Tag Archives: writing

Reassessing my goals for 2018

When 2018 kicked off, I set an insane amount of ambitious goals for myself—most insane and ambitious of all being to receive 300 pitch rejections over the course of the year. What possessed me to choose a number that high after failing to receive 20 pitch rejections in the last quarter of 2017, I haveContinue reading “Reassessing my goals for 2018”

Book Review: Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert My rating: 4 of 5 stars A refreshing read for the discouraged creative soul, Big Magic is essentially a long, written pep talk encouraging you to stop quivering in fear about your creative projects and go out and make stuff already, for no reason other than:Continue reading “Book Review: Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert”

A word for 2018: Diligence

Diligence. Careful and persistent work. Slow, plodding, steady effort that isn’t crushed by setbacks. Keep moving forward. As soon as I finished college, I started learning the disappointing lesson that big achievements don’t just happen. Maybe if you went to an Ivy League school and had the right connections, you got your dream job rightContinue reading “A word for 2018: Diligence”

My little siblings might be my new muses

Over vacation, I read my kid siblings the beginning of my chapter book for kids. My 9-year-old sis said to tell her when I was done so she could order it from the library. I told her I’d have her read it before it was published. A day later, I explained the concept of publishingContinue reading “My little siblings might be my new muses”

8 writing lessons I (re)learned through revision

“Crap. Crap. Mega crap.” That’s what I thought when I read my draft three days later. This is what I (re)learned while revising.

Five ways journaling has improved my life

When I’m writing, I’m actively engaged with life. When I’m not writing, I’m just going through the motions. Since the 29-day writing challenge I did in February (successfully writing from every daily prompt), I’ve felt more myself more at peace with life more excited about life, and more interested in the world around me. ThoseContinue reading “Five ways journaling has improved my life”

Good Reads: Dancing through a clouded life

This post is part of a series recommending longform, narrative nonfiction (as well as other worthwhile writings). The Amateur Cloud Society That (Sort Of) Rattled the Scientific Community by Jon Mooallem, The New York Times Magazine The most quotable piece I’ve read recently, this story examines the culture of cloud-loving in a way that observes science, philosophy, andContinue reading “Good Reads: Dancing through a clouded life”

Inside the Shadow City with Kirsten Miller, an interview

In 2008, I interviewed Kirsten Miller, author of the Kiki Strike series (among other books), for my then-magazine Messenger Girl. All questions and answers were made via email. I was 16. At the end is my original review of Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City. Me: Where did you get the idea for the Shadow City? Kirsten: Believe it orContinue reading “Inside the Shadow City with Kirsten Miller, an interview”

Good Reads: Mental illness, segregation, and daredevils

This post is part of a series recommending longform, narrative nonfiction (as well as other worthwhile writings). The Real Story of Germanwings Flight 9525 by Joshua Hammer, GQ Mental illness and airline pilots. I recently wrote a story about Taylor University’s Ethics Bowl team, and this was one of the ethics bowl cases. You see, if a pilotContinue reading “Good Reads: Mental illness, segregation, and daredevils”