The Official J. Wiltz Timeline
Not my whole life story, just a highlights reel of my writing and other creative projects with a few other milestones thrown in for good measure.
1978
J is conceived in Hawaii
Mom just wanted to walk on the beach.
1988
J writes his first screenplay
“Butterfingers” – a Godzilla-esque monster movie about a creature that shoots toxic butter from its fingers. Sadly, funding for the project has never materialized. The film remains unmade to this day.
1989
J wins his first writing award
Wrote a poem called “Halloween Night” and got a sticker. Hell. Yeah.
1992
J wins a writing contest
Took first place in a creative writing contest sponsored by the Modern Woodmen of America. Got a trophy. Probably my crowning middle school achievement.
1993-1997
J goes to high school
Started off kind of awkwardly but eventually became a youth columnist for the Sun Herald, a contributing writer for Indian Etchings (a school publication), a founding member of the Victims of Small Town Boredom (a small filmmaking group), lead guitarist and vocalist for The Brass Tacks, and president of the Stage Left Drama Club. During this time, I also wrote the introductions for my dad’s two collections of Cajun humor.
1999
J goes to college
Went to the University of Mississippi to read some Faulkner and get an English degree. Became a founding member of Apartment 86 Productions (another small filmmaking group).
2000
J’s joke goes viral
My friend Wendy and I put a fake engagement announcement in my hometown newspaper as an April Fools Day joke. It was supposed to be funny, but it ended up on the AP wire and turned into a whole big thing.
2001
J co-hosts a radio show
Co-hosted what the Daily Journal once referred to as “the popular Keith and J Show” with my buddy Keith Sisson (editor of The New Standard, which I wrote a weekly column for). Among the many feathers in our caps, we were the first show to recognize and feature comedian Karlous Miller.
February 2001
J wins another writing contest
Won a “Worst Dating Experience” essay contest sponsored by the now-defunct Dipuc.com It came with a nice cash prize and a trip to Phoenix.
2002
J becomes a playwright
My short play Do Not Collect $200 made its debut at the 2002 Oxford Double Decker Festival. It has since been performed in theater and film festivals across the US.
2003
J goes to New Orleans
Lived and worked in NOLA off-and-on for seven years beginning in 2003. Briefly wrote for a local entertainment newspaper. Directed a full-length independent film that has since been lost to time and memory. Had a lot of fun.
2004
J wins another writing contest
Won a Roald Dahl Sequel Writing Contest with my story “The Next Morning and the New Idea.” I think the prize was an Amazon gift card or something. Roald Dahl is one of my faves, so I really enjoyed this one.
2007
J teaches and tutors
Worked as a writing instructor for Tulane University and Delgado Community College while pursuing my master’s degree at the University of New Orleans.
2009
J publishes an essay
My essay “Darkwing Duck: Champion of the Free Market?” was published by the online Journal of Cartoon Overanalyzations. Not a huge deal, but it was cool to submit something to a site, have it accepted and published, and then get a pretty high rating. The internet’s not always that friendly.
2010
J gets a master’s degree
Graduated from UNO with a degree in American literature. Spent the next year looking for work and delivering pizza.
Spring 2010
J writes another play
My short play “Of Course, Of Course” was performed as part of the 2010 Oxford Double Decker Festival. I co-starred.
2011
J goes to South Korea
Took a teaching position with an English language kindergarten (and later an elementary school) in Seoul. Spent nine awesome years teaching English, developing curriculum, writing and directing student performances, and creating games and lesson plans. Even got a dog. These were good times.
2014
J publishes an article
During my time in South Korea I worked with two non-profit groups that offered ESL lessons to North Korean refugees living in Seoul. My article “North Korea: From Hermit Kingdom to Merchant Kingdom?” was published by the Ludwig von Mises Institute in December. Two years later, the Institute published a second article, “Stalinism Through a Child’s Eyes.”
2019
J gets anthologized
Took top honors in the 2019 Lovecraftian Micro Fiction Contest with my story “Dol-Hareubang.” It was read aloud at the H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival by the great Richard Stanley and published as part of Lovecraftian Micro Fiction Collection Vol.5 I also wrote part of a round-robin story that was published in Vol.6 (2020).
2020
J begins a new chapter
Came home to start a business, establish a social media presence, and work on a collection of short stories.
March 2023
J goes pulp
My short story “Things are Different in Dallas” was selected for publication in Starlite Pulp Review #2.
Wanna hear my Fox Force Five joke?