Mainstream pop music isn’t always about sex, love, and booze. More often than not, if you listen closer, it’s about so much more, especially where female pop singers are concerned. This is a problem. 5 Stereotypes of Women in Pop Music: They’re shallow. Their music is shallow. And fluffy. And shallowly fluffy. All they sing […]
Originally Published on April 7th, 2014; Updated on June 24th, 2014. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: Minds Were Blown. Altered. Changed forever. On April 6th, 2014, Lady Gaga performed at Roseland Ballroom, the penultimate show before the iconic venue closed forever EVER. On April 7th, Gaga performs the final show before embarking on her artRAVE: The ARTPOP Ball tour. Arriving at […]
Originally Published: April 3rd, 2014; Updated: June 24th, 2014 Recently, I’ve had a few readers reach out to me in response to this piece I wrote about Disney’s Frozen, sharing candid personal details about their life and struggles they’ve faced in regards to growing up gay and taking those pivotal first steps towards coming out […]
Originally Published: August 28th, 2013; Updated: June 24th, 2014 I had a MAJOR gaypiphany the other day, like I often do when I’m reminiscing about my childhood. Gayphiphany: How did everyone NOT know I was gay by the time I reached 7? And if they did, WHY DIDN’T ANYONE TELL ME? Disclaimer: this is SO stereotypical. […]
Originally Published: August 14th, 2013; Updated: June 24th, 2014 As a writer trying so desperately to get published and make my mark, I can stand to learn a lot from Lady Gaga. I know what you’re thinking… But I’ve spent a lot of time over the last three days listening to, obsessing over, and analyzing Mother […]
As a writer, it’s hard to tackle certain subjects with a level of objectivity that doesn’t scream “THIS IS REALLY MY OPINION ON THIS HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECT BUT IT’S DELIGHTFULLY MASKED IN MY OBJECTIVE TONE, SEE?” That’s why I hesitate whenever I pick up a book with controversial subject matter, and when my good friend […]
Over the last month, I’ve been experiencing what I’ve lovingly named “Career Strokes.” When I think about my job and the lack of security, benefits, and sufficient cash flow — not to mention the constant nagging fear that, at any given moment, any or all of the courses that I teach could be cancelled — […]
One of my all-time favorite activities is making lists. It’s the most relaxing ever. Sometimes I make lists when I’m bored to pass the time, but mostly I do it to organize the incredible chaos in my mind. Seriously. There is so much crap floating around my mind that, at any given time, I’m thinking about […]
I’m often asked what inspires me to write. How do I generate new ideas? How do I find the focus and discipline to write as much as I do? [I mean, can we just address that question for a second? My lack of focus is legendary, but I guess I generate enough blog content, add […]
So it’s the first day of school; a time for all the pencils, all the books, and all the student’s dirty looks… WHICH MEANS I’M SUPER PUMPED FOR THE NEW SEMESTER! I can’t wait to get back into the classroom again; it makes me feel alive, especially when I know I can truly connect with […]
As a writer, one of the first things I do when I start working on a new project is create a playlist of songs that match the mood or voice or tone of what I want to work on. I do this for everything, not just when I write: when I’m having a bad day, […]
