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Shane Paul Neil
Shane Paul Neil

1.3K Followers

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Aug 29

Mothers, Stepdaughters, Grief, and Love

On the passing of my mother and the love of my blended family. — I don’t often post photos of my daughter (even the ones I shot). Mainly because there are people who I believe should have that privilege first. Namely Aliya King Neil and daughter’s father. I often refer to her as my stepdaughter because she has a fantastic dad whose toes I…

Blended Family

4 min read

Mothers, Stepdaughters, Grief, and Love
Mothers, Stepdaughters, Grief, and Love
Blended Family

4 min read


Published in

ZORA

·Aug 13

Bye, Ma: A letter to my mother following her passing

My mother, Cynthia Rose Neil, died this weekend at the age of 77, two days before I planned a surprise visit. That visit would have ended nearly a dozen years of having not seen her or my father in person. A self-induced exile resulting from childhood trauma and a myriad…

Family

7 min read

Bye, Ma: A letter to my mother following her passing
Bye, Ma: A letter to my mother following her passing
Family

7 min read


Aug 10

An Argument for Haikus

This story was originally posted on shanepaulneil.com The wife and I drove to Vermont for her friend’s 50th birthday this weekend. It was a lovely time. During the party, I spoke to a woman who is a writer who after a very long layoff decided that she was going to…

Creativity

2 min read

An Argument for Haikus
An Argument for Haikus
Creativity

2 min read


Jul 26

Art Official Intelligence: On AI And Creativity

This story was originally published at shanepaulneil.com. I’ll start off by saying this plainly. I’m tired of the AI conversation. In a matter of months, the injection of artificial intelligence into everything from TikTok filters to sex toys has known no bounds. And depending on who you ask it is…

Artificial Intelligence

4 min read

Art Official Intelligence: On AI And Creativity
Art Official Intelligence: On AI And Creativity
Artificial Intelligence

4 min read


Published in

ZORA

·Jul 25

Aliya: A (Photo)Essay

An ode to my wife. And an answer to a complicated question. — “Why do you love Aliya?” My therapist is great for asking the most complex questions five minutes before our session ends. I think it’s his way of tricking me into thinking I had a mind-blowing session. Just kidding, Jamel. Why do you love someone? It is a complicated question whose…

Love

6 min read

Aliya: A (Photo)Essay
Aliya: A (Photo)Essay
Love

6 min read


Jun 3

Why You Should Purge Your Dead Drafts

Your love affair with past efforts is killing your creativity. — This story was originally published on the Write I Must page. I had someone reach out to me recently asking me to consult on creating a new content strategy for themselves. Beforehand they sent me a YouTube channel with a couple hundred videos. The videos were interviews with different A-list…

Writing

4 min read

Why You Should Purge Your Dead Drafts
Why You Should Purge Your Dead Drafts
Writing

4 min read


Jun 2

The Man Who Should Have Been My Favorite Uncle.

This is my Uncle Butch. He’s a brilliant photographer who, in his heyday, logged more miles on his bicycle than most folks can fathom. He should have been one of my closest relatives, but family drama and hurt feelings ruined any chance of that. It was so bad that the…

Creativity

4 min read

The Man Who Should Have Been My Favorite Uncle.
The Man Who Should Have Been My Favorite Uncle.
Creativity

4 min read


Mar 10

What is a Professional Anymore?

In the blurry world of hobby, freelance, and expert what defines a pro anything? — I took up photography about three years ago during the pandemic. Yes, I am the reason the price of film has shot up 3000% and why you had to wait six months to get that new mirrorless you coveted. I was bored. I wanted to make “content.” Fight me. Not…

Gig Economy

5 min read

What is a Professional Anymore?
What is a Professional Anymore?
Gig Economy

5 min read


Mar 10

Film is Dumb.

There I said it. In 2023 there is virtually no reason to shoot film. It’s expensive. It’s inconvenient. The process is slowwwww (especially if you don’t develop yourself). People who shoot film love the word artisanal and beanies. So why do I want to master it? Currently have two film…

Photography

5 min read

Film is Dumb.
Film is Dumb.
Photography

5 min read


Oct 14, 2021

Embracing My Average Black Dick

In an effort to better understand my body insecurities I spoke to two of the “biggest” Black pornstars in the industry. — I’ve been watching porn since I was a teenager. But not until I was an adult did I understand that I was steeping myself in racism at the same time. When my father brought the gift of AOL to my childhood home, I’m not sure how he hoped I would…

Sex

8 min read

Embracing My Average Black Dick
Embracing My Average Black Dick
Sex

8 min read

Shane Paul Neil

Shane Paul Neil

1.3K Followers

Writer (duh) and photographer. Bylines @levelmag @complex @ebony @huffpo shanepaulneil.com

Following
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    The Good Men Project

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    Martin Vidal

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    Argumentative Penguin

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    G Correia

  • Max Hunter - A Writer Without Borders

    Max Hunter - A Writer Without Borders

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