Dating: the standardized testing of the romantic realm, reducing the human experience into a single goal… a Relationship. Dear scorers, what do you think of my fraction? Relationship Person Under this nonexistent box on this bubble sheet, allow me to explain my answer. Here I’ve put the idea of a relationship over the person. […]
The Disproportionate Power of Individual Words
I am an eternal student of literature, and my upcoming career involves manipulating words into an influence. I believe in and admire the power of words, especially when they are strung together in an intentional, masterful way. But I also recognize that it presupposes the idea that people have to be receptive towards those words. […]
Writing your Novel: Common Mistakes to Avoid
Previously, I published a post on “How NOT to Start your Novel: Common Mistakes to Avoid.” That post is helpful for optimizing the first 5 pages of your manuscript, which is important if you are querying literary agents or editors. But let’s talk about issues I often notice in the body of unpublished manuscripts. I’m […]
Influence and the Soul in The Picture of Dorian Gray
When Oscar Wilde first wrote The Picture of Dorian Gray, he was faced with backlash from critics who may or may not have been familiar with the term “unreliable narrator.” They accused him of writing an “immoral book.” At first, he contested that claim by saying that the moral of the book was clear; in […]
Aftermath of a Battle Hymn: A Poem
His sigh rippled through his body. Instead of deflating, he shook, full of feelings he couldn’t brook. Exhaustion and anger diminished him. Guilt made his coordination shoddy and the glass slipped from his hand But to his surprise, he could easily stand. He rid himself of warmth, limb by limb. The chill was […]
Leaping Without a Lover: A Poem
The river below rushed and wound for momentary rest. The facade so renowned. I know now it’s not worth it. Somehow the universe knew my fears. Even the sky was moaning amidst its tears. Up here I could have sworn I could hear its heartbeat and I could discern the irony. I too never breathed […]
Book Review: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
When reading The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, I was constantly annotating the cynical witticisms running rampant through the novel. They were absolutely delightful, and some made me chuckle out loud. The majority of the quotes I highlighted were the sayings of Lord Henry, because even though he could be a bit sexist […]
Book Review: Chocolate: The Consuming Passion by Sandra Boynton
When people discover the extent of my chocolate infatuation and connect that with my love for writing/reading, they are bound to eventually suggest, “Write about chocolate!” My immediate reaction is always, “How?” My creative ability doesn’t extend to thinking up an entertaining manuscript entirely about a single consumable product. I just really enjoy eating it. […]
every. time.: A Poem
What is the first thing you notice? The first indication that something’s wrong? It makes your heart trip; the lifeforce inside you freezes, your mouth has two weights on each edge, and your brow can’t seem to lift. It’s the concern and fear that borrows your breath but it’s the constant circular commotion […]
Playlist Prompt #3: Holding Us Both Hostage
This playlist is a bit different from the other ones, because I usually try to order the songs into a chronological story, but this playlist is in no specific order. It’s rather based on a central theme: holding each other hostage in an unhealthy relationship. I was listening to “Skinny Love,” Birdy’s version, and I […]