For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for July 29, 2024

YEAH…..RIGHT…….SURE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Goodness gracious. What a tirade. Where in the world did Michael get this fit of temper?

He’s his mother’s son

maturity ? Or the need of a paycheck.

Either you have it or you don’t. You’re not writing a book here…

I’ve heard it said that the writer’s biggest enemy is The Blank Page. ;)

This was the kid mature enough to stay home alone?

Good thing the rest of the family isn’t home to witness this tantrum—especially April!

I’ve just started writing again after decades of just thinking and talking about it

It is much harder than I remember

Standard day for a writer.

reminds me of that scene in Office Space

“Garbage in, garbage out”… must be that deformed head of his.

My daughter is majoring in creative writing in college. Even though it’s summer, she still writes every night. Apparently, last night she wrote a 4k+ word chapter (according to her Instagram story, which she uses for accountability).

I think back to my college days and still envy the students today who have the word processor and printer to use like Michael has. The electric typewriter I had was the “in” thing, but making typos on it was still a chore to correct, cutting and pasting ideas was impossible, and I once type a page so completely, it fell out of the typewriter when I reached the bottom and I had to type the entire page over again.

Today, gen Z would give up and expect student loan forgiveness.

Remember the old addage – K.I.S.S. and Sargent Joe Friday’s favmous line – “Just the facts ma’am, just the facts.”

After you’ve cleaned up the spelling errors and grammatical faux pas(s), you’ve come to realize that it’s the wording that sucks. One time I tried MS’s Co-pilot to see if it could come up with better verbiage but it read like a tract from an obituary. A.I. has no heart. Keep pressing on, Mike!

What is that computer running? Windows 3.1?

YES, MICHAEL!

Recognizing when you’re producing junk is three quarters of the battle.

“The most essential gift for a good writer is a built-in, shockproof, crap detector.” ― Ernest Hemingway

Been there

Feel better, Michael?

You do have the temperament to be a Diva thought Michael.

Funny. I remember when I was Michael’s age exhibiting that same sort of frustration when writing. I finally grew up and saved the drama for the page and stage.

I love how certain words get emphasized with the color red. Also, Edgar looks like he thinks he’s watching some TV program!

WOW! I almost sound that bad working at the computer- – - -

Frustration can be crippling for some.

Lack of talent has never stopped people from writing best selling books before……

Tortured artist.

Knowing Lynn, I would’ve thought the original comic of August 7, 1995, would’ve had MIchael on a typewriter. Nope! It was a computer back then, too!

All comics are a little based in real life. Everyone has had a melt down moment or two! It’s normal to react that way once in a while, especially when you know you’re alone in the house…and don’t have to explain yourself!

Just like when Michael complained about homework.

Outstanding! This is definitely going to be too much reality for some…. Ain’t the creative process wonderful ! ;-)

Michael could instead be saying:

“Farley, oh Farley!”

“Where are you, Farley?”

“Yoo hoo, anyone seen Farley?”

If you’ve never had a meltdown you’ve never felt anything real

As a longtime freelance writer, I can vouch for this feeling. Fortunately, it goes away as soon as you come up with. Good sentence or two…

Yeah, sometimes you just need to get that out of your system. I’ve been there.

That’s ok kid – AI will shortly take over all Journalist and Writing tasks from the weak minded humans that currently think they can manage.

Part of being a journalist is to drink heavily. Michael should see what Elly and John have in their liquor cabinet.

Dude, it’s not as easy as you think to write a GOOD want ad ;)

Yikes and gadzooks!

Yep! Nice display of maturity.