Jessica Zafra's Blog, page 46

Only two weeks till our next Writing Boot Camp

You’ve always wanted to write, but you don’t know how to get started. You used to write, but you haven’t done it in a while and you feel rusty. You’re sort of interested in writing, but you’re afraid to even admit it. You’ve started many stories, but you ran out of steam. You think you […]

Weekly Report Card 1 and 2: A Bigger Splash, La La Land, Nobelists and ex-wunderkinder

In 2016 I was so distracted by the horror of the outside world that I read fewer books and watched fewer movies than I usually do. This was a mistake because I live in my head. I know one must be aware of what’s going on, but it’s not necessary to get the bizarre news […]

From Lying to Leering: Rebecca Solnit on Trump’s Fear of Women

I can’t bring myself to post a photograph, so here is an orange singing the Habanera from Carmen. Trump is patriarchy unbuttoned, paunchy, in a baggy suit, with his hair oozing and his lips flapping and his face squinching into clownish expressions of mockery and rage and self-congratulation. He picked as a running mate buttoned-up […]

Stranded in a Snowpocalypse

Record levels of snow fell over Europe, blanketing the continent, closing the Bosphorus to shipping and causing flight cancellations. In Istanbul, homeless people and stray animals were rounded up and taken to shelters. In Cappadocia, the snow heightened the extraterrestrial feel of the landscape. It makes me think of Arrakis with snow instead of sand, […]

Snow falling in Cappadocia, Turkey

Writing Shit About New Snow by Kobayashi Issa Writing shit about new snow for the rich is not art. Translated by Robert Hass Despite the name there is nothing sinister about the Byzantine church carved into the soft rock. The church is called that because it’s not exposed to direct light, sparing the frescoes from […]

Greetings from Istanbul, where stray cats and dogs are loved

This shop owner at the Spice Market lured us in by shouting, “Philippines! I’m a friend of Edu Manzano!” He sells this amazing winter tea with eucalyptus. I’m in Istanbul for filming. Yeah, I won’t use the other verb. After the coup attempt and the terror attacks, the city feels melancholy and antsy. But it’s […]

Happy 2017 to all of us! Some reminders from Rogue One

1. Every fight against tyranny is built on hope. 2. Tyrants practise terror and call it peace. 3. No victory is possible without the commitment of many ordinary people who see themselves as part of a larger ideal and are prepared to make sacrifices to see it through. 4. You do not need magical powers […]

Send off this horrible year with a George Michael New Year’s Eve Playlist.

How can a music icon and jillion-selling artist still be underrated? Well George Michael was, because he only released new music when he wanted to, he didn’t think every moment of his life was for public consumption, and he expected no praise for his kindness and generosity. Thank you, George Michael. Let’s start the playlist […]

Our Writing Boot Camp returns in February 2017

You’ve always wanted to write, but you don’t know how to get started. You used to write, but you haven’t done it in a while and you feel rusty. You’re sort of interested in writing, but you’re afraid to even admit it. You’ve started many stories, but you ran out of steam. You think you […]

Near the end of an epically terrible year, remember the good things that happened.

Doctors of the World Reality Xmas cards designed by McCann London. ’tis the season to give a damn. 2016 has been HORRENDOUS, and it still hasn’t stopped sucking. Surrounded by such gruesomeness, we tend to lose all perspective. We even start thinking that this horror is normal. Well, it isn’t. This will pass—we don’t know […]