Marriage Proposal Follies

A personal essay in which, after she proposes to her girlfriend, Amy Deneson rethinks what it means to wed.

Source: Longreads
Published: Oct 22, 2018
Length: 16 minutes (4,022 words)

A Woman Becomes a Nightingale

An illustrated essay in which Carolita Johnson reviews the ugly history of rape being weaponized — and politicized — as a means of silencing women.

Source: Longreads
Published: Oct 19, 2018
Length: 7 minutes (1,969 words)

A Place to Stay, Untouched by Death

In this personal essay, after her mother’s passing, Jane Ratcliffe considers the role everyday objects play in a good death.

Source: Longreads
Published: Oct 15, 2018
Length: 11 minutes (2,950 words)

The Power of Shutting Up and Sitting in Silence

A personal essay in which Kathryn Smith recalls going to an Ashram and taking a vow of silence — which (temporarily) made her feel better about everything.

Source: Longreads
Published: Oct 12, 2018
Length: 13 minutes (3,450 words)

Fat Girl Cries Herself to Sleep At Night: An Illustrated Essay

In an illustrated essay, Natalie Lima describes how weird and hilarious living in a body can be.

Source: Longreads
Published: Oct 11, 2018
Length: 16 minutes (4,165 words)

A Woman, Tree or Not

In this essay from our Fine Lines series about age, Terese Marie Mailhot questions the value of Native coming of age ceremonies she missed out on.

Source: Longreads
Published: Oct 11, 2018
Length: 9 minutes (2,419 words)

Charting the Love — and Betrayal — in Our Stars

A personal essay in which Cherise Morris turns to astrology and Beyonce lyrics to move through of a difficult moment in her relationship.

Source: Longreads
Published: Oct 9, 2018
Length: 18 minutes (4,598 words)

A Visit to Opioid Country

In this personal essay, Aaron Thier contemplates the connections between privilege, addiction, and recovery.

Source: Longreads
Published: Oct 1, 2018
Length: 7 minutes (1,893 words)

A Birth Plan for Dying

In this personal essay, Hanna Neuschwander grapples with ending a wanted pregnancy, and finds that “right” or “wrong” fail to describe the moral reckoning.

Source: Longreads
Published: Sep 28, 2018
Length: 18 minutes (4,587 words)

Queens of Infamy: The Rise of Catherine De’ Medici

Kings and popes thought she was their pawn. The Merchant’s Daughter begged to differ.

Source: Longreads
Published: Sep 27, 2018
Length: 18 minutes (4,588 words)