BrokenEchoes

 I was supposed to write this yesterday, but I didn’t. There was no emergency, no pressing obligation. Nothing was standing in my way. I just couldn’t talk myself into starting. And that, sometimes, is the hardest part, getting starting. I haven't written many poems over the past couple of months. The blank feels heavy sometimes. It expects too much. I have however, been toying around with a sci-fi short story. A space heist story. I am not sure if it will turn out to be good, or if I will be able to figure out an ending for it, but it is something that I am having fun with. At least so far.  Lately, I’ve been reflecting on how quickly time slips through our fingers, especially during the moments we want most to hold onto. The quiet ones. The ones that seem like nothing on the surface but mean everything when they’re gone. That’s the essence of this week’s spotlight poem. 📝 Spotlight Poem: "Moment by Moment" You can read the full poem here: 👉 Moment by Moment It...

Lately, I’ve been caught in a writing slump. Not writer’s block exactly—more like a heavy silence.  I'm trying not to force anything. Forcing it only makes the silence more stubborn. I know this will pass. It always does. But when you're someone who uses writing to process the weight of the world, silence feels heavy. I’ve been trying to lean into stillness instead of panicking. To let the poems come when they’re ready, even if that means staring at blank pages for a while. To stay connected with the creative part of me, I’ve been revisiting past poems—some I’ve nearly forgotten writing. This week, I reread “Lost Humanity,” a piece I published in April, and it felt especially relevant. Poem Spotlight: “Lost Humanity” Read it here: Lost Humanity – Broken Echoes This poem reads like a dispatch from the edge of civilization; post-apocalyptic in setting, but emotionally rooted in something very human: grief. It opens abruptly: “All there is now is wasteland / With a few...

 Good evening everyone. Welcome to this week's blog post. 1. Writing/Life Update It has been a heavy week at work. There are chaotic elements in flux that I can't control, so I am trying to be flexible and go with the flow.  I didn't get much poetry written this week, but I did get a few hundred words of a short story drafted. I like the direction that it is going in. I think that I am enjoying the atmosphere. The plan is a sort of cyberpunk heist story, but it is still in its infancy so that may change.  I received my latest poetry collection back from my editor, put in the final touches, and self-published it yesterday. You can find hit here . I also made the front matter, back matter and cover myself. The image on the cover is a featureless silhouette of a person afloat in stylized water. The person could be you. It could be me. It could be any of us who are still trying to stay afloat.   I think it looks good. What do you think? 2. Featured Poem or Excerpt ...

 Hey everyone.  Welcome to this week's blog post. I hope you have had a fun and productive week. I for one am happy that it is the weekend. It has been a whole week of long days, and I am glad to have some time for a writing session or two.  I am also working to polish up the next collection. The working title is currently "Treading Water". It is in the hands of my editor. I think I did a decent job of proofreading on my own, but hopefully it doesn't come back covered in red.  Yesterday was Friday the 13th and I took the opportunity to find a horror short story collection. I am looking forward to sinking my teeth into it.    It seems like it has rained every weekend for months and the sun shines when we are stuck inside. Spring is devious in that way. Sparing one moment and overgenerous the next. It marches on and nature is refreshed. This reminds me of my poem "Waking Up".  This poem was posted on this blog previously and you can read it here . S...

  Opening Reflection: June has arrived with its heavy green and its sudden rains. The air feels thicker, like it’s full of stories still half-formed. Some days I feel suspended between seasons. While remembering the promise of spring, I am bracing for summer’s heat.  Writing Update: I’ve spent much of this past week revisiting older work, not to revise it, but to reflect on it. One poem in particular came to mind after a recent conversation with my wife about small joys: the first blooms of the season, the reappearance of the birds in the yard, or how the light changes across the lake. Spotlight Poem: “Early Spring” Read it here: Early Spring (March 2022) This poem was inspired by a walk my wife and I took through Paintsville Lake State Park. It was still winter, but there were signs of an early spring The trail was still wearing winter’s grey and there was a cold breath of wind off the water. But in the middle of all that stillness, she saw them: the first wildflowers o...

I didn't write much of anything this week, not even in my journal. It has been a busy week, sure, but that isn't the reason. I always have a notebook in my pocket, so I could steal a moment here or there to write down anything noteworthy--anything that could be tugged at, stretched, manipulated and turned into an idea, a theme, or a poem. I didn't find anything to be worthy of writing down. My days were filled with mundane, repetitive, disinterest. Some days are like this. Some times they group together into larger masses. Sometimes they stand in the way for far too long.  As we finish the week, we also finish the month. Tomorrow begins the bright month of June, and I hope to progress my next poetry collection to publication readiness. I hope to continue these weekly blog posts, and the biweekly newsletters (subscribe here).   I am currently listening to " The Handmaids Tale " by Margaret Atwood during my commutes. It has been a compelling story so far, and the na...

Today slipped through my fingers. I had plans—put this blog post together early, maybe sit on the front porch and read a bit, then put together some poetry submissions—but instead, I found myself getting lost in practicing on my new wood lathe for a couple of hours and then mowing the lawn. Some days are like that: other interests can sometimes take over. I’m okay with that. This week was a slow one for writing. I managed put some notes together about a short story I have been tinkering with. I have a very loose goal of writing everyday, but I don't force it. If I can't write, I edit. If I can't edit, I read. Maybe I will get to those submissions tomorrow. Revisiting my poem "Commander" brought a wave of introspection. Written from the perspective of an unprepared leader thrust into responsibility, it mirrors feelings of inadequacy and the weight of expectations. The lines: "I am the commander of these troops I put on a face of calm strength Of confiden...