The author reflects on their transition from teaching, noting previous burnout due to lack of support and student engagement. Now, with improved circumstances, they prioritize self-care by setting boundaries, designating an office day, and remembering the core purpose of teaching. Balancing personal life and passion enhances their teaching sustainability.
Category Archives: Personal Essays
How I’m Making a Feature Film With My Friend
I’m collaborating with my friend Matt on a feature film about William Laird, a Civil War deserter executed in Maine. After refining our script with input from director Will Eichler, we’re focusing on the execution’s impact from multiple perspectives. We aim to complete a third draft soon and target production by summer 2027.
Grant’s Tomb: Inside America’s Largest Mausoleum
Ulysses Grant’s National Monument, the largest mausoleum in the U.S., was built between 1892 and 1897 to honor Grant and his wife, Julia. Struggles in fundraising and maintenance have persisted over the years. Inside, mosaics celebrate Grant’s military achievements, while his sarcophagus lies alongside five generals, reflecting his legacy and character.
Finishing What I Started in High School – Fiction
I’ve been revisiting a draft I first wrote in high school—an over-the-top police thriller heavy on gore and light on character. Fourteen years later, I’m reshaping it into something quieter and more human. This post shows the original alongside the revision, and reflects on what it means to finally move a story from the unfinished pile to the finished one.
From Negative to Print
The author outlines a personal film photography workflow involving shooting with a Canon TS200 and utilizing an Epson V600 scanner. After developing photos, they focus on scanning, organizing files, and light editing using Darktable. The process, although sometimes frustrating, results in appreciated prints to share with friends and family.
What Day is it?
The author reflects on struggling to write while coping with illness that overshadowed July. Despite feeling unwell and losing productivity, he plans to resume work on various writing projects, including the Aurum Ledger series and Walking Home to Georgia. As August approaches, he remains hopeful for recovery and creativity.
Book List of 2025
This book list compiles the 11 novels, diaries, short story compilation, and documentaries I read in 2025.
A Week of Almosts
A quiet list of the things I almost did this week—flirting, filming, texting, writing—and the moments that never fully happened. Sometimes, thinking is enough.
Desire Is Distraction
The Scene It’s Tuesday morning – 8:25 am to be exact. Sunday night, after the usual two beers for Joel and my podcast, I decided this would be a sober week. Three reasons: to lose a pound or two, to reset my tolerance, and to rest my liver. This week, concluding with my first CivilContinueContinue reading “Desire Is Distraction”
Another Version of Me Has Kids
I’m flying through 4 3 2 1 by Paul Auster. In one version of the protagonist’s life, Archie finds out he’s sterile. The doctor says the sperm count is “far below normal,” and it rattles him. Not because he was desperate for kids in that moment, but because he always assumed he’d have them. ThatContinueContinue reading “Another Version of Me Has Kids”