Homepage
Open in app
Sign inGet started

Essays No One Asked For

Writing, comic books, life advice, and other luxuries

Go to the profile of Bethany F. Brengan
Bethany F. Brengan
Sep 27, 2022

Painting of a red heart with a white outline on a yellow wall.

“Heart-wrenching” vs. “Heartrending” (Yes, “Heart-wrenching” Is a Real Word)

Many Experts Say…

Read more…
1 response
Go to the profile of Bethany F. Brengan
Bethany F. Brengan
Aug 31, 2020

Rough ink and colored pencil sketch of cell phone with text bubbles reading: “RU OK?” “NOT REALLY” and “. . .”

6 Things Not to Say to Someone with a Chronic Illness or Disability (and 4 Things to Say Instead)

Read more…
9 responses
Go to the profile of Bethany F. Brengan
Bethany F. Brengan
Aug 3, 2020

Black and white ink drawing of a child-proof medication cap

Responding to Pain that Can’t Be Fixed or Ignored — Lessons from Chronic Illness

Read more…
3 responses
Go to the profile of Bethany F. Brengan
Bethany F. Brengan
Jun 21, 2020

Four Stories About My Dad

The Beast resembled a “car” the way a hyena resembles a Labradoodle: from a…

Read more…
Go to the profile of Bethany F. Brengan
Bethany F. Brengan
May 10, 2020

Five Stories about My Mom

Hi, Mom. This is the adult-writer-child version of flowers without stems. Stories without context. For you.

Hi, Mom.

Read more…
Go to the profile of Bethany F. Brengan
Bethany F. Brengan
Feb 4, 2020

The One Writing Question That Matters

January’s over.

At this point, most writers are either still in that early state of hopefulness (“I will finish my novel this year!”) or they’ve hit their Slough of Despond (“3,000 words a day was a horrible goal.”)

Read more…
About Essays No One Asked ForLatest StoriesArchiveAbout MediumTermsPrivacyTeams