I’ve been in a writing funk. It’s hot. I’m recovering from Covid and our dogs got skunked. We live in a suburban rural area where skunks roam. Our dogs are friendly. The skunks are not. …

I’ve always found writing micro fiction to be as hard as longer flash or short stories. Choosing details to include like dialogue or descriptions becomes a matter of words, not paragraphs or pages. My NFFD NZ Micro Madness shortlist micro is only 100 words but it went through major versions…

Imagine yourself in Paris. It’s nearing midnight. You’re at a train station that late because you didn’t know the Eiffel Tower lights up at 10:00 and you stood there staring at it for far too long. You’re miles from your Airbnb. The regular train station is closed for repairs and…

I loved Mad Libs as a kid and bought them on vacations at Stuckey’s. I created my own Mad Libs on notebook paper and made my friends and family fill in the blanks, hoping for an “Elephant that Ate Crackers in a Jukebox” or something equally wacky. As an adult…

I’ve watched enough medical dramas on TV to know there is something called an M&M conference that doesn’t involve candy — it takes a look at how recent surgeries went. …

The image above is my brain on AWP. I went to Kroger this morning and took the picture to the great confusion of the parking lot workers. There are overturned carts, caution tape and also a gorgeous morning sky. I was there to buy “I miss you” cards and flowers…

I have sensitive teeth. Cold. Hot. Air. It all sets them on edge. The special sensitive teeth toothpaste does nothing. March has made me cringe for another reason: near-constant writer discourse. I expect some heated discussions because we’re writers and editors. It’s hard to stop the words and thoughts especially…

I’ve heard through the writer grapevine that I should bring two suitcases to AWP. The first packed with things I need: clothes, toiletries, books to be signed, snacks. And also an empty suitcase for books, journals, stickers and literary swag and Philly souvenirs I want to bring back. I’ll check…

Farts in a jar. A reality show celebrity has been selling her farts in a jar. For nearly $1000. She recently had to stop because she nearly caused herself a heart attack trying to make more “materials” to sell. It’s wrong on many levels. And yet, even in the wrongness…