The Age of the Sovereign Critic

I've been out pitching—and I'm done

Dear Reader,

I’ve been badly neglecting this Sub for more than a year, and the main reason is I’ve been pitching pieces to the media. And wow, what a frustrating and hopeless endeavor.

As you know, I published my first newspaper article last year, and hoped it’d be the first of more essays in papers or mags. Instead, after dozens of rejections, I’ve decided I’m done with the world of gatekeepers.

In his essay, “Why I keep turning down The New York Times,” Erik Hoel argues in favor of writing independently, saying the traditional route (ie. building up a resume of publications) doesn’t necessarily work as well as one might hope. It “doesn’t drive readers to your other work,” he says, and “the impact/traffic of your piece will be less than you think.”

I certainly found that with my Epoch Times article. While it led to some nice comments, including National Post columnist Barbara Kay calling it “Terrific!… A very polished and persuasive gloss on Love’s Labor’s Lost,” it didn’t lead to a single new subscriber here on Substack.

Till now, I’ve hesitated to post some of my bigger or more provocative claims, as doing so makes a piece ineligible for publication. Going forward, I plan to post much more freely. I also plan to be more active on social media. For example, I’m looking forward to trying some essay threads on X. Follow me here: x.com/JohnMcGeePhD.

The rejects

Here are some of the rejects from the past year or so:

• “The Trafficking of Juliet.” On the Chorus’ use of the term “traffic” and how it anticipates Romeo’s use of gold to arrange his one (and only) night with Juliet.

• “Sadistic Little Bastard: Shakespeare’s Cupid.” On Shakespeare’s depiction of Cupid as a tyrant and sadist, after Ovid’s Metamorphoses.

• “The Second Antidote in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” On Oberon’s use of not one but two antidotes to restore the lovers at the end.

• “The Mother of All Fornication: Why Shakespeare’s Original Blockbuster—the 1200-line Minor Epic Poem Venus and Adonis—is a Satirical Masterpiece.” On Shakespeare giving Venus a taste of her own medicine, making her rage the way she makes others rage.

• “The Vindication of Mercutio.” On Mercutio mocking Romeo as a blind, Cupid-driven lover who pays for sex—and how he’s 100% right.

Another disappointment was being rejected to speak at Heterodox Academy’s 2024 summer conference. I proposed to talk about Mercutio—and man would it have been fun. No thanks, said the org with heterodox in its name.

The age of the sovereign critic

While the rejections have been frustrating, going forward I’m excited to have total freedom to say what I want, how I want. As the co-founder of Substack Hamish McKenzie wrote recently, we’re in the “age of the sovereign creator.” Yes, and critic. And maybe it’s better that way—for me and for you.

Help me bypass the gatekeepers by following me on X and/or sharing my Sub with people you think would enjoy it.

More to come soon! Thank you for your continued support,

John