Is there nothing about human beings that cannot conceive of as a technical problem? — It’s the holy grail of science; ambitions run lofty — for a creation myth, for a massive act of self-love. We replace the Godhead with a perfect self. We devise an improved, more modern version of ourselves and delight in the joy of invention, the ecstasy of mastery. By now…

The emotional connection between reader and character — How do you make readers cry, scream, laugh, and care about your story? How do you write with emotion and connect with your audience on a deeper, more intimate level? …

To this day, I grapple with recreating a childhood language, navigating between voice and voicelessness — Mine is a story of displacement and loss. My transition to life in another country and culture was a difficult one. After immigrating to America from Israel, I forsaken the fluency of my native language to learn a new language. And in the process, I have cut myself off from…

Will the future continue to hold stigmatization as it did for alcohol? — At some point, the wealthy and powerful decided they no longer wanted to buy from the guy on the corner, or when the state realized the value of cashing in on the drug trade, thus began an uncomfortable alliance. …

You were clingy and needy, and I had enough — There is an infinite number of places to begin any outcome. I know it wasn’t that simple; I know all the reasons in intimate, serrated detail; I can stack them up in a neat pile and stare at them till they’re lost and found all over again or whatever I…

Language is not simply a medium of describing reality; it is interwoven with actions and feelings 🗣 — Words are like weapons; they damage like bullets; some are like poison, slowly affecting the mind and activating lethal semantics. They can be used to hurt, offend, threaten, discriminate, demonize, and carry social consequences. Focusing on aggressive words can construct hostile conceptualizations of reality. Direct and indirect verbal aggression bludgeons…

Too dead to live? Is the Zombie Syndrome exiting with Gen Z? — F. Scott Fitzgerald styled his vanished generation as one that had “grown up to find all gods dead, all wars fought, and all faith in man shaken.” Much has been said about Gen-Z’s addiction to social media, with short attention spans and severe screen addictions. They’re addicted to the dopamine…

Just as sculptures mold clay, a writer sculpts a world of words — I write because it gives me purpose and makes me happy. …

Underdeveloped characters are labeled “flat” or “cardboard” because they don’t engage our emotions — The characters are the most important elements in creating a compelling and immersive story. They are the driving force behind any good book or story and must be brought to life to engage the reader. How often are you aware of your body language when communicating with others? Whether you’re…