Writer of facts and fiction

I write stories and novels inspired by sets of facts and bodies of knowledge. I'm a graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop, and my writing appears in Iron Horse, Stone Canoe, Sport Literate, and elsewhere. I'm at work on a novel about a strained friendship and short stories involving dandelions, exoplanets and a Mars rover.

As a writer for Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences, I report on faculty research in a wide range of subjects. In recent favorites I've learned that: the universe will end in a big crunch; politicians are not ignoring you, and improvising takes vulnerability and courage.

I love to connect with people in the writing community. And fellow runners and theater geeks, too.

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Recent Blog Posts

I don’t dream about hot planets

By Kate Blackwood | March 31, 2025

Vacuum: the word sucked the oxygen from the car. On my side because I was thinking, “wait, IS space a vacuum?” And on Paul’s because he’s afraid of the noisy appliance we keep in the closet.

10,000 Maniacs and me

By Kate Blackwood | February 28, 2025

A prime joy of a live concert is letting my mind wander.

What now? Three ways to resist chaos

By Kate Blackwood | January 31, 2025

I can acknowledge that there’s trouble in the world without panicking.

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