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Sean Murphy

Goodreads Author

Website

http://seanmurphy.net/

Twitter

bullmurph

Genre

Memoir, Fiction, Poetry

Member Since

September 2013

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Sean Murphy is founder of the non-profit 1455 Lit Arts and directs the Center for Story at Shenandoah University. He has been publishing fiction, poetry, reviews (of music, movie, book, food), and essays on the technology industry for over twenty years. He has appeared on NPR’s “All Things Considered” (check it out HERE) and been quoted in USA Today, The New York Times, The Huffington Post, Forbes and AdAge. He was a longtime columnist for PopMatters, and his work has also appeared in Salon, The Village Voice, The New York Post, The Good Men Project, Writer’s Digest, Memoir Magazine, Northern Virginia Magazine, and many other publications. His poems have been widely anthologized, including the collections Revisiting the Elegy in the Black L Sean Murphy is founder of the non-profit 1455 Lit Arts and directs the Center for Story at Shenandoah University. He has been publishing fiction, poetry, reviews (of music, movie, book, food), and essays on the technology industry for over twenty years. He has appeared on NPR’s “All Things Considered” (check it out HERE) and been quoted in USA Today, The New York Times, The Huffington Post, Forbes and AdAge. He was a longtime columnist for PopMatters, and his work has also appeared in Salon, The Village Voice, The New York Post, The Good Men Project, Writer’s Digest, Memoir Magazine, Northern Virginia Magazine, and many other publications. His poems have been widely anthologized, including the collections Revisiting the Elegy in the Black Lives Matter Era, This Is What America Looks Like, Lo-Fi Poetry Series: Poet Sounds, and Written in Arlington: Poems for Arlington, VA.

He was previously the writer-in-residence at Noepe Center for Literary Arts at Martha’s Vineyard, and in 2017 founded the arts non-profit 1455. His memoir PLEASE TALK ABOUT ME WHEN I’M GONE was released in 2013. His novel NOT TO MENTION A NICE LIFE (2015) was followed by his first two collections of non-fiction, MURPHY’S LAW, VOL. ONE and VOL. TWO (2016, 2017). His chapbooks THE BLACKENED BLUES (Finishing Line Press) and RHAPSODIES IN BLUE (Kelsay Books) were published in 2021 and 2023. His next poetry collection, KINDS OF BLUE (Kelsay Books) and his collection of short fiction THIS KIND OF MAN (Unsolicited Press) both published in 2024. He has been nominated four times for the Pushcart Prize, twice for Best of Net, and PLEASE TALK ABOUT ME WHEN I'M GONE was winner of the 2022 Memoir Prize. His podcast Some Things Considered debuts in summer 2024.

As a former analyst for the technology industry, Sean spent a great deal of time discussing—and at times, lamenting—the ways an increasingly digital reality is changing lives, not always for the better. Over several years and after speaking to myriad experts from the business, artistic, and entertainment fields, Sean developed a thesis that technology has undeniably helped democratize content and creativity. These essays and articles inspired his podcast The Intersection of Innovation and Culture, which focused on the ways technology, despite its inherent contradictions it has also established otherwise unimaginable connections amongst diverse networks. To keep the discourse going, he established the 14:55 Interview series, which features writers and artists discussing their work, their influences, and what inspires them. All of 1455’s programming seeks to explore the ways artists can foster inclusivity and inspiration.

Sean believes deeply in the importance of building and nurturing communities. The primary impetus of 1455 is showcasing the work of creatives and support the micro communities spanning multiple artistic genres. In a time where industries are consolidating and info-overload makes it increasingly challenging to engage with a sustained audience, Sean is dedicated to forming creative alliances and promoting collaboration between artists, entrepreneurs, and businesses. In addition to the free programs 1455 provides, Sean has initiated a formal workshop series that allows acclaimed authors to work with aspiring writers and retain all the profits. In addition, he created MOVABLE TYPE, a free digital magazine featuring both celebrated and emerging writers.

Sean studied English at George Mason University and has an MA in Literature. One of his thesis papers dealt with the utopian impulse in ’70s rock which, depending upon one’s perspective, at least partially explains why he opted not to purse that PhD in Cultural Studies. He’s finishing a book on all-things prog rock, inspired by his featured series “The Amazing Pudding” at PopMatters. As a critic and arts advocate, Sean has spoken with some of the remarkable musicians and writers of our time, including Vernon Reid (Living Colour); Dan Auerbach ...more

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How do you deal with writer’s block?

Sean Murphy I’ve always envied the discipline of writers who have a set routine: waking up before sunrise, cranking out a thousand words or so before breakfast. O…moreI’ve always envied the discipline of writers who have a set routine: waking up before sunrise, cranking out a thousand words or so before breakfast. Or the lucky (and talented!) authors who are able to sustain themselves through writing and have time to set aside each day. For me, it’s always been a frenetic balance between work, life, sleep, reading and human interaction. But any writer understands early on that there are myriad distractions and excuses: in order to get writing done one has to write; often and badly. The moments one lives for are when you get obsessed by an idea and see it through to fruition. These are the times when sleep, socializing and even eating become secondary. For a longer project, like my memoir –which took several years to complete—it necessitates a different type of discipline; a more marathon than sprint mentality. That said, my response to people when they ask how often I write or how I’ve managed to write so much, is simple: I seldom watch TV.(less)

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What’s the best thing about being a writer?

Sean Murphy For me writing is always an act of communication, an attempt to initiate a dialogue—even an internal one. Being able to share ideas or thoughts or emo…moreFor me writing is always an act of communication, an attempt to initiate a dialogue—even an internal one. Being able to share ideas or thoughts or emotions with people (friends, family, strangers) and hear from them that you’ve managed to describe something they can relate to, or a feeling they thought they alone held, is supremely gratifying. The act of seeing a longer project through from conception to execution is something any writer should be proud of. As someone who possesses an active imagination and a sensitivity that occasionally is too acute by half, it’s wonderful having an outlet that helps me interrogate the thoughts, fears and passions that fuel my life; to think anything I write can have a positive impact on anyone else is the best gift I could give or receive.(less)

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Sean Murphy’s books

Average rating: 4.46 · 94 ratings · 33 reviews · 8 distinct works • Similar authors

	Please Talk about Me When I'm Gone: A Memoir for My Mother 4.46 avg rating — 39 ratings — published 2013 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Not To Mention a Nice Life 3.52 avg rating — 31 ratings — published 2015 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	This Kind of Man 3.93 avg rating — 14 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Blackened Blues 4.86 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 2021	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Rhapsodies in Blue it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 6 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Murphy's Law, Vol. One 4.50 avg rating — 6 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Kinds of Blue it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 4 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Murphy's Law, Vol. Two: Odds & Sods, Etc. it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 3 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Sean Murphy's Blog

Excerpt: Not To Mention a Nice Life

Take a guy.

Let’s say he’s about my age: old enough to own his own condo and pay almost all his bills, who is young enough to be unmarried but old enough to understand he is not getting any younger. Add a fresh dose of alienation—not enough to be unhealthy, of course, but enough to enable him to function in a world full of a-holes, imbecility and indifference. Take this guy and provide just enough Read more of this blog post »

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Published on July 15, 2015 12:21 • Tags: not-to-mention-a-nice-life

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