If you’re looking for a short story to read, tips on writing your own fiction, or want to learn more about me and my books, you’re in the right place. Subscribe to my site for stories and poetry to consume on your bus commute or while waiting in line at the bank; and for tidbits about my life as a writer in South Korea, reflections on the artistic life, and my tips on writing your own fiction.… Read the rest >>> “Welcome :)”
Pain (Short Story)
“Leave him.”
His words lingered in the space between the off-white walls, his elbow grazing his propped-up knee as he leaned his head back, his eyes on her. His sharp eyes cut through the dark room that was only lit by the city lights outside the high-rise window, the glass causing ripples of light over his skin.
Feeling the pull of his gaze, she looked away. … Read the rest >>> “Pain (Short Story)”
The Longest Summer (Poem)
I wanted to kiss him in dreams once again, to feel him hesitate before tasting, the pressure of his lips equaling the pressure of him on my heart.
I wanted to hear him laugh once again, his smile hidden behind his hand, both as a boy and as a man, his happiness erasing all the tears I had cried the night before.
And I wanted him to sit across dark cafe tables from me again, with wide eyes and wild stories; for him to walk me to the crosswalk as the sun hit the scars on his knees; to laugh in ways I had long forgotten and had long been jealous of; to feel like myself for the first time in a place I could never call home.… Read the rest >>> “The Longest Summer (Poem)”
Beauty and the Benign (Short story)
━━━━━━ ◦ ❖ ◦ ━━━━━━
“But we cannot simply sit and stare at our wounds forever.”
– Haruki Murakami
━━━━━━ ◦ ❖ ◦ ━━━━━━
The stream echoed through the forest, the water rushing and falling over the rocks, one by one and yet all at once, creating a perfect harmony with the crickets and frogs hidden in the grassy brush. The summer was deep enough for there to be fireflies, scattering the air like fallen stars that couldn’t get back to the skies. … Read the rest >>> “Beauty and the Benign (Short story)”
Extroversion (poem)
I was infatuated with his introversion. The way he spoke in written word, each thought trickling down his arm onto paper; the way he expressed his thoughts; the way he processed his inner being. As his mind touched mine, I was swayed by the cosmos within him.
But his soul never reached past his skin. His bones walled him in, locking his soul deep within him.
The Tragic Organ Player (short story)
A melancholy organ melody had echoed through Broadway Avenue every Sunday night for more than one hundred years.
When the music had originally begun in 1823, the townsfolk were overcome with interest in the mysterious talent who played; how anyone could hit the keys with such tragic passion was truly remarkable. Seasoned musicians were the first to notice the darkness of the chords, the minor keys and chords that made up wordless tunes of death, sorrow, and misery.… Read the rest >>> “The Tragic Organ Player (short story)”
Deciding Your Goals as a Writer (Writing 101)
What is the main reason you write?
It’s important to know the answer to this. Too often, we get distracted by sales numbers, awards, reputation, and comparisons, and we start to become obsessed with those insignificant details, losing our focus on the craft itself.
So we have to remember why we write.
Grab some pen and paper and let’s answer some questions. Make sure to write out your answers, so you can get a full view of your goals as a writer. … Read the rest >>> “Deciding Your Goals as a Writer (Writing 101)”
Questions to Ask Your Beta Readers (Writing 101)
You’ve finished your novel. It’s amazing. At least, you think it’s amazing. Isn’t it? But no, really…. wait… is it??
What if you missed something important? What if you have flat characters? Or a predictable plot? What if people hate it?
These are all typical questions that run through a writer’s mind before publication.
So you’ll need a second pair of eyes to tell you if anything is amiss in your novel.… Read the rest >>> “Questions to Ask Your Beta Readers (Writing 101)”
Come See Into Me (poem)
The looking glass isn’t
What it used to be.
The light reflects off you
And straight through the heart of me.
Emerald streams pierce through my mind
It will all unfold in the flow of time.
Come, see into me
Come, see into me
The looking glass isn’t
What it used to be.
The frame is chipped and bruised
But that’s not all there is to see.… Read the rest >>> “Come See Into Me (poem)”
Mercy (poem)
There was no mercy for the weary.
There were nights I begged for you. Nights where the nightmare of reality stole all my dreams, to the point where hope felt like a luxury brand only affordable by the highest classes of society. I held tight to worn-out blankets wrapped around my shoulders as pain leaked in through the windows; the cold bite of winter informing me that summer was just a passing season. … Read the rest >>> “Mercy (poem)”
I Wanted Him (poem)
I wanted him to miss me in those empty spaces,
in those downbeats,
in those deep breaths
between the present, past, and future.
And I wanted him to see my soul
in cracks and curtains,
in small spaces where light seeped in,
and in heavy awnings
hovering over his thoughts.
And I wanted him to whisper to me
over his morning and evening coffee,
both a conversation and a prayer,
his lips and heart coming together
passing through multiple dimensions
to speak to me.… Read the rest >>> “I Wanted Him (poem)”