Up for a writing challenge? Join me in the 20th annual Short Story Challenge by @nycmidnight.bsky.social on January 23rd! Learn more at nycmidnight.com/ssc Social Media Image for The Short Story Challenge

The a-hole that wrote "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" never experienced the deep-freeze of a Central Wisconsin winter. Note: Irving Berlin is not an a-hole. That was hyperbole.

I am happy to announce that my Alternative History story won the 2025 Autumn Writing Battle competition.

My story " he Pirate and the Priest" will be competing in the Final Showdown this Sunday. I like this one quite a bit and plan on revisiting the world of Edwina Teach - No-Beard - in an expansion of this story.

I must confess, I'm truly honored to have made the Not Quite Write longlist. #notquitewritepodcast.com #contestgoblin

I have a story out in the wild. Take a peek at "Arrangement in Gray and Yellow" in Stygian Lepus #29 www.stygianlepus.com/r/1cc5c468?m...

This was a pleasant surprise.

@quitewriteed.bsky.social Team Ed all the way! (ok. time to post on amanda's feed.)

Pleasantly surprised to have taken 1st place in the Fall 2025 24-Hour Short Story contest. 24hourshortstorycontest.com/archive/fall...

Day 0. So, tomorrow begins my #43daysofwritinginsanity. From now 'til Nov 15, I have at least one active prompt-based writing contest every day, but six. What the hell was I thinking! 🧠 I truly am a contest goblin. Or just plain nuts. #contestgoblin

Woke up on Wednesday to incredible results for Furious Fiction. It's been a rough past six weeks, so this was a welcome crack in the gloom. Big shout out to my fellow goblins. Without your support, I'd given up on this crazy writing thing a long time ago. www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/furious...

Nothing like waiting to the last minute.

Join me on the @nycmidnight.bsky.social 500-word Fiction Challenge on August 15th! Learn more at nycmidnight.com/500

I am a certified contest goblin. I just looked at my calendar for upcoming writing events/contests, and oh boy, this is going to be a rough stretch. Nine including several that are multi-day or multi-week events. I think I goblined too close to the sun. 🌞 This should be interesting.

Join me in the @nycmidnight.bsky.social Flash Fiction Challenge on May 30th! Learn more at nycmidnight.com/ffc

This will be a busy results week for all contest goblins. May 26 - Globe Soup May 28 - Furious Fiction May 31- Story Unlikely June 1 - Not Quite Write longlist Good luck everybody. #globesoup #furiousfiction #storyunlikely #notquitewrite #contestgoblin

Update on my 25/50/100 plan for 2025. Draft 25 new chapters to my WIP. Enter 50 short story contests (and win a few) Obtain 100 rejections (forces me to write & submit) As of today - I'm at 3 chapters, 40 rejections and 28 contests entered. Need to get crackin' on this novel.

Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. #booksky #books #bookchallenge Day 1:

Second writing "win" of the year. Two stories appeared on the Twisted Tournament leaderboard and an overall finish at 18th. Tbh, I was rather surprised, but people seem to like Shakespeare the mobster and Larry the grim reaper. #contestgoblinwin (2)

My post of accountability - Write two stories for a couple of anthologies, finish my piece for Elegant Literature and complete a halffinished story for StoryQuarterly's contest. Also judging TT and WB. Lose a day to my Oscar nomination marathon on Saturday. Doable, but running on creative fumes.

My post of accountability - another easy week/weekend Keep judging/feedback WB Winter. Finish two stories and maybe even a poem for a local Wisconsin contest. Complete the TT 250 & 100. Will I succeed? On a non-writing front, going to a Oscar nomination marathon on Saturday. Should be fun.

My post of accountability - fairly easy week Keep judging/feedback WB Winter. Finish two 1,500 stories for American Short(er) Fiction Contest by 2/15. Twisted Tourney starts on 2/16. Will I succeed?

I'm done. #writingbattle

I received an email regarding a writing retreat in Iceland so I sent it to my wife asking her if I could go, as a joke. Her response: when you make it big and become a success, sure. She didn't say if, but when. Having a solid support system is so important for us creatives. I'm very lucky.

New Year - new goals. A 25/50/100 plan to track progress and stay motivated Draft 25 chapters in my WIP (s/b enough to finish drafting) Enter 50 short story contests (and win a few) Obtain 100 rejections (forces me to write & submit) As of today - I'm at 2 chapters, 2 rejections and 13 contests

First writing "win" of the year for me. Longlisted for the Furious Fiction Challenge for January. Another in a long line of HMs, but I'll take it. Woot! #contestgoblinwin (1)