I’ve been an Airbnb superhost for thirteen years, sharing my four-bedroom Chicago apartment with tourists, marathoners, traveling nurses, university students, and visiting professors. I’ve met Americans from coast to coast and travelers from nearly every continent. Thanks to my proximity to Northwestern and Loyola, there have been many PhD candidates: a scientist working on the …
In this vlog chat with Anonymous Bells (hosted by developmental editors Colleen Alles and Megan Turner) we chat about several tips for aspiring memoir writers, including: Do not write your memoir alone: I emphasize the importance of having an editor, coach, or mentor by your side throughout the process. Because you are often too close …
I heard the word “springboard” the other day and it made me flashback to the summer I was nine years old and went off the high dive for the first time at the community pool.
Except that I didn’t. What really happened was pure humiliation: I climbed the long ladder for what felt like ages, shuffled to the edge of the diving board, looked down, and froze. Uh-uh. There was no way I was jumping. With shaking knees, I backed up and started down the ladder, which was a slow process because I had to wait for all the kids behind me to back up too. And then I went home.
I’m excited to announce a full scholarship for the Beach Glass Writers Residency July 13-19, 2026. This scholarship covers: Total value: $995 Who should apply: Writers who would benefit from dedicated creative time but face financial barriers. All genres welcome – fiction, nonfiction, memoir, poetry, essays. How to apply: Submit a brief statement (300 words max) describing: Application …
Last week, something tragic occurred two blocks from my house: a teenager took his life by jumping in front of the morning train. I’d heard the news, but as I walked my dogs the next day, I was still startled to pass the train station and see the memorial. Flowers, notes, and candles were arranged …
A few days before the No Kings rally, my husband and I are standing in the craft aisle buying poster board. By morning, I have a small arsenal of sign ideas, each one angrier than the last. One of my favorites is: Someone please punch Stephen Miller in the face. Scott looks at my ideas, …
At the YMCA on Sunday mornings, I stand in the front row of Peter’s tai chi class, following his movements as he demonstrates the form with effortless grace. “Sink the qi. Let the movement flow from here,” he says, patting his belly. “Keep it loose.” When we relax, he explains, we free up power. We …
I was telling my friend about my latest blog, excited about how it came together, proud of the ideas I’d wrestled into words. He listened, and then said matter-of-factly, “I’m not going to read your blog.” Not as a criticism. Just as a statement of fact. Like I should already know this. Like it was …
My husband and I were watching the TV show The Pitt when the main character made a passing reference to Sisyphus. A few days later, I came across a literary publication called Sisyphus. Two mentions in one week were enough to get me thinking about boulders. You probably know the myth: Sisyphus, punished by the gods for …
We’ve all heard the news: A white, young mother—an unarmed U.S. citizen—was shot and killed in Minneapolis by an ICE officer. As the details pile up, each more disturbing than the last, we’re left thinking: This can’t be real. This is like living in some dystopian novel. But reality is refusing to follow story rules. As …
👉 Enjoy dedicated writing space just steps from Lake Michigan
👉 Benefit from one-on-one developmental editing sessions