Publications

  • "Four Letter Words: A Meditation on Fuck," delves into the multifaceted uses and significance of the word "fuck" in military life and beyond. Plunkett explores how this particular four-letter word serves as a versatile tool for expression among infantrymen, conveying everything from frustration to camaraderie. The essay highlights the word's adaptability, its ability to fit into various emotional contexts, and its role in forging bonds within the harsh realities of military life. Through a mix of personal anecdotes and broader reflections, Plunkett illuminates how "fuck" operates as both a linguistic and emotional anchor in high-stress environments.

  • A personal essay about my time working EMS in rural South Carolina which explores the meaning of service and the different forms it can take.

  • An essay exploring the legacy of combat photography from Antietam to HKIA which makes the claim that the notion of a homefront is an illusion in our social media saturated culture.

  • A personal essay on my experience playing the legendary CBGB’s on the bowery the week it closed when I was fifteen years old.

  • A personal essay about the experience of discovering a piece of a 75mm French artillery shell fired during the Battle of Verdun while exploring the battlefields.

  • An excerpt from the novel ZONE ROUGE (forthcoming) in which a terminally ill demineur reckons with his mortality in the lead laden fields of Verdun.

UPCOMING EVENTS

UPCOMING EVENTS

Reading Like A Writer (Virtual)

March 9th 10am-1pm CST

Virtual

Pop the hood on some of literature’s best short fiction and see what makes these stories work. Novelist Michael Jerome Plunkett will guide students through a variety of strategies and exercises to hone their writer’s eye when reading literature. Join us to see some of your favorite stories in an entirely new light. For fans of George Saunders, Salman Rushdie, Jamaica Kincaid, and more!