Introducing Rogues Gallery

Renegades of writing

I am excited to announce the cutting of the inaugural ribbon for a new section of this Substack, the Rogues Gallery.

As you may know, a rogues’ gallery is a police collection of pictures of criminals used for identifying suspects. This particular gallery, however, will focus on outlaws of the written word, though roguish practitioners from other dark arts may also occasionally pop up.

I am, of course, not using rogue in the ‘criminal’ sense but rather in the sense of ‘going rogue.’ These will be individuals—and, no doubt, a fierce individuality distinguishes them—who are tricksters in spirit and craft, even when their outward personas present otherwise.

Now, what’s the connection to Mostly Myth? These are, of course, mythic figures, but that hardly suffices, for so are heads of state and rock stars. What sets this gallery apart is that they’re also makers of myth. That’s why we mythologize them. They embolden us, especially those of us in the business of mythery, to get at it and not squander our fleeting hours.

If, when in a museum, you’re anything like me, your eyes inevitably stray prematurely from the painting to the label, as if the experience of visual art is best mediated by external identification and explanation. In this gallery, I encourage you to resist the urge to immediately shift focus to the text. Instead, linger on the picture. Savor the moment alone, because once you do scroll down, I’ll step in as your overbearing and gabby museum guide, one who keeps interspersing the facts with unsolicited personal asides.¹

From time to time, I’ll pin up a new mugshot. The gallery will fill out over the coming months and can always be viewed in the Rogues Gallery section.

Enough with the preamble. You’ll hear back from me tomorrow, when we amble up to the first exhibit, featuring a certain Mr. Jean-Louis Lebris de Kérouac.

1. Speaking of unsolicited, an audio version of the tour is in the works.