Posts Tagged: girl in the hat

evolution

form follows function

When writing about one’s life, the urge is to move chronologically, plodding from one place to the next, adding layers of experience and wisdom: and then, and then, and then, conveyed by the hope that somehow, if I put it

evolution

form follows function

When writing about one’s life, the urge is to move chronologically, plodding from one place to the next, adding layers of experience and wisdom: and then, and then, and then, conveyed by the hope that somehow, if I put it

fence

troy

I’m lurking in the shadow on the north side of the Mill Valley Middle School, as far away as possible from the playing field and paved quad where most kids hang out. I’m sitting on a weedy planter made of

fence

troy

I’m lurking in the shadow on the north side of the Mill Valley Middle School, as far away as possible from the playing field and paved quad where most kids hang out. I’m sitting on a weedy planter made of

traffic jam

freeway

Sometimes I’m driving my car on the freeway and it hits me: one spacy moment, a hiccup, a tic, and I’m a goner. The freeway lane is what–maybe twelve feet wide? Twelve feet of cement for me and my car,

traffic jam

freeway

Sometimes I’m driving my car on the freeway and it hits me: one spacy moment, a hiccup, a tic, and I’m a goner. The freeway lane is what–maybe twelve feet wide? Twelve feet of cement for me and my car,

paper plane

paper planes

When I was about 10 years old, I discovered a new state of mind. Or at least it was new to me. My mom, her boyfriend Tim, my brother Johnny and I were on a road trip in the Chevy

paper plane

paper planes

When I was about 10 years old, I discovered a new state of mind. Or at least it was new to me. My mom, her boyfriend Tim, my brother Johnny and I were on a road trip in the Chevy

blossom

beautiful things

(body talk #12) In this life, if we’re lucky, we get to know some bodies, by which I mean get close enough so that they leave a lasting imprint. I’m not talking about sex, although that may certainly be one

blossom

beautiful things

(body talk #12) In this life, if we’re lucky, we get to know some bodies, by which I mean get close enough so that they leave a lasting imprint. I’m not talking about sex, although that may certainly be one

grandmas unmentionables

bodies i have known

(body talk #11) Bodies I have known: let’s start with the women. My grandmother Helen was born in 1906, but she was always old. She was old the way people in old photographs look old — the shape of her

grandmas unmentionables

bodies i have known

(body talk #11) Bodies I have known: let’s start with the women. My grandmother Helen was born in 1906, but she was always old. She was old the way people in old photographs look old — the shape of her

eat shit

eating crow (making friends with crows #22)

You should see what I do with chicken. Some might say it’s almost beautiful: buy whole, brine, roast, eat, reconfigure & serve again, put the bones in the compost and take the rest outside for the crows to pick at. Rest assured,

eat shit

eating crow (making friends with crows #22)

You should see what I do with chicken. Some might say it’s almost beautiful: buy whole, brine, roast, eat, reconfigure & serve again, put the bones in the compost and take the rest outside for the crows to pick at. Rest assured,

x ray 1

Lies My Body Tells Me

Lies My Body Tells Me (a list-in-progress): 1. I have cancer. Why does my back hurt? Must be the tumor on my spine. Why are my hands so papery? Cancer sucking me dry. Why am I so tired? Definitely cancer.

x ray 1

Lies My Body Tells Me

Lies My Body Tells Me (a list-in-progress): 1. I have cancer. Why does my back hurt? Must be the tumor on my spine. Why are my hands so papery? Cancer sucking me dry. Why am I so tired? Definitely cancer.

(image courtesy dpmshap)

#21 waiting for peanuts

There’s a crow sitting in front of my house. He’s always there. When I look out my window I see him on the telephone wire, hulked and ruffled against the cold, still as a black stone. There is something so

(image courtesy dpmshap)

#21 waiting for peanuts

There’s a crow sitting in front of my house. He’s always there. When I look out my window I see him on the telephone wire, hulked and ruffled against the cold, still as a black stone. There is something so

(image courtesy Alan Mays)

bio: how to

A few of the agents I’m querying want to see a bio. The author’s bio is only about a paragraph long but don’t let its size fool you.  Approach with a machete and a stiff upper lip. There will be

(image courtesy Alan Mays)

bio: how to

A few of the agents I’m querying want to see a bio. The author’s bio is only about a paragraph long but don’t let its size fool you.  Approach with a machete and a stiff upper lip. There will be

(image courtesy Jordan Blanchard)

what i asked for

Every time I say the words “my” and “novel” in the same sentence, my novel hogties me to the bed and teaches me a lesson with a dull pencil: Take that, you pretentious twirp. So today, instead of trying to

(image courtesy Jordan Blanchard)

what i asked for

Every time I say the words “my” and “novel” in the same sentence, my novel hogties me to the bed and teaches me a lesson with a dull pencil: Take that, you pretentious twirp. So today, instead of trying to

writing 2

teaching snails to fly

writing is… standing on stage with your skirt up over your head. they approach, wielding sharpies: flabby, they write. cut this. question mark. the click of a camera shutter. all talk, no show. all show, no tell. on your knees

writing 2

teaching snails to fly

writing is… standing on stage with your skirt up over your head. they approach, wielding sharpies: flabby, they write. cut this. question mark. the click of a camera shutter. all talk, no show. all show, no tell. on your knees

(image by Scott Morgan)

closer (#18)

We don’t touch while we’re sleeping. We move cautiously, careful not to disturb.  There’s an invisible line drawn down the middle of the bed and we lie there facing different directions like passengers on separate trains. It’s dawn when he

(image by Scott Morgan)

closer (#18)

We don’t touch while we’re sleeping. We move cautiously, careful not to disturb.  There’s an invisible line drawn down the middle of the bed and we lie there facing different directions like passengers on separate trains. It’s dawn when he

apple skull

original copy

Summer’s here and I’ve been trying to hook back into pop culture.  I’m usually the last to pick up current controversies but last night, I finally watched Battle Royale, the film by Kinji Fukasaku.  (Fellow unhipsters will perhaps remember a

apple skull

original copy

Summer’s here and I’ve been trying to hook back into pop culture.  I’m usually the last to pick up current controversies but last night, I finally watched Battle Royale, the film by Kinji Fukasaku.  (Fellow unhipsters will perhaps remember a

(image courtesy ElegantSpoon aka Michael)

role-play (chapter 31, part 2)

I wish I were an actor.  I think it might make me a better writer.  I’d role-play my characters to get to know them better.  I’d understand them viscerally, from the inside.   My story is about a writer who

(image courtesy ElegantSpoon aka Michael)

role-play (chapter 31, part 2)

I wish I were an actor.  I think it might make me a better writer.  I’d role-play my characters to get to know them better.  I’d understand them viscerally, from the inside.   My story is about a writer who

(image courtesy Lydia Jane)

lost in space (with philip k. dick)

Something strange is going on and I’m not sure what to think, because I haven’t been writing at all. I fiddle around, revise a couple pieces, throw together some fluffy bits, but haven’t tackled anything substantial for more than a month.

(image courtesy Lydia Jane)

lost in space (with philip k. dick)

Something strange is going on and I’m not sure what to think, because I haven’t been writing at all. I fiddle around, revise a couple pieces, throw together some fluffy bits, but haven’t tackled anything substantial for more than a month.