personal essay

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Eulogies For The Living

A eulogy is an expression of love through grief. I wrote my eulogies in direct address — they are love letters for a love story that isn’t over yet.

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Without thinking about the context of our words, we are silencing others who may, in fact, be harmed by what we write. (Image: Unsplash/ Greyson Joralemon)

What Does Your Story Add To The Conversation?

What happens when we publish something that hurts another group of people?

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The room smelled like gefilte fish, and it reminded me of the synagogues I studied in for hours on Sabbath afternoons to please my father.

Long Reads: Out Of The Picture 

A man faces his estranged father and the Ultra-Orthodox Jewish community he had left behind years ago.

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My personal goal was always to help writers tap into bigger social and cultural issues through their work — not to peddle exploitative shock-factor trash.

Navigating The Ethics Of Editing Personal Essays 

The fact of the matter is that content mills are dangerous and personal essays are a different beast. And there’s a vast level of discrepancy between a phone-it-in XYZ — and a Here’s What It Feels Like piece and other essays, where the language sings and the story is backed up by reportage. I’m aware of this. But there is also a middle ground.

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Here's a baby pic of only-child-me!

Stop Telling Me That I Must Be "One of Those" Types!

“You’re an only child?”

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I'll let you in on a little secret - being thin didn't make me happy, but being "Fat" does!

Being Thin Didn't Make Me Happy, But Being "Fat" Does 

I'll let you in on a little secret - being thin didn't make me happy, but being "Fat" does! Be fat and happy. Be unapologetically fat.

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The Trials And Tribulations (And Trauma) Of Getting A Good Haircut

I sat obediently in her chair atop four ancient copies of the Yellow Pages. Crossing my fingers, I prayed Catholic schoolgirl prayers.

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A Happy Death, Full Of Light And Color

It's possible to mourn and celebrate, to be with someone you can't see or feel, and to find some kind of joy even when you're mired in loss.

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