Posts by Alberto
unexpected asskickings
Those of you who write have probably had this experience: you read a published story or novel and it makes you go, “I can write better than that.” And if you’re honest with yourself about your talent and skill, it’s true. You can. And if you’re me, you have to admit that whatever novel it is…
Read Morekeeping up with the Awesomes
As the first part of an ongoing series, I’d like to tell you about what friends of mine are doing in their creative work. Sarah Young is the featured soloist (on oboe) with the Rhode Island Philharmonic Community Orchestra’s upcoming concert. If you’ll be in Providence this Sunday, the concert will be a lovely time.…
Read Moreseveral things, catching up
I guess the simplest thing to do is to just start and go from there. * I’m writing this from California’s Central Valley. I’m here on spring break, visiting my family. I spent a couple of days up in San Francisco seeing friends. The weather is fairly beautiful, with so much blue sky and clouds…
Read Moreon turning 35
I turned 35 today. I am extraordinarily okay with that. That’s good, as there’s really not much I could constructively do about it, else. The thing that’s different about this birthday versus my previous ones is that I’m living in a new city far away from most of my people. Granted, I spent my thirtieth…
Read Morewriting workshops and me… and you
As you probably know, I’m a graduate of two speculative fiction writing workshops. I attended Viable Paradise in 2008 (Go XIIers!) and Clarion West in 2011 (Let’s do this!). Both were incredible and pivotal experiences–the kind that do indeed allow one to shift directions in life. VP gave me a sense of community and took…
Read Morefor the record, this poetry stuff is HARD
So, I’ve got a story that wants to be told as a poem.* Now, I’m a bad poet. We’ve established this over the years. No matter, the story still wants to be told as a poem. *muttering* All right then, I’m writing the story as a poem. It’s difficult. Not just because I have to…
Read Morewonder, and adapting to a winter clime
It’s snowing and the sky is luminous. The night air is cold, but bearable, and soft to breathe. It’s not the now-rare sharpness of my childhood crisp winter mornings in the Valley. No, this snowy air is gentle. This is the first time I’ve lived in place where snow isn’t a once-maybe-twice-in-a-decade occurrence. Sure, it’s…
Read MoreNew story up at Strange Horizons
My first pro story, “Recognizing Gabe: un cuento de hadas,” is up at Strange Horizons. It’s my Week 5 story from Clarion West. It’s about seeing and being seen, and growing up. Also, tamales.
Read Morebusy, busy, busy
There’ll be a real post later this weekend, but for now some highlights: I’m furiously trying to get content up on my new official website. By which I mean, I’m grabbing stuff from [there] and trying to make it all coherently organized over [here]. My apartment is full of boxes. Boxes everywhere. But I was…
Read Morenew in town
Okay, I’m living in Portland. I’m also kind of quietly freaking out. If you know me, you should know that when I say “kind of,” I really mean “totally.” It has to do with the whole never having lived so far from my folks before. Right now, it’s feeling like the second and third days…
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