“I’m planning to finish writing a script for a short film, then film it. Once that’s done, I might return to short fiction or try polishing an experimental prose poetry collection […] I’m always trying to learn to draw so I can draw my own comics, but I’d love to work with an artist someday soon, too.“
— James McNulty
A member of the Writers’ League since 2022, James lives in Austin, TX.
Scribe: Welcome, writer! Tell us — what do you write?
James McNulty: Fiction, scripts, prose poetry, comics, experimental writing.
Scribe: If you could choose one author to blurb your book, who would it be, and what would you want it to say?
JM: William Faulkner: “I came back from the dead to read this book. It was okay.”
Scribe: You have one book you’re allowed to push onto all of your friends, and they’re forced to read it to remain your friend — which one would you choose?
JM: I’m always looking to make new friends who share similar interests, so I’m going to break the rules here a bit…
Fiction: The Updike Tetralogy
Comics: Love & Rockets
Manga: One Piece
Film: The Square
TV: The Wire
Games: Hollow Knight
I work as an editor by day, so sharing great writing with the world is my literal job; these picks contain some of the most polished craft in their respective genres, from Updike’s stunning stream of consciousness to One Piece‘s creative longevity, these works excel at what they set out to do.
Scribe: Tell us your WLT story.
JM: New member–no stories yet. Found through AWP and BookPeople.
Scribe: Where do you see your writing taking you (or you taking it) in the future?
JM: More film and comic writing. This year, I’m planning to finish writing a script for a short film, then film it. Once that’s done, I might return to short fiction or try polishing an experimental prose poetry collection I started years ago. I’m always trying to learn to draw so I can draw my own comics, but I’d love to work with an artist someday soon, too.
Scribe: Here at the WLT, we love sharing book recommendations. What’s one book that has come out within the past few years that you couldn’t put down? (Bonus points if the book is Texas related!)
JM: Marlon James’ A Brief History of Seven Killings. The multiple POVs, the stunning Bam Bam chapters, careful language and voice, dense specificity to the time period and setting. What’s not to love?
Scribe: Is there anything else about you that you would like to share with the world? An opportunity for blatant self-promotion!
JM: I live in Austin, Texas and work in both the film and publishing industries. I’ve been the managing fiction editor at Driftwood Press for ten years and run an editing service out of the press (works I’ve edited have appeared in major publications such as Tin House). My MFA in Writing was awarded by the Vermont College of Fine Arts, and I hold an Honors BA in Creative Writing from the University of South Florida. One of my screenplays was named semi-finalist or finalist in Scriptapalooza’s fellowship, ISA’s Fast Track Competition, and other smaller festivals and competitions. My work has been published in Grist. I’m is always looking to make new friends in Austin, TX.
