ALL ART EVERYWHERE IS FREE

2009-07-12T23:31:00.000-07:00

I'm ceasing operations at Blogger but will continue on here : http://kenbaumann.tumblr.com

Thank you for reading/caring.

2009-04-12T22:52:00.000-07:00

The Much Talked About 'Big News'

Okay. So I'm finally in the clear in a legal sense to divulge the promised information: I've optioned the film rights to Log of the S.S. The Mrs Unguentine by Stanley Crawford, and will be writing the screenplay.

A little back story: On recommendation of Blake Butler and others, I bought the book. As soon as it arrived in the mail I sat with it. I read it in two (unfortunately two -- it would have been one if not for having to drive somewhere) sittings, and from really what was the fifth page in it began to percolate and pool within me. I was viscerally struck. Less than halfway inside I began to think 'This would make a beautiful film.' A few moments after I finished reading I felt I had to bring the story to a wide audience and a new medium. Patrick Welborn, my friend and agent, read the book and agreed. And now I, with the help of many many others, will do just that.

I have to thank a few people for bringing me this far: Blake! Thank you. I cannot thank you enough, really. I think you're a brilliant and hardworking artist, a wonderful friend, and a diligent and kind patron of the arts and artists. Patrick! Nobody works harder for me and mine. We've got a long road ahead of us, and I couldn't find a better partner. Stanley! Thank you for encouraging my folly. And everyone else! Hey! Thank you for the support. I fully expect you to nag me and question how I'm doing with the process. Hold me responsible for the cinematic parenthood of this wonderful story. I'd like the pressure.

Alright. That's all for now.

More info about Log here.

2009-04-11T09:03:00.000-07:00

Novellas, A Bunch of Them

John Madera recently emailed me asking for a list of my ten favorite novellas and a little commentary on each. I obliged. Little did I know, what John was compiling was something massive. Here's a bit from his introductory essay:

In his introduction to Different Seasons, Stephen King also called the novella “an ill-defined and disreputable literary banana republic.” In an effort to expand the dialogue, clarify, and even muddy the waters further regarding this renegade, this outlaw called the “novella,” I contacted over sixty writers and editors and asked them to list and comment on their favorite novellas. Below you’ll find J.R. Angelella’s heartbreakers, soul dissectors, and sentence pugilists, Nick Antosca’s border-crossing list, Ken Baumann’s fractured dioramas, Matt Bell’s beautiful strange selections, Crispin Best’s lots of things happening in little places lot, Daniel Borzutzky’s “only works translated into English” list, K. Kvashay-Boyle’s heartstruck aweswellings, Blake Butler’s expectedly unexpected, Tobias Carroll’s Moody mood piece, Jimmy Chen’s trinity, Jackie Corley’s knife’s edge list, Matt DeBenedictis’s five is alive list, Nicolle Elizabeth’s fire ants, Scott Esposito’s primarily Latin-American tour, Brian Evenson’s obsessive confessionals, Brandon Scott Gorrell’s favorite novella, Amelia Gray’s time machine, Jim Hanas’s trip West, John Haskell’s “random and scattershot” list, Jamie Iredell’s reverse-chronological personal survey, Jac Jemc’s soul-crushers and mindbenders, Shane Jones’s “lucky eight,” Sean Kilpatrick’s unhinged list, Lee Klein’s humans being human more or less list, Catherine Lacey’s meditation involving “the bottled embodiment of an economy at its most opulent,” Reb Livingston’s list to reread, Sean Lovelace’s screw-ups, Lorette C. Luzajic’s bridge and tumble crowd, Josh Maday’s unbearable heaviness of being list, Carole Maso’s fractured sprawl, Ben Myers’s mad bastards and quiet recluses, Ben Pester’s curatives, Cooper Renner’s perfections, Adam Robinson’s brainy bramble, Bradley Sands’s bizarro fiction-heavy list, Tim Russell’s grisly and sexy list, Christine Schutt’s one, Matthew Simmons’s pretty accretions and misdirections, Joe Stracci’s pillars, Justin Taylor’s eros erosions, William Walsh’s top twenty!, Kevin Wilson’s list that, if you took out the references, could be read as a recombinant short story, John Dermot Woods’s books that live inside him, and Leni Zumas’s weird and worried wonders. Paul Kincaid and Clayton Moore redress two genre gaps by offering, respectively, science fiction and mystery lists. And you’ll also find lists from Steve Almond, Timothy Gager, Molly Gaudry, Renee Gladman (her introductory paragraph is an incisive mini-primer of the contemporary novella), Christopher Higgs, Lily Hoang, Michael Joyce, Michael Kimball, Gary Lutz, Micheline Aharonian Marcom, Michael Martone, Kimberly King Parsons, Kathryn Regina, Peter Selgin, and David Shields. You can also find mine HERE.

I left out a bunch of really incredible books in my list, and have since added to the comments section of my own post.

Make sure to go and explore. Contained within is a compendium of great literature and great dialogue about the nature of the 'novella.'

2009-02-19T19:20:00.000-08:00

On Light Boxes

I feel it's hard today to find a work of art that is earnest, that is compassionate. (Michael Kimball's Dear Everybody comes to mind). I was startled by Shane Jones's novel because it is so painfully both; it bleeds itself, and bleeds for others.

Light Boxes is a story about a community, about a man's quest to rid his community of February, a bitter and long spell of cold that haunts the the town and its people. I don't want to speak explicitly of the 'narrative' here, only because I think there is magic in discovery; it's a sensual work. Many of the images affected me viscerally, and will stay with me for a long time. Dead bees pour from the sky, a broken father sits in the middle of a snow-covered street, a body surfaces in a river covered in text... I could list all the beautiful, and often tragic, images contained within for awhile.

To go deeper: The characters, the people, in Light Boxes breathe true. I really felt them living, and felt them dying. They seem warm, hot & cold all at once, much like the seasons that surround them. The story also functions on a level outside its own prison, outside the printed page, but, again: I'd like to keep quiet. I'd like you to discover the layers yourself.

Shane has crafted a fine myth, one I hope lasts for a very long time.

Buy and read Light Boxes.

2009-01-26T12:17:00.000-08:00

NO COLONY Volume 2, Now.

NO COLONY Volume 2 is ready for you. This collection has continually wowed Blake and I, we are proud parents again. This issue features:

Isadora Bey
Kristina Born
Aaron Burch
Blake Butler
Luca Dipierro
Scott Garson
Rachel B. Glaser
Chris Higgs
Brandon Hobson
Edward Kim
Matt Kirkpatrick
Rauan Klassnik
Lee Klein
Darby Larson
Evan Lavender-Smith
Patrick Leonard
Eugene Lim
Sean Lovelace
Anthony Luebbert
Conor Madigan
Gene Morgan
Bryson Newhart
Christian Peet
Jennifer Pieroni
Kathryn Regina
Joanna Ruocco
Bradley Sands
Ken Sparling
William Walsh
Corey Zeller
& art by Michael Berryhill

I guarantee you will find at least three stories in this issue that shake you, if all don't. You can also subscribe for $35 and receive Vol.2, and in the future receive volumes 3, 4 & 5. AND: Volume 1 + Volume 2 = $15. If you haven't read Volume 1 already, you are a bad person (not really, but I don't like you as much).

Thank you.

2009-01-20T12:24:00.000-08:00

On Ever

I'm going to begin and end this review with this recommendation: Buy and read EVER by Blake Butler.

Here is why, and briefly:

EVER is a story of mud and light and houses and metaphysical shifts in conscious, shifts in body and being and time. EVER is a story that leaves you feeling bruised and emotional and larger than you were before.

Blake Butler's sentences are often better and more pleasing than those of Lutz, McCarthy & to those of Williams and Lish. I feel Butler's sentences have a more aggressive sonic imperative. As you read, you really are (to use one of EVER's frequent words) slushed along by sentences heavily marked by S's. And when Butler reverts to a sonically dull sentence, often containing the most poignant/banal remark, the words hit you that much harder, because of the impact of all contained behind that sentence slamming forward into you. And when the tone and composition of the sentences and paragraphs shifts, you feel it. It's a visceral change.

The ideas contained in EVER expanded my thought on words, on lyricism and style, on literature. EVER is affective and brutal and beautiful. EVER is a highly creative work that truly feels original, feels new.

Buy and read EVER by Blake Butler.

2008-12-26T00:26:00.001-08:00

A year in review.

2008-12-22T19:20:00.000-08:00

Blake Butler Nails It

My favorite Butler quote (nonfiction):

'I am trying to convince myself to stop talking and doing things around in this internet area but all that is is a tendency in me to want to be contrary no matter what, and really I am too frightened of being awake in the awake clod to not come on the internet, as much as I may try to manifest the idea that I could disappear at will.'

Exactly.

2008-12-14T19:43:00.000-08:00

Blogging and Brevity

I feel myself moving away from this blog, toward this blog. All look-at-me-daddy aside, I'd like to be able to do my internet blabber game/discuss with others, so if you haven't already, CROSS THE LINE.

I'll keep this thing going for longer, breathy stabs, but I'm trying to communicate with this in mind:

If I had more time, I would have written a shorter letter.
-Marcus T. Cicero

Books Buying Books Buying Buying

Somebody needs to hold my hand and walk me to the library. Seriously. I have purchased some fifty books in the past thirty days, it adds up, erk. At the moment I'm sitting in my office. My bookshelf is full, space above the books full of books, piles of books up to my navel, more boxes every day from Amazon. Hey I guess compulsive book buying is better than As Seen on TV Binges/Crack Addiction. It's certainly heavier.

Something A Little Expansive

I think it's important that someone who really loves you live within a 30 minute drive. I won't expand on that.

2008-11-30T10:14:00.001-08:00

Go Buy This Book Right Now Or Else

Purchase (pre-order) EVER by Blake Butler.
Thank you.

2008-11-26T20:56:00.000-08:00

Books I've Bought This Month

Alright, I'm trying to calm down. So far:
The Open Curtain by Brian Evenson (we snagged him for NC1, he's a master)
Infinite Jest by DFW (I know I'm behind)
The Wavering Knife by Brian Evenson
The Angle of Yaw by Ben Lerner
Epigraph by Gordon Lish
Stories in the Worst Way by Gary Lutz
In The Blind by Eugene Marten (his other book, Waste, is incredible)
The Battlefield Where the Moon Says I Love You by Frank Stanford (deep in already, wow)
Give + Take by Stona Fitch (Concord Free Press is giving this away free)
Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino
Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis
Godel, Escher, Bach by Douglas R. Hofstadter
Working by Studs Terkel
40 Stories by Donald Barthelme (first three stories are very, very good)
Samedi The Deafness by Jesse Ball (also a wizard in NC1)

NO COLONY, Foodmovies, Sold Out & Writing Mode

So far NO COLONY Volume 2 is shaping up firm like Arnie. I could spout all day about the stories we've gathered, but I'll spare you. Just know: save your Christmas money.

I can't eat pizza anymore. Pizza tastes awful.

Netflix is incredible. I'm conquering the Criterion Collection. Some new favorite (non-Criterion) films: Network. Wow, the dialogue, THE DIALOGUE. I cried happy tears, no joke. Wings of Desire. Peter Falk was the best part of this movie. Some haunting images that I think will stick with me for awhile. Overall, mood and tone dominate. Worth seeing. (though not as good as The In-Laws)

Y2K is officially sold out at Powell's. Thanks to all who bought.

Question: Do you write fiction/poetry by hand or with a word processor? Get specific in the comments section. I'm going to start writing by hand, to change it up a bit. My hand will slow me down, but maybe that's good? Haven't been writing lately, anyway. Words, hundred words, then twenty words, then six words, hopefully words will pile into novels. I should start writing every day.

The days are long.

2008-11-11T15:30:00.000-08:00

New At ML Press

Mud Luscious Press continues to do good things. New chapbooks are available with words by Blake Butler, Brandi Wells, Nick Antosca, and forthcoming words by Sam Pink and Brian Evenson. The names speak for themselves: get them while you can.

A Review, A Thank You, A What I'm Doing

Y2K (published by MLP) was reviewed here. Thank you, Madore.

I'm preparing to direct my first film. It will be 25-35 minutes in length. It's based on the novel that I'm submitting around. Film production is working my brain unlike anything else. I'm reading One Hundred Years of Solitude for the first time, wow, one hell of a book. Also recommended: Waste by Eugene Martin and Gascoyne by Stanley Crawford. I'm waiting for February.

2008-10-29T15:53:00.001-07:00

Y2K, Chapbooks

My poem Y2K is being published in chapbook form by ML Press, an offshoot of Mud Luscious. J.A. Tyler wants to do good things with both MLs. Y2K is being released alongside chapbooks from Shane Jones and Jimmy Chen. (!!! IN GOOD COMPANY, SCORE !!!)

Check out ML Press, the chaps are $2, shipping included. You'll like them, I promise. I promise, the whole internet.

I reread every chapbook I own today. One of my favorite new chapbooks is THIS FEELS LIKE NORMAL by Brandon Scott Gorrell, Matthew Savoca & Colin Bassett. Colin did a great job with this, it is well-constructed/designed.

UPDATE: Y2K is almost sold out. If you bought a copy, thank you. If you want a copy, click here.

2008-10-12T11:59:00.000-07:00

Long Poem Called Y2K Available, Who Wants to Read It?

Comment or email me and I'll submit it to your journal.

Globalization Drawing

Bailey/Young On Poetry

I like what Dan and Mike are saying about poetry.

On Religion

2008-10-10T20:52:00.000-07:00

East Central Indiana by Daniel Bailey

Dan sent me his most recent (?) collection of poems. I really like them. Dan is one of my favorite poets, no joke. Here is one of my favorite lines:

maybe silent hurting is the new mid-western love

When I read that, I paused, closed my eyes for a moment, opened them, read it again, and shook my head wow. East Central Indiana is appearing soon on bearcreekfeed. Wait for it.

Yum Yum I Can't Wait to Die by Sam Pink

Got this in the mail today and immediately read it start to finish. Sam Pink's stuff makes me feel dizzy, it's so good. He also included an awesome personalized message: KEN I LIKE YOU AS A FRIEND. I want to give Sam thumbs up until my thumbs pop off.

HTML Giant

has cornered the blog-about-literature-with-a-focus-on-internet-literature market.

Weird 2nd Novel Pressure, Intent, Ampersand

I stopped writing my second novel. Ideas/energy flowing into other projects. What I have so far feels good, I'm confident it'll still be fun whenever I go back to it. I'm exerting a weird pressure on myself though, the pressure to make something 'bigger' and 'more effective' and 'ambitious' for my 2nd novel. WHY?

I've been focusing on the intent behind my art lately. What do I want to do with my art? What's the goal, is there a goal? What utility should my writing have? Blaaaah? The meditation slows me down. Now: I'm trying not to define a goal, trying to trust myself as a storyteller and just write.

&

2008-09-24T16:10:00.000-07:00

READ NO POSIT VOLUME 3

New Novel

I'm writing again. I'm working sentence by sentence, getting them right. The sentences will eventually form a novel. It feels really good to desire a high standard of creative output, it feels even better to work/type/paint towards that standard.

BRAIN

BRAIN is stagnant. This is my fault, the founding members's fault. A total redesign is going to happen in the next six months. We're going to make BRAIN into something very useful/functional. The forum will disappear, and member-to-member communication will be far easier. BRAIN will become more project oriented. I'm excited for the change.

2008-09-20T02:08:00.000-07:00

David

I wrote three paragraphs about David Foster Wallace's death, my thoughts on suicide & and the writing community, then deleted them. Here is what I'll say instead: David Foster Wallace was a writer, a human. He was loved. He is gone. I feel compassion to those close to him in any way. I've noticed some people that are markedly indifferent to his death, and I say to them: IT IS OKAY TO FEEL.

Motivation, Inspiration & Surrealism

Blake and Shane talked about motivation, creation, death, people, surrealism. Their conversation got me thinking. I want to say this: I believe that everything is cyclical. Motivation, inspiration, relationships, everything. Giant loops. Keeping track of yourself on the loop is the hard part. Sometimes you can work really hard to jump to another portion of the loop, I think. Sometimes you're stuck. I feel comfortable knowing that I'm constantly moving towards something else.

I've watched the trailer to Synechdoche, New York about ten times. It's inspired me, I feel like something is welling up. This feeling, the hum before a huge idea is such a good high.

Regarding surrealism: surrealism is an -ism. I really dislike isms, genres, labels. They're not necessary. They muddy things, force you into an assumption about something creative, which always sets you up for some kind of failure, small or large and sometimes total. Some of my favorite stories feel surreal, they feel magical, they feel like fantasy or nightmare or feel so real you are moved to the other side of the room, but I would prefer not to attach them to an ism. I think the most common thread that keeps me pulled is STORY. I've rarely loved literature that doesn't dive and move and come back up again. I think some sort of journey is important, be it emotional or physical, internal or external. I want to experience CHANGE in art. If nothing changes, if there is no total masterminded direction, then I feel empty. I can't think of an exception. Related: Joseph Campbell (who's face reminds me of David Lynch)

Blake and Shane are both self-aware, nice, intelligent, talented guys. Do yourself a favor and read their blogs, read their stories & talk to them.

Blog Changes

I've made the font larger. Hopefully it'll be easier to read. Everything that I've created on the internet that I'm proud of has been added to the right side of the page. I added my email address. The list of people on the right has changed, I've removed about half of the blogs that I don't read anymore. I'm trying to refocus this blog, make my posts longer and more thoughtful, remove clutter. So much digital clutter. Which reminds me:

Prompt

REFOCUS

extended internet break

2008-09-13T14:25:00.000-07:00

I'm going to take a break from the internet. During the break I'm going to finish NO POSIT Volume 3 and start NO POSIT Volume 4. I'm going to try to be as productive as possible. Internet silence will help me reduce mental clutter and focus on one thing at a thyme.

Also, someone found my blog by typing "i want to be god" into a Google search. I'm sorry, I can't help you.

REMINDER: Buy NO COLONY.
Buy NO COLONY for friends and family.
Buy NO COLONY and put it in a Barnes and Noble.
Buy NO COLONY and mail it to Amazon.com

new york city and burning man and now los angeles

2008-09-01T11:10:00.000-07:00

I went to New York City for the NO COLONY launch party. I had fun. I met many internet people, too many to name. They were all nice and funny and weird in a fun way and some said many interesting words (ZZZZdzszszszssz)

Then I went to the desert for three days for Burning Man. It was overwhelming. I'm happy I went. I had fun.

I'm really happy to be back in my quiet empty house in Los Angeles.

some words:

qualms

moving in reverse

belief system

i just licked a spoon i wasn't supposed to

UPDATE: I didn't miss the internet. OH NO.

YOU DECIDE WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO A PORTION OF MY PUBLISHING CAREER

2008-08-22T09:20:00.000-07:00

From now on, I will not submit any sort of writing to any publication unless solicited. I don't enjoy the process.

This is sort of an experiment, but I will never end the experiment.

If you want to solicit me, comment somewhere on my blog.

NC LAUNCH IN NYC NCNCNCY

2008-08-20T23:22:00.000-07:00

REMINDER

NO COLONY launch party at Barbes in Park Slope Brooklyn, Friday AUGUST 22 at 7:30 PM. Directions on their website.

Fresh NO COLONY babies will be available for ca$sh transaction (10). Bring all your monies.

Readings by Robert Lopez, Tao Lin, Giancarlo DiTrapano, Justin Taylor and Nick Antosca. I will be there, Blake Butler will be there, Shane Jones will be there, Other People will be there. Show up or lose.

on jereme dean

2008-08-18T14:05:00.000-07:00

Brandon Scott Gorrell has organized this: a time in space where many internet people blog about other internet people. Most of the people are writers. Jereme Dean is one of them. I was assigned to write about Jereme. I'm glad I was. Here is what I've learned about Jereme based on a long email conversation:

Jereme would recommend that all humans read You Get So Alone At Times That It Just Makes Sense by Charles Bukowski. I haven't read this book. Jereme says it has caused deep emotion in him. He has read a lot of Bukowski.
Jereme taught me that Shel Silverstein wrote A Boy Named Sue. He thinks that Dr. Suess would beat Silverstein in a clean fist-fight. I disagree.
Jereme likes many internet people, and mentioned many of the people I have linked to on the right side of this blog. GOOD JOB INTERNET WRITERS.
We agree: Writers are not precious. Words are not precious. Once you've written them, let go, they're not yours, they are 'ours'.
Jereme has many posts on his blog I've enjoyed reading and agreed with. This is one of them, this is another.
My favorite Jereme Dean quote: LOVE IS OUTWARD
We talked about arbitrary differences between the nature of 'scene' and 'community'. We disagreed, a little. I don't want to write about it here, sldfkjdklsjflsd
Jereme has dealt drugs, been a drug addict, been arrested, been homeless many times, been gang affiliated, shoplifted for a year to survive, and slept on a couch for a year. He has overcome all of this 'on his own'. GOOD JOB JEREME DEAN, SERIOUSLY
Jereme has extensive movie knowledge, but I stumped him with Michael Haneke. Watch those movies, Jereme.
Jereme's Two Minute Mind
We agree on politics: NO
Where Jereme sees himself in 10 years (answered with a YouTube video):

Chris Killen asked me that final question for his thing about me.

I have tried to keep this post short. I like shorter blocks of words on the internet.

Thanks Jereme. Thanks everyone. Thanks Internet. THANKS BRAIN.

Here is a list of everyone's thing, I like them all and read them all:

Blake Butler writes about Mike Bushnell
Brandon Gorrell writes about Colin Bassett
Chris Killen writes about Ken Baumann
Colin Bassett writes about Chris Killen
Connor O'Brien writes about Tao Lin
Gena Mohwish writes about Sam Pink
Gene Morgan writes about Noah Cicero
Jereme Dean writes about Blake Butler
Jillian Clark writes about Kathryn Regina
Justin Rands writes about Matthew Savoca
Kathryn Regina writes about Kendra Malone
Kendra Malone writes about Brandon Gorrell
Matthew Savoca writes about Gena Mohwish
Mike Bushnell writes about Zachary German
Noah Cicero writes about Shane Jones
Sam Pink writes about Justin Rands
Shane Jones writes about Jillian Clark
Stephen Daniel Lewis writes about Two Tears Boy
Tao Lin writes about Gene Morgan
Two Tears Boy writes about Connor O'Brien
Zachary German writes about Stephen Daniel Lewis

new york city is happening for me

2008-08-12T22:42:00.000-07:00

YEAH YEAH YEAH (said in a rapper way, not in a bored teenager way)

I'm definitely going to New York City for the NO COLONY launch party. It will be at Barbes in Park Slope Brooklyn, Friday AUGUST 22 at 7:30 PM. Directions on their website.

Fresh NO COLONY babies will be available for ca$sh transaction. Bring all your monies.

Readings by Robert Lopez, Tao Lin, Giancarlo DiTrapano, Justin Taylor and Nick Antosca.

here explodes something

2008-08-08T11:38:00.001-07:00

Go here to read a poem I wrote and watch me stare at the camera.

Also, go here to find links about psychology, stuff like the Milgram Experiment, people having strokes, manic depression, and the Standford Prison Experiment. This video about the Milgram Experiment is interesting.

i turn 19 tomorrow

2008-08-07T14:24:00.000-07:00

I feel young and dumb. I think that I'm doing things right if I feel that way. I hope everyone feels that way until they die. Right? (!)

I would say my 18th year was my happiest year, my most exciting year, my most productive year.

Hmm. I like pretending to be depressed about getting older when, in reality, I don't care.

Age is nothing to be concerned about, right? (?)

literature!

new technology, limbo

2008-08-05T23:19:00.000-07:00

I am micro-blogging now. It is okay that I say 'micro-blogging', do not be judgmental. I have a definitive idea of how to use this form of blogging to my advantage. All angles considered. Domination.

I haven't written a short story or poem in a couple of weeks. This feels okay. I've been swimming, almost every day for two or three hours a go. It feels good. Someone needs to write an 862 page novel about a professional swimmer. NYT Book Review: "Shockingly candid... we glide through, as if cutting across a wide swath of water... definitive."

I like this post by Jereme. My favorite sentence form the post: 'love is outward.'

I've submitted something to HERE EXPLODES MY GIANT FACE. I care more about this submission's acceptance than I do about 95% of previous submissions. Daniel: LIKE IT. If you don't, I will not be mad or upset.

I read God Jr. by Dennis Cooper. Blake said my novel reminded him of Dennis Cooper, but still not exactly. I liked God Jr. alot. Thank you Blake. $12k INTERNET DOLLARS.

New ebook from Lamination Colony. It threw me against a wall with smoke hands. Grab it before it's gone. I think it could not look any better.

I've redesigned this blog. I really like the current design. It will probably stay like this for 3-10 months.

I edited kenbaumann.com

Here is a letter I wrote.

WORKING LINK TO FREE ART WALLPAPER FREE ART WALLPAPER FREE

2008-08-02T11:19:00.001-07:00

THIS IS OUR FUTURE / 1

THANK YOU / YES COMPETITION

2008-07-28T16:19:00.001-07:00

1. To everyone that has pre-ordered and press'd NO COLONY: Thank you thank you thank you.

2. Jereme and Matthew are doing something I really like. SUPPORT THE ARTS.

2008-07-27T03:49:00.001-07:00

NO COLONY IS READY.

2008-07-25T14:19:00.000-07:00

NO COLONY is full, the content is final. Our contributors:

Nick Antosca
Daniel Bailey
Jesse Ball
Ken Baumann
Matt Bell
Ryan Call
Jimmy Chen
Kim Chinquee
Giancarlo Ditrapano
Brian Evenson
Brandon Scott Gorrell
Jac Jemc
Shane Jones
Sean Kilpatrick
Michael Kimball
Tao Lin
Robert Lopez
Josh Maday
Miranda Mellis
Sam Pink
Matthew Simmons
Justin Taylor
J.A. Tyler
Brandi Wells
Derek White
John Dermot Woods
Mike Young

I really like all the new words compiled from these folk. Good on them. Good on everyone. Pre-order now and SECURE YOUR COPY!!!

NO COLONY will be shipped in September. We're now reading submissions for issue 2. Send something, please.

2008-07-14T23:21:00.000-07:00

BRAIN

2008-06-19T23:50:00.000-07:00

I've started an artist collective. Three other people and I have wanted to for awhile, now it's here:

BRAIN
wearebrain.org

I want a lot of people to join and talk and support each other. To join: comment on this post with the name and link you want listed. Or you can email join@wearebrain.org

ON UPDATING YOUR BLOG

2008-06-14T22:52:00.000-07:00

I feel like I haven't updated this blog in awhile. I feel guilty.

Songs I've been listening to:

Acceptable In the 80's - Calvin Harris
Needles and Pins - The Searchers
Nobody Cares - Para One
Midnight Train to Georgia - Gladys Knight & The Pips
Gobblidegook - Sigur Ros
Kids Doing Drugs In The Park - Monster! Killer! Slug!

MIRANDA MELLIS PREVIEW // NO COLONY

2008-06-07T17:36:00.000-07:00

Miranda Mellis, author of The Revisionist, has a new story in NO COLONY. Read an excerpt of the story here.

Pre-order the first issue of NO COLONY. Click this link and make it happen.

STORY AT TITULAR JOURNAL

2008-06-06T17:24:00.000-07:00

A story formerly called HOW TO BLOW UP THE WHITE HOUSE ON A BUDGET, now titled The West Wing, can be read at Titular Journal.

Titular and my story need MAD HITS.

NO COLONY READY FOR $$$ / BUY A PUSHCART NOM

2008-06-06T12:47:00.000-07:00

NO COLONY is now taking pre-orders, $11 shipping included. The price will probably go up, so pre-ordering will save you money.

Also, for $400 you can buy a spot in the first issue. $400 will get your story published in NO COLONY ISSUE 1.

For $650, we will publish your story and nominate you/it for a Pushcart Prize.

We're not joking.

WHAT IS GOING ON IN THIS PICTURE

2008-06-04T23:12:00.000-07:00

TREATISE BY NOAH CICERO

2008-06-03T17:24:00.001-07:00

You can now buy Treatise by Noah Cicero on Amazon.com

I really like this book/recommend people buy and read it.

2ND DRAFT

2008-06-02T18:14:00.001-07:00

I finished the 2nd draft of my novel.

I think I'm 90-95% done. I'm really happy with it.

I've been submitting stories and poetry. I have a poem forthcoming in Spooky Boyfriend and a thing/video appearing tonight at New Heavy.

I'm going to move away from my computer screen now.

ROY DEMEO

2008-05-29T21:45:00.001-07:00

I wrote a story about Roy DeMeo. I wrote it for Everyday Yeah. It is part of their People Who Died in 1983 series.

LISTEN

2008-05-29T17:52:00.000-07:00

MONSTER! KILLER! SLUG! is my friend. His song makes me feel happy and active. Listen and try not to dance. Also, listen to the song in a different window/tab and look at the image below this post. They make faces in time to the music.

DESTINY

LOOK

2008-05-28T19:25:00.001-07:00

2001, PROMOTIONAL LINKS

2008-05-24T10:08:00.000-07:00

2001: A Space Odyssey on the big screen was good. It's going to be hard watching it on a DVD, now. The sounds in the theater were so loud. When the monolith screeched, everyone covered their ears. Good job, Kubrick.

Bear Creek Feed by Colin Bassett. He's doing a good job with this.

Blake Butler talks about Kafka On The Shore. I'm reading the book now, but I'm only 90 pages in. I haven't reached the parts that make Blake angry. I'm sad and surprised the book doesn't keep going with it's weird energy.

I'm going to start looking at my book Tuesday. I'm excited.

Shane Jones interviewed Jesse Ball here. I really like this interview. If you haven't already, GO. The first question and subsequent answer is key. Good job Jesse and Shane.

NPVOL2 INFORMATION, NO COLONY INFORMATION, INFORMATION

2008-05-22T18:03:00.000-07:00

Many people looked at NPVOL2. Good job, everyone. VOL3 will come mid-June.

I'm getting more and more excited about NO COLONY. I really like everything we have accepted. I think it will be read by many people. Good job Blake, me, and writers who've submitted. Keep submitting.

I've redesigned kenbaumann.com
It looks like Matthew Derby's site. Good job, Matthew Derby and I.

LINKS

WHAT I THINK OF MY OWN WRITING

2008-05-20T17:29:00.000-07:00

I like about 4 of 5 things I write. Making that ratio higher is a goal.

EDIT: I don't really want to train myself to spend more time editing stories and poetry.

What do other people do? Do they write things they hate and do twenty drafts? Do they love everything they write and look at it once?

Give me answers.

MORE THOUGHTS: This story was edited using suggestions from the editor. I liked his suggestions. I like the 'Titular version' of the story. I think sometimes a second voice can help.

HEALED

2008-05-18T02:47:00.000-07:00

I feel happy and excited now. I'm not thinking about my novel. I'm going to swim tomorrow and do some physical labor.

BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE

WRITING NOVEL

2008-05-17T05:40:00.000-07:00

I am writing a novel this weekend. I started seven hours ago. I'm going to try and sleep as little as possible. I'm using RedBull and 81% dark chocolate to keep me awake. Daylight is coming now.

I have around 4700 words. I would say that the first 1/4, maybe 1/5 of the novel is done. It will be short, but not too short, because of some things I'm doing with space and layout. I'm trying not to worry about length. I feel like I'm leaving things out, maybe 'big' things, on purpose, to leave a void. I like voids.

I want to finish the first draft by Monday morning. I want to finish the final draft by June 31st. I want to get the book published by June 31st, 2009.

We'll see.

UPDATE: I'm eating a carrot. I slept for 4 and 1/2 hours. I need more caffeine.

UPDATE 2: I finished. I didn't drink any more caffeine. I should maybe call this post WRITING BOOK or WRITING NOVELLA. The book should be about 140 paperback pages. It feels like a prose poem. Writing and finishing was cathartic.

I plan on waiting two weeks then coming back to it and working some more.

UPDATE 3: Catharsis combined with 90 degree weather is bad for me. I feel alone and unhappy. I'm probably grieving the loss of the book. I don't have it inside me anymore. Ignore this update.

HOUSE OF LEAVES

2008-05-16T01:18:00.000-07:00

I reread House of Leaves today. Danielewski wrote the book for 10 years.

The book scares me. It makes me feel crazy. I keep checking my walls.

It felt more like a love story this time.

It has inspired me to start outlining my next novel. I'm going to work on that this weekend. I want to tell the story in a different way, with experimental form, but I'm not sure how it will work best. I have an idea, hopefully it will float.

LOOK AT NO COLONY

2008-05-13T18:00:00.001-07:00

http://nocolony.com
http://nocolony.com
http://nocolony.com
http://nocolony.com
http://nocolony.com
http://nocolony.com
http://nocolony.com
http://nocolony.com

Go to NO COLONY. Read the page. Look at the image. Shiver. Submit writing.

MULHOLLAND DR.

2008-05-12T20:20:00.000-07:00

I watched Mulholland Dr. the other night. This is one of my favorite scenes of all time:

Blake Butler has re-obsessed me with Lynch.

THANKS NOAH

2008-05-12T18:15:00.000-07:00

Noah Cicero inspired me to start planting things in my backyard.

Today I bought a peach tree, compost, and some flowers. I planted it all. It took two hours at the most. Nothing was expensive, really. I liked digging holes, mixing dirt and compost with my hands. I felt really happy doing all of this.

I'm going to buy vegetables like broccoli and carrots and artichokes tomorrow. I'll plant them in large containers filled with peat-based mixes and compost.

Thanks for the inspiration, Noah.

MAKE AN UPSLOPE, AHHH

2008-05-10T14:54:00.000-07:00

People are reading NPVOL2. I track them using Google. Join.

I got this as a gift. I was skeptical. I started using it. I really like using it, now. I will still use BookMooch to swap books. I will use the machine to buy new books that are hardcover, I will use it to buy books that are from major presses like Random House so they make less money, I will only buy 'real' books from friends and small presses. I think I am helping the environment. I don't know.

I'm reading In Defense Of Food. I read it on the machine. I really like it so far. I would recommend lots of people read it. It talks about the industrialization of food, Western diet and Western disease, how nutritionisim is an ideology that has ruined people's health, and other things.

I hope people like this blog's 'look.'

READ NO POSIT VOLUME 2

2008-05-06T17:49:00.000-07:00

NPVOL2
NPVOL2
NPVOL2
NPVOL2
NPVOL2
NPVOL2
NPVOL2
NPVOL2

TODAY

2008-05-05T20:54:00.000-07:00

I woke went to Malibu Canyon Park. I climbed a small mountain. I watched a mother and father goose lead three goose babies down a path. I watched this from the mountain. I sat on top of a waterfall. I climbed a fence. I sat underneath a large tree. I looked at a field of weeds. They were red and eye-level to me. The wind made them rustle together. The noise was nice. I watched ants carry bits of rock in a line back and forth. I walked by a lake and river. I saw a large snake, ants, birds, white butterflies, other butterflies, beetles, flies, and lizards. Nature was otherwise very still.

I felt calm.

NPVOL2 IN TWO DAYS

2008-05-04T17:00:00.000-07:00

NO POSIT Volume 2 will be released in two days.

It includes 22 things from 16 contributors.

Submit.

'DEATH' OF MY FIRST NOVEL

2008-04-30T15:59:00.000-07:00

I put my novel in a box and put it under my bed. I just did this.

I was about halfway through editing the first draft into an entirely different second draft. Editing hurt my brain and body. I've been editing for two years.

It took me two weeks to bring myself to put it away forever.

I feel better with it under my bed.

I am excited to write and complete my second novel.

NO THINGS

2008-04-28T21:16:00.000-07:00

NO POSIT looks nice on a cellphone. Read it on your cellphone and your computer. Both at the same time. Volume 2 will be revealed within two weeks.

NO COLONY. Submit. It is filling up, we have many pieces I really like, many pieces I think are 'amazing.'

I'm going to try and put together a short novel length book filled with stories.

I want to read my work out loud. If you know of a place I can do this in Los Angeles, tell me. I will go and read.

GOODREADS

2008-04-23T16:35:00.000-07:00

I have six hours 'to kill'. I went through my Goodreads and got rid of my 'to-read' books, I don't like the idea of keeping track of all 'to-read' books. I deleted some friends. I added some friends.

If you want to recommend books to me, email me or join Goodreads and review books. Or do nothing.

ANNOUNCING NO COLONY

2008-04-17T23:46:00.000-07:00

NO COLONY

A new perfect-bound print fiction journal collaboration between NO POSIT and Lamination Colony.

Yes.

First issue to be released Sept 2008.

Submissions are now open.

It will feel right.

WORKING ON THINGS WITH PEOPLE, AN 'UPDATE'

2008-04-15T16:50:00.000-07:00

I'm creating something with Sam Pink soon.

I'm creating something with Blake Butler now.

I'm writing things alone. I'm putting together NO POSIT Vol. 2. It will contain more fiction and poetry than Volume 1.

'Big' announcements will come. Soon.

TWO POEMS AT ROBOT MELON

2008-04-11T18:39:00.000-07:00

I forgot.

Here are two poems at Robot Melon. They are also on this blog.

I think that Lamination Colony, Robot Melon, and NO POSIT should start something together, I don't know, what do you think?

NEW STORY AT LAMINATION COLONY

2008-04-09T18:39:00.000-07:00

Blake Butler has released a new 'issue' of Lamination Colony.

I have a thing in it here.

I really like Lamination Colony. I feel 'proud' that my writing appears there.

AXIOMS 1-3

2008-04-03T23:38:00.000-07:00

1. Everything changes.

2. Everything goes.

3. Everything can be manipulated.

NO POSIT, CHAPBOOK

2008-04-03T22:39:00.000-07:00

NO POSIT Volume 2 is 'officially' 'full'. Volume 3 is already 'filling up'. People will like Volume 2 and Volume 3. NPVOL2 will arrive late April/early May.

Thank you everyone. Thank you for reading things I put together and/or write. Thank you.

I will make a chapbook in the next 2-3 months.

ATTN: MATTHEW SIMMONS

2008-04-02T15:56:00.000-07:00

Matthew Simmons.

You submitted something to NO POSIT. It was in my Spam folder. I accidentally deleted it.

Please resend. Also, if I haven't responded to your submission within a week, please resend.

Thank you Matthew Simmons. I'm sorry for the inconvenience.

POST ABOUT 'NOTHING'

2008-03-31T15:22:00.000-07:00

This post 'fills' internet 'space.'

I feel very happy. I am not writing much, but this feels okay.

NO POSIT VOLUME 2 IS 'FILLING UP'

2008-03-26T02:19:00.000-07:00

***UPDATE***

NO POSIT Vol. 1 was 'triumphant', a 'return to form', 'great, groundbreaking work...compelling', it 'amazed and bewitched', 'set the bar high as it could possibly go', 'won over America', 'answered the world's silent prayers'.

Volume 2 is 'more than full', it's 'busting at the seems', it may be 'out of control', and 'insane'. I hope so. It will be released in late April/early May. This will feel right.

Everything submitted from now on will be considered for Volume 3 and beyond.

Submissions in my email inbox make me very happy.

NO POSIT VOLUME 1 NOW ONLINE

2008-03-23T17:44:00.001-07:00

Please enjoy NO POSIT Volume 1.

Contributors: Thank you thank you thank you. I've really enjoyed putting this together. I look forward to reading future submissions for Vol. 2 and beyond.

Everyone else: Enjoy.

NO POSIT IS 'BLOWING UP'

2008-03-19T19:00:00.000-07:00

UPDATE. MORE PEOPLE.

Yes. People are emailing me things at a fast rate.

NO POSIT Vol. 1 will definitely include Gene Morgan, Nathan Logan, Ben Myers, Prathna Lor, Daniel Bailey, Jimmy Chen, Colin Bassett, Sam Pink, Chelsea Martin and Ken Baumann. Yes, I have 'edited myself in'. It's okay, it's funny.

I WANT MORE WORDS. You can view the temporary 'splash page' here, and the submission 'guidelines' here.

NO POSIT Volume 1 is going to be 'huge', 'massive', is going to 'spread like wildfire', and 'win major awards', and become 'incredibly lucrative. I feel good.

REQUEST FOR MORE WORDS

2008-03-18T23:44:00.000-07:00

I am creating a new place for fiction and poetry online. It will be called NO POSIT. I am building the website now. You can view the temporary 'splash page' here, and the submission 'guidelines' here.

People are contributing already. I want you to send me words. It will be nice. I am excited.

SEVENTY TWO WORDS

2008-03-18T23:42:00.000-07:00

Seventy two words that I put together are here.

"FAVORITE" BOOKS

2008-03-17T22:01:00.000-07:00

I have made a list of my "favorite" books, authors, stories, and plays. It is on the right side of this page, if you scroll down a little.

If you want to read something "recommended", I would tell you to pick from the list on the right. If you want to talk about books, or other things, email me.

FROM THE PREFACE OF THE IMMORALIST

2008-03-15T22:19:00.000-07:00

"If some distinguished readers have refused to see anything more in this drama than the description of a peculiar case, nor anything more in its hero than a sick person; if they have failed to recognize that it might nevertheless contain some very urgent ideas of very wide interest -- the fault lies not in those ideas or this drama, but in the author, and I mean in his incompetence -- even though he has bestowed on this book all his passion, all his tears and all his care. But the intrinsic interest of a work of art and the interest that a transitory readership takes in it are two very different things. One may, I think, without too much conceit, prefer the risk of totally failing at the very outset to interest people in truly interesting things, to the greater risk of immediately gratifying a readership avid for nonsense, and thereby nullifying all influence on future generations.

All the same, I have made no attempt to prove anything, merely to paint an accurate picture to give that picture the proper lighting."

I like this book so far, and I like many quotes by Gide about art. I don't 'identify' with his quotes about man's relation to God, though.

FUNNY GAMES

2008-03-15T18:34:00.000-07:00

I saw this movie last night.

I like the original more, maybe because I saw it first.

Michael Haneke is my favorite director. The Seventh Continent is my favorite film. I would recommend that people rent his movies and watch them, and then watch the interview on the DVD immediately after.

I BADLY

2008-03-05T13:01:00.000-08:00

I badly want to start writing my next novel. I will not start until I am finished editing my first novel.

This is an 'inner struggle'.

One day, there will be things to post that you can purchase and hold in your hands and read. This is a goal.

I AM DOING THINGS AND BEING PRODUCTIVE

2008-02-27T20:15:00.001-08:00

You don't know about my productivity.

Secret projects. Secret productivity.

WATCH THESE VIDEOS ABOUT CAPITALISM

2008-02-22T12:54:00.000-08:00

I want you to watch these videos created by Noah Cicero. Thank you.

I WROTE A SHORT BOOK

2008-02-18T17:57:00.000-08:00

I wrote the book and submitted it to Bear Parade. If Gene Morgan doesn't want to publish it at Bear Parade, I will submit it other places.

It is shorter than a "normal" short story, one you'd see in The New Yorker or the Atlantic Fiction Issue.

It is in parts. I feel like it would "fit" at Bear Parade.

I'm excited about the book.

PUBLISHED AT ROBOT MELON

2008-02-11T19:05:00.001-08:00

You can read a story that I wrote here. It is called SMACKING NOISES.

I appear in issue two of Robot Melon with other people like Zachary German, Sam Pink, and Kendra Grant Malone.

NEW BEAR PARADE BOOK BY ZACHARY GERMAN

2008-02-09T21:09:00.000-08:00

Here is the new bear parade book by Zachary German.

I liked it very much. Here is a blurb:

I like Eat When You Feel Sad. When I was approaching the last page, I started to feel anxious and sad, wanting the book to be longer.

DRUNK

2008-02-07T19:21:00.000-08:00

Go here to DRUNK, the blog of drunk poetry in capital letters. I posted two poems tonight and will post in the future.

I will give DRUNK a blurb.

DRUNK is a blog that I read every day. Writers, who are drunk, post poetry. I like all of it, so far. DRUNK is 'batting .1000' for me and others.

NIGHT OWL

2008-02-07T17:56:00.000-08:00

Brandon Scott Gorrell wrote a story called NIGHT OWL. It is here.

Mazie Louise Montgomery wrote her version here.

Chris Killen wrote his version here.

My version is here:

Jimmy clicks on an email, reads, deletes. Shit email, he thinks. He watches a video of Barack Obama on YouTube and then goes to Obama's site and donates fifty dollars. He sighs and stands up. Walks to his bookshelf, grabs a book and throws it in the trash. Wait, he thinks. He grabs the book out of the trash and puts it back on the shelf.

He walks into the living room. No one is there. The house is quiet.

Kitchen. Wine. He finishes his second glass and stands still for awhile. He sees how long he can hold his breath. Ninety-six seconds. He pours and drinks a third glass of wine.

He goes to his bedroom and gets dressed. He looks for his zip-up hoodie for awhile. He changes all of his clothes. Jeans, black sneakers, t-shirt (Brooklyn Strangla), and jacket with stripes. He does his hair for eight minutes.

He drives down Cahuenga, then on the highway, then sits in traffic for awhile. Traffic fixes itself. He is in Hollywood, looking for the club. There it is. He spends thirty minutes trying to find street parking, then parks in a lot.

"Fi dohler." a man says.

Jimmy gives the man five dollars and walks away.

The bouncer says "Eight dollars."

Jimmy gives him ten, the bouncer gives him back two.

"Givem the insecure stamp." the bouncer says and laughs.

Jimmy walks into the club, sort of. In the hallway leading to the club.

A girl says, "I need to stamp you babe."

She stamps his wrist with black ink that says INSECURE.

"What the fuck." Jimmy says and walks in.

He walks to the bar.

The bartender is talking to three girls, they smile and giggle a lot.

Jimmy yells at the bartender. He comes over.

"What's up."

"Can I get a red wine and a white wine." Jimmy says.

The bartender nods, goes back to the girls. Fifteen minutes later comes with a red wine and a white wine. Jimmy grabs them both and drinks the white in four big gulps, then drinks the red in six big gulps. He throws a twenty dollar bill on the bar and walks away. He smiles. That was something from a movie and now I'm that asshole, Jimmy thinks.

He walks around the club. A DJ spins Justice. People dance. Jimmy stands still and tries to look sober and uninterested. The DJ spins hip-hop. Jimmy sits on a white leather couch. He checks his cellphone. One new text, from Teo, CANADA IS COLD FUKKK. 1:37am. Jimmy leaves.

"Can I come back?" Jimmy says and shows the bouncer his wrist.

"For you big boy, anything." the bouncer says and laughs.

Jimmy walks to the parking lot and points to his car. The valet man gets in his car and drives it out of it's spot. He gets out and hands the keys to Jimmy. Jimmy gets in and drives home.

Living room is dark. Jimmy sits on the couch in the dark and pulls out his cellphone. He puts it back in his pocket and walks back outside, to his car. Drives to Del Taco. Orders tacos, fries, a big Dr. Pepper. He pays at the drive through and goes back home and eats in his kitchen with the lights on. He throws away the taco wrappers. Sips his Dr. Pepper and feels sick. He texts Lauda I WENT TO A CLUB TONIGHT, IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING

Jimmy wakes up and feels like he vomited in his sleep. He wonders if he text messaged or called Lauda. He imagines that he is giving Lauda and his mother a presentation on why he left them both, and imagines having to 'let them down easy'.

I HAVE CHANGED THINGS

2008-02-06T15:16:00.000-08:00

I have changed the design of this blog. I like the new version more.

GO HERE READ THIS

2008-02-06T13:10:00.000-08:00

Read this ebook published by Lamination Colony, written by Brandon Scott Gorrell. Thanks.

I FEEL VERY NERVOUS

2008-02-03T22:59:00.001-08:00

I don't know why I feel nervous. My heart is beating fast. I started to feel anxious, then I wrote poetry. I always feel anxious before I write poetry. Writing poetry makes me less anxious.

I want to delete this post but I won't.

PUBLISHED AT SIX SENTENCES, A POEM

2008-02-01T13:12:00.000-08:00

I am published at Six Sentences. Here are my six sentences. Here is the blog Six Sentences.

Here is a poem for you:

INDIVIDUAL

individual
you are one of those
i do everything for you
don't think i'm lying
look at my eyes
it's for you
you're special
yes

I AM DOING THESE THINGS

2008-01-30T00:38:00.000-08:00

UPDATE

I wrote poetry just a minute ago, three poems that I like.

I have written more short stories. I want to make some of them into a feature film and am working on that (MAKING THAT HAPPEN).

I'm editing my book, a little.

I submitted three things to Blake Butler for the upcoming issue of Lamination Colony.

I'm happy.

STORY PUBLISHED AT TITULAR JOURNAL

2008-01-28T10:45:00.001-08:00

I have a story called HOME ALONE published at TITULAR JOURNAL. Go and read it please. Also, if you do not read TITULAR JOURNAL frequently, try to. I am "in good company", or something.

I'm happy that my story is published there. I like making lots of links.

ZACHARY GERMAN INTERVIEW 2

2008-01-26T12:41:00.000-08:00

This is part two of a planned fifty-five part (that was made up, we have no plans) interview series between Zachary German and I. Part 1 is here.

Ken: I will ask the first question, now. I hope you want to be interviewed right now.
Zachary, first question: When you feel completely uninspired, bored, and alone, what do you do?

Zachary: I read blogs. I play tetris. I listen to the album Bright Flight by Silver Jews. I drink water. I look out the window. I make my bed.

K: For the remainder of this interview, I will be drinking water. I hope this does not affect our interview.
Zachary, where do you want to live?

Z: I would like to live, starting March 1st of this year, in Brooklyn, New York. I want there to be trees. If I could buy organic fruits and vegetables within five minutes from my house it would make me feel happy sometimes.

K: I watched the movie Atonement today and liked it. Have you ever seen a movie that made you pull at your own hair and go kind of "crazy" afterwards? Atonement did not make me do this, but I still am asking if you have.

Z: There was a part in What Gets Me Hot! where a man was performing cunnilingus on a woman and she looked bored and she said "Do you mind if I smoke while you eat?" That part of that movie made me feel excited and uncontrollably happy for a short time. I felt crazy right then I think maybe, I'm not sure. I felt sad and happy at the same time. I feel stupid right now. I didn't like that movie overall. When I saw The Sixth Sense in the theater with my parents I got really scared and had to sleep in their bedroom for a couple weeks or something. I think that is the closest to "crazy" that I have ever been as a direct result of seeing a movie. I don't have anything against this question but can you make the next one more relaxing?
I'm sorry if that is a bad request.

K: Okay, this will be a relaxing question, and I don't think that was a bad request. What are three of your favorite words to type?

Z: Ugh, okay, and tired.

K: One last question: Save Darfur or save the American poor?
I'm going to ask you the last question again because I feel like you didn't get it, or got it and have been ignoring me, or maybe have felt too busy to answer it. Okay. Save Darfur or save the American poor?

Z: Make eating organic or locally produced food your priority? I don't know. I haven't considered all of the factors of any problem. I don't think Darfur vs. the American poor is going to come my way, directly, so I doubt I will attempt to consider all factors.

SELF ACTUALIZATION

2008-01-20T22:26:00.000-08:00

Read this if you want to. I liked it.

One of Maslow's eight ways to self actualize:

Let the self emerge. Try to shut out the external clues as to what you should think, feel, say, and so on, and let your experience enable you to say what you truly feel.

Another thing:

What people can be they must be.

I will write a poem about Abraham Maslow.

THERE WILL BE BLOOD

2008-01-17T17:20:00.000-08:00

I saw this film. I liked it very much, maybe even "loved" it, as much as I can "love" a movie. I wanted it to be longer. I would say it is one of my favorite movies.

I would recommend seeing There Will Be Blood in theaters, on a large screen instead of on a television.

I WROTE A TEN MINUTE PLAY

2008-01-14T01:29:00.000-08:00

It is called THREE SHORT VIGNETTES THAT WILL REPEAT UNTIL I DIE.

I'm excited right now. I feel like it's three in the afternoon but it's very late. I saw a film called Swimming to Cambodia. I like the film and Spalding Gray very much.

REAL THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO ME TODAY

2008-01-08T19:26:00.000-08:00

I woke up at 12 noon, whenever I wanted to. Today, when happened to be 12 noon. I woke up and rolled out of bed and put on my suit, my Versace suit, my free suit that was given to me for free by Versace himself because he said "I'm so cool". I showered and shaved in 1 minute, beating my previous record of 1 minute and 1 second. With my suit on.

I decided to grab some food from Tommy's Pizza in New York so I flew there on my jet. We got there in 5 minutes and I sat in Tommy's for however long I wanted, it was an hour this time, and ate forty pizzas because they are so good and they are also free because Tommy, the owner, thinks I'm "so cool". He also said that my suit was the nicest suit he had ever seen. Well, I don't know about that.

After Tommy's I walked around Central Park and pointed and three girls and they gave me oral sex for five hours on a park bench. It was 73 degrees and sunny with a light breeze for all five of those hours. Some cops thought about stopping us, and maybe arresting us, but I just shot my laser beam eyes at them and they disappeared in a cloud of smoke. After the girls were done with the oral sex and I had orgasmed for an hour, which is how long I wanted to orgasm today, I decided to fly back home, to my home on the moon, to play moon soccer with my moon dog, Rex. I got to the moon in 5 minutes, beating my previous record of 6 minutes and 10 seconds, probably because I was flying the rocketship myself. I played moon soccer with Rex for 5 hours and then flew to Saturn to skateboard on the rings for five minutes before I decided to sleep for 40 years because I was sleepy and wanted to sleep for 40 years today.

So I got home at around 9pm, my favorite time of night, and put on my pure gold pajamas, but they are also pure thousand count threaded cotton too, just with the gold in them too to look so cool, and read the best book ever written, my favorite book, the one I wrote in 5 minutes, until I fell asleep.

Kevin texted me around 2am but I was sleeping.

I AM GOING TO FINISH MY NOVEL THIS MONTH

2008-01-08T12:43:00.000-08:00

It will be done by Feb. 1, 2008. I am excited. I want to be done with it. I think that I will be happy with the final draft.

This is exciting.

I will start my next novel two weeks after I finish editing this novel.

I am scared.

ON EVERYTHING REVISED

2008-01-02T21:08:00.000-08:00

Read this by Noah Cicero.

I agree with all of that.

Here is what I believe:

Wait, let me say that I think I agree with two groups:

Existentialists
Humanists

Yes, I agree or belong to those groups.

I believe these things:

There is no universal good or bad. If I am a nice person, the universe doesn't care. If I go on a killing rampage and shoot a hundred innocent people, the universe doesn't care. I believe this because I do not believe in a god or higher power that has arbitrary judgments about what is right/wrong or good/bad.

I exist only to exist. I believe in my own existence and that is all I can believe in, because that is the only reality I can experience, that of my own. I am an existentialist.

I believe in being nice to people so that people don't feel unhappy, or feel physically or mentally unhealthy. I try to behave like this. I feel no requirement to be awarded/punished after death for my living action and behavior. I believe that all humans are created equal. I am worth as much as Jeffery Dahmer or a dying child in Sudan. I am a humanist.

I try and never use the words good and bad, and if I do I say "I believe that...". I try and never use the words good/bad for art. I say "I like that movie" or "I dislike that movie". I believe that I should use honest, clear communication that can not be misinterpreted to harbor negative, pretentious meaning. If I am making jokes, or if I express that I am "better" than someone or something, I do so sarcastically.

Some examples of my core beliefs applied to certain things:

Diet: I feel like being a vegan is the "best" thing to be, because it is the least wasteful and cruel dietary path. You do not require that an animal is killed to be fed, you do not support factories that harm the people around them that process that meat, you are eating renewable energy. This is supportive for future generations of human beings and the planet. I am not a vegan, because eating meat and dairy products make me happy because they taste so good to me, and I am thin so it would be hard for me to eat enough protein and carbohydrates to stay at my current weight.

Comedy: I believe that the least harmful comedy is "self-deprecating" humor, because this humor cannot hurt anyone else's feelings. All other humor uses societal constructs I don't believe in, or make fun of somebody or a group of people. That humor is pretentious. If I make jokes that are pretentious or use societal constructs, I do so sarcastically.

These are my beliefs. They are not right or wrong. They are only mine.

I WANT TO TELL PEOPLE THIS

2007-12-29T09:43:00.000-08:00

I am in Texas.

I have things written, things that I want to post on this blog. They are written on my laptop, which can't be connected to the internet while I'm here.

In Texas.

This is okay. I will post new fiction and poetry in January.

Don't be mad.

ON EVERYTHING

2007-12-27T09:42:00.000-08:00

This is my belief:

Everything believed is true.

Everything is perceived. Belief is the perception of something being true. Everything believed, all thoughts believed, are true.

Nothing exists beyond human perception.

This thought dismantles philosophy. But it also affirms it all.

God is not dead. Philosophy is dead.

Reality only exists for the individual. It is impossible to perceive another's reality. You are your own maker and god.

I write fiction for people who believe in a concrete reality with rules and societal coda.

No such thing exists. No such concrete reality exists. There can be no communal reality or coda, it cannot exist past the depth of an individuals perception of things.

I am a reverese atheist, maybe.

I believe in the reality of all belief.

I am a perceptionist.

These words mean nothing.

This is all true.

THESE ARE THE HOLIDAYS

2007-12-22T20:34:00.001-08:00

Hello everyone.

Happy Holidays.

I will only post a few things in the next two weeks. I hope people read the things and like them.

PEOPLE WHO QUIT BEING ARTISTS BECOME PEOPLE I DON'T LIKE

2007-12-18T20:21:00.000-08:00

I know two people who used to paint and then stopped painting and became different people, people that I do not like now.

Hitler and a girl I know named Natalie.

Artists, all artists: please do not stop creating because if you stop you will not express yourself and you will bottle those emotions and feelings and then become someone who uses arbitrary judgments and statements often.

Also, I have found the journal that I lost. I am very happy right now.

I WILL POST A SHORT STORY CALLED

2007-12-15T12:22:00.001-08:00

I will post a short story called On Carrion soon. I haven't written it.