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Will Donnelly Profile
Will Donnelly

@Will_Donnelly

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Writer/Founder of Avid Writers’ Collective/no fun at all. Iowa MFA, Houston PhD., MENSA dropout, words in @barrelhouse , @zone3press , @hobartpulp , etc. he/him

Athens, GA, USA
Joined January 2009
Don't wanna be here? Send us removal request.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
4 months
What were the recent events??
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
1 year
I’m adopting this little guy later this week. Any ideas for his name?
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
3 months
I’m guessing that this sign refers to three separate genres in the library, but I really hope it’s only referring to one.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
4 years
Years ago, when I studied with Marilynne Robinson, I had terrible writer’s block. Here’s what she told me: “The fact that you can’t write but want to just means you’re growing. It means your standards have outpaced your results, but your results will catch up. Have faith.”
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
3 years
Your Elon Musk name is the name of a small liberal arts college followed by a smell. Mine’s Davidson Sweat. What’s yours?
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
3 years
I’m 44 years old, I just asked a girl out, and she just said yes. I’ve never felt better in my life. Honestly.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
7 months
I think my printer just threatened me.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
3 years
I got three rejections today. Let me rephrase that: I got three reminders that I’m a writer today.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
10 months
What’s your all-time favorite interaction with a famous writer? Mine: I once played Wii Bowling with Denis Johnson at a party.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
4 years
Does anybody here know how to make criminalized onions? Because these were pretty great.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
2 years
My mom decorated a small tree this year with her grandchildren’s socks that have lost their mates.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
4 years
I’ve been thinking about this all night.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
3 years
My dryer has often caused single socks of mine to disappear, but never, until today, has it added a third sock to a pair that already existed.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
2 years
hey y’all, I used to be an associate editor for Juked, but I’m now THE fiction editor. YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS. SEND ME YOUR WORK!!
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
3 years
*Liam Neeson voice* “…but what I do have are a very particular set of skills.”
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
3 years
Just one of many amazing off-site events at AWP next week.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
7 years
Am I the only guy at Starbucks drinking cold brew and wasting money on avocado toast in a male romper with a fidget spinner in each hand??
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
11 months
Write the book you want to see banned in Florida.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
3 years
I guess I don’t actually kill my darlings. I just cut them and then paste them in weird files I’ll never open again.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
3 years
A lot of journals are closing for the summer, I know. It affects me too. But remember, @JukedMagazine reads all year 'round, and we have no word limit. Send me your fiction! I'll read it! I can't promise we'll accept it, but we always welcome your absolute best shot.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
9 months
"To Whom It May Concern,” -boring -cliche -devoid of real meaning "To Whom It’s About to Concern,” -exciting -innovative -a call to action
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
1 year
Something I learned right here today: The account for @kfc follows exactly 11 people—all four Spice Girls and seven guys named Herb.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
2 years
I’m resigning from my position at Berry College. This move is entirely related to my mental health and my need for a major change. Thus, I won’t be at AWP this year, but I’m still with Juked, I’m still writing, and I’m hopeful for whatever’s just beyond the horizon.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
3 years
Earlier, I referred to an adult woman as a “girl”, and I apologize for that. I didn’t mean to demean her. She’s actually close in age to me, and I respect her adulthood fully. It’s just that I’m crushing on her like a boy. And oh my God—she said yes!! I’m just so happy.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
5 years
I'm okay with them naming the baby Archie, but only as long as they promise to name the next one His Royal Highness Forsythe Pendleton "Jughead" Jones.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
4 years
I’ve just been asked by the mathematics department here to co-teach a class at Berry, as a professor of narrative, along with the folks in physics in time travel, and OH MY GOODNESS IS THIS REALLY HAPPENING...YES, I AM HERE FOR THIS...
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
1 year
Finally getting my writing/reading space set up here in Athens.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
9 months
"I hope this email finds you well." -boring -cliche -devoid of real meaning "I hope this email finds you before I do." -exciting -innovative -a call to action
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
3 years
I want something like a Peloton but for my writing, where somebody on a screen just shouts at me to type faster.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
4 years
I just signed off an email on my phone with "All Best, Will", which was promptly autocorrected to "All Beast, Will" right as I hit the send button, and I think I may just use that from now on.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
4 years
@stephstephking I want to organize an off-site reading in the parking lot at Four Seasons Total Landscaping.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
1 year
Story of my life, man…
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
2 years
I’m the opposite of excited about this writhing thing that appeared recently in the backyard.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
7 months
I’ve worked on Juked for ten+ years, and it devastates me to see it end. I never did this to make money. I did it out of love. Only ever love. Please be patient as we figure this out. Among our priorities is the publication of those whose work we’ve accepted. We’ll make good.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
6 years
I just had a story accepted by a journal I very much admire after 86 other journals that I also very much admire rejected it. #persistencepaysoff #newpersonalrecord
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
2 months
Is my cheese trolling me?
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
2 years
Pics or it didn’t happen? Oh, it just happened.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
1 year
My turn:
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
4 years
!!! 🥲
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
1 year
I visited Mouse yesterday and brought him a toy. He’ll finally be coming home with me on Tuesday.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
4 years
Lowkey worried that once we're all vaccinated, disco will come back in a big way.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
3 years
I’ve been told a few times today that I seem excited. Starting tomorrow, I’ll be spending two weeks at the Wildacres Retreat Center in the NC mountains, writing, reading, and hanging out with a bunch of other writers. So yes, I’m excited. I’m very grateful, too.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
8 months
leap milk.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
5 years
I keep seeing writers here tell other writers not to write about coronavirus. Here's my counter-advice: If you're writing at all right now, be grateful, take advantage of that drive to create, & write about whatever you damn well please. #WritingCommunity
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
1 year
Mouse is home. He hasn’t left the bathroom yet, but he’s here.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
3 years
Look, I love my microwave, but why why does it say CHILD right now?
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
1 year
I’m thrilled to share that I’m starting a new position at the University of Georgia as the Career Services Coordinator at the School of Public and International Affairs! I’ll still be writing fiction and editing @JukedMagazine , of course. I’ll never stop doing that. 😊
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
3 years
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
4 years
I’m tweeting from an AA meeting, so I won’t be long, but I wanted to thank everyone for the birthday wishes. I’m doing great, and I’m right where I need & want to be.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
3 years
“Men with small money will still impress each other over beer, men with medium money will find ways to barter, and men with large money will slice this country like cake if they get sad enough, bored enough.” ~Eloghosa Osunde, ‘Good Boy’ #SundaySentence
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
2 months
Just heard a kind voice walking up behind me on campus say, “Is that my favorite professor??” I smiled proudly and turned around to see who it was. Friends, it turned out I was not that favorite professor.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
7 months
I’ve blocked so many ad accounts on this site at this point that now I only get ads for tugboats, and you know what? I think I’ll stop right here.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
4 years
One of my current students just told me that her brother, a former student of mine, changed his major to English after taking my creative writing class and is now teaching high school English. I post a lot of silly stuff on here, but silliness aside, I’m so proud right now!
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
3 years
Hey, I was accepted to the Georgia Writers Registry today!
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
4 years
Write like it’s my birthday. Because it’s my birthday.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
3 years
Does anyone have a brand/style of pen they really love? A nice pen for everyday writing, but not a luxury model pen (not a Mont Blanc or anything like that, I mean).
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
1 year
The kitten I’m adopting (I’m calling him Moose) has contracted feline parvo at the Humane Society, so he’s quarantined there for the next two weeks. I’m glad he’s getting good veterinary care! But the odds of making it through parvo, esp. for kittens, isn’t great. 😔
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
4 years
Am I the only one who sometimes types out entire short stories written by other people just to feel a hint of what it must have felt like to write them?
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
11 months
I’m 46 years old now. That sounds old to me, but honestly, it feels pretty good!
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
6 years
Can’t quite believe I’m tweeting this — and I know that some of y’all know already — but I got tenure. (!!!)
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
1 year
It’s been a rough couple of days. If you have any good vibes to spare, please send them my way.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
2 years
On top of everything else, I learned a couple of hours ago that an old, dear friend died yesterday of a sudden and very unexpected heart attack. He wasn’t much older than I am. He had my favorite laugh in the whole wide world.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
4 years
Not to brag or anything, but I’m going to bed now.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
2 years
First day of the spring semester, and I somehow managed to get both the location AND time wrong for the class THAT I’M TEACHING.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
1 year
This is what I woke up to this morning.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
4 years
My family ordered me a cake! It’s not exactly the award that I won, but their hearts are very much in the best possible place. ❤️
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
3 months
“Being alive was the hard part.” ~Toni Morrison, ‘Beloved’ #SundaySentence
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
3 years
I saw my first lightning bugs of the season just now, out there glimmering among the leaves.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
3 years
This line from Raymond Carver's Wikipedia page stands out: "The $4,000 stipend enabled the Carvers to buy a house in Cupertino."
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
3 years
I’m on a panel in an hour, and I’ve already spilled half a large coffee down my pants leg. Good morning, everyone! #AWP22 (I’ll be the panelist with the coffee leg.)
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
7 months
I just accidentally concluded an email with "All beset," and honestly it feels kind of accurate.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
4 years
my process:
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
4 years
FULLY PFIZERED!! Pfinally...
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
3 years
"And they said, is death that which gives meaning to life? and I said, no, life is that which gives meaning to life." ~Donald Barthelme, 'The School' #SundaySentence
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
4 years
Veni, vidi, Fauci.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
4 years
AWP 2022 off-site reading at Four Seasons Total Landscaping? Who’s in?
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
3 years
I'd never known what it was like to have a current student pass away until this morning, when I learned about a terrible car accident that occurred over the weekend not far from here. I'll be okay, but I'm feeling sort of gutted right now.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
4 years
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
4 years
Form rejection from a dream journal today! Woohoo!! 🎉
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
2 years
Beginning tomorrow, I'll be going on a six-week-or-so technological fast, so I won't be on here (or other media) for a bit--but I'm not gone! I'll be back after a little time away to focus on my writing. (I'll leave it up to you to decide whether that's a promise or a threat.)
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
4 years
Rome, GA, right now, just a few hours before tonight’s Trump rally.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
11 months
Writers, what’s your proudest opening line? In something you’ve written? I think this is mine: “Soft September dawn: an overturned rowboat lies silent in the rain, and a flock of geese, taking off, taps its many wings against a lake and disappears into a pinebound cove.”
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
4 months
Lost a good friend to brain cancer last night. It’s rough, but things are getting better. Enjoy your loved ones while you can.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
3 years
Sequestrum always nails it with the cover art. I’m honored to have a story coming out with them in July.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
3 years
Last spring I won the Vulcan Teaching Excellence Award. An honor, to be sure. The prize? $1000. The cost? I have to give a speech tomorrow evening in front of pretty much the entire student body, all faculty, and all administrators. I’m practically shaking already…
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
3 years
Two rejections today. Two rejections that show I’m doing my job. Sending them back out now. Here we go…
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
4 years
Got a very encouraging rejection today from Story Magazine, and that, friends, feels pretty good.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
3 years
I’m writing a short story called “Other Stories” just so I can title my next collection ‘Other Stories & Other Stories’.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
4 years
@BCDreyer The fact that it won’t accept PACKRAT is borderline criminal.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
4 years
A new appointment opened up, and friends, I’m now getting my first vaccine dose TODAY. 💉 💪
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
4 years
I just bought my parents two Kindles! They’re in their 70s & immuno-compromised, & they’re avid readers. They’ve been lamenting their inability to visit the library during lockdown, & I think this will help them. I feel like such an adult! Gifts for no reason! Huzzah!
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
4 years
On the occasion that my House rep., Marjorie Taylor Greene, argued in session that American dollars shouldn’t go to “foreign countries” such as Guam, a pleading reminder: 37% of us here in Georgia’s 14th, including myself, voted for her sole opponent even after he’d dropped out.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
3 years
I got excited about another rainbow.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
3 months
“I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain.” ~James Baldwin, ‘The Fire Next Time’ #SundaySentence
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
4 years
My Spanish lemon birthday cake, from Cecilia’s. IT IS DELICIOUS.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
1 year
“After a while what is not written never happened.” ~Cormac McCarthy, ‘The Passenger’ #SundaySentence
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
1 year
“They were watching, out there past men’s knowing, where stars are drowning and whales ferry their vast souls through the black and seamless sea.” ~Cormac McCarthy, ‘Blood Meridian, or the Evening Redness in the West’ #SundaySentence
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
8 months
In the sky tonight.
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@Will_Donnelly
Will Donnelly
1 year
How I feel after spending the extra $3 up-charge for shrimp fajitas at the Mexican restaurant:
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