cfbellairs

Buster Scruggs and Narrative Necessity [Spoilers]

I made the correct decision on a whim recently, watching The Ballad of Buster Scruggs on Netflix (spoilers ahead, it’s excellent and you should watch it). Unexpectedly, it ended up being a collection of short Western films, all with unique perspectives and styles yet all maintaining an underlying sense of direction that remains intentional andContinue reading “Buster Scruggs and Narrative Necessity [Spoilers]”

Dusty Knuckles

I’ve been baking bread for the first time lately (what on earth happened to bread prices). I finally accepted that my brown thumb for plants also extends to yeast, evidently, so I’ve blooming had enough. No. I’ve had enough of blooming. Got British for a second there. Instant yeast feels like cheating, but it balancesContinue reading “Dusty Knuckles”

Grads and Drabs

I graduated. Feels pretty cool. What took four years of focus and effort has finally culminated… in this picture. I also got better at writing or something. I did a lot of very fulfilling theatre, met a lot of great people, and felt truly challenged by the end. All in all, well worth the effort.Continue reading “Grads and Drabs”

Interactive Stories

Excellent prose draws us in, but a question I’ve wondered since being a game-addicted kid is whether any of it can compare to an interactive story. To spoil the fun a bit, I’ll say yes right away, but I do think that the way a video game or tabletop game tells a story is fundamentallyContinue reading “Interactive Stories”

Congrats to TJ Doxon!

I just wanted to congratulate fellow author TJ Doxon on his publication of “Without an Empire,” a novel I helped edit and one I’ve been anticipating the release of for some time! The moment I’m no longer on a college student’s budget, I’ll be scooping up a copy for myself, but if anyone reading thisContinue reading “Congrats to TJ Doxon!”

On Procrastination and Depression

It’s difficult to find the balance in self-criticism between holding oneself accountable for procrastination, and not giving oneself enough credit in light of mental health, finances, or other potential obstacles. I am someone who struggles with feelings of laziness, and in some sense I still think it’s true no matter how much time I dedicateContinue reading “On Procrastination and Depression”

Reviving a Blog After 3 Years

Is it possible? I dunno. School keeps you busy, turns out! I’ve been pushing myself to keep up with the writing, but the website unfortunately fell by the wayside in return. This means a drought of blog posts (whoops) but a whole bunch of writing projects I’m eager to tailor and release! My first contemporaryContinue reading “Reviving a Blog After 3 Years”

Prioritizing Stories

I‘m somewhat cliche as a writer in the sense that I struggle to finish what I write. Most of the time it isn’t intentional; the interest fades over time, and more importantly, I think of a fun new idea to explore. The problem is, at least for me, exploring that desire to write something differentContinue reading “Prioritizing Stories”

Blogging Despite Life

I foolishly believed I’d be able to release a blog post weekly – and I still foolishly hope to – but life has a way of defying my hopes at times. I don’t want this to turn into a sort of journal of my day-to-day hurdles, but I’m also a frank person who prefers toContinue reading “Blogging Despite Life”

Kitchen Work

After a half-necessary and half-desired vacation from sweating through the nights as a line cook, I wasn’t sure I’d ever go back to that sort of work. It’s more an endurance test than a sprint, and I’m more of a sprinter. Even so, it’s one of the most realistic, accessible jobs I’ve found that alsoContinue reading “Kitchen Work”