Robbie Maakestad
@robbiemaakestad.bsky.social
Senior Essays Editor: @therumpus.net / Associate Writing Professor / Program Director: MA in Writing / Books-in-progress: 1) CNF: A history of Jerusalem's City of David 2) Flash Fiction: Bill Murrays / Robbie & James Talk Music: https://bit.ly/RandJTM
New ROBBIE & JAMES TALK MUSIC Penny & Sparrow concert episode, featuring:
— Two Penny & Sparrow tracks
— @jawicks75.bsky.social talking horror films
— Me talking @jillchristman.bsky.social‘s “The Avocado” & braided essays
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
— Two Penny & Sparrow tracks
— @jawicks75.bsky.social talking horror films
— Me talking @jillchristman.bsky.social‘s “The Avocado” & braided essays
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
November 12, 2025 at 6:38 PM
New ROBBIE & JAMES TALK MUSIC Penny & Sparrow concert episode, featuring:
— Two Penny & Sparrow tracks
— @jawicks75.bsky.social talking horror films
— Me talking @jillchristman.bsky.social‘s “The Avocado” & braided essays
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
— Two Penny & Sparrow tracks
— @jawicks75.bsky.social talking horror films
— Me talking @jillchristman.bsky.social‘s “The Avocado” & braided essays
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
Pumped that @jillchristman.bsky.social's "Spinning Webs in Space" at @therumpus.net got listed as a Notable Essay in THE BEST AMERICAN ESSAYS 2025. Shout-out to @darcyjaygagnon.bsky.social for editing Jill's essay. #RumpusEssays
November 7, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Pumped that @jillchristman.bsky.social's "Spinning Webs in Space" at @therumpus.net got listed as a Notable Essay in THE BEST AMERICAN ESSAYS 2025. Shout-out to @darcyjaygagnon.bsky.social for editing Jill's essay. #RumpusEssays
Check out Episode 31: 1986 where @jawicks75.bsky.social and I look at music, films, and an essay from 1986.
Featuring:
- Music by Prince and The Cure
- Tim Hunter's RIVER'S EDGE
- Richard Ben Cramer's "What Do You Think of Ted Williams Now?"
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
Featuring:
- Music by Prince and The Cure
- Tim Hunter's RIVER'S EDGE
- Richard Ben Cramer's "What Do You Think of Ted Williams Now?"
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
October 22, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Check out Episode 31: 1986 where @jawicks75.bsky.social and I look at music, films, and an essay from 1986.
Featuring:
- Music by Prince and The Cure
- Tim Hunter's RIVER'S EDGE
- Richard Ben Cramer's "What Do You Think of Ted Williams Now?"
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
Featuring:
- Music by Prince and The Cure
- Tim Hunter's RIVER'S EDGE
- Richard Ben Cramer's "What Do You Think of Ted Williams Now?"
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
Listen to Episode 30: Melancholy Songs if u like:
- Sad music
- @angermonsoon.bsky.social's essays
- Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car"
- Up-and-coming Irish bands (DUG)
- @thomyorke.wastehq.social defending sad songs
- @jawicks75.bsky.social
- the word "fluorescence"
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
- Sad music
- @angermonsoon.bsky.social's essays
- Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car"
- Up-and-coming Irish bands (DUG)
- @thomyorke.wastehq.social defending sad songs
- @jawicks75.bsky.social
- the word "fluorescence"
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
October 17, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Listen to Episode 30: Melancholy Songs if u like:
- Sad music
- @angermonsoon.bsky.social's essays
- Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car"
- Up-and-coming Irish bands (DUG)
- @thomyorke.wastehq.social defending sad songs
- @jawicks75.bsky.social
- the word "fluorescence"
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
- Sad music
- @angermonsoon.bsky.social's essays
- Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car"
- Up-and-coming Irish bands (DUG)
- @thomyorke.wastehq.social defending sad songs
- @jawicks75.bsky.social
- the word "fluorescence"
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
Last night in class we looked at structure and transitions in @lizcharlottegrant.bsky.social‘s KNOCK AT THE SKY. Excited to have Liz out to @plnu.bsky.social for the @plnuwritingma.bsky.social Visiting Writers series!!! In-person and streaming tickets here plnu.universitytickets.com
October 14, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Last night in class we looked at structure and transitions in @lizcharlottegrant.bsky.social‘s KNOCK AT THE SKY. Excited to have Liz out to @plnu.bsky.social for the @plnuwritingma.bsky.social Visiting Writers series!!! In-person and streaming tickets here plnu.universitytickets.com
Robbie & James Talk Music: Episode 29 - On Rotation.
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
In which @jawicks75.bsky.social and I discuss:
-Amelia Earhart,
-Margaret Thatcher,
-"Shifty" by Adam Curtis,
-The purpose of art,
-Rick Rubin,
-Music by Public Service Broadcasting,
-Music by Spoon.
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
In which @jawicks75.bsky.social and I discuss:
-Amelia Earhart,
-Margaret Thatcher,
-"Shifty" by Adam Curtis,
-The purpose of art,
-Rick Rubin,
-Music by Public Service Broadcasting,
-Music by Spoon.
October 9, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Robbie & James Talk Music: Episode 29 - On Rotation.
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
In which @jawicks75.bsky.social and I discuss:
-Amelia Earhart,
-Margaret Thatcher,
-"Shifty" by Adam Curtis,
-The purpose of art,
-Rick Rubin,
-Music by Public Service Broadcasting,
-Music by Spoon.
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
In which @jawicks75.bsky.social and I discuss:
-Amelia Earhart,
-Margaret Thatcher,
-"Shifty" by Adam Curtis,
-The purpose of art,
-Rick Rubin,
-Music by Public Service Broadcasting,
-Music by Spoon.
We had an amazing @plnuwritingma.bsky.social Visiting Writers Series with @samuelashworth.bsky.social. He ran a masterclass on student drafts, read from THE DEATH AND LIFE OF AUGUST SWEENEY, and delivered a lecture titled “The Art of Telling.” Such a generous, wise human!
October 6, 2025 at 6:46 PM
We had an amazing @plnuwritingma.bsky.social Visiting Writers Series with @samuelashworth.bsky.social. He ran a masterclass on student drafts, read from THE DEATH AND LIFE OF AUGUST SWEENEY, and delivered a lecture titled “The Art of Telling.” Such a generous, wise human!
Thrilled to have @samuelashworth.bsky.social joining the @plnuwritingma.bsky.social Visiting Writers Series tomorrow!!! Get your streaming and in-person tickets here: plnu.universitytickets.com
October 1, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Thrilled to have @samuelashworth.bsky.social joining the @plnuwritingma.bsky.social Visiting Writers Series tomorrow!!! Get your streaming and in-person tickets here: plnu.universitytickets.com
We're relaunching ROBBIE & JAMES TALK MUSIC:
-Short episodes
-Two songs per episode
-Me: talking creative writing
[email protected]: talking film
-Availability on pretty much every listening platform.
Give it a listen! We're proud of this relaunch.
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
-Short episodes
-Two songs per episode
-Me: talking creative writing
[email protected]: talking film
-Availability on pretty much every listening platform.
Give it a listen! We're proud of this relaunch.
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
September 23, 2025 at 5:20 PM
We're relaunching ROBBIE & JAMES TALK MUSIC:
-Short episodes
-Two songs per episode
-Me: talking creative writing
[email protected]: talking film
-Availability on pretty much every listening platform.
Give it a listen! We're proud of this relaunch.
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
-Short episodes
-Two songs per episode
-Me: talking creative writing
[email protected]: talking film
-Availability on pretty much every listening platform.
Give it a listen! We're proud of this relaunch.
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
I've been in the same 12-team fantasy baseball franchise league since high school. Starting in 2015, I placed 3rd 9 out of 10 years. Again, this is a 12-team league.
But this year, I finally won. THE MONKEY IS OFF MY BACK, Y'ALL.
But this year, I finally won. THE MONKEY IS OFF MY BACK, Y'ALL.
September 22, 2025 at 8:36 PM
I've been in the same 12-team fantasy baseball franchise league since high school. Starting in 2015, I placed 3rd 9 out of 10 years. Again, this is a 12-team league.
But this year, I finally won. THE MONKEY IS OFF MY BACK, Y'ALL.
But this year, I finally won. THE MONKEY IS OFF MY BACK, Y'ALL.
1) Protagonist’s primary desire,
2) Protagonist’s secondary desire,
3) How the protagonist’s desires complicate the story,
4) Where Saunders complicates the story by revealing new information that complicates the character’s desires in some way.
2) Protagonist’s secondary desire,
3) How the protagonist’s desires complicate the story,
4) Where Saunders complicates the story by revealing new information that complicates the character’s desires in some way.
September 15, 2025 at 4:26 PM
1) Protagonist’s primary desire,
2) Protagonist’s secondary desire,
3) How the protagonist’s desires complicate the story,
4) Where Saunders complicates the story by revealing new information that complicates the character’s desires in some way.
2) Protagonist’s secondary desire,
3) How the protagonist’s desires complicate the story,
4) Where Saunders complicates the story by revealing new information that complicates the character’s desires in some way.
Last week I taught TENTH OF DECEMBER by George Saunders. Students mapped stories to find the following:
September 15, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Last week I taught TENTH OF DECEMBER by George Saunders. Students mapped stories to find the following:
Amazing to have R.F. Kuang at @plnu.bsky.social yesterday for the Writers Symposium by the Sea!
Kuang did an afternoon Q&A with our @plnuwritingma.bsky.social students, moderated by Dr. Breeann Kirby. So much writing wisdom!!!
Kuang did an afternoon Q&A with our @plnuwritingma.bsky.social students, moderated by Dr. Breeann Kirby. So much writing wisdom!!!
September 12, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Amazing to have R.F. Kuang at @plnu.bsky.social yesterday for the Writers Symposium by the Sea!
Kuang did an afternoon Q&A with our @plnuwritingma.bsky.social students, moderated by Dr. Breeann Kirby. So much writing wisdom!!!
Kuang did an afternoon Q&A with our @plnuwritingma.bsky.social students, moderated by Dr. Breeann Kirby. So much writing wisdom!!!
Get tickets to today’s livestreamed @plnuwritingma.bsky.social Q&A with R.F. Kuang at 3pm PT!!!
plnu.universitytickets.com/w/default.as...
plnu.universitytickets.com/w/default.as...
September 11, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Get tickets to today’s livestreamed @plnuwritingma.bsky.social Q&A with R.F. Kuang at 3pm PT!!!
plnu.universitytickets.com/w/default.as...
plnu.universitytickets.com/w/default.as...
Pumped about the @plnuwritingma.bsky.social Visiting Writers Series which is bringing 6 amazing writers to PLNU this fall. Events will also be live streamed.
Purchase tickets here: plnu.universitytickets.com
Purchase tickets here: plnu.universitytickets.com
September 9, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Pumped about the @plnuwritingma.bsky.social Visiting Writers Series which is bringing 6 amazing writers to PLNU this fall. Events will also be live streamed.
Purchase tickets here: plnu.universitytickets.com
Purchase tickets here: plnu.universitytickets.com
Idk why I thought the box might not be telling the truth, but I opened the box in the back of a supply closet (it *was* a crown of thorns).
August 26, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Idk why I thought the box might not be telling the truth, but I opened the box in the back of a supply closet (it *was* a crown of thorns).
John Gregory Dunne on "writer's block" and committing to write in "On Writing a Novel," an Esquire essay collected in BEST AMERICAN ESSAYS 1987.
July 1, 2025 at 10:11 PM
John Gregory Dunne on "writer's block" and committing to write in "On Writing a Novel," an Esquire essay collected in BEST AMERICAN ESSAYS 1987.
Finally got to check out the Olympic poster exhibit at @plnu.bsky.social’s Balboa campus. Worth a visit!
July 1, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Finally got to check out the Olympic poster exhibit at @plnu.bsky.social’s Balboa campus. Worth a visit!
Also, this last photo is the origin point of what I'm calling my "thesis shrine" where I ask each grad student whose thesis I chair to contribute a talisman with thesis significance so I can think of them and their writing every day. :D
June 9, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Also, this last photo is the origin point of what I'm calling my "thesis shrine" where I ask each grad student whose thesis I chair to contribute a talisman with thesis significance so I can think of them and their writing every day. :D
Such talented writers and thinkers who inspired me to be a better person and who pushed my own writing through our conversations and through reading their writing. I'm so proud of each of them, grateful to have worked with them, and excited to see more of their words out in the world in coming years
June 9, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Such talented writers and thinkers who inspired me to be a better person and who pushed my own writing through our conversations and through reading their writing. I'm so proud of each of them, grateful to have worked with them, and excited to see more of their words out in the world in coming years
What a joy the past two years were working with these three outstanding essayists— @itmebugail.bsky.social, @jessietaylor2896.bsky.social, and @josiahroberts.bsky.social—my first graduated nonfiction thesis students!
June 9, 2025 at 5:41 PM
What a joy the past two years were working with these three outstanding essayists— @itmebugail.bsky.social, @jessietaylor2896.bsky.social, and @josiahroberts.bsky.social—my first graduated nonfiction thesis students!
Small Press Nite also featured amazing readings by Becca Rae Rose, Tex Gresham, and @anniejowrites.bsky.social, and @wwwwkurtcom.bsky.social did a fantastic job hosting.
June 3, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Small Press Nite also featured amazing readings by Becca Rae Rose, Tex Gresham, and @anniejowrites.bsky.social, and @wwwwkurtcom.bsky.social did a fantastic job hosting.
Celebrated @kevinmkearney.bsky.social's book launch for FREELANCE at Small Press Nite this weekend at The Book Catapult.
June 3, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Celebrated @kevinmkearney.bsky.social's book launch for FREELANCE at Small Press Nite this weekend at The Book Catapult.
Catching up on a busy month! Had a blast at @mcrane12.bsky.social's book launch back on May 13 at The Book Catapult. What a standout reading! Also, enjoyed learning from Mac's brilliance in their Q&A. Excited to crack into A SHARP ENDLESS NEED this summer--so rare to see literary basketball stories!
June 2, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Catching up on a busy month! Had a blast at @mcrane12.bsky.social's book launch back on May 13 at The Book Catapult. What a standout reading! Also, enjoyed learning from Mac's brilliance in their Q&A. Excited to crack into A SHARP ENDLESS NEED this summer--so rare to see literary basketball stories!