NZ writers (and current MA students!), this is your reminder that the deadline for submissions to the 2025 edition of Turbine | Kapohau is coming up on 1 November. Please check out our submission guidelines and send us your work! turbinekapohau.org.nz

The Best Art Should Not Be Separated From The Worst People Which Is Not To Say You Have To Be Bad To Make Something Good — But It’s Also Not NOT Saying That As Well A poem: simonsweetman.substack.com/p/poem-the-b...

I’ve had loaves of bread that didn’t go stale as fast as this clown

The passive voice too often plays an unintended role when contemporary poetry loses its musical drive and/or semantic clarity. However, when deployed on purpose with a specific aim in mind, it's an extremely useful tool...

The Autism Diaries?! Chapter 80: simonsweetman.substack.com/p/the-autism...

Hey Baxter, these young cunts flatting together have gone rogue, bro. They just move in a swarm toward the door as it opens. They filter like pus from a pimple. The zit pops. The bus drives off… open.substack.com/pub/simonswe... New poem about the loss of bus politeness and protocol

Here’a a little poetry reading I’m offering from home to celebrate my first book, The Death of Music Journalism, turning five years old!

Here’s a wee Sunday essay about classical music, my grandfather, and me: open.substack.com/pub/simonswe...

I like to make and share playlists. Here’s one that’s connected directly to all the short stories I’ve been writing this year: open.substack.com/pub/simonswe...

The following is REAL footage from Portland, 2025. Viewer discretion is advised.

Ultra long sentences and gloomy existentialism, two of my favourite things, ftw!!

What Dems said was "reverse Medicaid cuts." What Republicans heard was "transgender surgery"

In her new memoir, Kamala Harris does not say whether she might run for President again—but one reason that her book has not landed well in certain quarters is a sense that it undercuts other Democrats who might be candidates.

Here’s a new poem called Soup Spoons: open.substack.com/pub/simonswe...

Here are my favourite movie and tv scores to listen to this year.

Dolly Parton's sister asked for prayers because Dolly's feeling unwell. The reaction across social media - from those of all faiths and none - suggests that if an American wins the Nobel Peace Prize, it should be this generous, kind, hardworking joybringer. www.newsweek.com/entertainmen...

Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa | the National Library of New Zealand is turning 60 and we're all invited to the party! Archive fiends can sign up for one of the rare back-of-house tours on 18 Oct. Or check out Don McGlashan's lecture (6 Nov), a poetry reading with 11 Laureates (27 Nov) and more.

—The dog is pissing crystals/ —That’s rich// —That’s not funny/ —It’s not not funny// —It’s not ideal/ —Good deal for the next Gypsy Fair though// —You can’t call it that anymore/ —You can in Ōtaki// —That’s true/ —Good title for a short story// —You can have it/ open.substack.com/pub/simonswe...

Jon Stewart on how everyday Americans are feeling the pain of the government shutdown

We should dance as if everyone is about to raise a middle finger. We should raise ours first. We should pool our resources. We should pull a giant middle finger; we should leave that to always linger simonsweetman.substack.com/p/poem-it-is...

When I was eight, my school report said I did not suffer fools gladly. Over the years, I was made to feel bad about that. But I think it’s the greatest compliment you could get in a place like a primary school — but then I would say that. open.substack.com/pub/simonswe... The Autism Diaries?! Pt. 78

Editing Season Be Like:

Here’s an example of an album I hated at the time, but have learned to kinda love: simonsweetman.substack.com/p/only-cds-i...

With the year's best film and a new novel about to hit the shelves, hot young scribbler Thomas Pynchon is having his moment

18 & 19 year olds with no income support should “just go where the jobs are” said the Prime Minister who famously had his limo deliver him across the road. “Good luck with the train-hopping, you plucky young hobos,” he added, suggesting hedge-&-ditch as an affordable alternative to bed-&-breakfast.

There's a biography of Chris Knox out this week - the author Craig Robertson contacted me a few years ago, as back in 1995 when I was at Ak Uni, I made a half hour documentary on Chris and he wanted to see it. Anyway, I dug out the digital file and it's now online, enjoy! youtu.be/VQjvic02S8M?...

I’m calling it (slightly) early — the film of the year is here: simonsweetman.substack.com/p/the-film-o... Here’s my Top 5 in fact.

A Breath Of Fresh Air With Brian Eno #interview #podcast www.nytimes.com/2025/10/03/o...

I only catch myself being really blunt after, but I sometimes don’t have time for silly questions… Chapter 77 of The Autism Diaries?! open.substack.com/pub/simonswe...

Gig reviews. Remember them? I sure do. Here’s a new one I just did of seeing King Missile in Wellington on Thursday night. It was quite fun, I think! open.substack.com/pub/simonswe...

The meditation that is the Dick Slessig Combo playing Wichita Lineman as an instrumental for 45 minutes. Enjoy.

When the snare drum hits at two minutes and thirty four seconds into the song Drive The Last Spike I feel as alive as when people suddenly decide they should show their holiday photos to you: simonsweetman.substack.com/p/the-autism... The Autism Diaries?! (Part 76)

Belated Happy 30th to one of my favourite David Bowie albums, recently found on CD once again, thanks to the library book sale:

I'm so sick of hearing - 'sometimes the sun doesn't shine and sometimes the wind doesn't blow'. Surely solar and wind-powered systems don't just *stop* when this happens? Lots of things interrupt coal and hydro-power generation don't they? Also, coal is killing our planet.

DOOMSCROLL-PREPPING : those wrecking ball parodies, & lana del rey singing like she just left the dentist, & that all-girl ghostbusters — made men’s eyeballs twitch; men there as boys when ghostbusters started so it was somehow serious bitch! simonsweetman.substack.com/p/poem-dooms...

Just want to add that reproductive rights are an economic issue and for many women a survival issue. If you can't control your body, you can't control your life.

So grateful to Submachine magazine for publishing one of my short stories — such a great looking (and reading) publication too. www.submachinemagazine.com

Today’s Daily Cartoon, by Jon Adams. #NewYorkerCartoons Sign up for our humor newsletter to get the Daily Cartoon right in your inbox: nyer.cm/niP6eXi

The New Zealand people should be able to look at the Government of the country and be totally prepared to recognise an Independent State of Pantomime. David Seahorse stroking his 8% like a pop-gun ready to blast its cork right into Chris Luxon’s eye… simonsweetman.substack.com/p/the-autism...

the born leader was sworn in. Then sworn at. And that was that. It’s a long slow death for born leaders. They grow up as such voracious readers. And then in the end must learn to read the room and finally themselves. All of which is great. But of course it comes too late

Went and saw the doco Prime Minister and wrote about that for a bit: open.substack.com/pub/simonswe...

New Zealand is punching above its weight in cowardice

Happy 80th Bryan Ferry open.substack.com/pub/simonswe...

If you’re in Wellington, you still can’t say you don’t like The Lord of the Rings. Apparently: open.substack.com/pub/simonswe...

Bought an MC Hammer album on tape. Again. Not mad I did that!

You need to focus on the bit at the top, the highest point; the tip. That’s where you put your energy, that’s where it all needs to happen….(read more) simonsweetman.substack.com/p/poem-the-p... New poem: The Part That Kills

Tonight — underworld tavern, mt vic, Wgtn — koha, 7.30. Bring a poem or story or essay or speech or comedy routine etc

What if you can’t find the seatbelt, and what if there are people watching… {etc} New poem: open.substack.com/pub/simonswe...

YAY!