Holding human moments in palms -

Two people who haven’t spoken in years catching each other’s shocked gaze through the fleeting moments in a bustling party; seeing a painting in a museum of two women by the sea, and missing your mother’s calloused hands through your hair; wondering about the saxophonist serenading the park by your apartment every Sunday, and if he’s playing for a lover who never shows; and the warm gust of wind from an open window, smelling of sleepless nights and childhood amidst August’s sweltering heat.

Why do you write?

It's a question that every aspiring writer has faced, whether posed by an English teacher or a skeptical family member. The typical responses—"it's an escape" or "I have to"—are common, and while they capture important aspects of the writing experience, they don't fully explain why writing is so vital to truly understanding the human experience. For some, writing might be a relentless struggle, or a looming torment bouncing through the mind as a wave of writer’s block overflows a lonely, blank Google Doc. These reasons, though understandable, only skim the surface of what makes writing truly essential to our existence. Writing is more than just a feeling of security or a compulsion; it is a fundamental way in which we communicate our unique experiences, and moments of connection to the world. My goal is to help encourage this exchange of culture and creation, and reach as many writers, voices, and humans as possible.