The Vade Mecum of the True Sublime

Bill Gillard is an award-winning teacher of creative
writing and literature at the University of Wisconsin
Oshkosh. His writing has appeared in dozens of journals,
and he is the author of two chapbooks: Ode to Sandra
Hook and Desire, the River and the co-author of Speculative
Modernism, a study of the literary origins of science fiction,
fantasy, and horror. He is the Fiction Editor at the literary
magazine, Masque and Spectacle and earned an M.F.A.
from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He lives in Appleton,
Wisconsin, with his wife and two daughters and is a
recovering youth hockey coach.

Especially for those unfamiliar with supplication to
imaginary omnipotents, it is helpful to page through the
entire collection first, stopping here and there to get a feel for
how the prayer book unfolds. Practice good breathing habits
during this phase.

Afterward, and as your devotion matures, it is existentially
safest to read this book in its entirety every day, preferably
aloud (clothing optional). Then nobody will be able to say
that whatever comes next is your fault. You gave it your best
shot. You were devout. Pious, even.