In life, as in writing, it’s hard to get rid of things. And while this seems like enough of a challenge on its own, things get even more difficult because it starts not to matter whether or not it’s something you like – sometimes you just need to cut things out. I’m finding this more and more true as… Continue reading Fixer Uppers and Deleted Scenes
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The Last (Real) Summer
I’m feeling pressured (by myself mostly) to make this the greatest summer ever. It’s the last summer before I graduate, and while I’m looking forward to moving and starting work, it’s a little hard to let go of something I’ve spent my entire life enjoying: three full months to do nothing but write, travel, and… Continue reading The Last (Real) Summer
The Art of Helping Others
I had a sort of epiphany this semester. In my creative writing class, we spent a lot of time workshopping our short stories. I made a comment about one girl’s work, and she told me after class that I always had the best responses and that I really helped her see the direction of her story.… Continue reading The Art of Helping Others
The Joys of Rewriting
Writing is hard. If you’ve ever tried to write anything at all, you know this. However, acknowledging that rewriting is an essential part of creating a final product makes every step along the way easier. Personally, I find comfort in knowing that what I write is not final. It means that when writing, you no longer… Continue reading The Joys of Rewriting
Embracing Deadlines
All writers have to deal with deadlines – it’s simply a part of the job. But it’s amazing how much your perspective on writing can change when you embrace these deadlines rather than dreading them. This morning I woke up to an email from the editor of a magazine I’m writing for. She sent it… Continue reading Embracing Deadlines
What I Learned in Boating School Is…
(I hope you all got that SpongeBob reference. Don’t worry, I’ll explain later.) Another semester finished. I only have one more to go, which is a little hard to accept, but I’m starting to feel ready. When I posted in January about all of the writing I would be doing this semester (read the post… Continue reading What I Learned in Boating School Is…
Origins of a Traveler
I blame my parents for giving me this insatiable need to travel (“wanderlust,” as it’s often called). When I was younger, we took family vacations everywhere, most of the time driving, which instilled in me the love of a good road trip. Before I graduated high school, we’d hit up all the major cities in… Continue reading Origins of a Traveler
Pre-Travel Excitement
I can already feel it. I’ve pretty much given up on studying for my last final, because summer seems to already have set in. And summer means travel. I don’t leave for Oxford until July 7th, but that hasn’t kept it from invading my mind every moment of every day. I’ve also made road trip… Continue reading Pre-Travel Excitement
New York: A Writer’s Final Frontier
It seems everyone I know is moving to New York. In just the past six months, four of my good friends have gotten jobs and moved to that big city we’ve all dreamed about living in. I’ve always wanted to move to New York, and it’s always scared me. But watching people I know take this… Continue reading New York: A Writer’s Final Frontier
Eating vs. Reading: A Research Comparison
Just like fiction, feature writing is hard. I spent a lot of my time doing both this semester, and I learned quite a bit about what translates between genres and what doesn’t. If you’re looking to switch from one to the other, here are a few tips (and my thoughts) on the differences required when… Continue reading Eating vs. Reading: A Research Comparison