-
“When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him.” – Jonathan Swift, Thoughts on Various Subjects, Moral and Diverting John Swift’s aphorism about the Confederacy of Dunces is more than just a quote from a great 18th century essayist. It…
-
I’ve come to understand my own often complex and dizzying thought process as a vibrant medley of colors, textures, and patterns. Unlike many people, though, who find solace in the simplicity of order and the comfort of structure, I’ve learned to love chaos. Most people in my life have tried to morph me into a…
-
We live in an era characterized by unprecedented connectivity and yet, paradoxically, also burgeoning divisiveness. This is why, for me, E.B. White’s call in his essay ‘Intimations’ to find individuals “big enough to love the whole planet” reverberates with a profound urgency. White’s words from December 1941 beckon us to envision a society nurtured by…
-
When I was younger, I had a vintage typewriter that formerly belonged to a family member. It was painted pale green. I can’t recall the brand, but it still worked. In the late 90’s, though, it was impossible to acquire a new ribbon for it. Nowadays, they do produce universal typewriter ribbons for vintage manual…
-
I couldn’t decide which of these edits I liked the most. So, let me know in the comments which is your favorite! Photo by Amelia Phoenix Desertsong. Edited with Corel Painter 2023 using the Bold Architecture preset, Soft Pastels AI style. Photo by Amelia Phoenix Desertsong. Edited with Corel Painter 2023 using the Colored Pencil…
-
I’ve spent most of my life dancing in shadows. I don’t mean the ones cast by light, but the ones that settle into your bones and stretch behind your eyes. Melancholy isn’t sadness; it’s more like a lingering fog, much like a silent ghost that clings to my soul like dew on early morning grass.…
-
Self-motivation is a strange creature. People love to preach about building good habits, as if stacking enough of them together will build you a better life. Sure, routines have their place. But no habit will save you if you don’t know why you’re doing the thing in the first place. More than anything, I’ve always…
-
Photo by Amelia Phoenix Desertsong. Edited with Corel Painter 2023 using the Colored Pencil preset, Aged Print AI style.
-
Fellow creatives, if what you create pisses people off, you’re probably onto something. You know the kind of hate I mean, that shows up with passive-aggressive silence, unprompted criticism, or your former friends whispering that you’ve “changed.” Well, good, because the writing process should change you for the better. Whether readers are changed by what…
-
Photo by Amelia Phoenix Desertsong. Edited with Corel Painter 2023 using the Colored Pencil preset, Aged Print AI style.