Another You

When a couple stops talking, another, stranger conversation begins.

Sep 7 • 

Ben Wakeman

23

16

August 2025

Truth Telling

For best results, maybe throw in a vampire. How it's sometimes easier to tell the truth in speculative fiction.

Aug 21 • 

Ben Wakeman

28

19

July 2025

The Third Act

Passing Strangers: A middle-aged man with a bad back and a purple crayon

Jul 10 • 

Ben Wakeman

23

7

June 2025

A Boy and a Popsicle

Passing Strangers: The heart wants what the heart wants

Jun 30 • 

Ben Wakeman

31

23

Who wore it best?

Passing Strangers: An influencer is influenced

Jun 23 • 

Ben Wakeman

23

15

Someone Has to Clean Up the Mess

Passing Strangers: A tired woman must take the long way home

Jun 15 • 

Ben Wakeman

13

6

A Safe Distance

Passing Strangers: A man follows his heart a little too closely

Jun 9 • 

Ben Wakeman

23

18

The Public Library

Passing Strangers: A man drives away the dark angels

Jun 2 • 

Ben Wakeman

30

25

May 2025

Kick Drum

Passing Strangers: A woman's haunted by the backbeat of a former lover

May 26 • 

Ben Wakeman

32

20

Writing a Dam Novel

A personal essay on my approach to novel writing and the perils of "arriving."

May 20 • 

Ben Wakeman

26

10

Fighting Words: Can AI Be Useful to a Writer?

Here's a new dispatch on my latest discoveries in tinkering with the machines.

May 10 • 

Ben Wakeman

30

40

April 2025

Passing Strangers

Table of contents for a series of character portraits.

Apr 30 • 

Ben Wakeman

5

1