ShortScale.org

Last month I started writing on Substack. After my 2023 layoff and the emotional shitshow that followed, I knew I couldn’t let it happen again.

I needed the outlet. For my sanity, and for my family’s sake.

It started with old notes. Ideas I’d scribbled down years ago. Half-cooked thoughts that never quite made it to the plate. I revisited things I’d written on previous platforms and updated, finished, or completely redid them — now with several more years of wisdom and experience under my belt.

But most importantly, I wrote what I wanted to write. That’s new for me. I’m usually the one telling others what to do, or the one being told what to do.

This? It’s liberating.

Now I’m shifting into fully formed pieces. Fresh stuff. On my own terms. Some with depth, some with fluff. But again, it’s what I want to write.

If you’re curious or interested, you can read it here: http://elrobrex.substack.com/

Most days start the same. I wake up, check the job boards, and send out a few applications. Then I shift gears and think about what I want to write. That whole loop usually repeats once or twice later in the day.

In between, I’m doing house stuff. I take my kid to school. Pick him up later. Run errands. Try to keep the house moving forward.

When I get time to write, the ideas come from all over. Sometimes it’s the news. Sometimes it’s something I’ve lived through. Sometimes it’s a question I see pop up online that makes me think, “Yeah, I’ve got thoughts on that.”

I read. I research. I take a fuckton of notes. I throw together a rough outline.

Then I bring in the robot.

I use AI like an editor. I hand it the outline and let it help me shape the flow. Raw-dogging adult ADHD means a lot of what I write only makes sense to me. This helps make it understandable to a slightly larger slice of humanity. A little clearer. A little smoother.

I’ve always worked better with a creative partner. Someone to bounce ideas off. Since I’m doing this by myself, I have to make do with what I have.

Once the shape is there, I sit down and actually write the damn thing.

The rest of the time, I treat AI like a glorified spellcheck. Sometimes I use it to make images. I’ve worked as a creative leader for years, so prompt writing helps me keep that skill sharp. Like it or not, that’s part of the gig now.

And because I’m an EV obsessed weird car nerd with a head full of semiotics, some posts turn into deep dives on meaning and culture. Other times, it’s just me yelling about obscure cars that amuse me more than they should.

It’s not perfect. But it’s mine.

http://elrobrex.substack.com/p/freedom ... ureaucrats
Brilliant. I love it.

Not sure why so many of the links at the end of this one are broken for me?
http://elrobrex.substack.com/p/what-ha ... ier-breaks

NickS wrote: Fri Apr 04, 2025 8:50 am http://elrobrex.substack.com/p/freedom- ... ureaucrats
Brilliant. I love it.

Thank you!

NickS wrote: Fri Apr 04, 2025 11:11 am Not sure why so many of the links at the end of this one are broken for me?
http://elrobrex.substack.com/p/what-hap ... ier-breaks

Yikes! Thanks for letting me know. I'm taking kiddo to school now, but I'll double check the URLs once I'm back.

NickS wrote: Fri Apr 04, 2025 11:11 am Not sure why so many of the links at the end of this one are broken for me?
http://elrobrex.substack.com/p/what-hap ... ier-breaks

Fixed. The only thing I can think of is a copy/paste fail from office, and toddler-dad life means I'm half asleep half of the day.