Wrap your head with this material...

I'm reading all this old writing and realizing how much I lie to myself about it all. I always believe I'm just around the corner from getting this writing stuff right. I think I've improved. But then I read the old stuff and there are pieces that have this quality of wandering like unfettered paint strokes, smeared and strewn. Like powder and blush in the hands of a toddler. Dust flying everywhere and joy upon cheeks. I've been living an unsuccessful suburban life. I don't live in a suburb but I have the third row seats to get there. The kids do activities that are anytown things and I do too. Grocery store. Sheets changed. Soccer games. No cubicle at least but a near-nonexistent retirement plan. Yawnfest. But I was shaken back to myself. Back to the person who has an impromptu dance party and takes the kids into the cave they want to check out. I was reminded that I like to make leaf rubbings for the feel of the friction. I couldn't say where a single colo

I pollinate your idea my hand to your heart wresting palm, gentle dewy neckline your color to my canvas your pen to my page vision to reality

1. Male authors writing female characters who are beautiful but somehow have no inkling of this. Seriously, cut this shit out. I'm just so tired of "she threw on jeans and a sweatshirt, ran her fingers through her hair, and sprinted off to meet ______." Cut. It. Out. Girls who don't know they're beautiful are far more likely to be tripped up by trying to figure out what the fcuk to wear than this. They are concerned they don't look good enough. And if they're not, that's a very different character. And also, just stop it. It's been done. A. Lot. 2. Male authors writing female characters, especially YA and middle grade, who make the protagonist a tomboy, especially if they use the word "tomboy." Essentially this is saying that the girl is okay if she's like a male. Then using her as a mechanism to allow the male character to interact with a female who is cool because she's like a male. It's also license for the male chara