“You know, Bailey, sometimes I don’t think I’m beautiful. But when I take a breath and dance, I know I am.” — Evolette, 6 years old. My son, Bailey, works at our Local Boys and Girls Club, which is a little like a mix of summer camp and day care. Bay has always been remarkable […]
The Thing About Writers
Writers are people, too. But then so are felons, you might say. Writers are human and awkward and not at all transparent, though some are, of course. Sometimes we (writers) like to think we have thick, alligator suitcase skin, a carapace of sorts, because, well, that’s quite necessary for survival in a “field” like ours […]
The Thing About Getting Older
“Why are people afraid of getting older? You feel wiser. You feel more mature. You feel like you know yourself better. Would you really trade all that for softer skin? Not me. Nope.” — Anna Kournikova As you age, things change. Sure, things are always changing, but you notice the differences more acutely as you […]
The Thing About Feeling Less Than
For most, if not all of my life, I’ve felt less than. That I don’t measure up, or if I do, I’m an imposter. Like, even if I have it all, I have nothing. If things are going really well, I assume it’ll be fleeting. Success, if it comes, seems like a clever hoax. When […]
The Thing About Being Present
I tried to figure out why women, in particular, were so crazy about the Priest character I wrote for Fleabag. Sure, he was handsome and charming and all that, but why go so nuts? In studying it, I eventually realized he was doing this one amazing thing in every scene—he was listening. —Phoebe Waller-Bridge Here’s a […]
The Thing About Death
As I write this, people in my writing circle are mourning the death of a man who was something of a giant in our literary world. Many are grappling not only with that monumental loss, but they’re struggling to find the appropriate way to express their condolences to his wife (also a renowned author) and […]
