Some scene-setting: it was summer. We can\u2019t afford childcare, so I\u2019m full-timing with the four-year-old while Mal works her Real Person job. Cracked has asked me to do some five-part column series, probably the most fun I\u2019ve had there and the work I\u2019m most proud of. I did a series on Calvin and Hobbes<\/em>. A series on NBA history. And a series on Goosebumps<\/em>. It was a blast. Obviously, in this picture, I\u2019m working on the Goosebumps<\/em> one. Part of that series was reading 30 <\/a>Goosebumps<\/a><\/em> books in 30 days<\/a> (2022 is the 30th anniversary). I\u2019d gone to the library to get Goosebumps<\/em> books. <\/p> Except my insecurity will not let me walk into the library with my obviously-too-young-for-Goosebumps<\/em> child, shovel a basketful of slim R.L. Stine tomes into my beach-stained hands, and walk out. No. I had to get some literature<\/em> too. That way, the librarians who are not thinking about me and will continue to not think about me after I leave will know that I am a SERIOUS reader. Anyone who sees me that day will be like, \u201cthat 30-something is both in touch with his childlike side and<\/em> he knows New York School poets. Plus he\u2019s parenting! What a gem of a man that is!\u201d Of course, had I only gotten Goosebumps<\/em>, those same folks would\u2019ve scoffed: \u201cthat weirdo longhair with mustard stains on his pants we don\u2019t think are from the child is reading Goosebumps<\/em>.\u201d These are real thoughts people would\u2019ve had, says my brain. <\/p> Of course, I didn\u2019t read any of Kenneth Koch\u2019s long poems this summer. All 15 of those columns were due within like a month of each other, plus I had a contract for some background work that had me cataloguing a decade plus of archives and writing another ~1,500 words a day and did I mention it was summer and we can\u2019t afford childcare<\/em>. But, having a generally good opinion of Kenneth Koch and an affinity for long poems, I memory-banked it. <\/p> I went back this month to give On The Edge<\/em> an honest go. And honestly? R.L. Stine taught me more about writing than Kenneth Koch did in 2022. <\/p> Researching R.L. Stine\u2019s writing life dazzled me. Here is a dude who loves books, loves spooky shit, and is passionate about getting kids to read. He\u2019s written over 300 goddamn books, he\u2019s joyously working into his 80s<\/a>, and he\u2019s openly said he puts cliffhangers on chapters to keep kids reading (an underhanded trick I despise in adult books, a really smart thing to do when your audience also has Spongebob<\/em> to watch). I detailed some of Jovial Bob\u2019s bio and idiosyncrasies here<\/a>, and even took the writing course he designed for eight-to-14-year-olds.<\/p> Jovial Bob Stine really hammered home for me the importance of words on the page. Jovial Bob Stine taught me that books are more fun when they exist and can be read, rather than being ephemeral mind-fragments ghosting over your free time. Jovial Bob Stine taught me the beauty of thinking up a title, letting your mind wander to the weirdest places, and allowing the story to flow freely after that. <\/p> What did Kenneth Koch teach me? Long poems are sometimes hard to get into. Long poems are an absolute nightmare<\/em> when they fit rhyme schemes. And while the New York School is awesome, I keep forgetting there\u2019s only one Frank O\u2019Hara. <\/p> I am not saying I take my work with the seriousness of a children\u2019s book author working under Scholastic Book Fair deadlines. But after a decade-plus of not finishing a book, I went hard<\/em> this year on finishing stuff. Or at least first drafting. My novel in verse is about 85% drafted. My poetry manuscript is about 90% ready. A novel-in-stories Brendan and I are co-writing is about 80% drafted. For that last one, I definitely put Stine\u2019s \u201cthink of a title and let the story go\u201d to use a few times, and you know what? It worked<\/em>. <\/p> All of the above is going to get revised and re-worked many times over, of course. Revised and re-worked and hopefully someday worthy of sharing a spot on the library shelves with Kenneth Koch. <\/p> It cannot be said enough, though: words on the page are good. Getting out of your head and writing<\/em> is good. You might look at it a week later and think \u201cwell, that\u2019s garbage,\u201d but resist that thinking. Rather, expand it. Say, \u201cwell, that\u2019s garbage, but there\u2019s something there. Now I have something to work with.\u201d And if your inspiration comes from a children\u2019s book writer? A YouTube video? Your 400th viewing of X2: X-Men United<\/em> at 3 a.m.? That\u2019s fine. Don\u2019t be insecure about that. <\/p> I\u2019m taking Kenneth Koch\u2019s book back to the library this week, where I hope someone finds its beauty more inspiring than I did. Having read 30 Goosebumps<\/em> in 30 days, I\u2019m probably not picking Stine up again unless my kid gets really into them. I\u2019m grateful for what both writers have taught me this year. <\/p> Sorry you got an email, <\/p> Chris<\/p>![](\"https:\/\/bucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com\/public\/images\/e652dbed-e079-4670-9b9e-2ecdf80c256f_1024x1286.jpeg\"\/)
<\/figure>![](\"https:\/\/bucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com\/public\/images\/0e252e69-acde-467b-a3ae-5511b239131b_2056x2936.jpeg\"\/)
<\/figure>![](\"https:\/\/bucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com\/public\/images\/7f93135f-2949-4111-941b-00124fe5cdd1_2052x2916.jpeg\"\/)
<\/figure>