My best friend leant me Arthur Christmas, and I'm not gonna lie: I was seriously skeptical. As a general principle, I hate computer-animated movies, and I sometimes find kids' films super cloying. My husband and I sat down this weekend to watch it. He went in only expecting to stay for a few minutes before…
I have been on a HUGE stand-up kick lately. (No, I am not doing it. My stage fright definitely won't allow that.) I have been watching everything from those stand-up specials on HBO to devouringThe Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. My favorite part of my stand-up binge so far is reading Sick in the Head: Conversations About Life…
I have three stories about writing elves. No, they are not related to Santa's elves (okay, they may be distant cousins, but they are still puzzling out the genealogy on that one), but they are definitely sharing the same blood as the elves from "The Elves and the Shoemaker." They are the elves that come…
Dear Writer,I am talking to you. Yes, you. I have some gifts I would like from you, so I am writing you this note.I know what you are thinking. You are probably wondering why I don't have an Amazon wish list. That's because I am supposed to BE on people's wish lists. The only way…
Dear Reader,In the spirit of Thanksgiving (for us here in the U.S.), I wanted to thank you for being here with me. I know you are busy. You could be spending your time eating dinner with your family, writing your novel, or watching that hilarious Corgi YouTube video. There is always something you could be…
Your book is not...*Your ex. You are allowed to spend time with it, and it won't cheat on you with the writer next door. It is loyal and true.*Your homework. It is actually, you know, fun. Plus, nobody is giving you a grade, so let loose!*Your enemy. It isn't out to get you. There are…
Believe it or not, I have been stuck when it comes to my writing in the past few months. Sure, I had been super busy (a move and a wedding every weekend...I am beginning to wonder why Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn would want to crash so many), but that isn't why I felt empty…
O Best Beloved Writer,You are a brave one. You are about to go confront a dangerous, scary monster: the dreaded blank page. Not only are you going to face it, but you will defeat it by filling it with 50,000 messy, chaotic, beautiful words. In thirty days.I know you are frightened. The monster doesn't come…
I have a NOT embarrassing confession: I am currently obsessed with Miyazaki's films. As in, I just put a Miyazaki shower curtain in my bathroom, and my phone currently has a Spirited Away background. I remember when I first fell in love with Miyazaki's work. My childhood friend told me that I had to see Howl's…
If you are looking for an article that is going to be praise La La Land, I suggest you look elsewhere. If you want an article that is going to show you what to avoid when you are writing through one of the world's most overhyped movies, then you are in the right place.I wanted…