All posts by Eric Robert Nolan

Eric Robert Nolan graduated from Mary Washington College in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. He spent several years a news reporter and editorial writer for the Culpeper Star Exponent in Culpeper, Virginia. His work has also appeared on the front pages of numerous newspapers in Virginia, including The Free Lance – Star and The Daily Progress. Eric entered the field of philanthropy in 1996, as a grant writer for nonprofit healthcare organizations. Eric’s poetry has been featured by Dead Beats Literary Blog, Dagda Publishing, The International War Veterans’ Poetry Archive, and elsewhere. His poetry will also be published by Illumen Magazine in its Spring 2014 issue.

Cover to “Where Monsters Dwell” #17, Steve Ditko, 1972

Marvel Comics.

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“When a problem comes along, you must WIP it.”

This song is dedicated to writers with W.I.P.’s (works in progress) everywhere.

You know — like something that’s 75 or 80 percent finished, but lacks a proper ending. You just KNOW you need to finish it … even if it’s for no other reason than the sunk costs fallacy. (You’ve already invested so much time and effort!)

I’ve got two such projects. Let’s make a pact. I’ll finish mine if you finish yours. (I almost wrote “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours,” and that’s weirdly Freudian. I’m glad I caught myself.) Anyway, we’ll ALL be winners, so we ALL get the shiny red hats.

Now WIP it
Into shape!
Shape it up!
Get straight!
Go forward!
Move ahead!
Try to detect it!
It’s not too late
To WIP it!
WIP it good!

[Update: oh god, now this song is in my head and won’t stop! Send in Credence Clearwater Revival immediately!]

 

“Head of a Skeleton with a Burning Cigarette,” Vincent van Gogh, 1886

Oil on canvas.

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Red Clay Diaries.

Although I suppose Roanoke’s characteristic iron-rich dirt looks more tan than red today.  It still was a canvas for some of nature’s eye-catching patterns.

Man oh man, I would have loved to play on that Jurassic-looking soil with my toy dinosaurs when I was six years old.

 

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“Glow of Gold, Gleam of Pearl,” William McGregor Paxton, 1906

Oil on canvas.

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Peeking Cat Poetry Magazine interviews Dennis Villelmi

There’s a terrific interview over at Peeking Cat Poetry Magazine with my good friend and colleague, Dennis Villelmi.  Dennis speaks at length about his career as a writer, from his early inspiration by the works of Clive Barker to his current work on The Bees Are Dead.

Dennis has always been a creator to watch, and he remains one of my favorite writers.  I really enjoyed getting a glimpse of the processes behind his unique and baroquely dark poetry.

Head on over and take a look.

 

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Cover to “Amazing Stories,” Malcolm Smith, October 1942

Ziff-Davis Publishing.

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#spaceforceselfies

I just started the Twitter hashtag #spaceforceselfies to troll Donald Trump’s planned “Space Force.”   Just take a shot of yourself in any sci-fi getup to parody an eager recruit. You get extra points if you work in a gag directly at the president’s expense within the photo.

This could be a lot of fun if it gains traction among the cosplayer crowd.  I’d go first, but I haven’t the slightest idea how to make a costume.

I’d love to figure out a way to make a convincing costume for the Mobile Infantry depicted in Paul Verhoeven’s 1997 adaptation of Robert A. Heinlein’s “Starship Troopers.”  This … this might actually just be an elaborate excuse for me to dress up as “Starship Troopers.”

 

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“Attack of the 1st Minnesota at Gettysburg,” Don Troiani, 1984

The First Minnesota

Roanoke, Virginia (Southwest), August 2018.

Seen from Towers Shopping Center.