January River

Commentary: Art Stuff - january-river.net It’s 11/11! Make a wish! Was your wish for a stream-of-consciousness commentary post? I’ll never tell!

It’s 11/11! Make a wish!

Was your wish for a stream-of-consciousness commentary post? I’ll never tell!

january-river.net/2025/11/11/c...

A Cup of Christmas Coffee - january-river.net “But what about all this? Your ranch, your dream of running a Christmas-themed coffee shop right here in a small New Mexico town? And what about the people of Elephant Butte?”

Need something fun to read on a brisk fall day? Cassandra, Sebastian, and their dreams of a Christmas-themed coffee shop will heat things up!

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Still Life, Pond in Autumn - january-river.net Kieran sat unmoving in his equally motionless kayak, the bright yellow plastic divided in two perfect halves by the mirror of the water’s surface.

New flash fiction!

The pond was beautiful, tranquil, still, like a painting. Until it wasn’t.

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Striking symmetrical photo of a pond in autumn, reflecting trees along the shoreline.

New flash fiction tomorrow!

bound - january-river.net The natives fling themselves / with abandon / into walls

Welcome to the jungle!

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Commentary: It Was a Protein Shake - january-river.net I think you can get away with a “dear reader” type of commentary filled with the banal details of what you had for breakfast last Thursday as long it’s not every week. Or every two weeks.

I think you can get away with a “dear reader” type of commentary filled with the banal details of what you had for breakfast last Thursday as long it’s not every week. Or every two weeks.

january-river.net/2025/10/14/c...

Cannot wait to read it!!

Thank you!!

reconstruction - january-river.net Today’s poem is the first January River thing that’s been published elsewhere, which is really exciting! Check it out!

Today’s poem is the first January River thing that’s been published elsewhere, which is really exciting! Check it out!

january-river.net/2025/10/07/r...

Commentary: Something Old, Something Also Old, Several Other Old Things - january-river.net One thing I’ve been discovering as I’ve started submitting things to places that might want to publish them is that there is actually a “market” for reprints.

One thing I’ve been discovering as I’ve started submitting things to places that might want to publish them is that there is actually a “market” for reprints.

january-river.net/2025/09/30/c...

posteriority - january-river.net Butt cheek! / Butt cheek! / my daughter proclaims / to the world

The words of a child possess such stark wisdom, such doubtless truth. Heed them well.

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Commentary: Rock On, Harrisburg; Rock On, Boston - january-river.net When I have a chance to see a band live, I get as much out of the experience as I can. Seeing a show is a good reminder that the secret sauce is hard work.

When I have a chance to see a band live, I feel a mix of appreciation and inspiration from people who are working hard at their craft. Seeing a show is a good reminder that the secret sauce is hard work.

january-river.net/2025/09/16/c...

fraternal - january-river.net The floor is paved with wooden planks / rough and scratched / peeling, mismatched

If you know for certain where you’ll finish, what’s the point of the race?

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Commentary: Seasons Change - january-river.net September always makes me hyper-aware of change, which makes sense. It’s also really self-indulgent, but this IS a blog.

Is the song stuck in your head now, too? Also: this month always makes me feel like my world is getting upended.

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laboratory - january-river.net At six forty-six p.m. / they’re still laying great big chunks of granite / in the yard

It’s not that I’ve never done physical labor, it’s that I’ve never done it every single day.

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Commentary: Three Secret Techniques Etc. - january-river.net I wrote most of an essay, then realized it amounted to five-hundred words on how “writing is hard.” So I scrapped it.

Hey, it’s writing about writing, including a list of three simple tricks! What is this, 2005???

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countryside - january-river.net The rug in the room looks like Portugal

Beautiful landscapes are hidden where you least expect them.

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We talking about #hashbrowns over here too, or…?

Commentary: Slowing Down to Speed Up - january-river.net I’m still publishing something every Tuesday, but new poetry/prose/art will be every other week. That gives me the time I need for longer, more complex stuff.

I’m still writing stuff every Tuesday, but if I want to have time to work on longer and more complex things, I need to change things up.

january-river.net/2025/08/05/c...

Catch and Release - january-river.net The fishing hole looked almost too good to be true. The current would slowly carry the lure right past the submerged trunk, where hungry fish might be hiding. “Catch and release,” Brent muttered…

There are differing opinions on the ethics of “catch and release” fishing, which may be influenced by personal experiences.

january-river.net/2025/07/29/c...

luxury - january-river.net The Route One Prada has seen better days

Route 1 on the North Shore of Massachusetts is a legendary stretch of highway. Check it out before it’s gone!

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anxiety - january-river.net As the drugs take hold the mirror melts

Take your meds.

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inattentive - january-river.net There must be a cruelty school or a church of unkindness

I did not learn this in kindergarten.

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Withdrawal - january-river.net He felt no pain. Not yet. He could see the pain there, of course…he knew what it was, and knew that he could take it out, pick it up, allow himself to feel it…

All things deposited must be returned.

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Tomorrow…all things deposited must be returned.

compensate - january-river.net I made something It’s nice but that’s not why I made it

I suspect a lot of creators started for the same reason: to balance out all the consumption.

january-river.net/2025/06/24/c...

reservoir - january-river.net Here on Maple Street the blacktop grade is off a few degrees…

Go back to a time when the edge of the road was a riverbank, and the gutter a swiftly flowing stream.

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math - january-river.net This is the law by which we exist

Numbers don’t lie, but they can approximate.

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Secret Weapon - january-river.net Heltia had left Palloren as prepared as any warrior could be for the long journey to the Infinite Armory. Now, as she finally stood in the fabled Hall of Implements, she feared it would come to naught...

If an armory were truly infinite, would its destructive potential be infinite as well?

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costume - january-river.net When I say: I want to be something else

Just because something is simple doesn’t mean it’s easy.

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