Do or do not; there is no “not cool enough” to do.
A lesson in writing and life: Write about all of the things you aren’t cool enough to write, and do all of the things you aren’t cool enough to do.
There are certain things I don’t feel “cool” enough to write about. Food, shows, movies, books, music… Then I write about one of them and realize that’s all just resistance, that sneaky self-sabotaging force from within.
So, I wrote about something I’m not cool enough to write: music, or three albums fit for a potentially turbulent Thanksgiving dinner, and I loved it. I think it came out pretty good/I’m pretty proud of it. And I say all this not to toot my own horn, but to point out that maybe my article was good because I loved writing it.
Cool or not, the love of something was clear in the writing, and that gave it that thing that makes something subjectively good. The article is proof that when you beat resistance, you realize things like - you can write “cool” things. And that’s pretty cool.
Some (other) things I’ve written recently:
One of my favorite things to write about is Florida, so I loved getting to share four recommendations for places to visit in Florida, from a native.
I found five Lorelai-inspired dog sweaters perfect for winter festivities - between $25-70, complete with links. (And not affiliate ones - this was just for some sheer Gilmore fan fun.)
What I’m reading/watching/listening to:
Reading: Instead of cracking open a new read, I’m tackling the five or so half-finished books I’ve had clogging up my bookshelf now for months. I have a nasty habit of reading several books at once and losing interest or simply getting distracted with shiny titles. I’m going to use my bad habit to my advantage this year and finish all of my abandoned stories to make space for a fresh reading start in 2026. (Nerd alert.)
Watching: I’m watching Steve on Netflix in small increments. As a former teacher, it hits close to home. Cillian Murphy, who is the headmaster, is dealing with a rotten back, which also hits close to home. I cried three times in the first thirty minutes. But I love that kind of catharticism. It’s why it’s so important for everyone to see themselves reflected in stories.
Listening: Did you know that Christmas rocks? At least my playlist - Christmas Rocks - does.
And here’s a writing opportunity (that doubles as a prompt):
This is an opportunity for Oregon writers only, but I love the prompt:
Oregon Humanities is looking for pitches and submissions of “essays, journalism, and criticism” for its Spring 2026 issue, “Labor.” To pitch or submit, email one proposal or draft to editors@oregonhumanities.org by December 15.
They want “stories about work, effort, and toil” that “address work of all kinds: physical, mental, and emotional, done for money, for pleasure, or for the benefit of our families and communities.”
Write on,
Ashley