Pushcart Prize nomination highlights English professor’s short story

By Aryle McCutcheon | Staff writer

Spencer Wise, an associate professor of English at Augusta University, has earned national recognition after his short story “Lake People,” published in the Tampa Review, was nominated for the Pushcart Prize.

The nomination marks a significant milestone for Wise, whose work has faced its share of rejection before gaining attention.

“There’s a lot of rejection in the arts, and this story was rejected multiple times,” he said. “It gets frustrating when it’s not recognized, but it’s nice to be acknowledged. It’s validating and inspires you to go forward.”

Still, Wise said recognition is not what drives his work.

“One of the biggest dangers in creative writing is chasing validation,” said Wise, who earned his doctoral degree in creative writing from Florida State University. “If that’s the only reason you’re making art, you’re going to be disappointed. Expressing something meaningful is more important.”

“Lake People” draws heavily from Wise’s personal experiences growing up around a lake community in New Hampshire, where he observed a culture that he found both fascinating and alienating.

“It was a wealthier community with this idea of independence, but many people relied on others to do things for them,” he said. “I always felt out of place, and I wanted to write about that.”

The story blends those experiences with fiction, centering on a young worker at a science center whose life is disrupted by protests over ancestral land. At its core, Wise said, the story explores universal themes.

“I hope readers are entertained, but also think about the contradictions around us,” he said. “It’s really about people wanting to belong.”

Wise said his own identity also influenced the narrative. While not autobiographical, the story includes elements of his background, including a Jewish family navigating a sense of displacement.

“I’m trying to ask questions I’ve never been able to answer,” he said. “The story doesn’t necessarily answer them, but it explores them.”

Crafting the story proved challenging, particularly when it came to refining its scope.

“The hardest part was the ending,” Wise said. “The world in my head was much bigger, and I had to shrink it down. If you include too many threads, it stops being a short story.”

The final version emerged after 12 to 13 drafts, with some sections undergoing extensive revision.

Associate professor Spencer Wise is the author of “The Emperor of Shoes.” (photo courtesy of Spencer Wise)

“It felt good when I was done,” he said. “I was proud of it.”

Wise said his writing process is less structured than some might expect.

“I don’t plot much,” he said. “I have a general direction, but a lot of it surprises me as I go.”

That approach, he added, reflects what continues to motivate him.

“Honesty, truth, beauty and compassion,” he said. “Writing about real people and their experiences feels authentic. There’s a vulnerability to it that feels real.”

Wise is currently working on his second novel, “The Last People You’d Expect,” which is scheduled for release in February 2027.

In the meantime, he encourages readers to support writers and independent bookstores. His work will be available locally at the Book Tavern, as well as through Bookshop.org and Amazon.

“Support local artists,” Wise said. “That’s how this kind of work continues.”

Contact Aryle McCutcheon at amccutcheon@augusta.edu.