“The Rut” is a satirical piece by Max Penn that toys with the idea of self publishing through Flash interface which leads readers through a linear narrative about the ups-and-downs of self publishing. The path begins with the front cover of a book. Then multiple versions of the rugged frontispiece and title page are created upon refreshing in response to scribbled editorial comments. “The Rut” depicts the many possibilities through successive drafts without ever exploring the actual content of the imaginary book, poking fun at the desperation felt by many writers and the superficial aspects of the publishing business. Each “draft” includes familiar components of book design, like phrases from favorable reviews, illustrations, and advertisements for books that have not yet been written. The result is a comic take on “the rut” with which many writers are familiar.