In which new lit is lit 🔥 Ciao tutti— The lovely new lit mag Journal of Erato dropped its second issue today, entitled Hometown, in which my poem “Me and Mike #3” is featured. It began life as a fragment, a half-thought-out meditation on being away from familiar places and people. Then I realized itContinue reading “More poetry!”
Tag Archives: #writing
Clemens > Dickens
In which I match, or mismatch, wits I just reread The Adventures of Tom Sawyer after quite a number of years, possibly predating the last time I read Huck Finn. Not only is the prose as precise and entertaining as ever, this time around has elucidated something I’ve long struggled with concerning certain contemporaries ofContinue reading “Clemens > Dickens”
New Habits from Pandemic Me
Or, a year and a half in additions, subtractions, and alterations Sending messages just to say hi when I think of people, with no expectation of a reply Writing things down immediately when they cross my mind, meaning there are post-its all over my room & I sometimes wake up to a Notes app fullContinue reading “New Habits from Pandemic Me”
Happy birthday, Bob!
In which I count a love minus zero On Monday the greatest lyrical poet of his generation turned 80. I’m going to eschew songwriter, although (or perhaps because) plenty call him that unhesitatingly—many artists of that generation, male and female, produced songs and/or albums that could justify their bid for the title. But his masteryContinue reading “Happy birthday, Bob!”
I Feel Fine (Or Not)
In which I pull apart a Weltanschauung *CW: suicide ideation* German coming along, is it? LOL I learned that word years ago from The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Good weekend, all. This is not a Beatles post; sorry to anyone who may feel misled. Today I’m wondering whether, or when, to say you’reContinue reading “I Feel Fine (Or Not)”
5 Times I Related Way Too Hard to Elton John’s ME
In which I say “oh God same” *CW: addiction* Last weekend I listened to Elton John’s recent autobiography on Audible, read in alternating chapters by the man himself and Taron Egerton, who played him in Rocketman. And let me tell you: you do not need to have had a sixteen-year cocaine habit to find somethingContinue reading “5 Times I Related Way Too Hard to Elton John’s ME”
Lit Review: REMAIN IN LOVE
In which I do just that *CW: addiction* This is a story of the tightest rhythm section ever. And possibly the most successful married pop act ever. One of them is French Catholic, which I get; the other is from Kentucky and spent his youth in the KY/OH/western-PA area, which I get. Their joint lifeContinue reading “Lit Review: REMAIN IN LOVE”
Write What You Know?
In which I question the sagacity of some so-called sage advice We writers have long had the adage “write what you know” lobbed at us, supposedly an encouragement to use our lives as fodder for crafting powerful stories. I started hearing it soon after expressing any sort of long-term interest in creative writing. It’s beenContinue reading “Write What You Know?”
A Valediction Forbidding Cover Letters
In which I prepare to demolish a rightfully loathed tradition Okay, I’ll get straight to the point: Cover letters should never be mandatory. At most, they should be optional. Ideally we would do away with them altogether. This idea had been fermenting in my head ever since I began applying to Real Jobs/Internships as aContinue reading “A Valediction Forbidding Cover Letters”
Washington Irving, Berlin
In which I ruminate on an eerie visitation and the man behind it Excuse me while I congratulate myself on that terribly clever title. A writer I love overlapping a composer I love overlapping a city I love which happens to be where I live? Oh, Cecilia, you crack-up. *pats own back* Just kidding. (SortContinue reading “Washington Irving, Berlin”