Each week we invite a new guest on to share some prose, poetry, college essays, and anything else they made during those awkward years. Part nostalgia, part comedy, all awkward, we take a trip back to the mental world of our younger wordsmiths, and learn to forgive ourselves for being 14.
Florence is moved to poetry by a couple of breakups in high school, and then finds enlightenment in France. And then decides, eh, France was just okay.
Karen nearly fails a class in high school trying to finish her novel, in which a troubled young girl gets mixed up with speed.
Matt discovers poetry, looks at the Shakespeare's sonnets, and thinks, eh, I could do better. Also, politics.
Demka works out her orchestra-crush by writing her feelings into a novel. Her first boyfriend reads it, and marries her.
Briana's school assignment becomes a trilogy. Emotions run high as telepaths fight with demon swords.
Ethan finds his voice in slam poetry, processes the loss of old friends, and finds some things work better on the page.
Phoebe makes strides to stay an individual while balancing two high schools and a library gig. Parents magazine proves invaluable.
Melissa discovers poetry, rocks out to black sabbath, and eats some low-cal hearts.
Luke learns a meaningful lesson from a clown in an elevator that helping the elderly is not an activity meant to benefit him. Well, maybe the lesson takes a few years to sink in. Also featuring Luke's older brother, Chris.
Kalila writes a semi-autobiographical book for NaNoWriMo, gets feedback from an idol, and is forced to decide between being Proust or Bukowski. Warning: This episode has content that may be triggering, as it contains references to suicide.
Christie discovers heartbreak, and subsequently, poetry. Meanwhile, while her friends murder each other via Axl Rose fan fiction. Yes, High School can be tough, but there's always that hayride to look forward too.
A 4th Grader defeats Darth Maul and saves the universe before helping the Bulls win the championship. Then he goes to high school and experiences self doubt.
Ben gets tired of cutting weight for wrestling, writes about weight for film, and decides cutting film will be a lot more fun .
Ryan rips off Saving Private Ryan to beat me in a writing contest, and some scouts try to remember what they're supposed to do when they encounter a bear.
Moss gets published by Poetry.com. I know, I know, but he's on the first page. And you should hear what he has to say about BBQ Ribs.
Sara revisits and processes some hella high school feelings with her poetry.
Our First Episode! Meg shares an assignment from school. It was supposed to be a thesis paper, but it somehow turned into a story about a high stakes drug investigation.
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