Category Archives: Writing

Holy Shirtballs, Batman! My poetry manuscript, “Waxing the Parasitical Muse,” has been longlisted for the Idaho Prize for Poetry 2025 by Lost Horse Press! There. I said it. I didn’t win, but I was longlisted!  After last night, after feeling like I should just yeet my laptop across the room and give up writing forever,Continue reading “Holy Shirtballs, Batman!”

Now Playing: ​​”Why’d You Come In Here Lookin’ Like That” by Dolly Parton Let me remind us, darlings, that being ill sours everything. Even our perception about our writing. We must remember this or we will begin to believe our own lies about our writing abilities. Let’s not.  I have rough drafts of three blogContinue reading “Why’d You Come In Here Lookin’ Like That, Poem? “

If you had said that 2025 would’ve brought the publication of a new book by Virginia Freakin’ Woolf, I wouldn’t have believed you.  This is not a review. It’s merely an excited “Hey, have you heard about this?” The Life of Violet: Three Early Stories was released two days ago.  It’s a beautifully designed book,Continue reading “The Life of Violet: Three Early Stories by Virginia Woolf”

Word Raccoon wants to know what the big deal is. Why am I feverishly hunting through my writing room’s closets, hoping to find my extra books?  “We’re going to participate in the alumni author’s event this year at, duh, our alma mater,” I tell her, but she waves at me like that tells her nothing.Continue reading “A Book Event, or an Apology Tour?”

This is not some deep, dark secret of mine, AI. It’s a tool, one with uses. Some of us disagree on just what it ought to be used for. I get that. But most of us do use it, whether or not we realize it. Here’s how I use AI. (Word Raccoon does not knowContinue reading “World, Meet Stanley”

Word Raccoon and I are under the weather today. We want to write creatively, can’t. Want to read, can’t. Can’t find anything to watch that pleases us. We’ve tried. The two things that have piqued our interest are on streaming services we don’t currently have. We do not want to sign up for any more. Continue reading “Review of Doll Parts by Penny Zang, and Other Things “

Now Playing: Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran (WR pressed “play” and it was on the playlist. I don’t judge her musical tastes, and vice versa. I hope.) I was just getting ready for the day yesterday, hair damp and writing dreams intact, when I made the mistake of checking my phone. And there itContinue reading “Brother, Sister, Ma’am! Closed Café, What Are You Trying to Do to Me?”

When I stepped into the café this morning, the owner didn’t say hello. He didn’t say good to see you. He didn’t even do the nod-and-smile. Nope. He leaned over the counter, looked me dead in the eye, and said: “Where the hell have you been?” Word Raccoon, naturally, let out a delighted cackle. (SheContinue reading “Where the Hell Have You Been? (Word Raccoon Gets Called Out)”

Prescript: I wrote the post below earlier today. I want to add some exciting news first that I was just emailed about.  Many thanks to County Lines: A Literary Journal for accepting my poem “Knocking Stars Out of the Known Universe.” It will be published Dec. 8, 2025. I have been invited to read myContinue reading “Pink Chair, Breakfast Plans, and I am a Lighthouse??”

Now Playing: “I Can See Clearly Now,” Johnny Nash. (Too on the nose? 😂) Ah, the yearly eye exam. Word Raccoon asked to come along. I knew she just wanted in on choosing frames, but figured she couldn’t do too much harm. First of all, she had learned the day before at the gym thatContinue reading “Word Raccoon Chooses Statement Glasses”