The Contest Continues

 

VOTE FOR ME HERE (I made it to the Top 15): https://peoplesartist.org/2026/matt-burns-K0u3

 

For those of you who are unaware, I am in the Art of Elysium’s “People’s Artist” contest for my writing. Thanks to everyone for your votes so far. I have made it into the third round, which is the top 15 of my contest group. 

 

If you are interested in casting any more votes for me, I would greatly appreciate it. You can cast one free vote every 24 hours. I’m only asking that you cast FREE votes. Paid votes go to an arts charity, but I’m uncomfortable asking anyone for paid votes so let’s just go with the free ones.

CAST YOUR VOTES HERE: https://peoplesartist.org/2026/matt-burns-K0u3

 

The goal is to now make the top 10, which is going to be tough, but I'm trying my hardest to see how far I can get in this. Literally every one of your votes make a huge difference.

Thanks so much for your continued support!

FYI: There are a few writing samples on my contest profile page, but if you want to make sure I deserve a vote, you can check out some of the books I have written at my Amazon Author page here: http://amazon.com/author/mattburns

 

And here are some of my shorter pieces of writing:

 

Short memoirs/nostalgia:

 

The Case for Cassette: https://www.theburnzodiaries.com/2026/04/the-case-for-cassette.html

 

 

A Trip Down DVD Drive: https://www.theburnzodiaries.com/2026/03/a-trip-down-dvd-drive.html

Some Wicked Good Times: A Love Letter to Newbury Comics: https://www.theburnzodiaries.com/2023/01/some-wicked-good-times-love-letter-to.html

A Love Letter to the Emerald Square Mall (about the death of the shopping mall age): https://www.theburnzodiaries.com/2018/02/a-love-letter-to-emerald-square-mall.html

 

 

I Dream of Dream Machine (a memoir of the local video arcade): https://www.theburnzodiaries.com/2018/10/i-dream-of-dream-machine.html

 

 

I USED TO BE A GAMER: The 8-bit Nintendo Years: https://www.theburnzodiaries.com/2016/11/i-used-to-be-gamer.html

 

 

Video Store Memories: https://www.theburnzodiaries.com/2020/11/video-store-memories.html

NEVER FORGET the Fun-O-Rama (a traveling carnival memoir): https://www.theburnzodiaries.com/2018/04/never-forget-fun-o-rama.html

Skateboarding in the 1990s: https://www.theburnzodiaries.com/2023/06/skateboarding-in-1990s.html

WAAF Goes Off the Air: https://www.theburnzodiaries.com/2020/02/waaf-goes-off-air.html

CAPE CODDING IT: A Cape Cod Vacation Memoir: https://www.theburnzodiaries.com/2025/09/cape-codding-it-cape-cod-vacation-memoir.html

GREYHOUNDING IT, BABY! A Guide to taking a Greyhound Bus Long Distances: https://www.theburnzodiaries.com/2013/10/greyhounding-it-baby-guide-to-taking.html

 

 

Visiting Mom in the ICU (short story contest winner): https://www.theburnzodiaries.com/2025/06/visiting-mom-in-icu-short-story-contest.html

Remembering That Time I Tried to Stop a Shoplifter at the Wrentham Outlets: https://www.theburnzodiaries.com/2023/08/remembering-that-time-i-tried-to-stop.html

The Strange, Surreal Moment of Being Called a DILF Inside a Panera Bread Restaurant on a Wednesday Afternoon: https://www.theburnzodiaries.com/2021/09/the-strange-surreal-moment-of-being.html

 

Weird Times en la Weirdioteca: https://www.theburnzodiaries.com/2018/07/weird-times-en-la-weirdioteca.html

 

 

 

Film-related articles:

 

WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER TURNS 25 (and it’s only gotten better): https://www.theburnzodiaries.com/2026/03/wet-hot-american-summer-turns-25-and.html

 

 

NOT PLAYING IT SAFE: How Todd Haynes’ Film Was Used to ‘Deprogram’ Me and My Fellow Film Students: https://www.theburnzodiaries.com/2026/03/not-playing-it-safe-how-todd-haynes.html

 

 

How I Got into the Films of John Cassavetes: https://www.theburnzodiaries.com/2025/08/how-i-got-into-films-of-john-cassavetes.html

 

 

If I May Say a Few Words About FLIGHT OF THE NAVIGATOR: https://www.theburnzodiaries.com/2025/08/if-i-may-say-few-words-about-flight-of.html

 

 

35 YEARS OF TURTLE POWER: A Tribute to 1990’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie: https://www.theburnzodiaries.com/2025/08/35-years-of-turtle-power-tribute-to.html

 

Revisiting the Blair Witch Project: https://www.theburnzodiaries.com/2022/10/revisiting-blair-witch-project.html

My Childhood Obsession with Rambo: https://www.theburnzodiaries.com/2024/08/my-childhood-obsession-with-rambo.html

 

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeere’s Charlie (a story about Burns’ recurring nightmares featuring Charlie Chaplin): https://www.theburnzodiaries.com/2020/10/heeeeeeeeeeeeeeres-charlie.html

 

 

Gaming/computers nostalgia:

 

RIP PowerBook G3: https://www.theburnzodiaries.com/2016/07/rip-powerbook-g3.html

PROXOS IN THE PLEX: A Goldeneye 007 N64 Retrospective: https://www.theburnzodiaries.com/2023/07/proxos-in-plex-goldeneye-007-n64.html

 

 

100 DAYS of ZELDA: Revisiting Ocarina of Time: https://www.theburnzodiaries.com/2021/05/100-days-of-zelda.html

 

 

Writing Tips/Advice:

 

THE AUDIO BOOK EXPERIMENT: Tips and Advice on How to Record Your First Audio Book: https://www.theburnzodiaries.com/2025/01/the-audio-book-experiment-tips-and.html

Getting Your Novel Done: https://www.theburnzodiaries.com/2023/11/getting-your-novel-done.html

 

 

Making Your Good Writing Great: https://www.theburnzodiaries.com/2022/06/making-your-good-writing-great.html

Getting Your Screenplay Done: https://www.theburnzodiaries.com/2022/08/getting-your-screenplay-done.html

 

 

Writing the Sequel: https://www.theburnzodiaries.com/2021/01/writing-sequel.html

 

 

Writing the Trilogy: https://www.theburnzodiaries.com/2022/03/writing-trilogy.html

No-No, Learn to Love the Rejection: Some Sage Advice for Writers in Search of an Agent or Publisher: https://www.theburnzodiaries.com/2022/01/no-no-learn-to-love-rejection-some-sage.html