A movement is happening, and it deserves our attention. Independent Bookstore Day feels a little strange this year. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced an independent bookstore to close every week and those that remain standing struggle to adapt to new business methods. Some have transformed themselves into tiny fulfillment centers…

It helps to have the right people in your life. Writing is a solitary pursuit. Kind of, but not really. At least, it shouldn’t be. Let me explain with a personal story: by the time I graduated high school, I knew that I wanted to be a writer. It was…

Not everything you write will be worthy, and that’s okay. I’ll start by saying I love Roberto Bolaño. There are a lot of authors that I like, obviously. But there is a common — almost inevitable — moment where I love one of their books, decide to read another, and…

It’s life or death for both the industry and the employees — In March 2020, I received a call from my managers at Barnes & Noble, informing me that I was officially put on furlough. What we thought was simply a scare became a reality as the bookstore was forced to close for the good of public safety. Just like that, I…

After ten years of writing, I have decided to let go In mid-2010, I started my first novel. I was fresh out of high school and had decided to pursue a writing career. I worked on this novel for the past ten years, struggling during my undergrad years, understanding more…

I thought I wanted to die. But now I’m not so sure. — I have kept a will saved within the files of my laptop for the past two years. I had never told anyone about this, but I have been suicidal for the past 7 years, and I wanted to have something ready if I would ever have to go. I was…

It’s the least I can do for them — One of the clearest memories in my mind is the day my best friend failed to come back. We were attending a political rally and we met up with a few of their friends from an activist group they had recently joined. I told my friend I was going to…

It was more than just a career — I began writing in 2009 during my senior year of high school. I didn’t think of myself as a serious writer. I was just a teenager with too many romantic thoughts that came out as bad poetry. …

I was officially diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of 19. Since then, I have been taking various medications until only recently finding a combination of mood stabilizers that have kept my emotions, for the most part, in check. I have also attended a copious amount of therapy where…