Category Archives: Writing

Rough Draft

Posted on July 12, 2026 by sputterpub

Determined to objectively describea union that engendered both of you,I won’t exaggerate. A diatribeis furthest from intent to tell it true.Attempts to justify each act, imbuethe character with motive, justifyour ways and represent each point of viewresults in complicating both. … Continue reading →

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Compendium

Posted on June 26, 2026 by sputterpub

Compendium? That wasn’t my intentwhen I began to write four months ago.If anything, an epic’s what I meant:a spine of narrative from which would flowvignettes and episodes I thought might growto 90,000 words or even more.The path revealed. The process … Continue reading →

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The End’s in Sight

Posted on June 20, 2026 by sputterpub

The end’s in sight, although the work’s not done.I see ahead of me a focused lightthat isn’t aimed at me to smash or stun.The end’s in sight. I thought I had a million words to writebut 50,000 in, I think … Continue reading →

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Cloudy

Posted on May 24, 2026 by sputterpub

I used to think that I’d be recognizedfor writing as I did. As I still do.I practiced and I never was disguised,for nothing big was hid – it all was true.But though to me the syllables were prized,I didn’t sell … Continue reading →

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Middling

Posted on May 15, 2026 by sputterpub

The daily walks of Covid had no aim,except to circulate without my walls.Selecting a duration was the game,and midway through I’d angle back to home.I rarely had an errand I could claim,but always knew when I was halfway through.An exploration … Continue reading →

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Fiction

Posted on May 7, 2026 by sputterpub

The lunch did not occur. There was no faceacross a table nor a bubbling potof cassoulet. Opinions here do trace;the lunch did not. There’s license to facilitate a plot(with hopefully no forcing, and with grace) –a fledgling author thought it … Continue reading →

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The Rise of Outline

Posted on April 17, 2026 by sputterpub

I always thought an outline was the startof any well-intended work of prose.But nothing organized became a partof paragraphs I ventured to composetwo months ago, and weekdaily. I choseinstead to draft in pieces what I aimedto say. Now look what … Continue reading →

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No Legacy Words

Posted on March 13, 2026 by sputterpub

Near 20 years ago my father died,and statements Mom then made resound in me.Although since 6 she tended to deridewhat drafts I shared of prose and poetry,she voiced concern about her legacy.She looked askance and warned “Don’t paint me ill.”At … Continue reading →

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Historiculture

Posted on March 7, 2026 by sputterpub

As pages mount, the fruit of daily draft,they water shoots of memory, from seedsimplanted in soft banks that guide a raftdown streams that swell with melt no dam impedes.The passages reveal as work proceeds;now differences in characters appear.I plan to … Continue reading →

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Angling

Posted on February 24, 2026 by sputterpub

I’m casting back to 43 years old,the age my youngest is, and as I lookaround for recollections lines might hold,I feel I need some substance for the hook.I may not find good memories to bookunless my research yields what I … Continue reading →

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