Matt Briggs
@mattdbriggs.bsky.social
Content architect, technical writer, and author from Seattle. Author of Shoot the Buffalo, The Remains of River Names, and oher books. Online at: http://mattbriggs.us | http://suburgian.com | http://mattbriggs.com
The name Piggy reminded of Lord of the Flies. "Introduced as a plump, bespectacled boy, Piggy represents logic and civilization throughout the novel. He discovers the conch shell that becomes a symbol of order and democratic process on the island."
November 19, 2025 at 4:54 AM
The name Piggy reminded of Lord of the Flies. "Introduced as a plump, bespectacled boy, Piggy represents logic and civilization throughout the novel. He discovers the conch shell that becomes a symbol of order and democratic process on the island."
My review of Trisha Ready's first book, Nobuko, was published in this week's issue of The Stranger. Her book uses a sequence for a short form that reminds me of the OULIPO's use of form/constraint (Calvino's formula for If on a winter’s night a traveler)...
www.thestranger.com/books/2025/1...
www.thestranger.com/books/2025/1...
Her Debut Novel, Nobuko, Strings 108 Vignettes Into a Narrative Philosophy
Nobuko was released on FrizzLit Editions in August.
www.thestranger.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:31 AM
My review of Trisha Ready's first book, Nobuko, was published in this week's issue of The Stranger. Her book uses a sequence for a short form that reminds me of the OULIPO's use of form/constraint (Calvino's formula for If on a winter’s night a traveler)...
www.thestranger.com/books/2025/1...
www.thestranger.com/books/2025/1...
Walking across a bridge near the Green River and saw this sign: Trap. What do you think they were trying to tell me?
October 13, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Walking across a bridge near the Green River and saw this sign: Trap. What do you think they were trying to tell me?
Book to review for The Raven Chronicles. Future X, a novel by Georg Koszulinski.
September 29, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Book to review for The Raven Chronicles. Future X, a novel by Georg Koszulinski.
I’ve been slowly making my through the Norton Anthology of Modern and Contemporary Poetry during coffee breaks. Today I read, “After [Frank] O’Hara‘s death ( he was hit by a doom buggy on Fire Island )”… if you gotta go, that seems like a way to go.
September 22, 2025 at 2:42 PM
I’ve been slowly making my through the Norton Anthology of Modern and Contemporary Poetry during coffee breaks. Today I read, “After [Frank] O’Hara‘s death ( he was hit by a doom buggy on Fire Island )”… if you gotta go, that seems like a way to go.
He felt the sadness of riding a tandem bike alone.
August 5, 2025 at 4:35 AM
He felt the sadness of riding a tandem bike alone.
The air smells like jam.
August 5, 2025 at 1:21 AM
The air smells like jam.
Reposted by Matt Briggs
You can now, at last, pre-order CLOSE READING FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY directly from Princeton UP. It's at the printer and is likely to arrive in September, though the official pub date is October 21. Can also preview TOC and intro at this link
press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
Close Reading for the Twenty-First Century
A user’s guide to the fundamental practice of literary studies, providing context, examples, and practical exercises
press.princeton.edu
July 27, 2025 at 7:08 PM
You can now, at last, pre-order CLOSE READING FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY directly from Princeton UP. It's at the printer and is likely to arrive in September, though the official pub date is October 21. Can also preview TOC and intro at this link
press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
Reposted by Matt Briggs
“Chatbot ‘writing’ has a bland, regurgitated quality…. No chatbot could ever have said that April was the cruelest month or that a fog comes on little cat feet (though they might now, because one of their chief skills is plagiarism).” — @around.com
The Parrot in the Machine | James Gleick
The artificial intelligence industry depends on plagiarism, mimicry, and exploited labor, not intelligence.
buff.ly
July 7, 2025 at 9:10 AM
“Chatbot ‘writing’ has a bland, regurgitated quality…. No chatbot could ever have said that April was the cruelest month or that a fog comes on little cat feet (though they might now, because one of their chief skills is plagiarism).” — @around.com
A walk yeaterday to Martin Creek Bridge on the Snoqualmie Lake Trail in the Middle Fork. It was 90 degrees and then drizzling this morning.
May 30, 2025 at 1:58 AM
A walk yeaterday to Martin Creek Bridge on the Snoqualmie Lake Trail in the Middle Fork. It was 90 degrees and then drizzling this morning.
@nicholsonbaker.bsky.social converted me long ago to the em dash comma and the em
dash semicolon combo. I'm glad ChatGPT is bringing back the em dash. But we should revive true, hairy Victorian punctuation.
dash semicolon combo. I'm glad ChatGPT is bringing back the em dash. But we should revive true, hairy Victorian punctuation.
May 26, 2025 at 11:00 PM
@nicholsonbaker.bsky.social converted me long ago to the em dash comma and the em
dash semicolon combo. I'm glad ChatGPT is bringing back the em dash. But we should revive true, hairy Victorian punctuation.
dash semicolon combo. I'm glad ChatGPT is bringing back the em dash. But we should revive true, hairy Victorian punctuation.
Fantagraphics Bookstore observes Seattle Indie Bookstore Day on April 26 with periodic “Speed Readings” from SPREAD contributors including Stacey Levine, Willie Smith, Cristie Coffing, Hamish Todd, Matt Briggs, Eric Acosta, L.E. Cornelison, David Post, and more.
www.seattlebookstoreday.com
www.seattlebookstoreday.com
April 19, 2025 at 5:14 AM
Fantagraphics Bookstore observes Seattle Indie Bookstore Day on April 26 with periodic “Speed Readings” from SPREAD contributors including Stacey Levine, Willie Smith, Cristie Coffing, Hamish Todd, Matt Briggs, Eric Acosta, L.E. Cornelison, David Post, and more.
www.seattlebookstoreday.com
www.seattlebookstoreday.com
Something escaped from "inside" the watermelon. The Alien is real.
April 12, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Something escaped from "inside" the watermelon. The Alien is real.
Reposted by Matt Briggs
Garielle Lutz (author of Future Tense books, Partial List of People to Bleach and Assisted Living) is featured in The Nation. An amazing and moving profile.
The Polymath of Pittsburgh
Garielle Lutz is one of America’s great writers. Why has her literary genius gone unnoticed?
www.thenation.com
February 17, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Garielle Lutz (author of Future Tense books, Partial List of People to Bleach and Assisted Living) is featured in The Nation. An amazing and moving profile.
“Gulf of America” is the name of a phenomenon where reference material, encyclopedias, maps, and indexes bend away from their subject to support the edict of the authoritarian. Hurricanes are directed by Sharpies, historic names become bowdlerized, and the nuance of gender becomes castrated.
February 12, 2025 at 3:47 PM
“Gulf of America” is the name of a phenomenon where reference material, encyclopedias, maps, and indexes bend away from their subject to support the edict of the authoritarian. Hurricanes are directed by Sharpies, historic names become bowdlerized, and the nuance of gender becomes castrated.
Reposted by Matt Briggs
Deleted google maps and its “gulf of america” bs.
February 11, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Deleted google maps and its “gulf of america” bs.
This offering of food on the Interurban Trail in Auburn sums up my 2024. Taken in July.
January 1, 2025 at 12:24 AM
This offering of food on the Interurban Trail in Auburn sums up my 2024. Taken in July.
I think because of spellcheck, I confused an editor at a tech company when I asked which dictionary do
we use? I wanted to have the
paper edition. I look up words all of the time, and often get distracted by words that are new to me.
we use? I wanted to have the
paper edition. I look up words all of the time, and often get distracted by words that are new to me.
December 31, 2024 at 7:08 PM
I think because of spellcheck, I confused an editor at a tech company when I asked which dictionary do
we use? I wanted to have the
paper edition. I look up words all of the time, and often get distracted by words that are new to me.
we use? I wanted to have the
paper edition. I look up words all of the time, and often get distracted by words that are new to me.
I really like spellcheck and the ability to click a word to get its definition. This is very useful to me. I wrote by hand, and when I can't spell a word I just scribble in the wordshape. When typing, I can always find the right word or commit to a made up word.
December 31, 2024 at 7:03 PM
I really like spellcheck and the ability to click a word to get its definition. This is very useful to me. I wrote by hand, and when I can't spell a word I just scribble in the wordshape. When typing, I can always find the right word or commit to a made up word.
If this practice enforces eternal love, when your eternal love ends, do you return to the lock to cut it free?
December 31, 2024 at 6:34 PM
If this practice enforces eternal love, when your eternal love ends, do you return to the lock to cut it free?
New York Journal of Books posted my review of Susanne Clarke’s wintertime booklet, The Wood at Midwinter. Her book had me thining about fantasy and anthropomorphism. #books #bookreviews
www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/...
www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/...
a book review by Matt Briggs: The Wood at Midwinter
The Wood at Midwinter by Susanna Clarke book review. Click to read the full review of The Wood at Midwinter in New York Journal of Books. Review written by Matt Briggs.
www.nyjournalofbooks.com
December 16, 2024 at 10:02 PM
New York Journal of Books posted my review of Susanne Clarke’s wintertime booklet, The Wood at Midwinter. Her book had me thining about fantasy and anthropomorphism. #books #bookreviews
www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/...
www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/...
While walking my dog at dusk, I discovered the discarded remains of 6.2 million dollars.
December 4, 2024 at 1:32 AM
While walking my dog at dusk, I discovered the discarded remains of 6.2 million dollars.
I walked on the Snoqualmie Valley Trail from Carnation to Fall City yesterday.
November 30, 2024 at 10:22 PM
I walked on the Snoqualmie Valley Trail from Carnation to Fall City yesterday.