Books are made out of books. ―Cormac McCarthy

Writing is a passion. Writing is a journey. Writing is hard work.

Some time ago, I left the rat race and semi-retired. With time freed up, I could finally carve out the space in my life to pursue activities I had greatly neglected: time to read; more importantly, time to write. Since then, I have incrementally churned out essays, stories, a handful of poems, and a massive pile of words that seem to be congealing into a novel.

Fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and all that travel between. Literary, genre, and even the occasional rant. I write it all, for the most part. Writing for me is a passion—difficult, but rewarding. Amazingly, it turns out, a good amount of you like what I write. This page seeks to keep a running status of everything of note that I have written in the past, the works still seeking publication, and all the works in progress that may or may not amount to anything. I have only recently attempted to broaden my publishing journey.

And so, keep tabs on this page, O ye lurker on the internet. You can also subscribe to my blog/newsletter Ruminations. If you are a super-fan, or just yearn to contribute to the creative arts, consider becoming a Ruminant (a member), and I'll occasionally share snippets and samplings, and behind the scenes pre-published excerpts of my work with you. Plus, it helps keep the lights on and the words flowing.

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⸺ Works in Progress

#AMSUBMITTING
  • Gone to the Dogs
    psychological horror, short
  • Periphery Horror
    personal narrative, short
  • A Picnic in the Park
    historical fiction / horror, short
  • For Those Who Remain
    literary folktale, short
In draft
  • Sæculum, a novel
    neo-Western, dystopian thriller
  • The Five-Second Rule
    personal narrative, short
  • . . . a number of poems
Sæculum, a novel

In the ruins of old North Carolina, a farmer loses everything only to have responsibility thrust upon him in the form of a girl on the run.

Pronounced: SAI-koo-loom (classical), or now more likely, SEK-yoo-lum or SAYK-yoo-lum

Mothballed (shelved)
  • Cops and Robbers
    literary, short
  • Vulture
    literary, short
  • . . . a number of poems

⸺ Works Published (selected works)

Literary Journals and Anthologies

Stormbreak [flash fiction]
2025. County Lines: A Literary Journal, vol. 13. Carolina Piedmont Writers Guild. December 1, 2025. ISBN 9798268850482. 13. [Bsh, Amz]
After the Rain [cover photo, winner: The Carolina Prize for Art]
2024. County Lines: A Literary Journal, vol. 12. November 27, 2024. ISBN 9798343204599. 0. [Bsh, Amz]
Amanda Takes the Stage [poem]
2023a. County Lines: A Literary Journal, vol. 11. Writers Guild, Franklin County Arts Council. November 18, 2023. ISBN 9798864205518. 80. [Amz]
That Guy [drabble fiction]
2023b. County Lines: A Literary Journal, vol. 11. November 18, 2023. ISBN 9798864205518. 95. [Amz]
Why and What For? [poem]
2023c. County Lines: A Literary Journal, vol. 11. November 18, 2023. ISBN 9798864205518. 152. [Amz]
Adrift [poem]
2023d. County Lines: A Literary Journal, vol. 11. November 18, 2023. ISBN 9798864205518. 175. [Amz]
Date Night: Misadventures in Teen Romance [short memoir]
2022. County Lines: A Literary Journal, vol. 10. Oct 17, 2022. ISBN 9798356027246. 91. [Bsh, Amz]
Crepuscular Dreams [poem]
2019a. County Lines: A Literary Journal, vol. 7. Dec 1, 2019. ISBN 9781700507600. 101. [Amz]
That Dog [poem]
2019b. County Lines: A Literary Journal, vol. 7. Dec 1, 2019. ISBN 9781700507600. 91. [Amz]

Newsletter / Post / Page

Styles, for Writers [instructional]
2026a. Errant Ruminant (website). February 27, 2026. errantruminant.com/styles-for-writers/.
The Industry Standard Manuscript [instructional]
2026b. Errant Ruminant (website). January 31, 2026. errantruminant.com/mformat/.
The Reason for the Season [essay]
2025a. Ruminations (newsletter/blog). Errant Ruminant. December 25, 2025. errantruminant.com/blog/the-reason-for-the-season/.
Grammatical Tense, Aspect, and Mood (TAM) [instructional]
2025b. Todd Warner (as ToddWrites). Shared via Joplin Cloud. November 11, 2025. Accessed March 16, 2026. 862b2pcoar.joplinusercontent.com/shares/DVOVz7pWDoW1NFgYSBH0yh?ref=errantruminant.com.
The Story's End [essay]
2025d. Ruminations (newsletter/blog). Errant Ruminant. March 6, 2025. errantruminant.com/blog/the-storys-end/.
Crepuscular Dreams [poem]
2024a. Ruminations (newsletter/blog). Errant Ruminant. April 17, 2024. errantruminant.com/blog/crepuscular-dreams/.
Adrift [poem]
2024c. Ruminations (newsletter/blog). Errant Ruminant. January 23, 2024. errantruminant.com/blog/poem-adrift/.
Life and Loss [essay, existential]
2023. Ruminations (newsletter/blog). Errant Ruminant. December 21, 2023. errantruminant.com/blog/life-and-loss/.
My Mother, In Memoriam [eulogy]
2022b. Ruminations (newsletter/blog). Errant Ruminant. December 25, 2022. errantruminant.com/blog/adrift-untethered/.
Grass. Sweat. Tractor. [eulogy]
2022a. Ruminations (newsletter/blog). Errant Ruminant. May 18, 2022. errantruminant.com/blog/grass-sweat-tractor/.
Ruminations on Scouting [essay]
2021. Ruminations (newsletter/blog). Errant Ruminant. October 11, 2021. errantruminant.com/blog/ruminations-on-scouting/.
What the Hell, Will? [humor, fever dream]
2020. Ruminations (newsletter/blog). Errant Ruminant. July 13, 2020. errantruminant.com/blog/wth-will/.
Mutton, Capons, Culled Beef, and Spent Hens [essay]
2019. Ruminations (newsletter/blog). Errant Ruminant. November 28, 2019. https://errantruminant.com/blog/mutton/.

Published June 19, 2019; Updated March 16, 2026

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