Welcome
I explore the ruts and scars of everyday life. Stories that unfold on gravel roads, in quiet kitchens, and across lives shaped by hard choices. Stories about frayed souls, unexpected turns, and the grace that sometimes holds it all together. If you’re drawn to human stories with a little bit of grit, I hope you’ll feel at home here.
James Teitsworth is a writer based in Burlington, Iowa. His work explores emotional and moral complexity of life, focusing on characters shaped by hard choices, deep ties, and unresolved pasts. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing and teaches writing and tech workshops for a local college.
His stories and essays have appeared in Flyover Country Literary Magazine, Blanket Gravity Magazine, and Down in the Dirt. When not writing, James teaches community workshops on storytelling and self-publishing, and spends his downtime fishing and reading.
James believes that fiction should do more than entertain—it should challenge assumptions, spark empathy, and leave both reader and writer changed. His work often centers on themes of emotional disconnection, personal transformation, and the struggle to adapt to the loss of a way of life.
James Teitsworth is a writer based in Burlington, Iowa. His work explores emotional and moral complexity of life, focusing on characters shaped by hard choices, deep ties, and unresolved pasts. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing and teaches writing and tech workshops for a local college.
His stories and essays have appeared in Flyover Country Literary Magazine, Blanket Gravity Magazine, and Down in the Dirt. When not writing, James teaches...
Five Days in Darling
In the fictional town of Darling, Iowa, odd things seem to hide around every corner. Pocket dimensions, dragon conventions, and psychic psychopaths all appear in this little town on the river. Five short stories give you a chance to meet the people, see the sights, and maybe even survive the night.
Other Writing
Every month I try to submit a few short pieces for publication. The spring of 2024 I wasn’t doing a very good job at hitting that goal. A medical...
A short nonfiction piece about teaching my daughter to drive published in The Unbridgeable Canyon, The Limits of Language anthology, and Flyover...
Get news, appearances, an inside look at my writing process, exclusive articles, and essays about life in flyover country. No BS. No AI. Pure human connection. Hell, reply to the emails, and I'll personally respond.
Get news, appearances, an inside look at my writing process, exclusive articles, and essays about life in flyover country. No BS. No AI. Pure human connection. Hell, reply to the emails, and I'll personally respond.