Archive - The Word Cave

Museum Pages: Botticelli, AI, and Missing the Point

I’ve worried that the intensity of my outrage might make me sound less reasonable. But you know what? I’m both pissed off and correct.

Jul 10 •

May 2025

Sarah Snook’s Dorian Gray and Achieving the Impossible in Art

I have a pet theory that whatever makes a creative project feel impossible is also the key to how to make it great.

May 28 •

A year of First Love (including the funniest negative reviews)

plus the return of the Essay Collection Incubator!

May 7 •

February 2025

What Is a Novel?

on backstory as “research”

Feb 24 •

January 2025

Etty Hillesum and bountifulness—even now

I do believe that we can save each other’s lives with stories and poems and books. I really do. But Etty reminded me that we don’t have to do all that…

Jan 24 •

I want to read your manuscript!

Exciting announcement: I’m taking new editorial clients for the first time in over a year!

Jan 7 •

December 2024

Museum Pages: Frida Kahlo and the Artist’s Body

on making art while in pain

Dec 18, 2024 •

My Year in Reading

on reading projects and writing projects

Dec 3, 2024 •

November 2024

What Is a Novel?

on finding respite in art

Nov 8, 2024 •

October 2024

My Secret Project

I’ve been working on a new book…

Oct 15, 2024 •

September 2024

Museum Pages: On Mary Cassatt and “Women’s Fiction”

She was a woman, unapologetically making art about women’s everyday lives. In the 1800s.

Sep 3, 2024 •

June 2024

Tour Diary (Part 4): Philly, Providence, and home again

This week, I brought my book about my cousin Sabina to her hometown, Philadelphia. Every time I go to Philly, I feel like I’m on my way to see Sabina…

Jun 13, 2024 •

#nojs-banner { position: fixed; bottom: 0; left: 0; padding: 16px 16px 16px 32px; width: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; background: red; color: white; font-family: -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; } #nojs-banner a { color: inherit; text-decoration: underline; } This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. Please turn on JavaScript or unblock scripts