Micro Cultures
“An Unbearable Lightness”
My friend Leslie remarked via email that she was “somewhat jealous†of my impromptu adventure, to which I replied “don’t be.†There’s no envy to be found in fright, in flight, in a series of decisions made on the fly … Continue reading
Why I Hoard Books & Why I Won’t Read Them
So many books I haven’t read Anna Karenina; The Pale King; The Night Circus; Silver Sparrow. These are a few of the physical books in front of me, suspended in the air by blood red “floating shelves” bolted to the … Continue reading
No Award for 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction; Franzen Seethes
On my way home from work, I said to myself, “I’m not going to write about this. I don’t care.” Welp– As you probably know, the winner of the 2012 Pulitzer Prize For Fiction was “No Award,” written by … Continue reading
The Beauty Bar (or outside)
No need to describe the weather–”Chicago night winds in March” will suffice. We stood outside the Beauty Bar, the five of us–three bent at the seams by alcohol, one (of the aforementioned three) neared systemic shutdown. He led our court. … Continue reading
The Real Folk Blues
At the end of “Cowboy Bebop,” protagonist and general badass Spike engages in one final shootout with his rival. Bullets fly, the rain falls–all that you’d expect in a finale. Leading up to the last episode, “Cowboy Bebop” felt rushed … Continue reading
Whitney.
Whitney and my mother are inexorably linked within my memory. They did not know each other. Or maybe they did in the way black women know each other quite well–a sort of underground communication through wormholes connecting history to history, … Continue reading
The Latest in Cyberspace Fashion
A part of me wants to complain. Something about the land of the social misfits irritates me, but I keep my mouth shut–at times–because I consider it a personal problem, one easily fixed by my removal from the networks. I … Continue reading
The Victor
No one, they say, moves to Camden, NJ by choice. Camden is, comparatively speaking, no worse than north Philadelphia or west Baltimore or at least two of Washington, DC’s quadrants. None of these cities are inhabitable, so they say, but … Continue reading
“between the typeset” by mensah demary
my writing life is different. its previous state outlined in an earlier essay, here–now–is where i note the dissimilarities. it is 5 AM and there’s no time to putter. the urgency to write is here–now–evident inside my blood slowly circulating … Continue reading
Stories For Women
if you think you read this previously on a personal blog which no longer exists, i have two words for you: prove it. My wife says I should listen to her more often. Perhaps. Then again, Frank Ocean’s Nostalgia, Ultra grows … Continue reading
Moleskines
note: “Electric Parade” is now “Bullet Train to Tokyo” because “Electric Parade” no longer suits me and I’ve never set foot in Japan, much less one of its bullet trains. *** once upon a time, i was poor. in Prince … Continue reading
death scene: denzel as malcolm x approaching the audubon
cue: Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come†play up to a loud, ear-splitting crescendo: the opening violins which slices every black American down his/her back. *** i was told–once–as a little boy, “denzel was despondent when he shot that … Continue reading
“mensah demary”
for A. down the rabbit hole… the name “mensah†is Igbo (some believe it is Twi) for “third born son.†this makes “mensah†a far more accurate name than “Thomas.†i retained my last name (real) to honor my father. … Continue reading
tell me something good
they say athena is the greek goddess of love. i used to say this, before i learned the gods’ names and their accompanying powers, abilities hitched to human elements. they say athena is the goddess of love because, in my … Continue reading
what is exhausting is what i wanted…
the time is 10:32 PM est. i am hunched over my laptop, shoved into the corner of our apartment. the desk–my wife’s–is positioned next to an open window, where humid air blows in, where expensive cold blows out–along with the … Continue reading
Like Gambit Hurling Race Cards…
Author’s note: this was written in February, 2011–undoubtedly during a blizzard. Two weeks ago, I grabbed my red marker and wrote on my noticeboard, “opinionated writers.†Earlier, I perused Twitter and my RSS feeds, feeling inferior about my own work. … Continue reading
Cool Story, Bro
Humility is acceptable, right? It’s not so odd to stare at the ground–or my big-tongued Adidas sneakers, black or burgundy, depending on the mood–and take the compliments in stride, as in silence, instead of feeling full of myself? Am I … Continue reading
Literature for True Hipsters (aka The Literary Web)
Earlier this year, I ranted on Twitter. For about an hour, I bemoaned the state of the online literary magazine or, to quote Roxane Gay’s recent tweet, “the literary web,†and wondered why it all seemed the same to me. … Continue reading
Lifestream
I think I’m getting old. Too old for Tumblr, maybe–or most social networks in general, but Tumblr’s on my mind at the moment. Almost a year ago, I opened my Tumblr account; my intent was to supplant my WordPress blog … Continue reading
“Give It To God”
“Give it to God,†she said. I’ve written this story a million times before. I’d like to do it differently, this time. When I think of John, I never know where to start. In the beginning. *** We became friends … Continue reading
Pictorial: Hard-Bound Drug
Today marks Day 5 of my summer cold; when I’m sick, my desire to write wanes–if anything, I write in my head without putting pen to pad [or finger to keyboard]. Being sick, however, can’t stop the movement*. On my … Continue reading
Pictorial: Six Tattoos
There’s nothing particularly attractive about Ohio–its northeast quadrant, specifically–beyond its small town charm. One road truncates ten towns and only the changes in their Welcome To signage demarcates their differences. Glass storefronts adorn the idyllic Main Street of politicians’ lore, … Continue reading
Pictorial: Lisa Nicole Carson
Her Wiki page is paltry, a bare-bones rundown of an eleven year acting career–mere vital statics. Born July 12, 1969 in Brooklyn, New York. Ethnicity: African-American Occupation: Actress Years active: 1991 – 2002 There are brief notes on her acting … Continue reading
Thoughts On The Rapture
Somewhere on my hard drive lies a column–most likely under a folder labeled “PANK‖that I intended to post this week. I decided to save it for next week. Or maybe not. Depends on where I go with this new, sudden … Continue reading
Writer-Spouses
So much to say in a marriage, so much unsaid. Joyce Carol Oates *** Only a foolhardy youth with something to prove acknowledges death, then proceeds to chase it. Some call it bravery; the old men in flannel shirts, their … Continue reading
On Writing Memoir (Or The Lying Game)
I have a friend on Twitter. Well, I have 104 friends on Twitter as of today–a nice number given my account lockdown–but anyway, I have a friend who, last year, sent me some direct messages. I publicly vented my frustrations … Continue reading
Novel Zombie
I’d like to tell you about my novel. The dead one. The one which stirs in its grave. gaussian blur It started in 2002. I lived in Prince George’s County, Maryland–about ten miles from the DC border–and I had a … Continue reading
In Search of the Perfect Ending
About ten miles from my job, there’s a park where I like to visit when, upon lunch time, I have nowhere else to go. My job, a manufacturing plant, has a cafeteria struck dead by austerity: white rectangular tables with … Continue reading
A Short, Springtime Invocation Dedicated To Writers + Snooki
Living in NJ means I have to deflect vitriol and chides deriving from the thing called Jersey Shore. As if I gave the thumbs up on that show, as if Jersey Shore applies to the entire state; funny, I don’t … Continue reading
Blog Different
This past week, I wrote a post on my personal blog and snatched it down shortly after pressing “Publish.†As I typed out the gory details involving my depression diagnosis, it never occurred to me that I was sharing more … Continue reading
First Person Memoirs For People Who Don’t Exist
I write first person memoirs for people who don’t exist. I just thought this to myself and it sounded cool and authoritative (in the author sense of the word). It may be accurate, since they’re as bewildered and mistaken about … Continue reading
Disintegrating Novels
I’m glancing at my noticeboard, at the numerous tasks I need to complete: four stories (three fiction, one personal essay) in various revision stages, three works in progress and my column. The noticeboard excludes other lesser duties: update my Tumblr … Continue reading
They All Have Shaft Afros
At once, I see why I used to love—and now hate—the Law & Order series. When I was down with the show, I stuck with the original version. Every so often, I’d watch SVU, but I could only handle sex … Continue reading
There Is More To Life Than Writing
I have no business posting this. “ A life, Jimmy, you know what that is? It’s the shit that happens while you’re waiting for moments that never come.†-Quote from The Wire *** I am of two minds, of two … Continue reading
Electric Parade: Patti Smith & Me
I’m a quarter through Patti Smith’s memoir, Just Kids. I don’t have anything to say about the book itself, other than I can’t wait to finish it. That aside, I was shocked to learn that Smith lived in my section … Continue reading
When Not To Write A Memoir (Or Letting The Pain Go)
* What to make of Health.com’s recent assertion that writers and artists are fourth most likely to be depressed? Beyond the typical ephemera found on Twitter (their depressed cuz they suck! LOL FTW! getarealjob), there isn’t new ground to tread … Continue reading
Choice of Words: A Note on Gabrielle Giffords & The Tragedy in Arizona
I was in the middle of writing a column for PANK—or rather, the beginning. The idea came to me last night; I planned to use the cloistered downtime of a Saturday snowstorm to get the writing done. I went as … Continue reading
Another Bullshit Night…
When asked to offer his opinion on memoirs, Thomas DeMary, author of zero books, offered the following response. *Note: we shouldn’t have asked him. Over the New Year’s holiday, I started reading Nick Flynn’s memoir Another Bullshit Night In Suck … Continue reading
E-Books: A Vignette
* A Little Joke (Voila) To paraphrase news anchor Kent Brockman, “I for one welcome our new e-book overlords.” ** The Aesthetic While I love the feel, the smell, the heft of a physical book, I just want the story—a … Continue reading
The MFA: A Parade of Paper Tigers
I have no vested interest in the MFA degree’s legitimacy as seen through the eyes of proponents and opponents alike. I’m a 29-year-old man still looking to complete his Bachelor’s degree; fretting over the MFA is a little hasty. But … Continue reading
Bending of Spines: A Consideration on “Truth” In Literature
Over the weekend, I purchased a copy of Granta, the splendid UK literary magazine. I was elated to see a copy lying there on its back, next to Tin House and The Paris Review, though I wondered how it got … Continue reading
Fuck Writing Maxims
Thanksgiving Eve. It is almost midnight and, rather than sleeping, I’m working on the iPad, attempting to snap out of my writer’s block. Call it Honeymoon Hangover; upon my return from London a few weeks ago, ramping up again has … Continue reading
Airplane Mode
Third (and final) installment of a micro-series. Parts one and two. Meanwhile, Electric Parade is on a two-week hiatus due to the author getting married. Gone ’til November… * “Lately, I’ll sit down with a blank pad and feel like … Continue reading
Touch-Down In London-Town: Morning Sickness
Part two of a three part micro-series. Part one is here. II. Nausea hit me mid-morning. In the middle of a team meeting at work, giving the rundown on the day’s priorities, I place a hand on the wall and … Continue reading
The Day Job – A Writer’s Malady
I step outside and drag a blade of cold air into my lungs. Â 5:35 AM. Â In two hours, I’ll sit at my desk, wait for my laptop to boot up and stare at the pictures, the papers, the … Continue reading
Touch Down In London-Town*: A Honeymoon In Three Parts
*Title borrowed from Estelle featuring Kanye West “American Boy” I. While I continue work on the best writer apps for the iPhone review (dammit, I said it’s coming), I figured it’ll be a good time to start a micro-series. If … Continue reading
Electric Parade: Note From The Author
Sunday morning and it’s a kinda-gray day. The wife to be is working overtime, Rover’s asleep in the bed and the incense smoke wafts from the bookcase. From the iMac, Kayne’s Devil In A New Dress thumps and sets the … Continue reading
Parable of the iPhone
I’m crouched over a blue plastic bin of spare parts: PVC elbows, steel nuts and bolts, and a large green and white pump made in Japan, meant for usage on a project about ten years ago. I’m doing my part … Continue reading
The Death of Publishing Part M: This Time, It’s Electric!
Caption: They shot Publishing on the Causeway The publishing industry is dying—so I’ve heard. The new era is here—I think. E-books, E-readers and E-distribution: it all spells “freedom” for the writer or, perhaps, the unlocking of those pesky gates separating … Continue reading
Elegy For Google Wave
When I started Electric Parade, one of my first installments was on Google Wave, the now defunct social collaborative tool. Like Wave, my installment floundered, never quite took the shape I envisioned; eventually, I killed it off in favor of … Continue reading
Vignette on Frazen, Lit Fiction & The Twitterverse
The literary hype machine descends upon the masses. Its message”â€Frazen is here! Rejoice, you troglodytes!”â€is splayed across the web like a flickering neon sign. I didn”â„¢t know Jonathan Frazen was upon us once again. I haven”â„¢t even read The Corrections … Continue reading
When Your Writing Space…Part II (aka Mac Love)
-Photo by Peter Yang, taken for Rolling Stone Magazine “Just when I thought I was out”¦they pull me back in.”Â* “They,” in this case, refers to the objects that make up my writing space. If you’ll recall, I adjusted my … Continue reading
Top Writer Apps for The iPad
I’ve covered my thoughts on the iPad, and its usefulness to writers, in previous installments. I won’t rehash old points, but only state that the iPad still has some gaps in its design, and rightfully so, given its a first-generation … Continue reading
Best Writer Apps for Android
The computer & mobile platform flame wars entertain me. Apple vs. Google vs. Microsoft vs. Research in Motion (aka RIM aka Blackberry): each ecosystem has its positives and negatives. I still own a PC, though I use it more as … Continue reading
When Your Writing Space Keeps You From Writing…
My writing space needed a change. The glass tops of my L-shaped desk were covered in dust and cigarette ash. The monitor and laptop appeared out of place. Not to mention the bevy of wires: USB cords, an auxiliary cable … Continue reading
Electric Parade: The iPad and i (three months later…)
It’s been three months since I bought the iPad. For me, that’s plenty of time to fit a new gadget into my life or, rather, realize it’s taking up space, like so many USB cords and cheap earbuds and travel … Continue reading
Electric Parade: Ghosts In The Machine
It”â„¢s Christmas Eve. My family’s generations are delineated by the spaces we fill inside my aunt’s home: teenagers whisper in the back room, the young adults chuckle on the sofa set in the living room, the elders drag forks over … Continue reading
Electric Parade: Painful Writing (Or Never Learning How To Hold A Pencil)
In first grade, my teacher, disgusted with my penmanship, watched as I held a pencil to jot down—something: a math problem or the year Abraham Lincoln “freed” the slaves. No one taught me how to hold a pencil. It’s one … Continue reading
Electric Parade: Blackberry Is King For Writers (Crap For Everyone Else)
I purchased my first smartphone in early 2009: a Blackberry Curve. At the time, it was the best phone Verizon offered, which only heightened my hate for AT&T for obvious reasons. That said, I needed a phone to make my … Continue reading
Electric Parade: Typewriting
The colossus sits atop one of my bookshelves. A black, cast iron automaton rules over the elegant, aluminum unibody tools at my desk. Touch screens. Curved angles. Polished bezel and battery packs. The colossus is powered by human endeavor; its … Continue reading
Electric Parade: Weapons of Choice by Thomas Demary
Each morning, before leaving for work, I grab my tools, all stuffed in a backpack, and head out the door, intending to write during my hour-long lunch break. The contents of my bag: iPad, Nikon camera, three USB cables, three … Continue reading
Connected: The Web (2.0) of Literature & Strangers by Mensah Demary
It’s easy to forget the breadth and scale of the world’s literary landscape. Millions of books from all cultures, all perspectives and should one step out of his comfort zone, out of the few genres and authors that move and … Continue reading