Category Archives: artist’s life

The Obligatory Goals Post

Posted on January 1, 2013 by José Iriarte

One of my friends asked on Facebook the other day, What, for you, was the best thing in 2012, and what are you most looking forward to in 2013? As I composed my thoughts for a reply to him, I … Continue reading →

Posted in artist's life, blargety-blog, first world problems | Leave a comment

Another year come and gone

Posted on December 22, 2012 by José Iriarte

Happy holidays! (And if being told “Happy holidays” bugs you, then . . . HAPPY HOLIDAYS!) Like most people, I can’t help but take the end of the year as an opportunity to look back on what went well and … Continue reading →

Posted in artist's life, blargety-blog, teaching, writing | Leave a comment

How mystical is your writing process?

Posted on February 3, 2012 by José Iriarte

When some people describe their writing process, I swear it sounds like they need to go back on their meds or something. “My character told me that he was ___. ” “My outline called for ___ to happen, but my … Continue reading →

Posted in artist's life | 13 Comments

Fifteen Years: A Shared Dream

Posted on January 10, 2012 by José Iriarte

Fifteen years ago tonight, my best friend Lisa and I made official a journey that we’d begun months before. On an amazing (but freezing) night, in front of all our closest friends and relatives, we shivered through our vows and … Continue reading →

Posted in artist's life, assorted nerdom, blargety-blog, close to home | 15 Comments

Survivor Guilt, 2011 Edition

Posted on December 31, 2011 by José Iriarte

I’ve been seeing a lot of blog posts around talking about how 2011 was a terrible year, either for the blogger or for the world in general. I’m not so sure how terrible it was for the world–yeah, we saw … Continue reading →

Posted in artist's life, bookish life, close to home | 4 Comments

Jack Frost roasting on an open fire, chestnuts nipping at your nose

Posted on December 18, 2011 by José Iriarte

There may be people out there who’ve had more cool experiences than I have, but I’ve definitely been pretty lucky in that regard. I’ve met a lot of awesome people and had a lot of unique adventures, and last week … Continue reading →

Posted in artist's life, music | Leave a comment

Have you paid for your Wikipedia?

Posted on December 14, 2011 by José Iriarte

A few months ago I began using Write Or Die as a way to focus my concentration and boost my productivity. First I used it as a brainstorming tool, but in the last couple months, I’ve used it to draft … Continue reading →

Posted in artist's life, assorted nerdom, writing | 2 Comments

The Archetype of the Tortured Artist

Posted on July 25, 2011 by José Iriarte

I wasn’t particularly familiar with Amy Winehouse before her death. I knew the name, and I had the general impression that a lot of the people I respect admired her art and her intelligence. My days of keeping up with … Continue reading →

Posted in artist's life, close to home | 6 Comments