Opaque Hourglass

My Mantras

The 84 mantras I use to overcome self-doubt.

Dec 1, 2025 • Mark Leidner

22

3

October 2025

50 Questions To Ask about Your Story

A promotion. A story. An anthology. A poem.

Oct 10, 2025 • Mark Leidner

12

3

2

September 2025

Sorry I Keep Stealing Your Smell

On the scent exploitation crisis, and how I’m not helping.

Sep 12, 2025 • Mark Leidner

36

8

8

July 2025

What Is Plot? an Interview with Hilary Plum about her novel STATE CHAMP

Interview with Hilary Plum about running, protesting, and writing a novel in diary form.

Jul 24, 2025 • Mark Leidner

14

3

June 2025

The New Scorsese

Verse essay on the state of poetry.

Jun 13, 2025 • Mark Leidner

31

6

7

May 2025

Germanic Romance

Found this on the back of an old scroll and translated it.

May 6, 2025 • Mark Leidner

20

2

April 2025

Travelogue: the Pacific Northwest

Just got back from a week in the Pacific Northwest and wrote about my experience.

Apr 14, 2025

37

16

3

March 2025

Castle Strong

What makes a castle strong enough to outlast a siege? It might not be the ramparts.

Mar 19, 2025 • Mark Leidner

41

6

7

The Bad Mount Rushmore of Slender-Faced Men

How come the mental monument I made sucks so much ass?

Mar 7, 2025 • Mark Leidner

18

5

1

February 2025

Reader Question: A.I. Literary Criticism

"If A.I. can effectively analyze a poem I wrote, does the poem suck?"

Feb 13, 2025 • Mark Leidner

18

3

January 2025

Scenic Dream Regions of the United States

Everyone should visit at least a few of these places at least once.

Jan 30, 2025 • Mark Leidner

30

9

6

Lyrics for the Game of Thrones Theme Song

A couple got into it at dinner and things got Thronesy.

Jan 17, 2025 • Mark Leidner

16

5

3