I’m a big fan of fan fiction, both as a pastime and as a general concept. My introduction to fan fiction came in the 1990s, when I stumbled onto an online forum where people were writing alternate storylines for a popular TV show. At first, I thought it was just a fun way to imagine … Continue reading Why Fan Fiction Matters to the Queer Community
Tag: writing community
Doubt
I saw this movie back in 2008 in the theater, and really liked, but I haven't seen the whole thing start to finish since then. This morning it happened to be on, and I sat and watched it and was amazed all over again. It's actually quite good, and it's a great movie for a … Continue reading Doubt
Misogynistic characters vs misogynistic writing
I've talked about this with a number of women who write over the past few years, as we have been exposed to stories where misogyny is featured and stories where the narrative itself - and often the writer - is actually misogynistic. Conflating those two things is dangerous. One is a way of exploring and … Continue reading Misogynistic characters vs misogynistic writing
Institutions will not save us
To all my fellow writers: There was a book published back in the late 1970s about the Holocaust, in which the author concluded that while there were a lot of individuals who did speak out and attempt to do what they could to push back on Nazi policies and protect Jewish people and others who … Continue reading Institutions will not save us
Resistance through representation
As I troll through my various islands of internet camaraderie and outrage, I'm seeing the word "resistance" a lot. There is certainly a spewing plethora of negative impulses and cruelty and just plain stupidity out there that needs to be resisted in various ways. Through the ages, writers and artists of various kinds have done … Continue reading Resistance through representation
“Every fear contains a wish”
I didn't come up with this particular aphorism. I got this from author Steve Almond (who has a new book out on the writing process called Truth is the Arrow, Mercy is the Bow which everyone should absolutely read). He recently came to the writing program I'm in to push us on how to make … Continue reading “Every fear contains a wish”
Like a bayou
When I think of revision, for some reason I always imagine a bayou. And I never really thought about why a landscape jumps into my head instead of paper or pens the eye-piercing glare of the computer screen. I think because it's brackish, and there are things that hide and lurk, and it's slow moving. … Continue reading Like a bayou
Narrative prosthesis
As someone who has a chronic illness that technically qualifies me (by law) as disabled, I think a lot about how much I dislike fighting language - I'm not a fighter or a warrior, bravely battling this disease. If anything, I'm an ally. We have to live together, so we need to get along. Really … Continue reading Narrative prosthesis
Portrait of the Artist Mid-Revision
In a love / hate relationship with this story. It tugs at me. I shove it away and it crawls back in, sneaking through the cracks. I try to ignore it but it screams. I love it achingly and intensely but it overwhelms me. Can't sleep because it talks to me constantly, but when it … Continue reading Portrait of the Artist Mid-Revision
Blow, blow thou winter wind
I remember being a choirgirl in the early 90s learning melancholy songs about winter and snow and slumber. 60+ kids from 9 to 18 years old would meet in a college classroom on Saturday mornings, but when we got closer to our concert dates, we'd meet in a rather non-descript chapel on a college campus … Continue reading Blow, blow thou winter wind
Mental Wanderings: Art, Nature, Life 