nothing quite like the blue of a late Sept sky. #makingthemostofthemorning

side note: I've always thought Decorah would be a great place for a summer writers' workshop/camp/retreat/festival. Hiking, biking, canoeing/kayaking, fishing, world class breweries. And some writing, too. #decorah

Congrats to Kathleen McNamara! Her story collection was selected as the winner of the EastOver Press debut prize for a story collection, selected by Manuel Munoz. Congrats to Kathleen and the finalists!

new #poem in The MacGuffin. It's addressed to a farmer in Ridgeway, IA who shot a wandering black bear for no reason (it was a young male looking for a mate and we in Iowa don't have a hunting season for bears). I only had one place where I could channel my rage. This poem was the result.

trying to figure out how to describe a character's hair, and then I went for a walk and saw this and thought, yes, there it is.

long time ago, I heard Bob Shacochis give a lecture in which he claimed that getting a dog was the first step to being a writer. Among other things, having a dog gives structure to one's day. What I should've asked him: will two dogs double the writerly output?

One of my favorite craft- or fiction-like things to talk about is POV. A convincing POV, like the ever-elusive writerly “voice,” can really carry a story. Anyhow, here’s a very brief and very incomplete lesson on POV w help from this clutch of yellow oysters.

adopted a lab mix from a shelter not far from where i live. Maybe the next one will be a basset hound (gotta keep the cottontails away from my apple trees)

tried to post this last month for short story month, but got caught up with end-of-semester stuff, new puppy, etc, but wanted to showcase some fave story collections over the past couple of years. Please feel free to drop a rec or two.

manageable #awp25 book haul. excited to dig into these lit journals, along with a collaboratively written novel by Katie Jean Shinkle and Jessica Alexander @astrophilpress.bsky.social, and collections by @nickreesgardner.bsky.social and @deeshaphilyaw.bsky.social

#awp25 goers, if you have time, swing by and hangout with EastOver Press and @astrophilpress.bsky.social. Complimentary food and beverages.

I usually review stories that you can access for free online, but this is an exception, and an exceptional story. A rarity whose alchemic combination of propulsion and artistry of language conjures that elusive *voice* @onestorymag.bsky.social

More at: read-short-stories.com

i live in iowa. i love @moonpalacebooks.bsky.social in minneapolis.