Receptacle

What else would I be doing? Do you see how quickly I'm blurring? I'm reminded that I ask jars of questions. I open my computer. I open my cell phone. I step out of my pick-up truck and walk in the mud. What else would I be doing?

You know that thing about one man's trash. Disc golf is not a treasure. Disc golf is a sport. I like to play it with a beer in my bag. I prefer courses overrun with leaves. Have you ever heard 20 chains rattling against a pole? I prefer when Layne is there, her camera more often at the trees. 

Still, I asked her to take this photo. Look at my left foot ready to leave, forever. You can't make it out, but that hat is stitched with the Circle City Acers patch. That hat holds more than my head. That jacket is not mine. Jason left it in his closet. Jason left Elwood disc golf for Texas.

You know the story about Elwood's disc golf course being dug out of the old city dump. Today, I looked left from the teepad of hole 7 and noticed the mound covered in dirt, in leaves, bits of neon green easily mistaken for a lost driver. Scattered about are baby doll heads from the 50's. Perfume bottles made of whatever can last that long. A black tube like the one that sucked our sewage from the camper when I was a kid.

Today, I introduced myself to a man I've met 7 times. He spoke of an island hidden away, a secret place to research cloning. Also, that new Wes Anderson movie. The movie two people who mean the most to me dressed up as for Halloween and I had no idea. What else should I be knowing? 

Layne informs me of things like this. Like the dark creeps in on my brightest disc. I want to call Jason and ask him how his disc flies in the Texas heat. I want to see if that guy has another story to tell, a cross-country van trip to California, a raccoon dead in a log where he found three unmarked discs. I want to call them all back here, so I can empty every disc from my bag and have help finding them. It's getting dark. It's time to throw away this beer can. 

RATTLE RATTLE PLZ

I've always been an Aviar guy, more because that's how it's always been, an Aviar in my first starter kit, a heavier one I picked up in my first discgolfcenter.com order, an aviar as a present from a friend. Certainly, I like it, three of them in my bag, love how I can make them swoosh through the air, anywhichaway I imagine. But they were getting whooped, scuffed and sliced, unable to handle much force (lately I've been a POWPOW kind of putterguy).

Couple weeks ago, my putts dead-birding through the air in league play, it was time for a new putter. So was I gonna grab another Aviar? Maybe, but planned to grab one a bit heavier than the mid-160s I'd been tossing around for years, maybe in a Pro plastic to hopefully hold onto that groove it gave.

Then, out of the chatter I'd been hearing the last year playing in Elwood, ooooooh Gateway the putter factory extraordinaire, I threw a couple types--Voodoos, Wizards, Warlocks--real magic shit, right? And then a round I threw the Wizard, wow, that was a putter that "got me," that handles how I like to move it move it, even at that mid-160s weight.

Fate right, haha fate, as another friend had a Wizard, unpopped, that he was willing to sell, stamped for this past Amateur Championships, and I was like okay I'll give it a try. And boy oh boy, though idk how it'll handle broken in/whopped up against Elwood's tree haven, it sure does handle my googly arms, how I whip the putter straight and zoom. I've never been one to use a putter to drive short holes or even zig-zag trees, and this disc as well as it handles will probably stay my go-to gottasinkthis putter. Maybe later I'll let it launch a bit, HOW YOU LIKE THAT, but for now, I'll hold onto that chalky goodness as long as I can. 

Wow This Week

Wednesday is Layne's bday. Hitting up some delicious beers and cheese curds at Twenty Tap before rolling over to see Powerful Patricia Smith read at Butler.

Friday, I'm reading with Loopy Layne Ransom, Rad Ryan Rader, Justified Justin Carter, and Jumping Joshua Kleinberg at Be Here Now in Muncie at 8:30. So stoked to finally host my mega pal Kleinberg for a weekend. It is gonna be a solid foundation of fun to start yr weekends!

Saturday, Layne and I are co-hosting a bday party for the two of us (GROSS COUPLE ALERT) at my parents' barn and yard in Elwood. Holla if you need details.

ID LOVE TO SEE YOU

Bunch Of Pals Asking Me Questions: Part 1

1. Have you always been stoked? What was the first thing you were stoked about? - Mark Neely

I’ve always felt this often-overwhelming appreciation/joy/rattling about the art and people and moments that “touch” me. Like weirdo life does, it has evolved. As a kid, I didn’t really know how to deal with it or what it meant, so I yapped and yapped about everything, sports and girls and trapper keeps and hair gel, but mostly about myself. As a teenager, I started listening to/hanging out with this local band, Away With Vega, and their lead singer, Zack Melton, who was about four years older than me, through girl troubles and school distractions and etcetera, would unleash at shows, dance around, flap his arms, boogie in the parking lot to Hall and Oates. And that was when I started letting my stoked-ness out, when I realized that was cool and okay and fun. When I like (here meaning really like it, feel it in the gut, can’t shake it) something, I holler. When I like something, I get on the interwebs and tell someone. When I like something, I throw dollars at it. Because a lot of my life is fogged by depression, shaded by social anxiety, lost in my own selfishness, being stoked is my defense mechanism, my way of being a normal loving human being.

The first thing I remember being stoked about was when I found an Ultimate Warrior action figure. I don’t remember my age. I was in elementary school, I think. It was at the Indy Toys R Us. I was shaking it above my head and going WOOT WOOT and my mom was like I’M NOT WAITING ON YOU ANYMORE and gave me twenty bux and waited in the car.

2. What is your writing process? - Jim Chambers

It is something like this:

- I’m not good at going from blank page to full draft. I start with a cluster of words. Example include: I’ll do an erasure of a blog post that I really liked, I’ll take some phrases from my phone that I’ve typed in an ongoing Note of possible lines, I’ll do a sestina, etc. A lot of this starting material eventually gets edited out or changed, but it gives me a place to start. Most of the clustering is done on my phone or on paper. About half of my drafting is done on paper. The other half is done on the computer.

- Most of my poems, especially in this book, have been through 6-10 drafts, the earlier ones being major revisions and changes, the later ones being tightening of language, word choice, that type of stuff. I typically edit on the computer, though I used to be that dude with a stack of printed poems, scribbling edits on the bus.

- A big part of my process is exchanging with trusted friends and writers. These include (and are not limited to) Layne Ransom, Laura Straub, Diana Salier, Christopher Newgent, Mike Krutel, and Todd McKinney. I never send first or second, usually not even third drafts, to these people. This is like the step right before I’m thinking of sending the poems to a journal, unless a special case arises. This is vital for me.

- Revising never really stops for me. I still edit poems from my first chapbooks.

3. You leave your book in three places. What are those places and who do you hope finds them?- Layne Ransom

1. In a random mailbox; the owner of that mailbox.

2. In a disc golf basket; some rad golfer who just hit his/her first ace.

3. My urn; some nice person who is interested in how my ashes are doing.

4. Was there a defining moment in your life when you knew you had to write or have you always been a writer? - Laura Straub

AND

I find origin stories fascinating. Growing up in small town Indiana, how did you come to writing poetry? - Christopher Newgent

I didn’t read a book, like engage with a book, care about a book, until I was 16. It was The Great Gatsby. (And though I love the book still, I have no clue how that was the book!) From there, I read more classics, then read some contemporary stuff that intrigued me in my late teen years like Eggers and Klosterman (Also, this journal-type book by the sports talker Mike Greenberg called Why My Wife Thinks I'm An Idiot had a strange effect on me. I remember that was the first moment I cared about other people expressing themselves.), then I found the BSU Writers Community my freshman year of college and it has been all rolling up and down a stupid hill since then. Defining moment: I’d say when Todd McKinney read a Dean Young poem at Writers Community. It was the magical experience of community and energy and discovery. Writing made sense as a contemporary living thing after that moment.

5. Where do babies come from? - Ryan Rader

Go ask your mother.

6. If your book were a song what would it sound like? Who would play it? - Layne Ransom

I’ve actually been thinking lately, after hearing Matt Hart’s band Travel’s new album (which comes with his new book) (which puts a bunch of his poems to songs), that I’d love to try this with some of my poems.

Problem is: I don’t know how to make music.

Solution: I have some talented music friends.

Dream friend backing band: Ryan Rader, bass; Cody Davis, drums; Christopher Newgent, guitar; Frank Schweikhardt, guitar; Layne Ransom, keys; Nick Teaford, anything he wants as long as he’s a part of it.

Sound: My goal would probably be like part State Champion (the start/stop pulse), part Cap’n Jazz (the wackiness), and part In The Face of War (the spirit, man, the energy).

Even talking in this Word Doc about this makes me overwhelmed with anxiety and regret. The biggest regret of my teenage years is not learning an instrument. The people I listed above are such for real artists, in my mind. I don’t know if I could handle it.

7. If you were a cocktail, what would you be? - Laura Straub

8. Do you ever think about names for your hypothetical children? And what are they? - Ryan Rader

You know, the whole 2ish years I was married, I never really thought about or wanted kids. We did have names picked out (girl: Kaylee Sue—combo of our middle names + both of our moms’ middle names) (boy: Zachary Evan—my best friend’s name + a name we both thought was neat). Now, I think about kids constantly, probably because I’m around them all day, probably because I wanna go back back back. Names now: (girl: Maggie Sue) (boy: Abraham Evan). Those first names are built for camping and riding bicycles and being read poems and living in a cabin. We should all be so lucky.

10. When will there be daily meetings about you? - Ashley Farmer

That is a freaking question! It should be soon, as much as I’ve been hollering, as much of a mess as I’ve been making. On a hospital bed with my arm inches out of socket, I thought the next day they’d start. The last time I told a human I loved them, but not myself, I thought it’d start. The last time I flew a kite with 27 first graders and I was the one who refused to go inside, I thought it’d start. But that’s all a bunch of boo-ha-ha anyways. Imagine the cost of such operations, tremendous!

11. What is Your Favorite Painting Tonight? - Ashley Farmer

Most previous nights, I'd say Number 1, 1950 (Lavender Mist) by Pollock, that wild emotional mess. I stood in front of that thing with my ex-wife, then girlfriend, and we both said WOW. That was a good word then.

Now, though, Tonight, as you say, I'd say, every 8.5x11 white construction paper sheet doused and dripped and rubbed with water color pictures of flowers that my kids made today, hanging from yarn and paper clips around the classroom. Some are blue tulips smiled on by the sun. Some are hunks. Some have hatchets centimeters from the stem. Some have red Xs where the artist wanted to quit but I wouldn't let them, wouldn't give them a new sheet. They are the most beautiful things I've ever seen created.

12. What do you think of these rising gas prices? - Laura Straub

It suxxxxxxxxxxxxx. I haven’t owned a vehicle for four and a half years. A month ago, I bought an S10 pickup. That first time I filled up, fifty bux, that sucked. Then, I remembered how much I spend per gallon of booze and I thought SHUT UP YOU IDIOT.

TELL ME YOU'VE GOT GOOD NEWS

I'm so stoked to say what's up to my chapbook, TELL ME YOU'VE GOT GOOD NEWS, out from H_NGM_N online and free right now. HERE GO LOOK. MEGA THANKS to Nate Pritts for the editorial goodness, Layne Ransom for the nice cover and support, and Todd McKinney for guiding me through this weird journey of poetry.

I HOPE YOU DON'T HATE IT BUT IT'S OKAY IF YOU DO

THREE OF MY THINGS I'M SO STOKED ABOUT

The rad dude Nick Sturm asked my buds Christopher Newgent and Layne Ransom to come read at the Big Big Mess Reading Series he does. WE SAID YES DUH.


This is the cover for my PDF chapbook from Artistically Declined Press, due out at the end of the month. It's this long poem thing that I wrote when I was going through my divorce and listening to State Champion's "Stale Champagne" album a lot.


This is the cover for my chapbook from H_NGM_N Books, due out mid-December. It's a bunch of poems that I did as an independent study with Todd McKinney my senior year at Ball State.

My Friend Layne said this and I think it's a nice reminder (to all of us)

Okay, here is a thing: if you are a Christian in the U.S., especially anything approximating evangelical or mainline Protestant, as far as religion is concerned you are not an oppressed minority. You are part of a powerful majority, and there is nothing wrong with the simple fact of belonging to a powerful majority. In fact, acknowledging that seems like a healthy, self-aware thing to do. But employing rhetoric that paints Christians in this country overall as a minority voice, or victims of a society that increasingly acknowledges and enforces the fairness of not respecting one religious establishment over another (or none at all), or victims of a society that increasingly examines and critiques religious ideas just as it does ideas from all other disciplines, is deceitful regarding your own privileged religious position. Better than looking for trivial ways to make martyrs of yourselves, use the influence you have to help the less privileged, religiously or otherwise -- a sentiment I'm grateful I did hear many times in sermons when I was still part of that privileged majority myself.

Matt Hart Is Rad

With a couple of my coolest lit pals, Layne and Ben, I went up to Lafayette this afternoon to see Matt Hart read as part of Nate Slawson's Panic Attack USA tour. Awesome words like this, some deals at Von's Bookshop, a massive grilled chicken cheese melt and cool pals; it was a nice way to spend a Sunday.

Some Thoughts Upon Moving Home

1. After four years in Muncie, I can honestly say that Muncie is a cool town. Sweet bars. Lots of mostly fun/mostly free activities on campus. A good disc golf course. The Greenway. Killer food spots (Eva's, Greek's, Savage's, Concannons). Pretty much everything I need.

2. I think I'm a take-for-granteder. It's been a pleasure being able to see some people so often/so easy/so reliably. I think it goes without saying that moving is more out of a necessity than anything to do with getting away from anyone. Like Vega said, "Why would I wanna leave? Everyone I love is here."

3. This sucks: Clark moves to Muncie from Terre Haute, I move from Muncie to Elwood.

4. I'm going to start bowhunting again with my Dad.

5. I'll probably play more cornhole (because of my Dad) my first week at home than I did in my four years in college.

6. Now that I'm home and don't have to pay rent, I'll have more money to spend on cool things (read: books and activities). Future books: everything from Dark Sky and Brand Wells' book. Future activities: Bright Eyes/Mountain Goats, Polyvinyl 15 year celebration, Indiana State Fair, AWP 2012.

7. Muncie people: I plan to visit at least every other week, being only a half hour away. If you'd like me to stay with you, I'd be stoked. Also, you are welcome to visit anytime here in Elwood.

8. My parents are awesome.

9a. My last night in Muncie last Saturday was kickass. Got to see a great deal of budz. Had some great one-on-one time with two of my most cherished (and often taken-for-granted; see above) people: Ashley and Sara. Got to see Cody on his last night in town as well. Saw The Bonesetters shred. Fun fun time.

9b. SUPER BUMMED LAYNE COULDN'T BE THERE:(

10. Besides the people, the number one thing I'll miss is being able to go to pretty much every appealing literary/music event in town.

11. I plan to read a ton of books, write many stacks of poems, throw so many discs into so many baskets, hangout with pygmy goats, and learn lots of things about bikes and musical instruments. Hold me to that.

12. Having no car and a good bike in a town with a great public transportation system and plenty of car-pals is sweet. Being able to borrow either of my parents' cars in a town without public transportation and most of my friends a half hour away is sweet.

13. This

Plus This

Plus This

Plus This


14. Things might not have worked out between Sara and I, but they certainly are heading in a better direction than they were six months ago.

15. Still Stoked.

here are some quick thoughts about last monday's vouched presents dogzplot reading

1. i got to help chris run the table and it was super cool to be able to talk about these books to another human being in a way that's not just me tugging on my friends' shirt saying LISTEN TO ME. when people ask questions and you know the answer and furthermore want to give the answer it's a mighty nice feeling.

2. sunnyoutside press makes some gorgeous books.

3. indy-based scratchtruck fed me one of the best burger-fry combos i've ever had. Scratch Burger- 1/3 lb custom ground burger, bacon marmalade, arugula and gorgonzola cheese served on a fresh, toasted soft roll. oh and that banana pudding!

4. a lot of readers with three to five minutes each is a nice way to shake things up. quick and fun. similar to why i dig lit journals so much. if you don't like it, wait it'll be over in a minute and then someone new.

5. i love listening roxane gay read. can't wait for ayiti. hope there's an audiobook.

6. picked up hosho mccreesh's book as well as sean lovelace's new one from publishing genius. i doubt they'll make it into august being unread.

7. layne ransom is awful.

8. clark swears its an acquired taste, but i'm no fan of ipas. i can do one but after that it felt like i've been sleeping with my mouth open in the middle of the woods. if it's an acquired taste, i'm not gonna let myself get there.

9. vouched books is indie lit's best I WISH I'D THOUGHT OF THAT ventures.

10. i'm so stoked for AWP CHICAGO. PLAN SOON?

ANOTHER READING WOOOOO

Some very cool people including Roxane Gay, Sean Lovelace, Matt Mullins, Layne Ransom, and Brian Furuness are reading at this, so it only makes sense to be there. More Info Here.

I WENT TO ALABAMA AND ALL I GOT WAS SLASHED

Since I am the last of the group to post about this trip, what can I say much original? NOTHING. Here is a list of really cool things I remember from the student exchange trip to Alabama and the Slash Pine Festival:

Some seriousgood reading time in the van: all of When All Our Days Are Numbered Marching Bands Will Fill The Streets & We Will Not Hear Them Because We Will Be Upstairs In The Clouds by Sasha Fletcher and Smiles of the Unstoppable by Jason Bredle, as well as parts of books by Tim O'Brien, Chuck Klosterman, Bob Hicok, and the April issue of Poetry Magazine.

Something like 6 (OKAY OKAY I SKIPPED ONE) readings featuring 50+ readers in two days. People say, MAN I WOULD HATE POETRY and I shook in my poetry shoes (boating loafers?), but smooth execution Slash Pine people. Nice work.

Meeting and seeing my online pal Brandi Wells read. We had matching black tank tops and we didn't plan it. She apparently doesn't like dudes in tank tops. I'm a dude in a tank top. We didn't fight. She was like, I WAS NERVOUS and I'm like, YOU RULED.

Seeing cool people like Oliver de la Paz (his new book was sold out :( ), Christopher DeWeese (THIS GUY IS FUNNY IN A GOOD I KNOW WHAT I AM DOING WAY), Brian Barker (PERSONA POEM WITH GORBACHEV), and Amber Nelson (NICE FEELING OF THE WEEKEND: She is the Alice Blue editor and said, You're Tyler Gobble, and I said, I guess I am. She said, I liked your submission. I said, thank you.) read.

Watching my fellow trippers rip it up and stuff. Jeremy brought THE BEERS in a way I can't rip it off the page. Elysia said something silly about wearing cowboy boots because she's in the south, and people liked her poem that started, I WANNA FORCE FEED YOU A PIGEON or something like that. Layne was loud and people want to be here when they grow up. The cursing/vulgarity score was like BSU 19 Others 0.

Meeting some sweet new people like Parker, Shea, and Stacy.

Seeing the always awesome Brian Oliu. This guy does the robot to Salsa music, writes awesome lyric essays, has a voice like I SUPPORT YOU, and was woahelpful in getting us to the fun and goodness of the town.

BREAKFAST. FREE AT THE HOTEL. First day: turkey sausage and cheese omelets. And they didn't suck. Also, donuts and apple juice. Also, mints. Last day: french toast and sausage patties. THANX HAMPTON IN. Oh yeah: Cookies and milk FOR FREE every night.

My reading was a little jumbled. I got nervous and the cool outside air shook up my contacts. But I recovered when I read On Friendship and people didn't go GROSSSSSSSS. Nice folks wanted to know me or say good job or just hug me drunkenly in a bar. Sounds good to me. I said, TYLER GOBBLE, a lot.

TANK TOPS. Beautiful weather/beautiful campus. Layne was good company lotz. We have similar goals in life and on the trip and with each other and with poetry and etc. etc. etc. WE ARE ADVENTUROUS.

DANCIN' was pretty awesome. One of the readers on Friday dj'ed at this nice little bar called The Green Bar, so Layne and I boogied down with Oliu, Parker, and others. YES.

Tuscaloosa's disc golf course whooped me, smacking my disc into creeks and shrubbery and snakepits. I hit more trees than chains. Cool seeing Lovelace tear it up and hearing his stories about his early days as a golfer there.

Overall, I'm so stoked to have these memories wiggling in my brain. Thanks people who helped like donating money like dancing with me like asking me to go like keeping me from being lonely down south like setting me next to booze like clapping and laughing at my poems like saying GOOD JOB and YOU MATTER A LITTLE. That's all I can ask for and you ruled it.

Read Lovelace, Elysia, Layne, and Jeremy's accounts of the trip.

ANOTHER Q&A ANOTHER QUESTION STUCK IN MY BRAIN

One of the many awesome things Ball State's English Department does, The In Print Festival of First Books, was this past Wednesday and Thursday. The basics: the first night three first-time authors (one from poetry, fiction, and CNF) read from their book and the second night they are joined by an editor for a Panel discussion and Q&A.

This year's writers were Tina May Hall, Paul Killebrew, and Debra Gwartney, while the editor was Tadd Adcox from Artifice Magazine. I had met Tadd at the first Vouched Presents... Reading awhile back, and it was a nice opportunity to see him again, pick up the new Artifice, and discuss lit mags/small press stuff with him. Artifice is one of the best-looking and tightest journals around, NO DOUBT. I read Killebrew's book for a class, a book that I enjoyed quite a bit, and he was full of good stories and interesting insights into poetry (THE DUDE IS A LAWYER). Tina May Hall is a really nice lady. I haven't read all of her book, and I'm not sure it's quite my type of fiction. However, I do respect her for her persistence (she admitted she started writing the collection a decade prior to its publication) and academic success (straight through BA/MFA/PHD to a tenured position). I'd never read Gwartney's book either, but I think it's a disconnect from the type of memoir (story of dealing with her teenage daughters running away). All four offered great answers and perspectives to publishing and the business. ANOTHER SOLID IN PRINT.

Oh yeah, my unasked question: How did/do you decide what pieces/stories/poems to include in your book/issue? Each of you talked about "making a tight collection" or "sticking to your vision," but what is that process like? Also curious about ordering.

I did asked Tina and Paul about it during the meet and greet. They were really helpful in encouraging me to be patient and take time to consider each piece carefully.

One discouraging thing: all of them took more than 6 or 7 years to get their books together and published, for various reasons. I know it's not realistic to expect a book soon, but having and making friends with books makes it feel necessary/soooo wanted, even if they are better, more experienced, and older than me. PATIENCE DUDE.

Also, the festival marked the release of the 2011 Broken Plate. I was Lead Poetry Editor of this issue. It was an honor to work with such good people: my classmates, my professor, and the authors. Some of my favorite BSU undergrads appear in the issue, such as Ryan Rader and Cody Sean Davis, along with some really great poets/writers like Ryan Ridge, J.A. Tyler, and Jasmine Dreame Wagner. I'm also honored to have had my review of Matt Hart's Wolf Face included in the issue. Layne Ransom ruled it with the sweet cover/back cover design. If you want a copy, email brokenplate@bsu.edu or pick one up from the Vouched Table.


Good news: I found out that Matt Hart has a new book, Light-Headed, coming out soon from Blaze Vox books. YES YES.

Here is a Paul Killebrew poem I like lotz:

Eponymous

BY PAUL KILLEBREW

I am unable to jump more than ten feet in the air.
I am blind. I am unable to understand the dark
passages. I begin to speak of being deprived.
I believe that I am being kept in want. Who
governs me? Who is to say what I am,
and what I am not? I wish to be conscious
of myself. My frontiers are long and insecure.
I contract them. I cannot command them.
I determine myself not to desire what is
unattainable. I have a wound in my leg.
I am a schoolboy. A rule does not oppress me
if I impose it on myself. I assimilate it
into my substance. I can never be thwarted.
I cannot want it to be other than it is.

For reasons I'll probably unveil in one form or another, this week has been the most emotional wacky week of my life, but stuff like this keeps me together. THANKS.

What Matters for 500 Pt. II

What Matters For 500

TOMORROW

ALABAMA

Along with three good friends and fellow BSU undergraduate writers, I'm going to Alabama at the end of March for a student exchange. As part of this experience, we will be reading at The Slash Pine Poetry Festival and visiting the university. To help promote and raise funds for this trip, we have decided to hold a fundraiser on Kickstarter. Here is the page. For this, we will be creating chapbooks, broadsides, and eventually videos. Any support, whether it be promotional or financial, is greatly appreciated. Feel free to message me with any questions or concerns. Thank you in advance for your support of my education.

Sincerely,

Tyler

WORDS WORDS WORDS

A wackyweirdstressfulconfrontationaladjusting week weaved with good words is nice.

Tuesday, a few of my friends--Ryan Rader, Ashley Ford, and Cody Sean Davis--read at one of my favorite bars, Be Here Now.

Cody read a few things including his poem "Virgin," which is gonna be in the 2011 Broken Plate, and a short story, which I saw an earlier draft of and man his edits blew me away. LANGUAGE TIGHTENED IS LANGUAGE USED.

Among other things, Ashley read this powerful story about her brother wearing her clothes. I'm stoked that Ashley will be reading at the next Vouched Presents... reading on March 26th. It'll be nice to see her get an outside-of-Muncie audience for her strong personality.

Ryan released two chapbook, one of which I've blogged about before, and another, First Rodeo, that features himself, Shaun Gannon, Jeremy Bauer, Joe Betz, Joe McHugh, and Daniel Bailey. I read First Rodeo on the bus this morning; having read/heard several of these pieces before, it was awesome to see them packed together in this nice-for-reading-on-the-bus collection. Ryan's poem "Self-Portrait at 21" is killer associations and images. I WAS IN AN ODD MOOD THAT NIGHT BUT IT WAS FUN.

I haven't read in a while and I miss it.

Last night, super pal Layne got to open for a Faculty Reading here at Ball State, featuring Cathy Day and Matt Mullins. Of course, she ruled. She'll be reading again, for longer, as the winner of last Fall's Writers Gala, at the Gala Winners Reading on March 1st.

I'd never seen Cathy or Matt read, but they were both excellent readers. Matt read a mix of poems and short stories, some stories which will be in his forthcoming book from Atticus Books, as well as showing a poem/video thing he's been working on called Highway Coda. Really dug the feel of the video. Also, his reading approach matched his content so well. Excited to be going to read with him (AND LAYNE) at the Slash Pine Festival in Alabama later this semester.

Cathy Day's approach, like RESEARCH HEAVY and mashing lives/stories/etc., is so impressive. The book she read from seems more Sara's style, but definitely an interesting writing project.

Odd writing related thing of the day: My former professor Michael Meyerhofer just walked in here, I'M AT WORK SHHHH, and had me sign as a witness for his contract in which he won ANOTHER book contest. I won't give details. I don't know if I'm allowed, but SWEET.

I've also been doing a good deal of reading. In addition to the Dickman book (see previous post) and First Rodeo, I had the pleasure to read Come On All You Ghosts by Matthew Zapruder. While sometimes, my eyes pulled away in the middle, a little loose at times, the tightest moments were emotional associations and cool images. Take Dobby's Sweatshirt. OH MY GOODNESS.

Also, I Vouched Brian Oliu's story in the new kill author. WOAH-WEE the pile of sentences buried me a little then I was all hugging it with my lit-reading arms to never let it go. Also also, Oliu is coming to Ball State in two weeks for the Alabama-BSU exchange. SWEEEEEEEEEEET.

HOT DAMN PEOPLE I KNOW ARE GOOD

Super pal Layne has a piece in the new decomP. YOUCH THIS THING SHREDS. Even better: you can listen to Layne's nice voice speaketh it, if you want. SERIOUSLY SMOOTH MOVE PUBLISHING THIS.

Richard Chiem has a flash piece up there too and man, I love how the mind is captured there, the way he entertains the thoughts on the page.

Oh yeah, I have a poem there too. My voice is there too, but it's kind of weirdo-ish.

Wonderfort is looking way sweet, and Roxane Gay's piece is one big HELL YEAH. I love when brothel's matter.

Gala Recap

So last night was the Writers Community Gala, where 20 BSU undergrads got a chance to read a single piece of poetry or prose less than 500 words in front of an audience and a group of faculty judges.

I cannot be more pleased with the results. We had a turnout of about 85 people. I was really impressed by pretty much all of the readers. Also, it was nice to see some new faces/voices read.

The two main changes we made this year seemed to work out really well. Instead of using Student Government Association money to buy prizes, our plan was to ask for donations from faculty and then use club funds to buy the rest. Our faculty came through in a big way, donating enough prizes that not only did we not have to buy anything, we had enough to give all 20 participants a prize just for competing and have a free raffle as an end-of-semester thank you to the audience. The other change was a heavily enforced 500 word limit per reader, which helped the reading go quickly and smoothly.

Congratulations are in order to Spencer McNelly and Lindsey LaVal, who got 3rd and 2nd place respectively. Of course, big congrats to Layne Ransom who won the whole thing. All three readers got a sweet stack of books that others should be jealous of. All three will be asked to participate in a reading in the Spring, so be on the lookout for that.

Elysia, my fellow WC officer, did a great job hosting beside me. I'm also proud to say that I had few awkward moments and slept well last night.

Big thanks are in order to the judges for donating their time and talents: Cathy Day, Rai Peterson, Jared Sexton, and Audrey Brown. Also, thanks to the donators, who went above and beyond in providing prizes for this event: Jill Christman, Mark Neely, Sean Lovelace, Todd McKinney, Andrew Scott, Victoria Barrett, Peter Davis, and Cathy Day. Big thanks to Todd and Elysia again for helping me out so much putting this together. I'm also hugely thankful for all the readers and audience members who have made this such a successful semester.

REALLY I COULDNT BE MORE GLAD THIS IS OVER AND I MEAN THAT IN A GREAT GREAT WAY LIKE IT WAS SO GOOD AND LETS BASK IN ITS GOODNESS