In this work, a compilation of collections of short stories, Standing develops themes such as the writer's comical nature and his or her self-defeat in the pursuit of writing (alluded to by the work's title), as well as various other themes of personal, emotional, technological, logical, cultural, philosophical, and religious importance, explicitly and implicitly, depending on the concept of each collection. The backdrop is San Diego: past, present (as of 2011) and future, explored mainly from a young adult's perspective, complete with bros, hipsters, college, parties, youth culture, and so on.
Whether the author comes to grips with his "young adult musings" and produces any answers to the questions of life he probes is an open question, one which it may be incumbent upon you to answer!