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Two things came my way today: One, a fortune from a fortune cookie: “Happier days are definitely ahead for you, struggle has ended.” Two, a personal manifesto titled “Visionaries” by George [...]

Better today. Two new lyrical essays, a jog along the creek walk in Tinyville, and decent presence of mind in karate class. My, the ferocity of mood swings! Here is a sampling. Don’t be [...]

There is nothing to say. Two days that were supposed to be for writing and I have six sentences. I’ve read only 100 pages. Eighteen days until my next packet is due, but take away three for a [...]

I leave the mountain for two days. It feels like emerging from the underworld to visit the lush and growing landscape of mother earth. Only here, in the dead of winter, the landscape I visit is [...]

“Remember this,” Hanshi says, putting his hand on my left forearm. I am in a front stance and have executed a left upper block as a part of shino kata. “Karate is first and foremost a feeling. [...]

Here’s a dramatic monologue. Or a lyrical essay. Or some attempt at channeling the 12-year-old girl I used to be. Yes, it’s true. It’s nonfiction. Here goes: Undeveloped Is there a [...]

One beer and I’m buzzed and thinking about karate. What gives? It’s late, the night sky as thick as molasses up here on Fork Mountain, clouds suffocating the stars and all the whispers of winter [...]

Ok. I’ve never written about anything like this before–but here’s an excerpt from a story I’m working on. All you need to know is that the main character is Jet, a man in [...]

Here is what I am doing: 1) Re-envisioning nonfiction memoir vignettes from my first year in the MFA in order to prepare them for my thesis. So far, this is my process: I read the old version out [...]

After kids’ class I bow off of the floor mats and start putting on layers for my run between classes. But it’s a cold, blustery night and snow has been falling all day. Hanshi peeks his head [...]