Chapter 23: July 2025 — Embrace Your Main Character Energy

Everyone wants to be Batman. No one wants to be Robin.

Hi! Welcome to Chapter 23.

Become evil. Rule the world. Maybe drink tea first and sit down for a bit.

"I think writers are the most narcissistic people. Well, I mustn't say this, I like many of them, a great many of my friends are writers."

― Sylvia Plath (one of the greatest writers who ever lived)

I don't write for you. I write for the aliens who took over Earth after the robot uprising.

Humanity was enslaved and eventually wiped out.

They keep most of us in freezers to eat when they get peckish. Like frozen pizza.

Some of them like to read the ancient work of human writers. And laugh.

I also write for my own amusement. I probably should’ve led with that.

It pays to think ahead. This is what I’m saying.

Sorry, wrong meeting.

This is the secret post that goes out to paid subscribers on the 23rd of every month. Remember, as a paid supporter of Chapter 23, you've exclusive access to the complete archives. I've been writing on Substack since 2019. So there's lots of valuable stuff in there and even a few seaside chips covered in sand. Each month I like to share something from the archive. This month, Feed Me!

Thank you for your support.

Much love,

James

---

Do you need to upgrade?

Chapter 23 by James Garside is a reader-supported publication. Everyone’s welcome but paid subscribers are what make it possible. Here’s a quick overview of your options in case you need to upgrade:

Free Subscribers

Free subscribers get occasional posts and can leave comments. They can also sometimes preview paid content or unlock a post if they want to read the whole thing. If you’re a free subscriber then, as much as I love you, please consider going paid to support my work.

Paid Subscribers

Paid subscribers are part of the inner circle. They can DM me via the Substack app. They get exclusive posts, regular updates, and access to the complete archives. Want to go further? Level up and become a Founding Member.

Founding Members

Founding Members can video chat with me one-on-one and attend group sessions. They also get preferential rates when they hire me as a writer or writing coach. If you’re already a Founding Member then please don't worry, there's nothing for you to upgrade — you're officially made of awesome.

---