Articles written by Magda Ess

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About me - Magda Ess

After several years of attending conferences and starting and joining writers' groups, Magda Ess will spend this autumn attending Hollins University. Although her major will be creative writing, her minor will focus on psychology. Ess uses her personal experiences

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Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: Struggle in life: 1 of 128
When I finally decided not to kill myself, I had just finished smoking a bowl of marijuana.To be fair, it was a nice day to begin with; I woke up to sunshine and singing birds, took a warm bath, made myself breakfast and lounged around in a kimono robe until noon, when I decided it was prime time to go out back and smoke. May... More..
Politics, News & Issues > US Law & Justice (Other) Should there be a federal law against prostitution?: 3 of 13
For being the world's oldest profession, prostitution sure does catch a lot of flack. The question of "Why?" is certainly reasonable, when one considers that it fulfills two important roles, if not more: the need for sex, and the need to provide for oneself and/or others. When done with proper respect to both parties, it is a... More..
Health & Fitness > Prescription & Medication Possible side effects of Effexor XR: 1 of 3
Effexor XR is one of the most commonly-prescribed antidepressants in the United States; used for treating anxiety and, of course, depression, it carries with it a hefty list of side effects and a hit-or-miss chance at working. It is also one of the most frightening medications on the market today, right up next to Prozac. Thi... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Feminism & Women's Rights Is feminism outdated?: 18 of 40
If she marries, my stepsister wants to keep her maiden name."Why?" I asked her upon learning this. "Doesn't that seem a bit...I don't know. Cold?""I don't think so," she said adamantly, fire in her voice as she turned the corner in our dark rural town. "I mean, why should I have to change my name? Why can't the man change his... More..
Health & Fitness > Personality Disorders How to live with antisocial personality disorder: 1 of 2
To have antisocial personality disorder is to be a sociopath: plain and simple. It is a cruel personality disorder, one which wrenches from the victim nearly all empathy and replaces it with an empty hole of contempt and arrogance. It is not something one may escape from; pills will not help, usually not even therapy. People ... More..
Arts & Humanities > Arts & Humanities (Other) Book reviews: When You Are Engulfed in Flames, by David Sedaris: 1 of 2
There is nothing more awkward than sitting in a room full of people, minding your business and quietly reading until you come upon a passage so funny, so embarrassingly relatable that you explode in a sudden burst of laughter; usually so unexpected that heads will turn. Such an embarrassment, though, will seem trivial in the ... More..
Arts & Humanities > American Literature Book reviews: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, by Hunter S. Thompson: 1 of 1
Written in 1971, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas has become the definitive example of Gonzo journalism, a brainchild of self-loathing journalist Hunter S. Thompson. First having written a book on Hell's Angels, Thompson took his second literary venture as an opportunity to explore and expand his writing into a new realm, one t... More..
Arts & Humanities > Literature (Other) Introduction to the genre of transgressive fiction: 1 of 1
While not the newest trend in literature, transgressive fiction has been recently growing in prominence. A genre of literary fiction focusing on characters confined by society's norms and mores, most transgressive works explore the unusual, sometimes criminal ways said characters free themselves. The protagonists are typicall... More..
Arts & Humanities > American Literature Book reviews: Lullaby, by Chuck Palahniuk: 1 of 1
Carl Streator is a sad, unlucky man. A journalist who once found his wife and child dead, Streator spends his days drowning in the details of his cases, and his nights, building intricate houses, only to stomp them to pieces upon completion. When his editor, Duncan, comes up with the idea of running a five-part segment on SID... More..
Arts & Humanities > Thoughts on Writing The role of minimalism in today's fiction: 1 of 1
Chances are, whether it was in a high school creative writing class or a project back from second grade, most people have been forced to write a piece of fiction; and odds are, most of these people will remember their mentor telling them one of a few things."You need to work on your dialogue. Who's speaking?""I'd like to see ... More..