“I can take you at this counter,” says a woman to my wife. “We’re together,” I tell her. I take a credit card out of my phone case and wait to wave it over a handset as a cashier who looks like she’s a high school kid folds clothes and puts them in […]
Where I Write
I woke up this morning, and I couldn’t get out of bed. It was so cold. We don’t keep the house overly warm. It’s expensive and inefficient. My toes were cold. I hate having them under the covers, I suppose that’s the main reason. My office is crazy. It overlooks a food forest, a garden […]
Bollywood vs Western Storytelling
East Meets West Picture this. A musty basement, carpeted, coloured light sconces, leather barstools around a padded bar, bottles sitting on glass shelves. Furnace room off the bottom of the stairs, and a television against the far wall. Two small windows, barely big enough for you to crawl out of. Enter Bollywood, […]
You Cannot Have Kids and Be a Writer
For my friend Matticus, who is raising a young family and striving to write at the same time. I have quite a few kids. Let’s say it’s a number that’s more than three, and they’re all young. I also have an executive-level job that keeps me ridiculously busy, but most importantly, pays the bills. I’ve […]
Thief, Liar, Parent
I don’t know how to choose between a heavy duty water gun and a mini replica arcade game. Just get him an app, I think. A gift card so that he can download what he wants. “Are you going to move?” says a little voice. It’s a girl, maybe seven. Brown curls and […]
The Worst Day of My Life
The worst day of your life only happens once. “Are you okay?” she asks, handing me a coffee. I smile, because you can do that even on the worst day of your life. You can drink coffee, too. Drive home without crashing, or hitting anyone. All these things are possible. I […]
WIP’s and Filament Tips
Writing a lot lately, and some different stuff. Different voices, subject matters, etc. Here’s a smattering of things being worked on: Untitled One: dog falls in love with delivery robot Untitled Two: racist teacher hates men in turbans Untitled Three: gay couple adopt in other country Untitled Four: very unexpected quadruplets Untitled Five: the shortest […]
Confessions
Writing is hard. For me, it takes a lot out, because I’m pouring so much energy in. It’s okay to wonder why you’re doing that, when so few people really pay attention. They’re your words, after all. Crafted by you, and yet it seems so irrelevant. I think it’s okay to say that being anonymous […]
Resets
In a language few people speak anymore, there is a word called samsara. Its meaning is uncertain. Some say it is about cycles of repetition. Others associate it with the consequences of actions, leaving an echo through lives that start over and over again, as though there is an etching in the fabric of […]
Em Falls
Em falls down all the time. I think of her as clumsy, but I never use that word. She’s on the road, roller blades, and hits a curb. This time, she falls on the grass, and she’s okay, but there are scratches all over her legs and arms from other tumbles. “I […]