Dungeons & Dragons is 50. Almost as many years ago, it saved my life.

“Once I discovered the transmogrifying portal of D&D, the game became a safe haven — the place where I could achieve feats and victories beyond my reach in real life.”
An essay for the Boston Globe Ideas section.

“The Power of the Sandwich: Story Containers Beyond Chronology”

In this craft essay on the Brevity Blog, “The Power of the Sandwich: Story Containers Beyond Chronology” I explore narrative story “containers” including the “non-chronological sandwich,” because I really like sandwiches, and others structures that are just as tasty. Join me for a CRAFT TALKS webinar,  Contain Your Narrative: Five Time-Tested Structures Nonfiction Writers Need to Know, August 1 at 2PM Eastern ($25) and learn five time-tested ways to arrange your story for maximum power.

There and Back Again: Ethan Gilsdorf's GrubStreet Journey

Ethan Gilsdorf shares his GrubStreet journey for the GrubStreet blog.

"It’s AT&T, We Apologize for Thursday’s Outage and…”

My comedy piece "It’s AT&T, We Apologize for Thursday’s Outage and Also Why Won’t You Talk to Me?!" was published in Points in Case comedy magazine.

My love letter to Boston on WBUR Cognoscenti

WBUR featured my radio essay as part of their "Love Letter to Boston" series that aired on WBUR's NPR Morning Edition program.

Antidepressant Brand Name, or Elf Character from Middle-Earth?

Humor! Over on Greener Pastures: “Antidepressant Brand Name, or Elf Character from Middle-Earth”

How to Prepare for A Difficult Conversation

Over on Brevity, I published this essay "How to Prepare for A Difficult Conversation."

The cellphone at 50

I wrote this commentary "The cell phone turned 50 this year. To celebrate, I’d like to be a little less connected" for WBUR's Cognoscenti. 

Shall we play a game?

In which my co-author and I entice chat GPT to play Dungeons & Dragons. 

Here's what we wrote for Wired Magazine.

DEAR CHATBOT, SHOULD I WRITE ABOUT MY DEAD MOTHER? A conversation between Ethan Gilsdorf and ChatGPT

Should I write about my dead mother?

Yes, you should write about your dead mother if you feel compelled to do so. Writing about someone you care about can be a cathartic and meaningful experience.

You'll find this essay published over on Electric Literature 

Quiz: Monster in the new Dungeons & Dragons movie or Republican Member of the Weaponization of the Federal Government Committee?

I published a funny list over on MuddyUm: "Quiz: Monster in the new Dungeons & Dragons movie or Republican Member of the Weaponization of the Federal Government Committee?" 

I’m that Mysterious and Exotic Condiment Stuck to the Door of Your Refrigerator and I Didn’t Change Your Life

I wrote a humorous (I hope) essay over on The Haven:
"I’m that Mysterious and Exotic Condiment Stuck to the Door of Your Refrigerator and I Didn’t Change Your Life"

A connection with a stranger reminded me how to play

Over on WBUR's Cognoscenti, I published an essay about a chance, playful encounter with a boy in an airport and how that got my in touch with the power of play. Enjoy.

Discussing narrative structure on the 7am Novelist podcast

On Michelle Hoover's The 7am Novelist podcast, I discussed how to find alternative structures and shape your own with host Michelle and writer Christopher Boucher, and how to go "Beyond Freytag" in re-examinging traditional narrative  structure in your novel, story or essay.

NASA crashed into an asteroid! Nerds like me are in heaven

A nerd out on the NASA's DART Mission to bump into an asteroid, published in WBUR's Cognoscenti

Watching the Red Sox. Looking for my mom

Did your mother coach your Little League team? Mine did. On #RedSox home opener day, my nostalgic reminincience, for WBUR Cognoscenti.

What Our Brains Do When We Play Wordle

A Q&A with Holly Taylor, Tufts University professor of psychology and mechanical engineering, about why that darned word game is so popular: "What Our Brains Do When We Play Wordle"

A celebration of Zoom's 50th

Half a century later, I can still sing the address: "Write Zoom. Z, double-O, M. Box 3-5-0. Boston, Mass. 0-2-1-3-4. Send it to Zoom!"

Read my essay/appreciation celebrating the 50th anniversary of the groundbreaking kids show Zoom.

Ethan On "Orpah": "Facing Childhood Trauma Led a Grown Son to Healing"

My essay "Facing Childhood Trauma Led a Grown Son to Healing" over on Oprah Daily magazine.

Talking Tolkien on the Mythmakers podcast

Thank you Oxford Center for Fantasy for inviting me to be on the Mythmakers podcast. Listen as we talk all things fantasy writers --- especially Tolkien --- and the multitude of subcultures they inspired from D&D to LARPing and more.