After eighteen months online and some seventy-four articles, stories, interviews, flash fictions, poems and miscellaneous other forms, I’ve decided to close Writers’ Bloc. I feel that it’s run its course and, to be brutally honest, I no longer possess the enthusiasm required to keep it running, reading submissions and putting up new material.
Archive for 2010
True Art
In Fiction on 3 August, 2010He told people to call him “The Moon.” For hours at a time he would sit at The Seven Winds café beneath the “C” rating posted in the window by DHEC. The Moon would linger in this corner for so long it would gradually take on his smell – a mixture of bee’s wax, patchouli, and body odor. Read the rest of this entry »
Arthur Nobody
In Fiction on 27 July, 2010Arthur works the night shift at a generically scummy bar so he can sit all day in a coffee shop and write like the bohemian he can’t really afford to be. This will not be a major contextual issue.
A Literary Party
In Fiction, Uncategorised on 29 June, 2010I answered the door and Hitler strode into my living room with Eva Braun. Naturally, they were uninvited guests to my party and twenty minutes early. Hitler wore a Jay Cutler jersey and Eva an evening gown.
I looked into Hitler’s wild eyes and said, “I didn’t know you were a Bears fan.”
“What if…”
In Fiction on 22 June, 2010Ben had walked into the offices of Engelman, Volger & Watson that morning with―dare say―a pinch of optimism. Yes, he was two months behind on rent for his studio apartment. Yes, he had been on a strict diet of instant ramen noodles for the last week. And yes, luxury was not in his foreseeable future. But he had finished his screenplay, revising it until his fingers could type no more, and it was his best work yet. Read the rest of this entry »
Prescription for Poets
In Poetry on 15 June, 2010Steal words from others, blame the royal tutor
if caught, miss the beginning of movies
on purpose but notice the first buds, Read the rest of this entry »
Recording the Recorder
In Reasons on 1 June, 2010[Author’s note: A couple of weeks ago, I had a conversation with a local writer at an abandoned food-stand during his lunch hour. Artist to artist. Figuring out for ourselves what this century’s-young process of putting a new face on The Muse means. What he didn’t know was that I had a tape recorder rolling during the entire conversation. Invasion of Privacy? Maybe. Laziness on my part? Perhaps. But when you have this unexplainable need … an inherent, undying want for something … you’ll get your hands on it no matter the way you get it. And I’d had no idea what would happen when I pressed ‘Record’ all those weeks ago.] Read the rest of this entry »
Fruit Smoothie
In Fiction on 12 May, 2010Mary says, “You’re a bastard,” and looks at me like I stuck her cat, a bad luck Bombay named Batman, in a blender. And blended it.
“I’m sorry,” I say.
“You’re a real bastard.”
Amended Price List
In Process on 4 May, 2010|
29 |
Framed, personally autographed copy of any previously published poem by the poet on acid free paper. Size A4. Upgrade 39 B3. With photo. 49. Read the rest of this entry » |
How I Started a Literary Journal with Arnold Palmer
In Fiction on 19 April, 2010Dear Arnold Palmer,
Sorry to bother you, but I have a few questions. I was hoping you could help me. I’m a journalist writing about your upcoming PGA tour event presented by MasterCard: the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Florida, held at Bay Hill, March 25th-28th. Read the rest of this entry »
The Slush Machine
In Fiction on 24 February, 2010Depending on their imaginative powers, a snowfall can remind people of moulting angel-wings, of perishing mayflies or of a defective TV screen. When the Assistant Submissions Editor of Conglomerated Publishing, Inc. emerged from the subway that day into a swirl of snowflakes, he tried to be reminded of nothing at all—snow is snow is snow—but couldn’t help thinking, as usual, of millions of manuscript pages being shredded on high.
If Shakespeare Were Alive Today
In Fiction on 16 February, 20103.15.06
Dear Editor,
Attached is my poetry submission for your consideration: Venus and Adonis. I am a new writer and thought your site the perfect match for this poem. Thank you for your time in reading this.
Beware the Ides of March,
William Shakespeare
Read the rest of this entry »
Fragments
In Poetry on 9 February, 2010These words were forgotten and found and cut up
On strips and sheets and folds
Of paper lining
Lanes and avenues and streets.
When I had finished stitching, I read: Read the rest of this entry »
Lessons from a week of handwriting
In Process on 3 February, 2010Scribble scratch a swiggle sways and loo
oooo
oooo
ps down under
across
This Piece of Writing
In Process on 26 January, 2010I fell in love with this piece of writing about fifteen minutes ago when I decided to start writing it. Rather, I fell in love with the idea of writing it, since it didn’t exist yet. But now that I have started writing it, I am officially in love with this piece of writing. Read the rest of this entry »
Three poems
In Poetry on 18 January, 2010iLove Letters
when you
play with the pearl
of my earlobe
on the tip
of your tongue
it’s like a ninja move
you render me helpless
as if i’ve forgotten
how to breathe Read the rest of this entry »
The Poet (a fable)
In Fiction on 12 January, 2010A man sits down and writes a poem. It is not a great poem, he knows, but still, he has written it, and so it makes him feel proud. Everywhere he goes, he recites it in his head.
Then one day the man has a great idea.
These are my pictures
In Process on 6 January, 2010These are my pictures:
.
. … „;;,>;)(8(..
. _===-0
.@;-o0opopoioi90897678pjk[l:@JHyF)(87&*67*89)o:’;@
Read the rest of this entry »