Every Dictator Was Once a Little Boy
The nurse repeats herself: This one’s a little prince, isn’t he? Neither parent is listening to her, but babies hear everything. Maybe this

A year over.
It’s funny how living in a dystopia can amplify a beautiful simple night. How, in all the complicated misery of the last year, the desire to

A Gift For You: Awesome Book Idea, Just Add Writing
(Image Source) Friends, the past month has been surprisingly difficult, or, perhaps, difficult for a surprising reason. September marked...

You Need To Listen To Magic Lessons With Elizabeth Gilbert
Hello, Smarties. I'm taking the summer off from writing, so please just consider this some kind of non-written written form of...

On Drawing Lines and Opening Doors
Once, during an interview about writing, I was asked what is “sacred” in my house. “Books,” I answered without even a second’s thought.

Literary Inheritances: An Interview With My Dad
Some of my most pleasant early-reader memories are of bedtime stories with my dad.

English Class: FAQs
Frequently asked questions from a freshman English class.

This Abundant Chaos
Rattle & Pen is a biweekly column exploring the liminal space between raising children and creating art. This post was originally written...

The Third Thing Is the One That Doesn’t Matter
Rattle & Pen is a biweekly column exploring the liminal space between raising children and creating art. Photo and quilt by Virginia...

Rattle & Pen: Be the Resistance You Want to See in the World
Rattle & Pen is a biweekly column exploring the liminal space between raising children and creating art. Last Friday, my kids and I spent...
