Last Saturday was my first meeting as a board member with the marvelous people at the Writer’s League of Texas. If you don’t know about this fantastic Austin-based resource for writers here in the Lone Star state–and beyond–check out their website. Looking for craft classes, readings, advice on that query letter? They’ve got it. I’m so pleased to be onboard! (I’m especially looking at you, SFA alum, in the Austin area. Seeking a writing community now that you’re away from Nacogdoches? Here it is!)
Blog
“To the Tripping Man at Altamont”
There’s a new poem up today, “To the Tripping Man at Altamont.” The editors at the museum of americana have been very supportive of my work over the years and I’m always grateful when they publish another piece from me.
If you don’t know about the disastrous concert at Altamont in 1969, it’s tragic and fascinating and sadly still feels relevant.
To the Tripping Man at Altamont—Poetry by John A. McDermott
“The Farmers’ Almanac Best Days for Breeding”
I’m thrilled that Brevity, a journal I have longed admired, has published this flash nonfiction essay.
https://brevitymag.com/current-issue/best-days-for-breeding/
“Spring Grove State Mental Institute, Baltimore, 1965”
Thank you to Juked for posting a new poem. Years ago, Juked was kind to me and posted one of my early short stories. It’s great to have a return visit.
“Spring Grove…” is one of a cycle of poems examining mid-twentieth century LSD experimentation.
http://www.juked.com/2018/08/john-a-mcdermott-spring-grove-state-mental-institute-baltimore-1965.asp
“The Jarred Heart”
I’m so pleased to start the new year off with a fresh poem up at The American Journal of Poetry. I hope you enjoy it!
“Where There Are Vipers”
I’m pleased to have a new poem up at Pif Magazine. Thanks for reading!
“Random Adjacent Things, Burning and Not”
I’m pleased to have my essay, “Random Adjacent Things, Burning and Not,” appear in the fall issue of The Pinch, the literary journal published by the University of Memphis. On November 4th, Â I was honored to read at their release party. They are a great group of editors and I’m thrilled to be in the issue.
New poem up at One Sentence Poems
Thanks to the kind editors of One Sentence Poems, you can read my very tiny poem, “Polysyndeton: A Love Story,” on their site.
“Here is Much Water”
I haven’t done any visual poetry lately, so to correct that, here’s a new one. Why? Because it’s the beginning of the semester and I should be prepping classes. This is avoidance behavior. Seriously, this is for my father, who has been dead coming on fifteen years now, and because I’ve been gone from Wisconsin for nearly as long.
