It's Ottessa, bitch

5 days ago | ottessathisottessathat.substack.com | Ottessa Moshfegh

At some point one spring, I quit school and decided to open a punk bar with Xu Liang and my boyfriend. Bands from all over China came to play at the bar in those first few months and word spread about it very quickly. It felt like an important thing was happening. I drank a lot and learned how not to take things personally. It was over one hundred and ten degrees every day this one summer. I had moved into my boyfriend’s apartment which was down the road from the bar.

1 week ago | ottessathisottessathat.substack.com | Ottessa Moshfegh

Hi!Every month I invite paid subscribers to a live chat about writing fiction and other stuff. (People ask me questions and I answer them. So far it’s been fun and even kind of heart-warming.) So, today I’m unlocking the transcript from the very first live chat. *I’m just kidding about knowing how to write a New York Times bestseller—I just wanted you to click on this post.

1 week ago | ottessathisottessathat.substack.com | Ottessa Moshfegh

Hello,Reminder to join us tomorrow at noon PST/3 pm EST for a chat. My face is broken this week, so it’ll be ye olde chat room Q and A. And next, as promised…Here’s another composition notebook from my high school days. I graduated in May 1998.

1 week ago | ottessathisottessathat.substack.com | Ottessa Moshfegh

I sang before I talked. I sang instead of talking, really. I was very expressive as a musical entity. I sang cheerful songs. “Can we stop for ice cream?” was a song. “Where are my shoes?” “I’m tired.” “I need to pee.” These were all songs. I’m sure it was very annoying for everyone in the family, although my mother says it was the only indication I gave that I was happy. Otherwise, I was a serious-looking little girl, glum. People often asked me if I was okay. “Are you sad?

2 weeks ago | ottessathisottessathat.substack.com | Ottessa Moshfegh

ANNOUNCEMENT: VIDEO CHAT IS LIVE THIS MONDAY, MEMORIAL DAY, 12 PST/ 3 PM EST. Pay to subscribe, log on when it’s time, and you’ll automatically get connected to my face as it answers your questions about writing. Hi. Welcome back. Here’s another lost story from my China years. You can read the last entry here. Today we’re pogo-sticking and going on tour with a shitty punk band.