At the end of August, my mother sent me a New York Times article on rekindling your love of reading. One of their recommendations was to reread something you loved—a book you’ve already enjoyed. Most of the books on my shelf are new, but I did find a copy of Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut. I read that book in my senior year of high school for AP Lit, and I remember little of it, but I remember thinking, at the time, that it was the best book I had ever read.
So I picked up Cat’s Cradle, and without further ado I read half of it, sitting in the park by the Raritan River near my apartment. I finished it the next day.
It still might be the best book I have ever read.
Busy, busy, busy.
September marks the start(ish) of the Fall 2025 semester, my second semester as an adjunct instructor. It’s going so much easier than the first time around. I remember being anxious and exhausted all Spring 2025 semester—like the course was a ramp and I was always out of breath climbing up to the next class.
This fall, I finally feel like I know what I am doing with the course. I feel that I’m a better instructor and that my students are better students. But I think that’s reinforcing itself: I’m better, so they’re better; they’re better, so I’m better. I talked with my father, who’s been teaching undergraduate/graduate students for 30+ years, and he called it a virtuous cycle—like a vicious cycle, except with virtue instead of vice.
Busy, busy, busy.
On Sept 14, I read poetry from my upcoming debut chapbook identity sbagliato (and beyond!) at a virtual reading with Troublemaker Firestarter. You can listen to the recording of the reading here; I’m fourth in a great lineup of readers.
I’ve had exactly one poem come out this month. It’s called “card games” and it appeared in HAD on Sept 24. If it makes no sense to you, that’s fine. It didn’t make sense to HAD either, and they still published it.
All month long, I’ve been wrangling/reading submissions for underscore_magazine (submissions close Sept 30) and the Monarch Queer Literary Awards (nominations close Nov 30).
Busy, busy, busy.
In addition to getting back into reading, I’ve been trying to get back into submitting work for publication. I think I just need to set aside time for it. Since Sept 1, I’ve submitted to:
fifth wheel press (closing Sept 30)
The /tƐmz/ Review (closing Oct 31)
The Kenyon Review (closing Sept 30)
Foglifter (closing Nov 1)
Welter (closing Sept 30)
manywor(l)ds (closing Oct 31)
I await their responses eagerly—for those that haven’t already sent me short (but pleasant) rejections.
In short, a busy September. Stay well, friends, and I’ll see you all in October.