On a packed aircraft, waiting for the plane to taxi, the pilot warned us that it was going to be a bumpy flight. It was pouring outside, the driving rain coming down in sheets. Of course takeoff was going to be dicey. But he told us to expect turbulence for…
I know Thea Lim’s name like one might know the name of the classmate you sat next to in math class — the one you didn’t hang out with after school but who enjoyed talking to everyday anyway. I read her novel, An Ocean of Minutes, in a grad school…
Writers write to be read. So when people refuse to read because they see it as "invasive," it hits all wrong.
It’s rare that I am left completely speechless, but 2025 has been a series of those rare moments. From unexpected apologies to opportunities I couldn’t have imagined to emotions I never expected, it’s been a wild ride of a year. It all started so calmly. In January, I was in…
As someone who came of age in the 90s, mixtapes hold a special place for me. But these days, playlists are the new mixtape.
Conversations are key when writing about real people, as essayists do. Thoughts on limits, guardrails and ethical writing.
Editing is for your words, not your personality. Here's how and why to avoid changing yourself for others.
I missed my flight today. It's for a trip I have been looking forward to, but somehow I just had my timing all wrong.
The writing process is personalized for every writer. I've found it evolves over time as what you need to enter that creative space morphs.
I can’t remember the first time I got recognized in public. In the early years of my career, before print news really embraced the digital first atmosphere brewing, I was known by name but not face. And in those days, that was startling enough. I’d receive letters in the mail…