Empty bottles haunt my desk today. September sunlight pulses through the white shutters. I’m reminded to check the news to reconfirm chaos. And as the coffee cools, I notice the outlines of shadows traced along a music stand, the tile floors, and watercolor walls. And I know I, too, have a shadow. It follows me.…

From March to June, I finished reading four books. I devoured information about the publishing industry and professional habits of successful writers. Poetry collections brought occasional, yet consistent, doses of joy. I also learned from two writers, A.G. Riddle and Riley Redgate, during author events through Winston-Salem Writers. Like countless writers, I dig through books…

I consider myself a lifelong learner. I also consider myself a literary procrastinator. I write much faster than I read, and I read much more selectively than I like to admit. I often think, “I wish I had time to read what I want to and have energy to read it all the time.” So,…

In April 2025, I returned to social media for National Poetry Month. I followed prompts for every letter of the alphabet starting with ABC and ending with WXYZ. You can find more weekly and daily content on Instagram and Threads: @dmjwrites.