So sorry, Mr. Keats

Who are you and why do you have a blog on writing?

Why, I’m AJ. And I’m a writer. And writers have blogs about writing.

But I guess if you want credentials, I do have a B.S. in language arts (I took literature and theatre classes for five years, yay!) with a psychology minor (I know I did it backwards). I’ve had several short stories and poems published in online literary journals and a few print anthologies. If you want to check out my fancy pants press kit with my bio and works, you can do so here. My mother is a professional editor and she taught me a lot, but I’m still learning. I still read linguistics texts and books on literary criticism and take notes. Just because I graduated doesn’t mean I’ve magically been turned into an expert. But I’ve come a long way and though I’m still figuring things out, so I hope this can serve as a decent outlet for all my random philosophy and/or rants on writing and the publishing industry.

What do you write?

Mostly prose with a fantasy or sci-fi element thrown in somewhere. All my poetry is prose-poetry. I’m also focusing a project in the various ways disability and body identity is conveyed in literature.

List some examples of good writing according to you.

Anything by Ursula Le Guin. Anything by Ted Kooser. Anything by John Keats. And South Park. For starters, anyway.

What do you think of self-publishing?

Seeing as I want to take the self-pub route – you’ll find out.

What’s your day job?

I am a part time library clerk with a focus on genealogy research. I also help run the writer's group sponsored by the library.

I also work at a grocery store. The PLU for bananas is 4011. And now you know.

What will readers find on this blog?

Mostly random topics that come up as a result of me researching the publishing industry and the vast community of writers on the internet, which I will try to provide links and resources. Also some things that I have found to be helpful, valuable or insightful. Maybe some book reviews. And shameless self-promotion when I get stuff published.

Why are you apologizing to John Keats?

Well...

Thanks for reading!