One single mother’s journey to construct a sense of self that’s true to herself, not to other people.
personal essays
Posted inFeature
Ugly, Bitter, and True
After years of feeling hopeless and barely human, one talented writer manages to find her will to live.
Posted inArts & Culture, Nonfiction, Story
J.R.’s Jook and the Authenticity Mirage
When a young white musician gets invited to a house-party, the musicians he plays with show him a slice of blues culture many people assumed had died.
Posted inProfiles & Interviews
5 Questions for Kristi Coulter About Writing, Humor, and Getting Sober
“If I couldn’t find humor in sobriety, I probably wouldn’t make it.”
Posted inEssays & Criticism, Nonfiction, Story
Making Peace with the Site of a Suicide
One woman reconciles with her father’s death on her family’s property.
Posted inEssays & Criticism, Nonfiction, Story
How To Build An Intellectual
For one young immigrant, growing up Iranian in New York City meant raising herself.
Posted inNonfiction, Quote Posts, Quotes
Haruki Murakami Strolls Through His Childhood Home After the Hanshin Earthquake
When Haruki Murakami walked the long distance between his childhood home outside Kobe and the city center, he found a city changed by the great Kobe earthquake, and the constant spector of violence.
Posted inEssays & Criticism, Feature, Story, Unapologetic Women, Writing
A Beginner’s Guide to Fly Fishing With Your Father
It was the place he came to feel wild, and I was ready to trespass into the world of men.
Posted inNonfiction, Story
Judgement and Epiphany on Pittsburgh’s Number 79 Bus
The seven stops on the bus lead one resident to an understanding about the way he views his neighbors.
Posted inBooks, Nonfiction, Story
Five Early Lessons in Parenting
Steven Church discovers his own fragility and limitations in these five discussions with his son.