There are so many things I need to address and explain— the Brewers’ amazing week, the drop-off in my weekly posts— that I barely know where to start.

Well, when you don’t know where to start, just lead off with the good news. I found out this week that one of my short stories was good enough to get me to the second round.

After a year of honorable mentions (each one feels less honorable) I turned in a story that one judge said was “pretty much perfect!”. I’ll allow myself some time to smile before I get my prompts for round two… in about 12 hours.

For me, the most important part of these contests is getting feedback. Without a doubt the judges for the New York City Midnight contests have helped me grow as a writer. Early contests gave me great notes highlighting where my stories would lose the reader or tend to meander and overexplain.

Those early contests also did a great job of helping me recognize my strength as a writer and storyteller. Characters, tension, dialogue… thank you 20 years of improv.

Around this time last year I got my first honorable mention and, of course, I hated it. Because I wanted to advance, I wanted to win. I didn’t need a slap on the back. But over the next year of near misses the notes became tighter, they were less about problems and more about tweaks.

There was even the infamous “I didn’t like the title” feedback (that I’ve finally gotten over).

Anyway, my point, this week’s success was a reminder of that thing I know but constantly need to be reminded of— life is about getting better every time. Do your best and when you’re better, do better.

So… what’s been going on? Where has The Pink Sparrow gone? Etcetera and so forth.

The fact is, writing, and getting published, is weird. I love writing and sharing my stories. I’d also like to get published. The problem is, publishers don’t want to publish a story that has already been seen by my vast network of readers here at Wisconsin Laugh Trip.

Over the last few weeks I’ve jumped into some stories that I’m very excited about, am taking some time to craft, and I’m hoping to get published.

So you don’t get to read about the Waushara County Radish Festival, the statue of Wilbur Ross or any of the stories I’m piecing together from various Wisconsin small towns (WST for short).

I have a deep love and curiosity about my home state and I’m excited about exploring not only my experiences, the history, and the people of this… interesting state. Did You Know? The name Wisconsin Laugh Trip is an homage to the book Wisconsin Death Trip, a photographic history of life in Wisconsin from 1890-1910 (Spoiler: it was bleak).

The Pink Sparrow gets to take a well-deserved break while I dive into the world of Hodags, serial killers like Jeffrey Dahmer and Edward Edwards (yes, Edward Edwards) and the weird mythology of a state where, to this day, your first DUI is still a mulligan.

Wisconsin is a pretty magical state where you can tell you’re close to the family cottage because you just passed the giant cow statue, you can visit The House on the Rock and see a 200-foot statue of a whale battling a Kraken, among other oddities. And, of course, if you order a rum and coke the bartender will ask if you want a double… the first DUI is free after all.

In summation, my writing is getting better (thankfully) and weirder (improbably) and I can’t wait to see what stories I can spin in what remains of 2026. I haven’t forgotten my readers and if you’ve been here from the start you know there will be a week or a month later this year where I absolutely bomb your inbox with new stories.

Brewers update! Our boys went 6-2 since last Friday and seem really locked in but in a way where they aren’t locked in at all. A few of the starting pitchers are immaculate, others are struggling or injured. The offense doesn’t hit home runs, but they get the runs they need, somehow. The bullpen is starting to round into shape for the dog days of summer and if you’re going to win games 4-3 a group of shutdown relievers is exactly what you need.

Till next week!

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