personal essay

22 Apr 2024

Life After Grad School?

Sometimes it doesn’t make sense. You did everything right: went to college, earned good grades, published short stories. You finished grad school with a full-length manuscript, even scored some artist residencies. Your list of professional references is growing, an excellent sign. The right people are endorsing your work. It appears

Jake Warren 0
05 Sep 2023

What I Learned About Karma At A Grocery Store In Oakland

They say “variety is the spice of life,” but I’m pretty sure ambiguity is. There are no instructions on how to live or what’s truly right or wrong. We’re born and then we’re just dropped headfirst into this thing called life. No matter what part of the world your parents

Abraham Woodliff - Bay Area Memelord 0
10 Jul 2024

This New Literary Magazine is a Gift to the People of San Francisco

I’ve got some awesome news! We received a grant from the Civic Joy Fund to put out a literary magazine celebrating SF and acting to counter the stupid “Doom Loop” narrative. It’s a gift to the people of San Francisco. And after months of working on this project it’s now available

Broke-Ass Stuart - Editor In Cheap 0
01 Feb 2023

Long COVID and the Journey Back

by Matt Barkin I spent most of the pandemic sick and rotting away in bed. It became my all-purpose piece of furniture. If you watched a sped up version of that time you’d see me there windmilling my arms around like a madman between my computer, phone, books, plates of

Guest Writer 0
13 Sep 2022

Are Only Children Selfish?

Written By: Habibi Bridges  I’ve always told my friends and family that I would avoid two types of guys when it comes to dating: first born sons, and only children (who by default are also first born). The reasons are numerous, and as a middle child from a family of

Guest Writer 0
23 Aug 2022

We Have A Choice: Build Affordable Housing Or Live In Hell

San Francisco is a beautiful city, and if you’re able to live here, you’re unbelievably lucky. It’s a pretty privileged place, that’s filled with privileged people who lead privileged lives. The topography is gorgeous, the fog is charming and the light that leaks from windows, situated on the city’s many

Abraham Woodliff - Bay Area Memelord 0
05 Jul 2022

We’re All Going To Die

Jennifer Lawrence’s character screamed it at her interviewers for downplaying a comet headed towards Earth in Netflix’s Don’t Look Up. Raja said it with wonder in her eyes during a commencement speech for the queens of All Stars 7. It’s one of Homer’s favorite sayings on The Simpsons, as well

Jake Warren 0
29 Jun 2022

PTSD: A Breakdown

Post- You might’ve pictured a grizzled veteran, head in his hands in a gloomy V.A. hospital on the outer edge of town. I know him well. He drinks more than he used to, enough for people to notice. The man is on medications that extinguish his sex life. He’s gained

Jake Warren 0
17 Aug 2016

SF Housing Crisis Horror Story Part 2

This is part two in a story about how ugly the housing crisis has made some living situations in San Francisco. Read Part 1 here. Part 2: The Present March 2015-August 2016 It’s been almost a year and a half since the cameras went up. Surprise, evil landlady! We’re still

Heidi Smith - The Ultimate Scavenger 0