you irl

Speaking as someone who earned a bachelor’s degree in writing even though many people advised me not to, I’m thrilled to report that writing is officially my day job — and I couldn’t be prouder of that fact. However, making money as a writer comes…

I feel like I’ve changed a lot in the past five years, and I’m mostly thrilled about it. Five years ago, I thought jealousy was a sign of passion. I hadn’t yet realized that Confederate flags are inherently racist, in part because I grew up seeing…

When I made my New Year's resolutions for 2017, I tried my best to come up with a tangible plan so I could manage them and keep track of my progress. For example, I wanted to increase my intake of water every day, so I resolved to drink eight…

For as long as I can remember, people have complimented my appearance. I’m not complaining about it, either. I think it’s safe to assume that most women, myself included, like being told they’re pretty. So for the record, it is OK to enjoy giving…

My New Year's resolutions are always the same: write more original fiction, spend less money, and convince Oscar Isaac to run away with me and spend the rest of our lives together in the Irish countryside. And every year, I look around in…

Although I’ve personally found that cutting off contact with exes who treated me poorly is the healthiest option for me, I still have love for all of my exes. Past lovers are an important part of many people’s lives, and that’s not always a bad…

I don't even know what a holiday season looks like anymore without the talk of weight loss that inevitably follows the gift-giving, wine-guzzling festivities. Just as Christmas is sure to come every year, so are the subsequent advertisements…

Thanks largely to the internet, it’s not difficult to educate yourself about sex these days. If you want to know what the big deal is with squirting or female ejaculation, (because they’re not the same thing, evidently) queefing, uncut penises, or…

No matter who you are or where you grew up, almost all of us are conditioned from childhood to believe that it’s impolite to refuse to give what is expected of us. Whether it’s our time, our bodies, our smiles, our stories, our forgiveness, or our…