Deserts in Literature
How Deserts Serve as Both Muse and Antagonist for Writers With its seemingly endless expanse of arid, sunbaked terrain, deserts have long captivated the human imagination. Often regarded as a place of harshness and isolation, the desert has served as both an awe-inspiring muse and a formidable antagonist for writers throughout history. As a palette […]
Setting the Bar for My Writing
One of my greatest difficulties is setting the bar for expectations in my work much too high. It’s as if unless I produce a masterpiece daily, then I failed not only myself, but everyone who has and ever will read my words. Of course, whenever I try lowering the bar, I find myself producing nothing […]
Are Poems Reflections or Distortions of Life? (Or Are They Both?)
While I’ve written hundreds of poems over the years, I have always found myself rather disconnected from pursuing the art on a regular basis. I’ve long reserved poetry as a means of expressing thoughts, emotions, or ideas. At times, I have some jumbled thoughts that seem to loosely fit together, but wouldn’t be easily put […]
Boundaries of the Mind: Absurdity, Truth, and the Human Experience
The potency of the human mind is unparalleled, yet we resist truths that make us uncomfortable. Indeed, the incredible power of the human mind is often constrained by self-imposed boundaries and societal expectations. We have the capacity for profound creativity, deep understanding, and remarkable innovation. Yet, we frequently shy away from ideas that challenge our […]
The Idea Behind Finding Your Niche and Why It’s Wrong
In a world that champions specialization, I dare to hold an unpopular opinion: I don’t like niches. While the value of niche expertise can’t be denied, the societal pressure to conform to a single niche is, in my view, profoundly limiting. We’re constantly told that success comes from being the best at one specific thing. […]
What to Do With These Scattered and Orphaned Thoughts?
I’m quite the optimist when it comes to the potential of ideas. I feel like many of my best ideas haven’t been fully actualized in word form just yet. Within my hyperactive creative mind, unwritten thoughts often meander like untamed rivers, branching off into tributaries, eventually leading to a great ocean of inspiration. Sadly, most […]
Never Underestimate the Power of Media
We must never underestimate the profound influence of media. While it’s easy to dwell on its negative aspects, it’s crucial we acknowledge the positive contributions it makes to our society. Media is a dynamic force, not only reflecting our values, but also giving people the power to shape and redefine them. So, how can we […]
Life is Not a Grade
In 2003, for a junior year high school English, I wrote many short essays as part of a weekly homework assignment. One of these has hung around in my archives for many years, a more substantial piece called “Life is Not a Grade,” a whimsical yet insightful expedition into the notion that our existence cannot […]
Literature and Tenderness
“Literature is built on tenderness toward any being other than ourselves.” – Olga Tokarczuk This powerful assertion from Olga Tokarczuk’s Nobel Prize acceptance speech once stirred the literary world. It’s a profound statement that I identify with deeply, along with many other lovers of literature. After all, literature is more than a mere arrangement of […]