Section One: Pages 197-198

Getting a Bumpy Floor Smooth(er)

There are many reasons why people gravitate toward one another. Love, power, money, someone that reminds you of someone else you should probably work through in therapy. As a Sagittarius, I’m skeptical of partnership because most of it seems to happen for opportunistic reasons. If not at first, then likely down the line. And that’s depressing to me beca…

There’s a New Moon in Sagittarius next week! Become a monthly or yearly subscriber and read our New Moon horoscopes. You’ll also gain access to all of our writing, including: friendship matches, Full Moon horoscopes, weekly Sun & Moon profiles, descriptions of all 12 Venus placements, and more!

There are so many kinds of mother. The mothers you cherish and celebrate. The mothers who were never really there. The mothers who broke you. Who built you. The mothers who cheered you on. Who chipped away at you until you were dust. The mothers who reveled in your astonishing intelligence and grace and power. Who saw only their own light. The mothers who died painfully young. The mothers who lived so long you felt yourself disintegrating with them. Petal by wilted petal. The mothers who shined. Who dimmed. Who did their best. Who disappointed. Who redeemed themselves. Who accepted your redemption. Who zigged and zagged. The mothers who were a beacon. The mothers you never knew. The mothers who sewed themselves into the quilt you became. The mothers who couldn’t bear to tell the truth. The mothers who were brave. The mothers who didn’t know who they were without you. Who never saw you no matter how wildly you waved. The mothers who grieved you. Who believed in you. The mothers you call. The mothers you no longer speak to. The mothers you take for granted. Or treasure. The dead mothers. The mothers you have to search for and carry. The mothers you find in people who are not your mother. The mothers like a limb. The mothers like a mirror. The mothers like a flame. The mothers you wish. The mothers you love. The mothers you ache. The mothers you echo. The mothers you aren’t. The mothers you wanted to be. The mothers you became. I am thinking of you. I am holding you all.

Step By Concrete Step

Vienuolika punktų, kurie leidžia man daryti daug.

Vargšo mero kanceliarinės, dukros čekiai, politikų portfeliai ir naujas Lietuvos rekordas.

It's been a surprising/thriving 18 months on here, so here's some stuff I know.

It's been almost two years on the platform, here are some rules I go by:

Here’s the thing about the person who spammed my Instagram account into non-existence: They made me lose half my revenue for the month - during a strike…

When I worked as a makeup artist for MAC, beautiful young women would come in everyday wanting an eye look. I would always try to sell them on an around the eye in soft browns. Darker at the lash, blended out. It works on everyone and is really gorgeous on any eye color at all.

June’s Photo Winner!

Will arrived in our home in the spring of 2011. He was not expected to live much longer. He was already ancient, had difficulty walking, was deaf, and was mostly blind. The original plan was to give him a place and a way to die with dignity—maybe a few weeks, but no longer than a couple of months.

From Advent Calendar Prompts to Zoom Classes--Dive into Poetry!

Issue 84: Recording of our Zoom Class, Demystifying the Manuscript, included in this issue!

The Wild Woman archetype

Bestselling author of 'The House on Chicken Legs' and others

To Substack or not to Substack, that is the question. (Plus, a discount code to celebrate my first year on this platform!)

I've got some lit love for you!

A manifesto for winter light

Your alternative Christmas list

is done with men like Keke Palmer's Boyfriend and Jonah Hill

about weird coping mechanisms

Hi friends. The sixth (!) year of #1000wordsofsummer starts June 17. Are you getting excited? I am feeling the energy and I am absolutely thrilled by this year’s list of contributing authors. I really think something magical is about to happen this year.

I was thinking about you this morning while I was sitting with my coffee, writing in my notebook, my small dog pretend-snoozing nearby, one eye open, waiting patiently for his walk.

Reflections on the Saddest Story Ever Told

Did you listen to our 1920s book draft? Make your voice heard. Who drafted a stronger “roster” of books? Here are the results: Miss the episode? Listen now!

This is what it's like when an agent gets a book deal

Asking for a Friend Edition

You're not for everyone

5 picture books I love to give

I think it was sometime in the pandemic. I have no access now so who knows. I said something to the effect of all you motherfuckers owe Sinead an apology. And I got a DM from an account saying only two words, “Thank you.” But with a heart instead of a period. I thought it was spam. Like being followed by @keanureeves3391842. Wasn’t her official account.…

I love the just stepped on a mine movie trope. You hear the little click and you know before the character does. You’ve seen it too many times and it doesn’t matter. What matters is how this character steps off the mine without blowing up. You know the director’s going to drag this out as long as possible. There’ll be a final cigarette. A hand-off of that love note for the fiance back home. Then it’s time. Something has to be done. Sometimes the bomb tech manages to defuse it. Sometimes there’s a quick-change of weights. Sometimes, more often, the landmine was a dud. Whew. Maybe the writers are wishing the metaphorical landmines are less dangerous.

And become a more skilled, versatile, thoughtful writer

Featured Substack: Ashley Neese's The Deeper Call

Want me to tour to your city?

There's a lot of sex, death, and social media in our Summer Reading and Writing Special

Hay cosas que van más allá de la compresión, sonidos que se te astillan en los huesos, daño más allá del daño, estos días Laura compartió conmigo un vídeo que ha sido imposible no ver, me lo enseñó desde su móvil mientras lloraba y yo me imaginaba lo peor, pero era aún peor. En el vídeo cientos de residentes del Colegio Mayor Universitario masculino Elías Ahuja insultaban a las colegialas del CMU femenino. “Putas, salid de vuestras madrigueras como conejas”. Imagino lo vestirán de chanza, de tradición entre escuelas, de “son buenos chicos”. Ojalá nunca volvíais a pisar un colegio mayor o una universidad en lo que os queda de vida.

Viene cargadito hoy Claves

Where DO babies come from?

On writing, sobriety, menopause, and brain turnips, with novelist Kate Christensen

How is a person, and an artist of any kind, supposed to be in the world, anyway?

What is an unreliable narrator, how can you have one in an essay, and what does it achieve? When lies, exaggeration, or uncertainty can help us arrive at a deeper truth.

Part One of Two: Where I Started, What I've Done, What Worked Best & What Didn't Work (& tomorrow, the more philosophical "Eleven Urgent & Possibly Helpful Things I've Learned Along the Way")

Lit Salon addresses the scariest part of writing about our lives + the riches to be found at the intersection of memory & imagination + how to soften when the going gets rough

In the face of mortal threats

Gashkadino-Giizis (Freezing Over Moon) Edition

Notes on finding an inner anchor

In praise of ordinariness