As an independent editor/beta reader, I see a lot of writers fall into the message trap - they have something they want to say, something they feel is important, and they're very passionate about it. There's nothing inherently wrong with this - in fact, even if you're a pantser (vs a plotter), you should be … Continue reading A message is not a story
Author: Leah Kent
Writer. Researcher. Analyst. Queer.
Denver, CO
Milestone: Unlocked
A lot of graduate programs have this thing called comprehensive exams that you need to pass in order to get your degree. I passed. My last class is done in two weeks. This is the moment I've been waiting for - the moment I can recommit to writing as someone who is older and hopefully … Continue reading Milestone: Unlocked
Definitely DO rock the boat
There's a thing I found on Reddit. It's been referenced in a few forums I tend to frequent because it just so beautifully describes the dynamic between enablers and abusers. The title of the post is "Don't Rock the Boat," and it's a reflection on that phrase, and what it is that people are really … Continue reading Definitely DO rock the boat
“The problem is, these women look normal.”
**Update: I wrote the post below in 2019, and it still gets a lot of traffic. I posted an update here, with some new sources of information that weren't available in 2019. It's an eerie day in Colorado as we greeted the arrival of our second bomb cyclone. The day started rainy, gray, and foggy … Continue reading “The problem is, these women look normal.”
What animals teach us
I adopted a tiny creature. A very small, delicate, beautiful little betta fish. I've welcomed different animals into my home over the years, but this little one is by far the creature I feel the most profound responsibility toward. Of every animal family member I've ever had, he's the most delicate and vulnerable. We did … Continue reading What animals teach us
What can you do with an English degree?
When I first had to grapple with this question years ago, I told people, "I can apply to law school!" I was, as a very young adult, skilled in the art of telling people what they wanted to hear in order to temporarily cover up my true designs. If I'd told them that I had … Continue reading What can you do with an English degree?
A recommitment to writing
I've done over the past few months what I often do, which is turn inward. I always tell myself I'll keep a blog going, and it's not for lack of words and ideas that I don't. It's more just that introvert's tendency to want to live in your own head, in your own private writings, … Continue reading A recommitment to writing
Little glimpses of defiance
The Denver Art Museum really is a treasure. There's a cool exhibit there called Stampede that's all about animals in art, and there's a fairy tale section, because animals feature heavily in many fairy tales. This is my favorite piece... It's one of the pieces I stopped and stared at the first time I saw … Continue reading Little glimpses of defiance
The role I never wanted to play
I've been contemplating a bit why people who have chronic invisible illnesses really hate being told that we don't look sick. It's about performance. It's about identity, and how we perform those identities. I have a chronic illness. I have an immune system that's gone haywire. It can't be fixed, it can only be managed. … Continue reading The role I never wanted to play
The art of subtlety in writing
Good writing knows when to show and when to tell. 'Jacob Have I Loved' has some great examples of this.
Mental Wanderings: Art, Nature, Life 