Posts by writingjoy
On Writing: Happily-Ever-Afters Don’t Help Anyone
“Why can’t you wait until you’ve figured this out to write it?” I looked him in the eye. “Because I have to get it out. I’ll explode if I don’t. And writing is how I figure things out. The words and questions and ideas swirl around all mixed up in my brain, but I can…
Read MoreThe Dark Side of Help: Receiving It (Part 2 of Disillusioned with the Republican Party)
This is part 2 of a series on exploring fiscal responsibility, generosity, and social good. Read part 1 here. I despise needing help. I’m a proud independent first-born American woman, and I can do it myself or it isn’t worth doing. I’m a hard worker, smart, and capable, so I want always to be the…
Read MoreHow a Conservative Christian Home-School Graduate Became Disillusioned with the Republican Party (Part 1)
Labels are helpful, to a point, but they fall short when it comes to teasing out the nuances of an individual person’s positions. Labels depend in large part on context. In conservative religious and political circles, a moderate will be dubbed liberal, while liberals will dub the same person quite conservative. People are constantly in…
Read MoreTime Share Charity and God’s Scandalous Grace
I answer the phone and the voice on the other end of the line chirps, “We want to give you 2 nights and 3 days in our luxurious Florida beach-front resort.” I am immediately suspicious. “What is the catch?” “There is no catch! This is our gift to you. We just need you to act…
Read MoreApparently, We Like Words
In our latest 9 Thumbs episode, writer and sex-podcaster Sharideth Smith joins us to discuss books, listening to books, listening to authors read their own books, and reading books aloud, as well as the funny ways Americans disagree over words and pronunciation. We threw in one food item and a photographer, but mostly… we like…
Read MoreWait
It’s weird. The eastern sky lit up on fire last night. The wildfire dosen’t rip through like a tornado or hurricane or tsunami. No one is dead. Most people have time to stand in the middle of their houses and ask themselves–what should I take with me? What matters? Sometimes you have hours, days to…
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