While editing the fiction story by Chastity West for the July issue of the magazine, I came across this beautiful Thoreau quote: “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms, and, if it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish its meanness to the world; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience, and be able to give a true account of it in my next excursion.” Look for Chastity’s story in the Stop issue, out at the end of the month. The image above, by the way, comes from here, and is of a reproduction of Thoreau’s cabin at Walden Pond, west of Boston. The original was located near this site. -Ben

While editing the fiction story by Chastity West for the July issue of the magazine, I came across this beautiful Thoreau quote:

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms, and, if it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish its meanness to the world; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience, and be able to give a true account of it in my next excursion.”

Look for Chastity’s story in the Stop issue, out at the end of the month.

The image above, by the way, comes from here, and is of a reproduction of Thoreau’s cabin at Walden Pond, west of Boston. The original was located near this site.

-Ben

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Illustration for Illustration for Illustration for

Ever feel like your life is a never ending conveyor belt of groceries? I know, I know, and so do the employees of the Northern Cambria Giant Eagle. Join them on the lowest rung of the ladder in E.R. Barry’s latest piece of short fiction for the Quality/Quantity issue of Block Club. The dreary, infinite grocery belt was one of my favorite illustrations to work on yet.

- Julie

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A journalist learns to fib

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So I’ve never been much of a fiction writer. I have trouble committing to a world in which I’d see my characters and situations exist; too many options to narrow down. I’m more stimulated by nonfiction, where I trust  the parameters of truth and reality, and can use that to interpret it in a rich narrative.

(Fiction feels a little like a kid-tested, mom-approved lie, which is both enticing and scary to this journalist. Another reason to give it a whirl.) 

But I’ve dug in, alas, thanks to changes to the magazine! And I’m so happy I did.

When we added a fiction section to Block Club last year, we did so because we wanted to expand on the way we interpret our issues’ themes. If we were going for something a little more abstract, a little less expected, why not delve into fictional territory? Surely there would be new textures and landscapes in the land of the infinite, right?

I’d never edited short fiction, and while nervous at the prospect of taking on a new medium—especially where seasoned, professional creative writers were concerned—I quickly realized how accessible it is to my frame of mind, someone who’s always preferred the challenge of making nonfiction sound compelling, captivating, story-like.

I started a blog (my 938,103rd, approximately), and I dump it all there. It’s kept me on my toes creatively, reminding me that I can and should find other ways to use my writing skills. It’s helped me heal, express, shout, scream, laugh and connect. My hindsight-resolution for this year: Find a new medium and take it on, head-first.

Next week, some friends and I will host our first creative writing club meeting. Still working on a name, though I’m hoping Who’s Bringing Cookies sticks. All we intend to do is share our writing and talk about it. I mean, that’s just the best.

I’ll let you know how it goes. In the meantime, go write yourself a poem.

-Ben

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A few side by sides of my illustrations for Emily-Rose Barry’s short fiction New England Home Magazine for the Comfort issue. The final piece in the magazine is on the left, while the right is the inked drawings. What a difference texture makes!

- Julie

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