There are so many great stories out there. In fact, there are too many to list. But what if I told you there were actually only 7 stories? What if I said that we’ve only ever repeated those same 7 stories? Here they are: 1. Overcoming the Monster A monster threatens the protagonist or the … More The 7 Story Types
Sometimes it seems all fictional characters are orphans. Think about it. Harry Potter, Luke Skywalker, James Bond, Star-Lord, Batman. The list goes on and on. So what’s the appeal? 1. Laziness Writers consider themselves visionaries and when they have a vision, they don’t want to change it. That vision is their baby and no one wants … More 4 Reasons Writers Love Orphans
First and foremost, SPOILERS!
While the rest of my classmates spent spring break in warm, beach resorts, getting drunk off their asses, I stayed in New York City. My girlfriend Kita from Britain came to visit. We can’t see each other often, so it was a meaningful week for the two of us. A blizzard rolled through on Tuesday, … More Spring Break in the City
As my senior year at Columbia University comes to a close, I am as sick of this place as I am reminiscent of the times I’ve spent here. With that said, I think I’m in just the right place to critique the university. Academics From an academic standpoint, Columbia is one of the best universities. In fact, … More Columbia University: A Review
Any person who has ever taken an introductory creative writing course has heard this advice: “write about what you know.” Ironically, the very next advice seems to be “write about what you don’t know.” The instructors think they’re clever, but I can’t count how many times I’ve heard this. You can’t accurately write about something … More Writing and the Writer’s Life
What did you ask Santa for this Christmas? I asked for a trip to Montreal and since I was a good boy this year, Santa obliged. Lucky me! I’m not much of a patriot and Europe has always seemed a better fit for me. The architecture, the food, the culture. I can’t get enough of … More A Few Days in Montreal
Defeat handed me A letter; corners neat, Skin pale, body Trim. On the back, A seal with the letters FU Pressed hard In black wax. On the front, My name, dead Center. No loops, no frills, No flourishes. Just cold, Black type. I threw the letter On a fire and delighted In its crackle.
As a Slavic Studies major whose thesis paper concerned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s utilization of voting to pacify his people and subvert democratic mechanisms, I hope you’ll grant me a bit of higher ground on this argument. CIA reports show that Putin’s administration has meddled in the 2016 US presidential election, which resulted in the … More Putting Putin in His Place
Yes. That’s right. Dogs are cuter than babies. Get over it. You know it’s true. Ironically though, we find dogs cute for the same reason some of us find babies cute. In the New York Times, Natalie Anger described the qualities of cuteness as those that express “extreme youth, vulnerability, harmlessness, and need.” Basically, something is … More Why Dogs are Cuter Than Babies
He Who Wanders 