Sometimes I actually write things...
One essay that took a decade to write and another that took an hour
It’s been a while since I filled this space. Once upon a time I had grand writerly plans, but then life got in the way. I have however managed to publish a handful of pieces this year (with a handful more on the way) and I thought I’d use this venue to share some of them, as well as the stories about how they got where they are.
A College Fling - Psyche.co
I wrote the initial draft of this essay almost a decade ago. Various friends and editors eyeballed It over the years, but ultimately it festered in a digital junk drawer. At one point it was part of a larger body of work. At another point it had really unnecessary references to early aughts pop culture. It never really gelled. That is until now. I was always a fan of the personal essays on Psyche and their Turning Point series seemed a natural fit for the emotional arc I was aiming for. A change in perspective I experienced via a common but singular experience - making out with a dude but not processing its significance until his untimely death. Big thanks to editors who helped me articulate this vision with precision and clarity.
TV Guide Ruled My Childhood - Open Secrets Magazine
On the flipside of the decade-long work-in-progress is this flash essay that poured out of me in like an hour. Open Secrets Magazine Object-ives series was another column I admired and all it took was one glance at my bookshelf full of old TV Guides to inspire me. Waiting the three month submission period was interminable given my impatience, but ultimately very worthwhile.