Category Archives: whatnot

writing group
Hi guys— I didn’t have time to read the new applicant’s submission word-for-word, but I don’t think I have good feedback for his piece. I agree that his background sounds exciting and interesting, but his writing is not something I’d ever choose to

writing group
Hi guys— I didn’t have time to read the new applicant’s submission word-for-word, but I don’t think I have good feedback for his piece. I agree that his background sounds exciting and interesting, but his writing is not something I’d ever choose to

the first day
Teacher (poses with her props—a stack of papers, a tweedy blazer, and a pair of reading glasses—behind the lectern at the front of the room): Hello class, and welcome to AP English. Student (a beefy boy at the back of

the first day
Teacher (poses with her props—a stack of papers, a tweedy blazer, and a pair of reading glasses—behind the lectern at the front of the room): Hello class, and welcome to AP English. Student (a beefy boy at the back of

In case of emergency
There are two doors in our house: one in front and one in back. That should be sufficient, but you never know. There are two windows in the kitchen, but only one is big enough to crawl through. There’s a

In case of emergency
There are two doors in our house: one in front and one in back. That should be sufficient, but you never know. There are two windows in the kitchen, but only one is big enough to crawl through. There’s a

Elevator
They’re on the elevator on the third floor, trying to get to the fourth. He pushes the button for the basement, realizes his mistake, and hits the button for four. Only the basement button lights up. She says, “That’s the

Elevator
They’re on the elevator on the third floor, trying to get to the fourth. He pushes the button for the basement, realizes his mistake, and hits the button for four. Only the basement button lights up. She says, “That’s the

merry and sad
I love it when the snow starts falling on my blog. Here are some scenes that fit perfectly with the falling snow, to get you into the silent snowy night mood. If you pause here for a moment, the snow

merry and sad
I love it when the snow starts falling on my blog. Here are some scenes that fit perfectly with the falling snow, to get you into the silent snowy night mood. If you pause here for a moment, the snow

breadcrumbs
In the book I’m reading, I come across this passage: There is the old story of Somerset Maugham reading Proust while crossing the desert by camel, and to lighten his load he tore out each page after reading both sides

breadcrumbs
In the book I’m reading, I come across this passage: There is the old story of Somerset Maugham reading Proust while crossing the desert by camel, and to lighten his load he tore out each page after reading both sides

second person
In a writing class recently, we experimented with first and second person. Why not third? I don’t know, since it’s my favorite. To me, first person is sometimes too personal, and second is just too presumptuous, but third lets me

second person
In a writing class recently, we experimented with first and second person. Why not third? I don’t know, since it’s my favorite. To me, first person is sometimes too personal, and second is just too presumptuous, but third lets me

the hierarchy of desire
At table 8, she introduces herself (I am your hole-filler, your anonymous food-bringer, faceless feeder), takes their order, and scoots back to the kitchen where her boss, Mulholland, is waiting by the door. His lips are pursed, but he’s not asking for a kiss. “Full hands in, full hands out,” he reminds her, and his eyes inspect her so thoroughly it feels surgical.

the hierarchy of desire
At table 8, she introduces herself (I am your hole-filler, your anonymous food-bringer, faceless feeder), takes their order, and scoots back to the kitchen where her boss, Mulholland, is waiting by the door. His lips are pursed, but he’s not asking for a kiss. “Full hands in, full hands out,” he reminds her, and his eyes inspect her so thoroughly it feels surgical.

redux
First: I keep working like a maniac, thinking I’m making time to write at week’s end, but that time never happens. By Friday, my time is stale and moth-eaten and stuffed full of dirty laundry so starting next week, I’m going

redux
First: I keep working like a maniac, thinking I’m making time to write at week’s end, but that time never happens. By Friday, my time is stale and moth-eaten and stuffed full of dirty laundry so starting next week, I’m going

Where the hell have I been?
Working at my new job. Funny how part time takes all your time, right? Doing the summertime juggle: keeping two under-scheduled children in the air for 98 hours a week. (Wheeee!) (How does she do it?) Just got back from

Where the hell have I been?
Working at my new job. Funny how part time takes all your time, right? Doing the summertime juggle: keeping two under-scheduled children in the air for 98 hours a week. (Wheeee!) (How does she do it?) Just got back from

listing towards something
WordPress invited me to host a weekly writing challenge on their site. Since I’ve been doing a lot of lists lately, I designed a writing prompt called Listing Toward Something about lists (which have a bad rep, which are only as

listing towards something
WordPress invited me to host a weekly writing challenge on their site. Since I’ve been doing a lot of lists lately, I designed a writing prompt called Listing Toward Something about lists (which have a bad rep, which are only as

Things You’re Not Supposed to Say out Loud (a Long List)
John teases me relentlessly, but I do it anyway: before we go out to a party or any other place where I might find myself face-to-face with people I don’t know (PIDK), I make a list of things to talk

Things You’re Not Supposed to Say out Loud (a Long List)
John teases me relentlessly, but I do it anyway: before we go out to a party or any other place where I might find myself face-to-face with people I don’t know (PIDK), I make a list of things to talk

my mother/myself
Originally posted on girl in the hat:
Conversation after my mother read my first novel: Me: So, what did you think? Mom: I don’t like the mother. She made me feel bad. Me: Not all mothers are you, mom. Mom:…

my mother/myself
Originally posted on girl in the hat:
Conversation after my mother read my first novel: Me: So, what did you think? Mom: I don’t like the mother. She made me feel bad. Me: Not all mothers are you, mom. Mom:…

finding vivian maier
The other day, I stole some time and took myself to see Finding Vivian Maier, a now-playing documentary about a stunningly talented street photographer whose body of work was discovered at an auction near the end of her life, when

finding vivian maier
The other day, I stole some time and took myself to see Finding Vivian Maier, a now-playing documentary about a stunningly talented street photographer whose body of work was discovered at an auction near the end of her life, when

spoken
Do you like the sound of your own voice? Most don’t. I don’t. I think I sound like a little baby sucking her thumb, but I did this anyway. My man and I played around with a poem I wrote.

spoken
Do you like the sound of your own voice? Most don’t. I don’t. I think I sound like a little baby sucking her thumb, but I did this anyway. My man and I played around with a poem I wrote.

drinking game
how to play: drink a shot every time you hear a number. 1. maybe your childhood was what they call normal or maybe not but either way 2. you turned out fine, at least you looked as fine as most young

drinking game
how to play: drink a shot every time you hear a number. 1. maybe your childhood was what they call normal or maybe not but either way 2. you turned out fine, at least you looked as fine as most young