This is my entry in the writing contest, You Are Enough, hosted by Positive Writer. Dear Writers, Writing is hard, but we do it anyway. Alone, conflicted, hesitant, we write, wondering if our words matter. This is what we’re made to do. The pay sucks, if we’re lucky enough to get paid at all for… Continue reading Pep Talk for Disillusioned Writers
Category: writing
Great Summer (or Anytime) Books for Young Adults
Maria’s 2018 Reading Log, Part 3: Brief Reviews of The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp, Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver, Every Exquisite Thing by Matthew Quick, Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, and The Bird and the Blade by Megan Bannen I love relaxing… Continue reading Great Summer (or Anytime) Books for Young Adults
Anxious Writer’s Notes
(Above: Me, the way my family is used to seeing me when I’m writing. Unpaid promotional note: I typed the majority of my novel in Google Docs on this little Samsung Chromebook, and loved it.) And Some Shameless Self-Promotion Is there anything more depressing than an abandoned blog? (Yes. Tons of things: war, starvation, disease,… Continue reading Anxious Writer’s Notes
Maria’s 2018 Reading Log, Part 2
Quick Reviews of Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck and The History of Love by Nicole Krauss, and a Long Review/Critical Discussion of Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood 1. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck: It’s hard to believe that none of my English teachers included this book on any of my required-reading… Continue reading Maria’s 2018 Reading Log, Part 2
Lost Letters to the Easter Bunny
Dear Mr. Easter Bunny, My mom said I should write another letter to you because I don’t like the way she answers my questions. Question #1—Are you real, Mr. Easter Bunny? My mom says, “What does your heart tell you?” My heart tells me that giant bunnies are terrifying, even if they’re dressed in pastel… Continue reading Lost Letters to the Easter Bunny
My Worst Camping Experience
Camping Downstream with Truffles and My New Shoes This true story is dedicated to my parents. (I love you, Mom and Dad. If you ever want to take the grandkids camping, be sure to count me out!) When I was ten years old, my parents decided that my younger brother and I were old enough… Continue reading My Worst Camping Experience
Maria’s 2018 Reading Log, Part 1
Ten Quick Book Reviews I am a binge reader. I go a couple of months without reading any books (lately these reading droughts have coincided with rather intense periods of creative writing), and then I read so many books so quickly that I have trouble remembering all of them later on. I thought I’d better… Continue reading Maria’s 2018 Reading Log, Part 1
St. Patrick’s Day Flash Fiction
A Little Forbidden Love by Maria Roth Lizzie closed her eyes and stroked her sleeping husband’s shoulder. Johnny, she thought. Johnny came back, as if she’d never stopped dreaming. “Why won’t you run away with me?” he asked. “I’m married.” “To a freak! What the hell were you thinkin’, Lizzie?” Johnny touched… Continue reading St. Patrick’s Day Flash Fiction
One Precious Life
A Poem and an Essay on Cancers in America One Precious by Maria Roth Mama pigeon perched outside my window Guarding her nest One precious white egg Inside my daughter’s hospital room I watch and listen as my precious one sleeps I draw the curtain so the nurses can’t see me cry… Continue reading One Precious Life
Grocery Sackers, Before They Fell in Love
A Cheesy Poem for My Husband Happy Valentine’s Day, Dan the Man (D.J.)! 2/14/10 Tall and scrawny Short sleeves, Tasmanian Devil tie Big white smile, slightly droopy eye Dark blonde hair slicked down Faded green apron double-tied Crooked name tag—Hi, I’m Dan Pushing carts, twelve at a time Paper or plastic, ma’am? Don’t smash my… Continue reading Grocery Sackers, Before They Fell in Love
Popcorn and Pigtails 