One of the Greatest Things Martin Devaney Has Ever Done

My best friend is Martin Devaney. He’s a musician, songwriter, a writer, a Minnesota music enthusiast. He’s done a lot of incredible things in his life but I got one from you from his senior/my junior in high school at St. Paul Central. Martin Devaney was applying to go the University of Minnesota and there was a scholarship available with an absolutely genius writing prompt:

Write page 89 of your autobiography

My man, my best friend, my hero Martin Devaney just did something beautiful with this. He opened the essay something like this:

which was fine with me cause I love donuts.

I always just marvel at the creativity of a great opening. And to me, that’s one of the all time greats. I believe the rest of the story was about sitting in with a blues band, maybe even envisioned as a blues band I was a member of. I don’t recall the details, but that’s a hell of an opener.

I’ve been thinking about that lately cause Martin has started writing and editing for the local arts bi-weekly DISPATCH. I’m excited for him, I’m excited for DISPATCH, I’m excited to read the work. The man knows how to do an opening. Congrats on the new gig, I owe you a donut.