There is no map to the place where YA fiction and social justice meet

There's a question that's been percolating in my mind for a couple of years now. I first gave voice to it at a writing workshop called "Queering Writing" put on by my own dear Writing Center (this was before I worked there, but it was where I met my boss and mentor Sandy). I askedContinue reading "There is no map to the place where YA fiction and social justice meet"

The Virgin’s Coffin: Snow White, the Brothers Grimm, and Appropriation

Guess what, y'all. That paper I was working on so hard for class turned out awesome. The Virgin’s Coffin: Snow White, the Brothers Grimm, and Appropriation In the tradition of early Christian martyrdom, “virginity could be the equal of any martyr’s death, signalling one of the most persistent themes in female spirituality” (Rubin, 156). AllContinue reading "The Virgin’s Coffin: Snow White, the Brothers Grimm, and Appropriation"

Why I don’t feel bad about giving up on NaNoWriMo this year

Snow White and the Seven Deadly Sins is the fifth rough draft I've gotten out of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). But this is the first time I've attempted to finish NaNoWriMo while going to school full time, working 18 hours/week, and commuting 12 hours/week. It was ridiculously optimistic of me to attempt it in theContinue reading "Why I don’t feel bad about giving up on NaNoWriMo this year"

East of the Sun, West of the Moon

My favorite fairy tale is "East of the Sun, West of the Moon," a lesser-known (in America, anyway) Norse story similar to "Beauty and the Beast." I've wanted to write my own version for a while now, but wasn't sure what direction it would take. I did know that I wanted to mess with genderContinue reading "East of the Sun, West of the Moon"

In which Beth finally figures out what she wants to do with her life??

I had a sort of revelation at work last week. There have been several threads of thought regarding my professional like that have been spinning and weaving and untangling themselves for a while now. The main two are:1. Yes, I'm going to try to become a published novelist, but what am I going to doContinue reading "In which Beth finally figures out what she wants to do with her life??"