Category: Uncategorized
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Gulf War Syndrome Causes Writer’s Block
This winter I showed up to the VA hospital complaining of Writer’s Block. It seems like every time I move to a new place—now that I’m not drinking anymore—I must go through this adjustment period where, until my surroundings are familiar, and until my life feels routine, I’m on my guard all the time. Even…
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Cybertruck Giveaway
Here in Tallahassee, we’ve been grazed. But many residents of the Caribbean, Florida, and Western North Carolina have lost everything to hurricanes Helene and Milton. I’ve never seen a hurricane season like this, but it isn’t an anomaly: most scientists now agree that climate change will produce more frequent and more powerful storms. “I can…
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Should You Talk about That Novel?
Writing never stops—never fully stops—even during a period that feels like vacation. I’m drafting another novel now. Without giving away too much, I’ll tell you that it’s a young adult horror novel about Elmo Avila, the 12-year-old son of a high-ranking Marine, and Elmo’s visit to a haunted tattoo parlor that his father has blacklisted.…
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New Story Dropping
Hi everybody! My new story, “Wolfpacking,” might upset some people—fellow Marines and family members alike. If that doesn’t encourage you to read it, I don’t know what will. “Wolfpacking,” the runner-up for phoebe’s spring fiction contest, is the explanation of military hazing that you’ve never heard before. Contest judge Nick White called it “haunting, meditative,…
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New Publication
Hi everybody! A new piece of mine, “This Is a Windsor Knot,” has just been published on Every Day Fiction. It would mean a lot to me if you gave the story a read and a rating. EDF has a star system like goodreads, and if you love me, you’ll help me inflate the rating…
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Wolfpacking
I’m happy to report a tremendous failure. Last month, I submitted a short story, “Wolfpacking,” to about eight different magazines. I wasn’t sure it was ready, but as you may know, I’m collecting rejections. My goal this year is fifty rejections. Unfortunately, before Wolfpacking had the chance to earn a single rejection, phoebe accepted it…
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AWP
Hi everyone! Unfortunately, today’s won’t be the kind of post you can really sink your teeth into. But if you’re intent to procrastinate, follow this link to a new table of contents for my blog. You can now read all my best posts without scrolling past the duds (like this one.) Tomorrow I fly out…
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New Publication
Hi everyone! I’m pleased to announce that a nonfiction piece of mine is available in the newest issue of Arts & Letters magazine. My contribution is called “Strange Fire.” It offers a surprising answer to two questions: how do troops in combat drink water? and how much waste–of time, energy, spirit, life, and plastic–does war…
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Easiest Way to Write a Song
“The challenge of creativity is to take an old formula and deploy it in a way your audience has never seen before.” When I was a teenager, most of my favorite lyrics were evocative nonsense. If I didn’t understand it, I assumed it was profound. I also thought my favorite artists were all on drugs,…
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