Lessons on creativity from André 3000 — I stepped into the weekend with no immediate plans to listen to the new André 3000 album. I’d heard he wasn’t rapping on it… that there were no vocals, period. And upon hearing such news, I thought, “I’m good.” Truthfully, my mind didn’t have a filing system for “flute album…

It’s time to get vulnerable. No one I know would exactly call me mysterious. One-on-one, particularly over an alcoholic lubricant, I’ll gladly share details of the latest Hinge narcissist I parlayed with or whatever awkward run-in I had as a Hollywood Hopeful. I thrive on a good tête-à-tête. However, as…

We’re all self-sabotaging, and I hate that for us — Growing up, I had a friend named Catherine*, a red-head with an equally fiery personality. Catherine was one of those girls who has always been self-possessed. At 12, she was weird and wild and didn’t shy from coming undone in front of others. I was no Catherine. As an ambitious…

The path toward sustaining my relationship with writing — There are a few pieces of advice we writers hear ad nauseam. We must read an entire library’s worth of books annually. We must have a clear, unique-without-trying-too-hard voice. And yes, when we’re not actively writing, we should either be taking copious notes or outlining for future projects. Remove the…

The essential question that every creative should ask themselves — In 2009 Lin-Manuel Miranda received a request to perform at the first-ever White House Poetry Jam. “Do you have anything about America, and can you perform it at this podium?” Miranda was asked. In true kismet fashion, the composer happened to be working on his next Broadway musical. Yet, when…

You’re not Keanu Reeves — there is no escaping the matrix — I’ve always envied how men can remain eligible bachelors for as long as they’re single. It’s not just that men get to remain desirable well into their sixties. Women can do that too. I think anyone breathing can agree that 52-year-old J.Lo can still “get it.” My envy for these…

The Sex and the City reboot is good, but Kim Cattrall would’ve made it better [spoilers] — As a 20-something, Sex and the City showed me an alternative path in life. One that allowed women to be feminine, flawed, and deeply connected to their friends — regardless of their marital status. …

The 10 Commandments and Mean Girls had us judging jealousy for too long — Years ago, I would pen poetic musings—quick tidbits of wisdom that I called Simoneisms (creative, I know). Occasionally, I’d share those musings on social media, but for the most part, I was afraid to disclose those pieces of my heart consistently. Afraid of being judged. Afraid of being cast as…

The pandemic made me a child again, but it’s time to grow up — “I’M NOT A CHILD!” I shouted. The irony now laughable. I pushed back my chair and leaped out of my seat at the kitchen table to retreat to my bedroom. Once there, I put a cherry on top of my drama by slamming the door shut. “That’ll show him,” I…