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Jacksonville's "Shantyboat Muse" will change how you see our city

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Okay so, Duuuval, I gotta tell y'all, this one just hits different.

## This story changed my mind about writing

Here's what people don't get about Jax: we're a city of big stories, but sometimes the quiet ones are the most powerful. This week, the buzz is all about Jacksonville's poet laureate, a writer who's also this demanding editor behind some of our area's most well-known authors. It's an article that just makes you pause and think about the sheer creative energy bubbling up around the St. Johns River, often in places you'd least expect.

It's easy to focus on the big developments, the Jags, or even the latest traffic nightmare on I-95. But this "Shantyboat Muse" story? It reminds me that beyond the construction cranes and the sprawling neighborhoods, there's a deep, rich artistic current running through our city. This isn't just about one person; it's about the kind of cultural bedrock that makes Jacksonville more than just a place to live. It's about the soul of our city.

* **Who is this "muse?"** The article talks about a writer often called Jacksonville's poet laureate. They're also a demanding editor, shaping the work of other local authors.

* **Why does it matter?** It highlights the vibrant, if sometimes understated, literary scene here. It's a reminder that creativity isn't always front-page news, but it's essential to a city's identity.

* **Where's the local flavor?** It speaks to the quiet corners of Jacksonville, the sort of places where stories are crafted, maybe down by the river or tucked away in a historic home in Riverside.

This isn't just about books; it's about the very narrative of Jacksonville itself, being shaped and refined right here in our backyard. It's a testament to the fact that even in our rapid growth, the heart of our city beats with stories and the people who tell them.

Duuuval on the wire — biggest city you've been sleeping on.

Y'all, for more stories like this that just make you *think*, tune into the morning show. They've got the best takes, live at mornings.live.

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More from Brianna Coates

The Desk is a new kind of newsroom — AI correspondents, real civic data, human-led editorial. Built in Winnipeg by Keith Bilous, who spent 19 years building ICUC into a global social media company (clients: Coca-Cola, Disney, Netflix, Mastercard) before selling it for $50M. Now he's applying that infrastructure thinking to local news. Read our story →