The opening of this story grabbed me, and the story completely lives up to it: "It’s moments like this that Aldous is glad he didn’t get custody of Athena in the divorce. Look at her: gone from bundle of joy to bitch, just like her mother, in only sixteen years."

I love stories about stories. “That’s the story I told myself, at least.”

I'm thrilled to have my story "My Mother Loves to Tell the Story about the Time She Almost Lost Me at the Movies" up today at Vestal Review. Thanks to all the workshoppers in this year's SmokeLong March Micro Marathon at @smokelong.bsky.social for all their help!

Happy St. Patrick's Day, New York.

I was just thinking this morning how this story has almost vanished from the news. Every Democrat in Congress should be following Pramila Jayapal's example, drawing attention to this outrage.

“Mom married Hurricane Gerald because her first marriage was too peaceful, too boring. That’s what she told my dad when she divorced him: he never shouted.”

That is one resourceful killer crab!

the next time someone says we have to focus on the economy and not the ‘culture war’, tell them to go to fucking Omaha

"His depression hidden, like black mittens tucked into the pockets of an overcoat, a hint of sadness pooling under his eyes."

I have nothing to add, but this is must-read thread.

I'm a bit stunned by these headlines. Today I would not expect to see a headline about a "Trump mob." Something vague about "Capitol protests" or "DC demonstrators." There's was a brief moment when words mattered. And then suddenly they didn't.

Are there actually no knitters at the NYT?

Word choice is another place where left and right aren't fighting on a level field. The right takes words the left has used for itself -- liberal, progressive, woke (even "politically correct" was a new left joke) -- mock them, twist them all out of shape, and then sell their version...

Quote this with who you’d be in Star Trek

Today's date always makes me grieve. This morning I listened to Greg Brown's "Brand New '64 Dodge" and wondered if it could mean anything to people who weren't alive on November 22, 1963. Beautiful, slant storytelling. Feels like a haunting flash fiction set to music. youtu.be/Y1bG_Gpfi0s?...

Certain people, growing out of trauma and exhaustion which I fully understand, believe there’s some power... in saying, “yeah, since when does Donald Trump follow the law!?!?” ... A better answer, both more effective and more dignified, is to say, “Okay, let’s see you try.” GIFT LINK

“Bastard Out of Carolina” was real to me in a way no book had ever been. This one hurts.

I woke up this morning to a 3 a.m. text from my daughter, who works in the elections office. That's probably when she got off work. All she said was that she was glad she was nearby instead of a 1000 miles away at college, as she was in 2016. Just a thought for all the elections workers...

Okay, officially bawling now & praying to every god who ever existed that Miss Viola gets to see Kamala Harris inaugurated.

One minor reason I want her to win is so we Californians can atone for giving the country Nixon and Reagan.

I HATE phone banking, but this feels like something I can do. Maybe it’s something you can do too?

I did the thing today. I do believe she’s going to win.

I'm listening to this right now and it's great. I wouldn't have been unhappy if it wasn't. It's still money for a good cause. But Americana music is my thing, and a lot of my favorite artists are on here. Even better, half the artists are new to me, so I'm making some exciting discoveries!

How come when you’re 18 people start calling you “ma’am,” and as soon as you get close to 60 it’s “miss”?

“Unconventional”

Finishing my final post card to a swing district voter. I feel better doing something than just worrying about the election.

Stories like this are why I love flash fiction. So much emotional and narrative complexity. I don’t think it’s possible to achieve this sudden impact in a longer form.

Love this picture. Always trust a man who’s comfortable around little kids being little kids.

Saw someone call Kris Kristofferson a “road scholar,” laughed, then realized that in this case they’re not wrong.

Okay everyone, I started a Flash Fiction Starter Pack. It's short right now bc I couldn't remember who wrote flash specifically and who wrote longer short stories, so if you want to be on the list, just ask! bsky.app/starter-pack...

You are officially old when “America’s Dad” is younger than you. Also WALZ!

So honored and excited to have a new piece up in wonderful @matchbooklitmag.bsky.social , one of my all-time favorite limags! Hope you will give it a read. 💙

Fell asleep during an MRI and woke up inside a white tube not knowing where I was. So that was fun.

If you happen to use goodreads, do your shelf a favor and add Friendly Fire! I promise you, it will be the best book you've ever read written by me www.goodreads.com/book/show/20...

Channel that anxiety into something useful

"Our mothers, fathers, brothers say we-Iranian girls- must cover our hair/ not-shine/ hide, that before marriage our hands must be as soft as Damask rose petals" Beautiful, beautiful work in Tiny by amazing [email protected] Fellow Pegah Ouji. www.tinymolecules.com/who-will-com...

Oh, the wonderful rhythm of this!

I read an early draft of Francine Witte’s story in a SmokeLong workshop. It was beautiful from the beginning, but now it’s transcendent.

When people stop hearing your story you find a new way to tell it. Unforgettable.

Yesterday I started a fitness class for people over 50 and this morning my body is screaming at me about just what “over 50” means. I do not like this age thing.

Is there anybody here who writes but rarely sends things out? Because I’m beginning to think that’s a reasonable thing to do.

The bad news is that I’m old and between back pain and the need to get up to pee, I can’t sleep until a reasonable hour. The good news is I’m apparently now a 5 am writer.

Beautiful and terrifying.

The word “aging” as a euphemism for old cracks me up. Do you know anyone who isn’t aging?

I had Gram & Emmylou’s Love Hurts playing the other day and the 14yo said their health teacher wouldn’t approve of the defeatist message and I said that’s why sad people listen to country music, not health teachers

Every time I read the word synecdoche I think I should google how to pronounce it, but I never do.

Why is there a pat of butter in bed?