oct 8, 2024 • Spencer Oakes

3

2

2