One of my favorite authors, Michel de Montaigne, put the name “essais,” to a genre of literature that is at least as old as the Roman Republic. The word means “attempts.” The idea is that the literary work does not need to follow a set form, but rather could follow the workings of the human…
Tag: Writing
It’s Caturday and We have Questions: Introvert
Little Cat has been having a quiet week, living the introvert life since his recent attempt to take Orlando by storm. He’s been staying home mostly. Enjoying the time spent alone. Trying to take joy in the little things. You know, like in stepping on Human-Mom’s head while she tries to write. Yowling at birds…
On Profiles
There are few genres of journalism I enjoy more than the profile: 2,000 to 10,000 words on a single individual. Sometimes this is a mega-famous celebrity, sometimes it’s an ordinary person, but the best profiles are of people who are well-known within certain circles, whose life and works are demonstrative of a larger trend in…
Sharing a Poem
Very occasionally, I have the impetus to write a poem. And very much less occasionally, I have the impetus to share. It’s a strange feeling for me. Erika and I started this website because we wanted a forum for sharing our writing. And the writing of others. And yet I feel private and protective concerning…
Big Cat, Little Cat: Obscenities
This week was a big week for Little Cat in particular. Got out a bit. Learned some new obscenities. All in all a good week. He escaped while Human-Mom (a.k.a. Erika) was taking in the groceries. He made it as far as Orlando and visited a cat-house. (Please nobody tell him. Yeah, Little Cat puts…
Make Literary Analysis Personal: The Rose
I have always had a fondness for the personal literary analysis. The kind you see in novels. Someone is talking about a work of literature, but they’re really talking about themselves. In my opinion, all literary analysis is personal. Nobody picks a subject of study unless they’re not just interested but invested in it. Yes,…
Rebirth: The Day I Became a Writer
We often mark time in our lives with rituals and rites of passage. Moments of birth and rebirth. Baby showers, weddings, funerals. There were a couple of years in junior high school where many weekends were taken up with b’nai mitzvot for friends or family members, followed a few years later by sweet sixteens. We…
It’s Caturday and We have Questions: Distractions
So Erika (a.k.a. Human-Mom) was doing some typing the other day with her three cats sitting on her like tiny royalty. Every time she tried to reach the keyboard it seemed like there was a cat’s butt in her way. Distractions, am I right? Such are the tribulations of a writer. And yet. Erika loves…
An Archaic Concept of Me
Incremental Delivery #2 Editor’s Note: This is the second “Delivery” in the series. If you would like to catch up, you can do so here. The opening: I was young; I was anxious; I was bound to an archaic concept of me. She smoothed my mind and body with her sunny day thoughts and yoga…
Peek inside the Rare Book Room
I want to talk for a bit about what was truly magical about being an academic: the rare book room. I’ve made no secret of the fact that I feel a bit dismal about my own PhD journey. Huge swaths of American Academia are a scam. I’m not alone in thinking this. But. But! There…