I got into a two year intensive writing program for people writing books - fiction and non-fiction, though mine is fiction. Emotions are high - I'm excited, I'm terrified, I'm confident, I'm plagued with self-doubt. The word of the week is vacillation. I knew I wanted to do this, but I didn't know how much … Continue reading Writing program!
Category: Personal
Layers
Yesterday, I spent some time outside just before a storm. It felt like dusk, even though it was actually mid-afternoon. It's a eerie feeling, to know it's day but feel like it's evening. I have a lot of nightmares about the sky suddenly going dark in the middle of the day - apocalyptic sorts of … Continue reading Layers
Dripping faucets, velvet sounds
In my line of work, I think a lot about depth. The phrase 'deep dive' comes up a lot, and I always imagine myself in a submarine, exploring strange coral and old shipwrecks. But this isn't about what I do for a living. This is about what I do to live. I think music is … Continue reading Dripping faucets, velvet sounds
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
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
Mental Wanderings: Art, Nature, Life 