Maybe It Was Loneliness That Killed the Dinosaurs
What if extinction was not caused by catastrophe, but by isolation?
This creative manuscript explores loneliness, difference, and belonging through a linked collection of short stories centered on misfits from the same small township in West Michigan. Through dark humor and emotional precision, the work interrogates how people wear their differences as armor, and how that armor can both protect and isolate.
The project was presented at the Graduate Poster Exhibition during the 2025 SPARK! (Showcase of Projects, Art, Research, and Knowledge). Developed within the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program at Rutgers University–Camden, the manuscript was created by Tyler Fleser. The abstract below introduces his short story collection.
Abstract:
Despite Overwhelming Evidence, Maybe it Was Loneliness That Killed the Dinosaurs & Other Stories is a short story collection manuscript following misfits who come from the same small township in West Michigan. These stories interrogate the ways we wear our differences from others as a shield, as well as the loneliness that comes from feeling like an outsider.
Following my reading at the Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) conference, I will continue reading excerpts from these stories and offer time for questions afterward.
Graduate Poster Exhibition at SPARK!
The Graduate Poster Exhibition celebrates the research and creative work of the graduate community, showcasing everything from prose and code to original research and artistic expression. As part of SPARK! (Showcase of Projects, Art, Research, and Knowledge), a reimagining of Research Week, the exhibition highlights the depth, range, and impact of graduate scholarship and invites the campus community to engage with ideas taking shape across disciplines.
Rutgers–Camden’s MFA: A Multi-Genre Journey in Creative Writing
The Rutgers University–Camden Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing is a 39-credit terminal degree that fosters a multi-genre approach, encouraging exploration across fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. Students engage in small, personalized workshops and craft classes led by distinguished, award-winning faculty, including recipients of the Pulitzer Prize and Guggenheim Fellowship. The program offers full financial support to all full-time incoming students, encompassing tuition remission and a living stipend. Situated just minutes from Philadelphia, the campus nurtures a vibrant literary community centered around the historic Writers House on Cooper Street. Additionally, students have opportunities to interact with nationally acclaimed visiting authors through the NEA-supported Writers in Camden series and can participate in international experiences across Europe, Asia, or South America.
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