There are basically two easy ways to light me up with a short story: A) make it about something that fascinates you, like egyptology or how microwaves work or competitive baton-twirling, and then B) escalate the hell out of it.

I also appreciate the “simple” poem. I meander in my work, so when I discover a poem that resonates in brief lines or with a controlled motif, I dig it!

I’m looking for words to make me want to get up from my computer and walk around awkwardly or give me that feeling of discovering a special sidewalk treasure. I want to smile, think, cry, or feel a tiny bit different than who I was when I started reading the piece. If all of the above happen, I know I just came across a poem I should spend some more time with.