James Yates

"Wing-flavored protein espresso martini" sounds like an SNL commercial.

Based on what I've seen, a lot of publishers had good sales, so hopefully we were two of lots and lots of "small hauls"

A collection of books: DARK DAYS, HOT SPRINGS DRIVE, OUT THERE IN THE DARK, CONCEPTUALISMS, ANOTHER DAY OF INSANE THINKING, THE BODY IS A TEMPORARY GATHERING PLACE, THERE IS NEWS ALONG THE OHIO RIVER, AND THEN HE SANG A LULLABY, all laid out against a green comforter.

My AWP book haul is probably my smallest ever, not for lack of wanting. I kept it focused on essays and CNF, since I plan to start writing a nonfiction chapbook and/or a full essay collection with various themes: basketball, my relationship with masculinity, bodies, all that good stuff.

Hold up, there are World Baseball Classic games on TUBI?!

Happy birthday!! I'll join you at 43 in a few months!

Writer Anna Vangala Jones on the left, me (James Yates) on the right

I took one selfie during AWP, to document finally meeting @anniejowrites.bsky.social. We've been friends and cheerleaders for each other for years, and her writing has been an inspiration. It was an honor.

This is my first sober AWP, and while my social battery ran out pretty quickly, I'm proud of myself for being social and not needing three whiskies to do so.

AWP is expensive, a headache, and logistically impossible sometimes, but goddamn it if my heart isn't full, running into old and new friends.

Had about four mental breakdowns trying to find a parking spot for lunch. Baltimore signs are like PARKING/NO PARKING/PERMIT ONLY BETWEEN 7-2/BUT ONLY ODD-NUMBERED DAYS/PARK IF YOU CAN NAME THREE MEMBERS OF THE 2014 ORIOLES STARTING LINEUP

I want to meet you and walk away convinced I was bothering you! I'll be around the book fair tomorrow morning and Saturday.

Me, a cis white man wearing a gray hat, a gray shirt, and a blue hydration vest. I'm holding up two fingers in front of piers in the water outside downtown Baltimore.

Evening Inner Harbor run. Absolutely gorgeous. ❤️

I'm gonna cross out my name and hand-write "Alexander Chee"

Forgot all about people glancing at my AWP name badge, realizing I'm not famous or important, then moving on. 😂

Hannah coaxed me away from a mental breakdown while I tried to get my AWP registration sorted after having last logged in back in 2019.

Anyway, I have my badge. Hi, AWP. Hi, Baltimore.

I'm reviewing the AWP panels now, but if anyone can recommend any good ones for essays/CNF, hit me up.

I LOVE how my ancient laptop is outdated, I keep getting notifications to just replace the entire thing, but, magically, it's updated to include all the fucking AI tabs.

I'm reviewing the AWP panels now, but if anyone can recommend any good ones for essays/CNF, hit me up.

I'd love to see a cereal company just go full throttle in the opposite direction.

"Please note: Lucky the Leprechaun now uses they/them pronouns."

Toucan Sam really went down the alt-right rabbit hole after the divorce.

I've mentioned this a few times, but considering that three years ago, I was still smoking a pack a day and drinking a bottle of whiskey over the course of a week? I've cleaned myself up pretty good. Still working on my mental health, but that's ongoing.

A screenshot from the Strava app, showing a 13.55 mile distance, accompanied by my photo of an underpass mural (a bird drinking from a colorful stream).

I started running again about two and a half years ago, after running sporadically from 2011-2012. I'm training for my first marathon in April, and completed my longest run ever this morning, just a hair over a half-marathon. I know it's cringe to post workouts, but I'm proud of myself.

bombing a country is a shitty way to kill terrorists but it's a *great* way to make lots more of them

Again, I'll be in Baltimore from Wednesday through Saturday. I haven't published anything in nearly five years, but looking forward bumping into old friends and getting inspiration for my boatload of unfinished essays.

People really struggling with the idea that the Iranian government sucks but we shouldn't be bombing them can both be true, eh?

Maybe I'm naive, but I've never understood the "we're allowed to have nuclear weapons, but you're not" mentality.

Look up your Rep’s phone number here and then save it in your phone before calling their office about this: www.house.gov/representati...

Two years smoke-free today. ❤️

Given the climate in the country and the world? I wouldn't blame anyone who's smoking cigarettes. But I'm also one of those truly annoying "if I can do it, I promise you can" people, in case anyone needs that idea.

booked readings & open mics for Wed/Fri nights but if you need a sad hot Jewish poet/essayist/micro ex-Twitter writer personality for a Thursday night reading, hit me uppppp 🤲

I like imagine every team has a jersey ready for him, just in case he walks into the locker room that night.

"Oh hey, we got Dennis tonight, cool"

I'll be in Baltimore for AWP next week. I'm not cool enough for one of those "where to find me" schedules, just look for me if you want a handshake, hug, or words of encouragement.