I went to my first writers conference this past weekend, put on by the Pacific Northwest Writers Association. As I made the drive up I5 from Portland to Seattle,* Scottish folk music blaring because it was that kind of day … Continue reading →
Everyone who has ever overcome shyness knows that it takes work. For me, that work began in earnest when I started the MFA program at Whidbey. I promised myself that I would volunteer for everything. I would speak up in … Continue reading →
—————————————————————————————– Newsflash: my poem “Society” has been accepted by 42 Magazine! —————————————————————————————– When I was an undergraduate in Religious Studies* I ran across the word “liminal” and fell in love. Who knew that there was a word for that in-between … Continue reading →
Today I thought I’d give you a break from the writing discussions and show you video from a live reading I did this past January on Whidbey Island. Feel free to comment or share it around. —– Submissions Update: Since … Continue reading →
Newsflash: My essay “Engineering Coincidence” is in the current issue of Cirque. You can purchase a copy or read it online here. —– I’ve been feeling lately like the tarot card The Fool. I’ve got graduation approaching, and as it … Continue reading →
A few days ago, I ran across a blog post by New York literary agent Sarah LaPolla, Damn Yankees, in which she talks about the too common us-them mentality of writers who self-publish and those who publish traditionally. She makes … Continue reading →
This week I turned in the last project of the final semester of my MFA program. All that remains between me and my degree is a residency and some bookkeeping. The latter has a literal side in this case – … Continue reading →
So there I was, in a movie theater on a Friday afternoon watching The Avengers. I don’t think I need a spoiler warning to tell you that there was property damage in that film. A lot. Whole sections of New … Continue reading →
I’ve taken up pool again, after a hiatus from serious play of about fifteen years. I played a lot in my youth, and got good enough that in my dorm they gave me all kinds of handicaps, including making me … Continue reading →
All right, it’s Friday the 13th, I’m late in posting, and I find I just can’t be that serious today. So, I’ve been thinking about the self-publishing explosion, the Justice Department suit against Apple and the Big Six publishing houses,* … Continue reading →