“If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.” ― Toni Morrison
Recently I was introduced to a gorgeous poem by the late Charles Bukowski called "so you want to be a writer?" Here's a small exert: if it doesn’t come bursting out of you in spite of everything, don’t do it. unless it comes unasked out of your heart and your mind and your mouth and… Continue reading The Most Beautifully Awful Writing Advice Ever
AN: This is an absurdist flash fiction piece I wrote based on the Reedsy short-story prompt "he glared at the kitchen sink in fury." Enjoy! Leo glared at the kitchen sink in fury, holding the remnants of his spaghetti dinner in his hands. “Hope this pleases Your Highness,” he murmured bitterly. With a fork he… Continue reading Flash Fiction: Everything and The Kitchen Sink
This may make me sound like a traitor to readers everywhere, but I am generally not a fan of big books, specifically ones that exceed 450 pages in length. That's not to say I don't like any large books. One of my favorite books of all time, Gone With The Wind, is nearly 1,000 pages long. However,… Continue reading TL;DR: The Problem With Big Books
I know everyone is in shock about this but Netflix created a live-action film adaptation of beloved anime series and manga Death Note....and it was not well received. It was weird, it was convoluted, and it completely fell apart at the seams. .......but.... I don't think it's nearly as bad as people think it is.… Continue reading Unpopular Opinion: “Death Note” The Netflix Film Wasn’t THAT Bad
I'm not going to lie. I had many, many illusions about blogging when I started The Crooked Pen. I thought that, with enough vigor and talent I would be able to flock hundreds of thousands of people to this site. I had seen other blogs similar to this one and I thought I had them… Continue reading How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Blog
I never thought procrastination would be so simple, but I found a way. I found a way. I set out working on chapter seven of my story and somehow found myself plunging into the ether of pop culture sludge. For literally no reason at all, I began looking into the Drake and Josh controversy. In… Continue reading How Drake and Josh Are Destroying My Novel
It's been an inexcusably long time since I update this blog, I know. I try to update at least once a week, but this obviously hasn't been happening recently. I have a good reason for this, however...... Okay, not a good reason, but it is a reason nonetheless. You see, I've actually been writing recently.… Continue reading I’m Still Alive and Also Writing Things, or Going on a Writing Bender
Over the years, I've been forced to read many a poem, and, while I can appreciate the effort it takes to compose one, I can't say I'm a huge fan of the art form. However, that doesn't mean that I don't have a favorite poet. During my trip to Scotland last year, I came across… Continue reading Ode to the Worst Poet in the World
Is there anything quite as beautiful as writing the first draft of a story? Every moment is primed with intrigue, wonder, and mystery. You just paint everything on the metaphorical canvass as you see it in your mind's eye. Ideas pour forth from you like a soda fountain filled with Mentos You pat yourself on… Continue reading Editing is the Worst Thing Ever
Perhaps I'm in the minority, but I'm finding myself consistently disappointed by writing prompts I find on the internet. I understand that the main point of these niblets are to get our minds jogging and not to help us produce a 1,000 page Pulitzer Prize winning work of art. Nevertheless, I can't help but feel… Continue reading Strange Writing Prompts For Your Boring Monday
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