in his great Ftrain.com: The Mechanical End.
If you were going to compile a historical list of the top 10 examples of writing that is native to the web, Ftrain.com would certainly be somewhere near the top of the list. What other sites would be on the list?
Scott Butki says
Web sites I like with good writing:
– Slate (although I think they have a book out so I’m not sure if that counts)
– Salon (Yeah I know it’s paid and so sort of a sell-out but they still have damn fine pieces)
Hmm, those two are so mainstream that I feel like an
old fogie now.
Anyway, good to read ya,Mikel. I just bookmarked you.
Michael Boyle says
Anyone in particular there, Scott?
I think I’d include Dahlia Lithwick from Slate, though I’m biased in her favour. But I think that kind of writing – on the Supreme Court – is possible in volume on the web and not in mainstream publications, so it counts.
I also would include on a general basis the old Feed Magazine, sadly now defunct. Also, Suck in its first year.
Scott Butki says
Oh, yeah definitely on Suck and Feed.
I print and read Slate’s Today’s Papers every day. The feature does an excellent job summarizing the biggest and the best stories in the major newspapers.
In recent months David Edelstein of Slate has become my favorite movie critic and I’ve been going back to read his takes on various movies I’ve liked.
Salon does great book reviews.
I used to check it regularly to read the pieces by Sarah Vowell (who I’m going to write about for an upcoming item in my own blog) and – until I got sick of her attitude – Cintra Wilson.