Category: writing
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Mental hodgepodge
You know how Jeopardy! has a “Hodgepodge” category? This post might be similar. Blogpodge? Sometimes I sit down to write with a specific idea in mind, and other times I figure it out as I go. Today there are several things bouncing around in my head, so I’m just gonna say ‘em. I have a…
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![Pause for Joy [a rejected essay]](https://drewdotson.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20230302_145918.jpg)
Pause for Joy [a rejected essay]
I submitted an essay to a publication on Tuesday. Today, two days later, I received the rejection email. (So quick!) Although it didn’t make the cut, I was pretty proud of it, so I decided I’d share it here. It forced me to think outside the box, and writing it even brought me to tears…
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Join the Inspiration Parade!
Today is the first day of Creativity March! You’re probably thinking, “What is Creativity March?” I’ll tell you. Creativity March was born at a brewery (the birthplace of many good ideas) over dinner with my friend, Jennifer. The goal is to do something creative every day in March. Why? Creativity helps foster your sense of…
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Me vs. Mind
My mind has always been my archnemesis. Right now we’re pretty civil, but that hasn’t always been the case. I remember sleepless childhood nights, consumed by worry about this and that. Add in adolescence and hormones and things only got worse. On the surface, life was relatively simple, but in my mind there were so…
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A semiperturbed post about a jack-in-the-box
Let me start off by saying I wrote the first draft of this post yesterday afternoon. As I worked on what I’m sure would have been a very clever and mind-blowing ending, an error message popped up on my computer saying, “Upload Failed.” I scrolled down to where I’d written the post, only to discover…
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I’m published!
I was embarrassed to admit I wanted to be a writer for a very long time. I was fearful of seeming unrealistic, for one, but putting my wish out into the universe also meant I could fail. I wasn’t thrilled about that thought, either. In recent years, though, I’ve realized I was only failing myself.…
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OMGlennon
I am here with a proclamation: I became one of Glennon Doyle’s biggest fans over the past 24 hours. I first heard her name a month after Ramón died. I visited a good friend, Alyssa, for coffee, and we were waxing philosophical—or trying, at least. Alyssa referenced a quote about pain Glennon recently posted online…
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Surreal
Over the past three years, I’ve sat down to write many posts that seemed surreal—events that felt as though they were taking place on another plane. I felt overwhelmed as I stared at the computer screen, searching for the words to properly share my husband Ramón’s leukemia diagnosis. Then there was the apprehension I felt…
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What if my dog’s penis lands me a publisher?
“What if my dog’s penis lands me a publisher?” That thought had never crossed my mind—or anyone’s, I’d guess—until this week. Last weekend, while I vacationed to Asheville, the dogs took a trip to daycare. After returning to town Sunday and picking them up, I noticed that Benny, the little guy, had a swollen penis,…
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May I demand a favor?
My word of the day is “fearless.” I don’t normally have a word of the day, so take that for what it’s worth. Before I put out feelers for publishing connections last October, I didn’t know what to say. I wanted to write the perfect message, post it at the perfect time, and have it…
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Ask and ye will have asked
Today marks 18 months since Ramón’s cardiac arrest. For once, that length of time aligns with how long it feels like it’s been. Previously, when these anniversaries have happened, I find myself thinking it feels much shorter or longer than the actual length of time. However, in this case, 18 months seems just right, Goldilocks…
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Leaves a mark
Earlier this week I let the dogs out for their nighttime pee in the drizzling rain. My dog Noodle was lollygagging around, so I tried to lure her inside. “Ramón!” I mistakenly shouted in Noodle’s direction. As it left my mouth, I realized what I’d done—called my dog by my late husband’s name. What?! For…
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Rewriting the story
After Ramón’s death a year ago, I set a goal to build my endurance until I could run for 60 minutes without stopping. I can’t recall why I chose this particular goal, but I knew I wanted to spend time outdoors after having been confined to a single hospital room for what felt like forever.…
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Oh my memoir
Yesterday I finished a four-part memoir writing class. When I saw it was being offered, I thought, ‘Well, now’s not really a good time,’ but I was so wrong. Now was and is the perfect time to do anything that’s tugging at your heart. Not only did I learn a lot about writing, but the…