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Many of my memories are filtered through the bittersweet hues of “almost.” From the earliest moments I remember of my youth, I’ve embarked on a surreal adventure of nearly-there’s and not-quite’s. I’ve skimmed the surface of greatness, only to watch it vanish like a mirage. I was the princess of the penultimate, the ruler of…
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Even the most seasoned writers have blind spots, especially in familiar topics. Gaps in our knowledge are unavoidable. So, research isn’t just for seeking credibility to shoulder the burden of proof for your ideas. It shouldn’t be about finding interesting filler in order to reach a certain word count. Research shouldn’t just be scaffolding. It…
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As I write this, it’s nearly Thanksgiving. I find for all the evil that has befallen the world this year, I still have plenty for which to be thankful. Indeed, this year I found the love of my life, someone who finally gets me the way I get her. We found something special in our…
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I’ve often pondered about past lives, wondering if my more fantastic dream states are based on some distant truth. Are they some sort of flashbacks from a life my soul lived millennia ago? We all live many lives through our dreams, whether they are merely constructs which our unconscious creates for dreamers to explore, or…
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In one way or another, we’re all masters of disguise. We don the masks that suit the roles we’re expected to play. Sometimes we do so with such finesse that the lines between the character and actor blur into nonexistence. In the realm of education, I’ve often found myself in the midst of a grand…
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When I was in high school, I was shackled by the fetters of preordained forms, what I’ve come to know as the tyranny of literary expectation. The realm of written expression is nebulous enough as it is. So, forcing my personal thoughts to fit within simplistic cookie-cutter molds seemed a major disservice to both myself…
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In our time together, Emily and I have embarked upon many journeys along U.S. state highways. What we end up seeing along these often-neglected byways leaves us feeling sorrowful and longing for the comfort and familiarity of home. These trips often unveil the remnants of bygone eras, countless abandoned houses standing as eerie witnesses to…
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My muses were once models of perfection I could never hope to attain. But, of course, they were only as I wished to perceive them, and not truly as they were. They weren’t so much objects of my own romantic desire, but rather various aspects of the object of desire I longed to be. It…
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Road trips are one of my all-time favorite pastimes. Adventures on roads less traveled are even more my favorites. Back roads often provide the most inspiring memories. But oftentimes it’s less for the remarkable scenery and landmarks than the company shared between family, dear friends, and special loved ones. The conversations shared range from small…
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There she sits, dreaming up names for her heroes and heroines, her villains, and her trusty steed, or car, or spaceship. She dreams of an endless space, full of wonders, delights, and dangers she can’t yet fathom. The train that is her imagination has not yet departed for such reaches, frontiers, and fantastic outer spaces…