not-a-rehearsal

Substack in the Wild

This is a rough draft of an idea, published early because I'd rather talk to people about it than polish it alone. So please reach out.

May 4 • Mona Alsubaei

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Work, labor, and action

In 1958, Hannah Arendt categorized human activity into three types: labor, work, and action.

May 1 • Mona Alsubaei

April 2026

Working: Clay is messy. So is therapy

Studs Terkel wrote his book “Working” fifty years ago.

Apr 30 • Mona Alsubaei

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Solo Unicorns

This is the second essay in my “500 words for 5 days” series.

Apr 29 • Mona Alsubaei

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Death by First Draft

The journey from the first word in the first draft to the last word in the perfect version is vast and confusing.

Apr 28 • Mona Alsubaei

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March 2026

Ney-stan

The ney is a musical instrument made from bamboo (reed flute).

Mar 24 • Mona Alsubaei

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October 2025

Ever New, Ever Ancient

We tend to locate innovation in the output, the new product, or the finished piece of art.

Oct 14, 2025 • Mona Alsubaei

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Ordinary Things Described in Extraordinary Sentences

Among the many things I track in my reading are extraordinary things described in extraordinary ways.

Oct 11, 2025 • Mona Alsubaei

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