those old stories

chainsaws, cedar bark and woodchip on orthopedic chair rests. double dutch doors. summertime heat.  wandering empty streets on friday and saturday nights.  running through sherlock’s field; lost in a forest of cornstalks.  saved, somehow, by the canadian flag at the husky.  muscle cars running, racing to the edge of town, back again.  those old stories … Read more

fascinating, long article

according to Longform, Best Essay of 2012.  it’s anxiety provoking because it points out how humans rationalize. http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/12/17/121217fa_fact_khatchadourian?currentPage=all

dear alice #6

dear alice, i had coffee with a writer friend and she said something profound: “everything comes back to Alice.” we talked about crafting stories in Canada. then we talked about your success and the scrutiny and how the people of your hometown weren’t supportive of your writing, because it cast light on the darker aspects … Read more

anne enright’s writing tips

Anne Enright has some things to say about the writing life. The first 12 years are the worst. The way to write a book is to actually write a book. A pen is useful, typing is also good. Keep putting words on the page. Only bad writers think that their work is really good. Description is hard. Remember that … Read more

accelerant

every time, Wilf orders a double scotch.  brand doesn’t matter but it has to be a double.  can’t stand the shudder, he thinks and tries not to think about what lies between the thin, curved walls of the aircraft.  fire retardant foam insulation.  cotton batting.  triple-coated electrical wires.  matches.  we’re kindling barreling through air, he … Read more

The Second Coming

The Second Coming by W.B. Yeats Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are … Read more

forgive me

for i have sinned.  it’s been 11 days since my last confession posting.

good rejection

i received a great rejection letter today in which not only one, but two people gave me feedback in the letter.  i have to say that i enjoy this level of rejection, if that makes any sense, and it probably doesn’t, but what the hell.  it’s just that lately i’ve been thinking about submitting in … Read more

my diorama

if i were to create a diorama of the story i’m editing, it would contain: a flip up cityscape of Hong Kong two plainclothes policemen lurking around a corner a camera and a TV set a bowl of noodles and a couple bottles of Tsing Tao beer a copy of Rashomon, Kurasawa’s movie about relative … Read more