Dec 31, 2021The Ultimate Guide to Making New Year’s Resolutions during a PandemicA few weeks ago, I found a house on Zillow, where I’d been casually looking, considering buying later this year. It had high ceilings, a fireplace in the bedroom, and a huge porch — I fell in love. Though I’d had plans that day, I swiped everything off my calendar…6 min read
Dec 14, 2021You’re (Probably) Undercharging. Now is the Time to Change ThatI recently learned about the myriad reasons why contractors end up undercharging for their services for a piece published in Vox. Why should you raise your fee? Let me count the ways. If you’re new to freelancing… If you’re not someone society taught to feel valuable… If you’ve been feeling…5 min read
Dec 9, 2021Do You Know Your Writer Stats?Last week, Spotify delighted me with my Wrapped, a super-fun interactive presentation of all the music I’d listened to last year. It’s similar to what companies do at the end of the year, with all their terrible blue-tone graphs, but with some life to it. I wondered what the version…5 min read
Nov 29, 2021How I Stopped Fighting About Cooking on ThanksgivingOver the last decade, I’ve learned to control the texture of onions, the moisture in chicken, and the spiciness of curries, and yet, one element remains beyond my control: humans. A few of them I’ve been dealing with since I was born, so I especially know what they need. But…4 min read
Aug 12, 2021Why You Have a Shelf of Unread Books (and What to Do About It)Let me guess, you have a colorful row of shelves upon which is stacked rows and rows of shame. Welcome. Join us here in the Bookshelf Shame Club. Psst: This site uses affiliate links. Over the last two weeks, I’ve bought 6 books. I have read approximately 2.15 books. Multiply…Writing6 min read
Jul 29, 2021The Olympics, “Success,” Suicide, and Self-CareAs I write this, people who have trained their entire lives are about to have their fates decided by mere seconds of performance at the Olympics. …7 min read
Jul 15, 20215 Things You Might Not Know About Thriving If You Grew Up BrokeLast week I went to LA, rented a convertible, and had a vacation during which I couldn’t shake a hum of anxiety. Would I make my 6 a.m. flight? I did, my bags set out by the door so I didn’t have to think at 4:30 a.m. Would I have…Growth8 min read
Jul 1, 2021Health Insurance: This Country Will Leave You for DeadThe stewardess’ face creased with sympathy, looking at me. Arms under my shirt, I gripped my goosebumped biceps and pulled my bare legs up in a ball. When they’d asked for volunteers to check their carry-ons, I had done so, forgetting my plane layers — a jacket, scarf, and socks…Writing8 min read
Jun 7, 2021How to Find the Perfect Writing Coach for YouA shower. That is what I needed after this email from a potential coach. What is it about being hard sold that makes us want to wash our skin? It doesn’t seem to make intellectual sense, and yet, everyone to whom I read the email had the same reaction. Ewwww…Writing Life8 min read
Feb 13, 2021Will You Be My Quarantine?My love, will you hold my hand through this crisis? Ok that’s enough. Your hand’s, like, sweaty. When was the last time you washed it? My darling, will you sit alongside me when I’m frightened? But scoot over, you’re on my hair. No, like over over. Ow, god. My one…Valentines Day2 min read
